Behind the glitter and the spotlights, the profession of Drag Queen is far from being as easy as it looks. Florian, alias Hitsublu, lifts the veil behind the scenes of an art as demanding as unknown.
From the top of its 1.92 meters, Florian does not go unnoticed. But if the heads turn in its path, it is not only because of its size. High heels, radiant hair, makeup worked to the extreme and extravagant dresses … Florian plays codes of femininity with ease thanks to his character of Drag Queen whom he named Hitsublu. Being Drag Queen for him is much more than a disguise. It is the art of transforming, amplifying genres, playing with appearances to better express what we are – or what we want to be – the time of a show.
It all started at 16, when he discovered the infinite possibilities of makeup: “I always found it very interesting to be able to modify your face, to be able to express it differently“, he says. A few years later, the click occurs in front of an episode of Rupaul’s Drag Racethe cult program from the United States which propels the art of the drag under the spotlight. “”I fell in love with the show. I found it great“, He recalls.
Like many Drag artists, Hitsublu made his start on the open stages. “”Generally, you start by free scenes where you are not paid and where you can afford to be mistaken, to experiment“, she explains. At first, she begins with the lip-sync, that is to say the art of mimicking the lyrics of a song in perfect synchronization with music.”Generally, we start with that first. It allows, when you are afraid, to hide behind the sound“Then to specify that there are also Drag artists who sing for real – this is for example the case of Piche -, make comic sketches or embark on stripping numbers.
Over time, Hitsublu has gained insurance, and professional opportunities have been chained. Today, it occurs in paid shows, with performance worked in the line. But behind the rhinestone, the drag remains a real investment, far beyond the simple moment on stage. Hitsublu herself imagines her outfits, which she made by French craftsmen in an almost sewing spirit. “”Suddenly, costumes can cost very very expensive. I would say between 500 and the most expensive I had to pay, it had to be 2500 euros“, she confides. To limit costs, she also achieves all her wigs, a know-how she puts at the service of other drag queens, including some past by Drag Race France.
The remuneration remains modest compared to the investment requested. “”We are paid approximately 150-200 euros on the evening“, she says. An amount that may seem correct for a few minutes on stage … except that he does not reflect colossal work upstream.”The evening understands all the preparation before, and people do not see it. Often, it is said that it is well paid for three minutes of show … But people do not see the hours of maintenance, rehearsal, creation that there is behind“, she underlines. Because beyond the past time, it is also a permanent mental charge.”You are not remunerated for the time you prepare. It’s really seven days a week, 24 hours a day in your head“, She adds.
