Life's A Drag! Interview with Miss Carm'n Storm
The life behind a Blackpool Drag Queen and how to become one. Exclusive Interview - Carm’n Storm
Alex Lonorgan, a 22-year-old professional Blackpool Drag Queen DJ who goes by the name of Carm’n Storm reveals all his secrets to Jeni Quirke this month including a sneak peak at his four wardrobes full of clothes, 20 wigs and 15 pairs of shoes.
The former Car Salesman and University student moved to Blackpool in July last year from Liverpool to start working for In The Pink leisure (ITP) who own and run several of Blackpool’s gay and lesbian venues including The Flamingo and The Flying Handbag..
Why did you want to be a Drag Queen?
It wasn’t that I wanted to be a Drag Queen; it was that I wanted to entertain people because I’ve always been an entertainer since I was very young and I enjoy it. People always told me that I was very funny and through that I decided that ‘well if I’m funny, let’s have a go at doing a bit of comedy’. So then one night I got asked to do a charity night in drag so I did and ever since then I’ve never looked back – I’ve always been doing my comedy in drag.
How did you start in Blackpool?
I got offered a trial night at the handbag and on my first week I did my trail night on a Tuesday, Bar B on the Wednesday and The Handbag on the Thursday. Ever since then I have been pretty much full-time.
Do you only dress up as Carm ‘n Storm when working?
I do unless it’s been a particularly hard night and I can’t be arsed taking my slap off and I want to go for a quick bevvy after work.
When you first started DJ’ing in Drag how did your family and friends react?
When I first started doing it, it was a complete secret. Then I told my mum and she was mortified. Eventually I told my dad and he knew I was a Drag Queen before he knew I was gay. He was fine about me being a Drag Queen but hated that fact that I was gay whereas my mum hated me being a Drag Queen but loved the fact that I was gay.
Dressed as Alex, how would you describe your person?
Exactly the opposite of Carm’n Storm – quiet, loving, caring and single (hint). I would say my dress sense normally describes my mood so if I can’t be arsed you’ll find me in trackies, a t-shirt and a baseball cap. If I’m in a good mood and happy I’ll have my hair done and I’ll be in a nice pair of jeans and a nice shirt.
Dressed as Carm'n, how would you describe her?
An absolute f**king bitch and the opposite of Alex. Basically what I try and do when I’m trying to build my character is be the opposite of what I am. Although Carm’n Storm is a very welcoming person in bars and always likes to say hello to everyone, at the same time she would still cut you to the bone but with no offence intended – it’s all good fun! I’m not an evil queen; I’m a nice queen with a twist.
Do you enjoy dressing up as a woman?
No I don’t enjoy dressing up as a woman; I enjoy the reaction you get from taking the piss out of people. You could take the piss as a man but there was only so far you could go.
How did you ever learn to walk in those heels?
It was called ‘walk out of the dressing room into the DJ box and stand on a beer crate’ so I broke myself in really. Then after a while I just stood longer and longer and walked further and further. Now I can walk a bloody marathon in a pair of Cha Cha heels. I’m actually more comfortable these days in high heels than I am in most men’s shoes.
If someone wanted to be like you, like Carm‘n Storm, what would you say?
I would say ‘F**k off, get your mitts of my job!’ No I would say that what helped me is that I worked as a DJ as a man first and had the ability to DJ, and the ability to talk to people. It’s all interaction. I would also say ‘decide whether you want to be a DJ, decide whether you want to be a cabaret singer’ and if they want to be a DJ then they need to have some sort of record collection, get a dress and then maybe ask at their local gay bar about doing the quietest night of the week, getting a trial or even going in and assisting a DJ.
Carm’n’s make-up tips
Who taught you to put on make-up?
Loads and loads of people have taught me different techniques, girls, boys and other Drag Queens. When I was in Liverpool I used to use my own eyebrows and I got taught about the thick stage make-up base. There it was very different, the eye make-up wasn’t blended, it was just a stripe of black, a stripe of white and a stripe of pink then a bit of eyeliner, throw some lashes on and off you go.
I do not profess to be a make-up artist so I just do my make-up the way I’ve been taught by several different people. My face is not a complicated face but the way I do it is:
Eyebrow Plastic - To hide my eyebrows.
Mastics and Powder – Over eyebrows to protect eyebrow plastic.
Thick Foundation – For over the top and under my eyes.
Eyebrow or eyeliner pencil – To draw on my fake eyebrows.
Black eyeliner – For taking the eyeliner up into the sockets.
Eyeliner or white eye shadow – For the eyes.
Black eye shadow– For in the sockets and blending.
Eye shadow - Any colour of can be used.
Fake eyelashes – For over my eyelashes.
Shaving - I have to shave my face, chest and underarms.
Blusher - I normally blend a bit of white into my blusher to make my cheekbones stand out.
Lip liner and lipstick – For my lips
Tights – Two pairs to hide my hairy legs.
Clothes – I’ll pick my dress and shoes.
Jewellery – I’ll pick my necklace, earrings and other bits.
Hair – I’ll pick my ready styled wig.
Final Touches – I’ll put on my false nails, coat and sunglasses.
For make-up your local dance supplier or dance shop is normally the best and that’s where you can buy your tights as well.
North West Shops
Blackpool – Showstoppers Dancewear Centre, Topping Street, FY1 3AF
Tel: 01253 290543 or http://showstoppersuk.com
Liverpool – That’s Entertainment Dancewear, London Road, L38 HY
Tel: 0151 2981905 or www.thatsentertainment.gbr.cc
Manchester - Stage Door Dance Shop, Little Underbank, Stockport, SK1 1JT
Tel: 0161 480 0735 or http://stage-door.co.uk/contact.asp
The difference between a Drag Queen and a transvestite
A Drag Queen is a performer and a man who dresses as a female impersonator just for work. A transvestite is somebody who likes to wear the clothes of the opposite sex on a regular basis for fun, fetish or a number of other reasons. Sometimes a person can be both a Drag Queen and a transvestite.
Carm’n's Tips
What To Do
Be your own person and be your own style.
Take hints from other people but always remember that you are an individual.
Don’t let anyone get you down because you’ll get there in the end.
When you go to pick your foundation, get them to pick a colour that blends with your skin, not bright orange foundation when your skin is pale-milk white.
What Not To Do
Get your willy out in public.
Take your wig off in public because it’s a bit like watching a horror film.
Scare young children in the street.
Mix red and green or pink and red - I saw a transvestite walking through Blackpool town centre last week wearing a pink suit and red shoes and I was horrified.
Carm’n’s Weekly Schedule
Monday night – Roxy’s
Tuesday night – Flying Handbag
Wednesday night – The Flamingo
Thursday – “Night Off”
Friday Night – Taboo
Saturday Afternoon – Flying Handbag
Saturday Night – Taboo
Sunday Afternoon – Flying Handbag
