Palms snaps up Showgirl Sundays after Stonewall’s clash with host

Palms on Oxford has secured Showgirl Sundays, the long-running drag showcase formerly hosted at Stonewall Hotel, after a dispute over how it was named in the nomination list for Sydney’s annual drag industry awards and amid ongoing tensions over the lack of payment for guest performers.

The Drag Industry Variety Awards (DIVAs), first held in 1991, are the city’s annual celebration of drag. The ceremony recognises performers, DJs and venues across multiple categories, from favourite host to best costuming. It is also notorious for stirring controversy, and this year is proving no exception.

“Divas season is here, let the drag drama begin!” said Palms venue manager Michael Lewis.

“After a successful 3-year run, Dakota Fannee’s ‘Showgirl Sundays’ is moving to Palms from this Sunday due [to] a ‘divergence of creative vision’ with Stonewall management. How this bodes for other shows is unknown now that Stonewall has been acquired by a large American company.”

For about three years now, Showgirl Sundays and its co-host Dakota Fannee have highlighted the drag talent of “yesterday, today and tomorrow” as part of a weekly showcase at Stonewall Hotel.

Why Showgirl Sundays is going to Palms

Fann’ee said Showgirl Sundays’ move to Palms came after Stonewall objected to the show being nominated as “Dakota’s Showgirl Sundays” when it initially appeared on the public DIVA Awards nominations list. The venue, she said, insisted it instead be called Showgirl Sundays at Stonewall Hotel.

While she said she self-nominated it as Dakota’s Showgirl Sundays, others she knew also nominated it by the same name.

“In reality, that is what many of the cast had been calling it for some time, since I had been creating the posters, co-ordinating the shows, and working with out-of-state performers,” she said.

“Instead of being acknowledged for that work, I received a heated call reminding me it was ‘Showgirl Sundays at Stonewall Hotel’.

“Even though I managed every detail behind the scenes apart from the payment and booking of the co-host, I was told again that the venue did not produce ‘Dakota’s Showgirl Sundays’.

“I was told that if I wanted it called that, I could take it elsewhere, because I could be replaced with two new hosts and a new show,” she said.

Fann’ee said she owned the intellectual property, name and all the assets of Showgirl Sundays.

Despite this, Stonewall went further in its complaint, she said, contacting the DIVA Awards to have the name changed to include Stonewall on the nominations list.

With tensions already simmering over the lack of payment for guest performers, Fann’ee took up Stonewall’s advice and took the show elsewhere – to rival gay bar Palms across the road.

Fann’ee said that while Stonewall apologised for the way it reacted to her over the naming issue, she nevertheless wanted to take her show to Palms because the venue supported her vision for paying guest performers.

Gay Sydney News approached Stonewall for comment on Monday and the DIVA Awards on Wednesday but did not hear back.

Stonewall launches ‘Center stage’

It comes as Stonewall announced its new Sunday replacement “Center stage” (with an American spelling of centre) on Wednesday afternoon. Hosts will include Minnie Cooper, Hannah Conda, Charisma Belle and Carmen Geddit.

“Step into the Spotlight every Sunday Night! From Iconic Celebrity hosts to fresh new talent, CENTER STAGE is where legends shine and stars are born,” Stonewall said in an event listing.

“Celebrity Drag Hosts. Amateur Drag Spotlights. Show Stopping Shows. Special Guests. Amazing DJ’s.
Stonewall the history is remembered, THE FUTURE IS HERE!”

Showgirl Sundays’ guest performers to be paid

Drag performances have long been a fixture in Sydney’s gay scene, but payment structures have varied depending on whether they are part of a competition, showcase/open-mic night or paid booking.

Unlike at Stonewall, where Showgirl Sundays’ co-hosts were paid but guest performers were only compensated with drink tickets, Palms will pay each guest performer $100 including superannuation, in addition to paying Fann’ee.

This week at Palms there will be four guests at Showgirl Sundays, meaning $400 will be split among them.

Palms said its move to guarantee payment represented a shift in how venues should value emerging drag talent.

“The payment of amateur performers has been the subject of a lot of dialogue for a while now in the drag community,” said Palms venue manager Michael Lewis.

“From our perspective as a venue, if someone is bringing in customers then they should be rewarded in some way, and ideally [with] more than a drink ticket.

“We were more than happy to support Dakota’s changes to the Showgirl Sunday model to encompass payments to guest performers as it aligns perfectly with our values of supporting the community, staff and performers.”

Other Sydney drag open-mic nights

Sydney’s drag scene offers a mix of paid and unpaid opportunities. At Ching-a-Lings, Clapback offers bar tabs for participants and, for the first-place winner, a paid slot in the following week’s show.

Ruby’s Royale Rumble, a regular event held at the Imperial Hotel in Erskineville on the last Thursday of every month, awards the first-place winner a paid performance spot and gives all contestants recognition prizes from a sponsored prize pool.

Meanwhile, the Imperial’s inaugural 12-week drag competition, Ruby’s Rumble Battle Royale, this year featured a prize pool of more than $5000, including $2500 for the winner.

Universal Sydney’s long-running competition Slay 4 Pay – axed earlier this year after six years but once seen as a key platform for emerging performers – offered $350 in cash prizes split across three winners.

“Too often in entertainment scenes, new performers are asked to work for drink tickets, for the promise of a paid spot later, or through competitions that exploit rather than nurture,” said Fann’ee.

“Slay 4 Pay was going in the right direction, however … [it] was still a competition.

“I believe the next generation deserves better, and if we do not invest in our future stars, then who will?”

Showgirls to be paid $100 each at Palms

Fann’ee contrasted this with her new model for Showgirl Sundays.

“Each [guest] will be paid $100 including superannuation,” Fann’ee said.

“No exposure gigs. No drink tickets. No empty promises. This is about setting a new standard. Our scene cannot grow if we keep asking new talent to work for free or to compete for drink tickets.

“Exposure does not pay the bills, rent, or cover the time and effort it takes to create and deliver a professional show.”

Showgirl Sundays at Palms

Fann’ee said Showgirl Sundays at Palms would be about more than just a show.

“It is a platform and a training ground for the building blocks of stagecraft, from hosting and self-promotion to the practical side of setting up ABNs and superannuation. And yes, superannuation matters.

“Some venues still avoid paying it, even though there are mandatory minimum contributions.

“At Dakota’s Showgirl Sundays, every performer is paid fairly for their time and for the experience level. Because when performers are valued, everyone benefits. The audience feels it, the performers give more, and the venue thrives.”

Palms said the new night will launch at 7pm this Sunday, an hour earlier than it usually opens.

“The [Showgirls Sunday] show will start at 8pm, second show 9pm, then it will be followed by our existing GLAMBOYANCE production show with Eli, Heath & James,” said Palms venue manager Michael Lewis.

This Sunday’s guest performers are Aurora Arsenic, Lyla Joy, Maya Polo-Geez and Miss 3D.

Drag performers are encouraged to apply to be a Showgirl Sundays guest at tinyurl.com/4wwk4rpr.