Newfoundland Drag Queen Sparks Conversation on Performer Pay After Calling Out Local Venue
The cheers were deafening when Tara Nova took the stage in the twinkling Majestic Theatre in downtown St. John’s. Five-dollar bills rained down around her as she performed. For a local drag queen who just a week earlier called out the only queer venue in town – for underpaying performers.
“How do you like the new venue?” she had asked the audience Thursday night.
Just a week prior, Tara Nova was forced to air her grievances on national television. During the premiere episode of the fifth season of Canada’s Drag Race, she told her fellow contestants that performers in St. John’s were only paid $37.50 to perform six numbers.
“It’s the 50 cents,” said Canadian drag superstar Helena Poison, after hearing about Rhode Island’s paltry pay structure.
Tara Nova, a veteran performer wasn’t shy about calling out the venue by name: Velvet Club and Lounge, the only dedicated LGBTQ2S+ bar in St. John’s.
“This is our only queer space,” Tara Nova told local media. “We can go to other venues in town and get paid what we ask. But when we go to our one queer space, it’s almost … like they can hold it over our heads.”
The bar responded on social media, vowing to introduce a cover charge to “increase show budgets.”
But for many, the damage was done. News exploded online. Fans across the continent sent messages of support.
A few queens from the latest season of Canada’s Drag Race followed suit.
“A Week’s worth of keychain sales,” Tara Nova had said on Canadian television, “for six performances.”
The dollar figures were shocking. Even more so because of the location. This wasn’t a tiny rural town, this was a Canada’s *Drag Race* contestant.
Including the queens themselves:
On Bahamas for national yachts should’ve
But for many, the damage was done. News exploded online. Fans across the continent sent messages of support.
A few queens from the latest season followed suit
“It’s the principle of the thing,” explained local queen Irma Gerd, who had competed on the show’s third season. “We’ve asked for years.”
This is bigger than just one queen
“They’ve been paying $35 in cash,
“They’re funny when you make them queer,”
The bar had not responded to requests for comment.
Tara Nova declined to comment for this Article.
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## The Fight For Fair Pay: An Interview with Tara Nova
**Interviewer:** Tara, welcome to the show. The LGBTQ2S+ community in St. John’s is buzzing about your call for fair pay for drag performers. Can you tell us a little bit about what prompted you to speak out?
**Tara Nova:** Thank you for having me. It really came to a head during filming for _Canada’s Drag Race_. For years, performers in St. John’s, myself included, have been paid a measly $37.50 to perform six full numbers at the Velvet Club and Lounge. That’s barely enough to cover transportation, let alone all the effort, makeup, and costumes that go into a performance.
**Interviewer:** $37.50 seems unbelievably low.
**Tara Nova:** Absolutely. It doesn’t reflect the talent, creativity, and energy that drag performers bring to the stage. Many of us invest thousands of dollars into our craft, and it’s disheartening to see our contributions undervalued. [[1](https://www.out.com/drag/drag-race-prize-money)]delves into the financial burdens contestants face on a show like _Drag Race_ – imagine the costs for performers in smaller cities with limited opportunities.
**Interviewer:** Your comments on the show sparked a lot of conversation online. What has the response been like from the community?
**Tara Nova:** It’s been overwhelmingly positive. There’s a sense of solidarity among performers and allies who understand the need for better treatment.
**Interviewer:** What change are you hoping to see?
**Tara Nova:** My goal isn’t to attack any specific venue. It’s about starting a dialogue about fair compensation for artists in all LGBTQ2S+ spaces. St. John’s has a vibrant community, and we deserve to be treated with respect – that includes being paid a living wage for our talents.