The Saloon cuts funding for drag performers, putting some shows at risk

A lineup change is coming to The Saloon Bar, which is reducing funding for its long-running drag shows, forcing at least one of them to cancel.
One of the longest-running gay bars in the Twin Cities, The Saloon is a staple in the drag community, hosting multiple shows a week ranging from competitions to variety shows. It's a proven platform for many performers and producers to break out into the drag scene and make money, with The Saloon typically paying performers for their talents.
However, bar management is now paring back its investment in drag shows, only paying for performances of its Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday shows: Werk and Hot Pink.
"We are at the point financially, especially with the economy downtown, where we just can't put out the kind of money that we were putting out for drag," Bobby Palmer, the Saloon's manager, said to Bring Me The News. "We still support all of our drag producers. We still support all of our shows and offer our space to everyone who wants to use it, but I need producers to come to the table now with a little more than just an idea."
Previously funded shows are still welcome to perform at the Saloon and use its space, and they will not be charged for the platform. However, producers and cast will have to pay out of their pocket to put on their shows instead of being paid by the bar, and will rely on tips.
The effects of this decision have already been seen with alternative drag show Ghoulfriends, which announced on May 8 that its final show would be on July 23.
"Due to changes beyond our control, we are sorry to announce that July will be the final Ghoulfriends show," the story post read. "We thank you for the years of support, boos, and fun. You all made this an incredible experience for us, and we loved entertaining you all."
Ghoulfriends was the first show to announce it would not be returning to the Saloon. However, the withdrawal of funds has left the future of multiple shows at risk, according to Slaymantha Fox, drag queen and producer of "Booked" and "Drag Show: The Musical."
"Pretty simply, if we can't find the funding, the shows end. I can't speak for other producers, but personally, I can't afford to fund them myself, and honestly, most shows I don't make a profit other than tips," Fox said to Bring Me The News. "I created Booked because I was seeing a lot of performers coming up in the scene that weren't getting those bookings, and I just wanted to celebrate the underdogs to lift others up that otherwise wouldn't have a space."
Booked has been a staple show at The Saloon since April 2022. According to Fox, Palmer had contacted them in late April to discuss the future of the bars' drag shows, and said they no longer had the funds to pay performers, with an exception for "Hot Pink," which has been the "headlining" show at The Saloon for years now, and its competition show "Werk."
"You are going to start seeing a lot from me and possibly other producers asking for sponsorship... You might see GoFundMe's other forms to try and find the money to pay these performers because we don't want these shows to go away," Fox said live on Facebook on May 7.
While the bar has said it is still supportive and welcomes drag performances in its space, the news of The Saloon's change spread within the community, causing many to voice their unhappiness at the situation.
"I don't doubt there's a possibility of funds lacking. I just feel like this could've been done with a lot more communication,' frequent Saloon visitor, Juniper Foster said. "Seeing a drag space get relegated to one specific type of drag feels limiting and disappointing, especially in a city that has such a vibrant art scene."
"I think it's easy to point the blame, and it's what humans do, right? We look for someone or something to direct our frustration, anger, and anxiety at. And until you have all the information, you'll only see it from one perspective," Fox said. "I encourage people to look deeper and do the math. Once I multiplied that across all the shows, it made more sense from a business standpoint. But I don't deny people's anger or frustration at the bar because it is upsetting."
While Palmer told Bring Me The News that the bar is currently doing fine financially, the decision was made to ensure that it continues to stay afloat, saying that "the place is too important to too many people."
Many have critiqued the decision, claiming that the bar profits heavily during Pride Month with its annual block party, which will take place from June 27-29. It features DJs, drag performers, and even a Ferris wheel. Tickets range from $44 for a day to $106 for a weekend pass.
"I get what people think about it, but I need people to understand that Pride is very expensive to put on and it's very, very risky," Palmer said in response. "If we have bad weather, we are out of luck. I get what people think about it, but there is a large amount of anxiety and concern about it."
Drag Queen Miz Diagnosis, formerly a host for Stand Up Saloon (SUS), a show cancelled months before this decision, said shows like SUS and Booked are "integral" to the local drag scene.
"They were designed to push artists in a way that some shows don't. SUS always booked comedians to push themselves in front of a queer audience, and drag artists would get an opportunity to try stand up and/or comedic numbers for the first time," Diagnosis said to Bring Me The News. "Booked has monthly changing themes that allow its casts and guests to develop new numbers and work on passion projects/themes that may not be deemed 'marketable.' They were incubators for the art form of drag, and elevated it to new levels."
The next Booked will be on May 23 at 8:30 p.m., and while the future remains uncertain, Fox said she has not given up yet.
"I have a few leads on donors and sponsorship, but nothing confirmed or in writing yet. But I am hopeful," Fox said. "If we can stop pointing blame a bit and take a step back and come together as a community and find a positive constructive way forward we can solve this bump in the road. But people need to do the work, step up, and support each other."
Upcoming shows at the Saloon can be found posted on their Instagram.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Elle

a day ago

• Elle

Machine Gun Kelly Explains the Meaning of the Unique Name He and Megan Fox Gave Their Baby

THE RUNDOWN On Friday, Machine Gun Kelly made an appearance on Today, where he opened up about raising his daughter with Megan Fox. The musical artist recently shared the baby's name, Saga Blade, and he explained the meaning behind the words for himself and Fox. In his explanation, MGK seemed to refer to Fox's experiencing pregnancy loss, which she was quite open about before and after revealing she was expecting. 'Her journey, the five years of her culmination of coming, disappearing, coming back again, disappearing, coming back again, she's an epic story and that's what Saga means,' said Kelly. 'I'm also of Norwegian heritage and so that's a Nordic goddess of storytelling and I think she has a storytelling future ahead of her. Megan's a great mom and just killing it and I'm so excited.' In a video posted earlier this week, Kelly can be seen rocking Saga's baby chair while serenading her. The infant can't be seen on camera. In the caption, he wrote, 'Saga Blade Fox-Baker ❤️‍🔥 thank you for the ultimate gift @meganfox.' Fox's poetry book, Pretty Boys Are Poisonous, touched on her miscarriages. In 2023, Fox shared in an interview with WWD that she had an ectopic pregnancy while in a relationship with Kelly, saying, 'I've had other things that I'm not going to say because God forbid the world will be in an uproar. But I've been through other similar issues, but not with someone who I was so in love with.' Fox has three other children with ex-husband Brian Austin Green, Noah, Bodhi, and Journey. MGK shares his teen daughter, Casie, with his former partner, Emma Cannon. Fox and Kelly dated for five years and were engaged before splitting late last year, shortly after announcing they were expecting.

USA Today

4 days ago

• USA Today

Machine Gun Kelly reveals daughter's name, gives shout-out to ex-fiancée Megan Fox

Hear this story Machine Gun Kelly is one smitten papa. The 35-year-old Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, who welcomed a daughter with ex-fiancée Megan Fox in March, revealed the baby's name in an Instagram post June 17. The post included an adorable video of Kelly, whose real name is Colson Baker, serenading the infant with an ukulele. "Saga Blade Fox-Baker ❤️‍🔥," Kelly wrote. "Thank you for the ultimate gift @meganfox." The "My Ex's Best Friend" singer announced Saga's birth in a March 27 Instagram post, which included a black-and-white clip of Kelly caressing the newborn's hand. "She's finally here!! our little celestial seed," he wrote at the time. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Despite initial fan speculation that the baby's name was "Celestial Seed," Kelly debunked the rumor in a follow-up post on his Instagram Story. "Her mom is gonna tell you the name when we're ready," he'd written. Fox revealed the former couple was expecting in November 2024 on social media. Saga marks Fox's fourth child after having three children with actor and "Beverly Hills, 90210" alum Brian Austin Green. Kelly shares a daughter with his ex, Emma Cannon. The news of Fox's pregnancy came about a year after she shared that she and Kelly previously experienced pregnancy loss. "I've never been through anything like that before in my life," she told "Good Morning America" at the time. "I have three kids. So it was very difficult for both of us, and it sent us on a very wild journey together." 10 bingeable memoirs to check out: Celebrities tell all about aging, marriage and Beyoncé Fox and Kelly also became engaged in January 2022. But in an interview on "Call Her Daddy" in March 2024, Fox confirmed she and Kelly had called the engagement off, though at the time she wouldn't go into detail about their current relationship status. "I think that what I've learned from being in this relationship is that it's not for public consumption, so I think, as of now, I don't have a comment on the status of the relationship, per se," she said. "What I can say is: That is what I refer to as being my 'twin soul,' and there will always be a tether to him no matter what." Contributing: Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY

USA Today

5 days ago

• USA Today

Machine Gun Kelly reveals daughter's name, gives shout-out to ex-fiancée Megan Fox

Machine Gun Kelly reveals daughter's name, gives shout-out to ex-fiancée Megan Fox Machine Gun Kelly is one smitten papa. The 35-year-old Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, who welcomed a daughter with ex-fiancée Megan Fox in March, revealed the baby's name in an Instagram post June 17. The post included an adorable video of Kelly, whose real name is Colson Baker, serenading the infant with an ukulele. "Saga Blade Fox-Baker ❤️‍🔥," Kelly wrote. "Thank you for the ultimate gift @meganfox." The "My Ex's Best Friend" singer announced Saga's birth in a March 27 Instagram post, which included a black-and-white clip of Kelly caressing the newborn's hand. "She's finally here!! our little celestial seed," he wrote at the time. 'She's finally here': Megan Fox, Machine Gun Kelly welcome first child Despite initial fan speculation that the baby's name was "Celestial Seed," Kelly debunked the rumor in a follow-up post on his Instagram Story. "Her mom is gonna tell you the name when we're ready," he'd written. Fox revealed the former couple was expecting in November 2024 on social media. Saga marks Fox's fourth child after having three children with actor and "Beverly Hills, 90210" alum Brian Austin Green. Kelly shares a daughter with his ex, Emma Cannon. The news of Fox's pregnancy came about a year after she shared that she and Kelly previously experienced pregnancy loss. "I've never been through anything like that before in my life," she told "Good Morning America" at the time. "I have three kids. So it was very difficult for both of us, and it sent us on a very wild journey together." 10 bingeable memoirs to check out: Celebrities tell all about aging, marriage and Beyoncé Fox and Kelly also became engaged in January 2022. But in an interview on "Call Her Daddy" in March 2024, Fox confirmed she and Kelly had called the engagement off, though at the time she wouldn't go into detail about their current relationship status. "I think that what I've learned from being in this relationship is that it's not for public consumption, so I think, as of now, I don't have a comment on the status of the relationship, per se," she said. "What I can say is: That is what I refer to as being my 'twin soul,' and there will always be a tether to him no matter what." Contributing: Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY