Get Dusted
Pictured from left to right: Daegen Michelle, Crystal Methyd, Lux, Daya Betty
Photo by Conor Tierney
December 2015 was when Crystal Methyd collaborated with The Outland Ballroom’s, Johan Collin after being inspired by the drag scene in big cities like New York City and Chicago. Crystal was constantly complaining, to her then roommate, that Springfield did not have anything like that. She thought to herself: why not start it? From then on, Crystal and Johan have been working together every month finding new talent for their monthly show, Get Dusted, and creating new and daring ideas for future events. Initially having to convince her friends to let her do their makeup and then force them on stage, she now has a full cast of new drag queens performing each month..
For Crystal Methyd, Rupaul’s Drag Race Season 7 inspired her push to create herself. Her mother, seeing Crystal watched the show, said, “No one that does that can be beautiful”. With a small temptation to prove her mom wrong, Crystal Methyd was born with the full support of her mother.
Photo by Danielle Million
Photo courtesy of Daya Betty
Crystal and her team of queens create different themes for their monthly shows, some past themes ranging from ‘The Jungle to 'WWE Divas’. For one queen, Lux, the overall exposure to drag has led to a big part of Get Dusted’s success, "With RuPaul’s Drag Race becoming more mainstream, there are younger and younger people being exposed to drag and getting to see how awesome it is. Get
Dusted gives young people a chance to see drag and experience drag in a safe and
exciting atmosphere that they wouldn’t have access to without our show”. Drag queens are able to take virtually any abstract concept and turn it into a physical garment and inspiration can come in many forms. Daya Betty was able to find a $2 jacket from a thrift store that instantly inspired the direction of her “Color Pop French (Wo)man” look. Drag is all about experimenting, and for Daya that means, “trying or doing new things outside of your comfort zones”. That is one of the most important processes to determining your brand as an artist”, she says.
Drag has played a huge roll in Daya’s life, becoming a creative outlet. "For me, drag is about self-realization and artistic expression. Daya has taught me more about loving who I am and being comfortable with my insecurities. Embracing all parts of me (my fantasies, my real life, my emotions) and turning that into a physical and visual art is one of the most liberating feelings".
Photo by Conor Tierney
Get Dusted was created with the idea of bringing drag to a community that hasn’t been exposed to the art form in recent years and to also help those that want to start a drag career. There are a multitude of ways to get started as a performer in Springfield. Crystal’s advice is to go out one night in drag, and introduce yourself to other drag queens that you meet. “It’s good practice and a great way to network with local queens,” Crystal told us.
A common word used to describe the drag community has been, family. For Daegen Michelle, a local queen mentored her throughout her drag process and helped her with makeup application. Known for her dynamic stage performance and creating her own looks, in addition to being a transgender queen in Springfield, she is taking the stage by storm. “As a transgender woman, I feel a contribution that the trans community has given to drag would be open-mindedness and knowledge about the trans community. It's not uncommon", she says. Daegen has become an inspiration, pushing her fellow sisters to leave everything they have on the stage every month. Daegen Michelle shared with us, “We will pay you, we will get you ready and looking your best, we will uplift you and give you an environment of love and acceptance.” Not all nightclubs have shows that are meant to highlight new drag queens, but Get Dusted was founded upon new queens, and giving them a spotlight that other venues won’t.
Photo courtesy of Daegen Michelle
Get Dusted can help you jumpstart your drag career, and help you build a family of fellow performers and artists that are striving for the same goal. Acceptance and love. For some it’s artistic expression and for some it’s something way deeper. Drag is about challenging the line between genders, showing your creativity, and just having fun. This show is bringing the art form of drag to the Springfield community, and is getting ready to expose a part of our drag community to the Midwest. Contact the Get Dusted Facebook page, or Crystal’s instagram and simply ask to perform.