Two parking spaces in front of the hotel, commonly known as the Red Vic, were being roped off. A couple of volunteers brought chairs out to the curb and turned on TVs installed in the hotel windows, letting passersby know that it was time for Fishbowl Drag.
3 comments:
I think this is truly a great thing. Many people, including myself, have been craving live performance (or any in-person interaction) since quarantine began. While filmed drag performances are fun, it began as a physical art form, where bodies pressed up against each other in a bar to move forward and tip the queen. It’s a form of art built on inclusivity and experimentation, which is the antithesis of all that we were doing in isolation. This is silly to say, but I think drag performers are essential during times like this. They give people so much joy and hope, and just let you forget about worries and indulge in fantasy. It is especially hopeful for queer folks, while many have been stuck at home, often with unsupportive or oppressive home environments. It’s really nice to see people beginning to perform and create art for in person viewers again, it definitely gives me hope that the arts will survive this.
This is a fantastic solution to the live performance problem. Because drag is so much more as a physical performing art than as a digital art it gives the performers a chance to rally express themselves and their talent again. The comedic aspect that drag artists so often incorporate in their performances is also essential to the times. With sad and defeating news stories all over the web it is a wonderful thing that people can now go out be amused and entertained by real people in front of them. It just has a much better effect than seeing the performances on a screen. I feel like the "fishbowl" performances also give the performers a much different setting to work with and get creative with. It adds a whole new aspect to the art and one that I think might stick around longer than the pandemic.
As someone who is from the SF area reading this article, I couldn't help but think that this is the most San Francisco thing. I think that it is wonderful that this solution has emerged because drag performance is such an important thing for many people. The ability to have in-person performances is very special and important especially for the community-building aspect. I feel as if there are so many depressing news stories about COVID 19 and the performing arts industry but this story makes me feel hopeful. As someone who is not a huge fan of zoom performances, I'm very glad that people are being innovative to have some semblance of live performance in person.
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