This week, we got the incredible chance to get up-close and personal with Dustin Schlong – one of the coolest kings on the Denver drag scene and winner of the OUT FRONT Magazine Drag King of the Year 2018.
Dustin is a no-holes barred performer who is completely turning the idea of gender and drag on its head. He gave us the inside scoop and filled us in on everything from his weirdest on-stage moments to the story behind his drag name, and we are HERE FOR IT. If you’re in the Denver area – this is one drag artist you do not want to miss.
Werkin’ It Out with Dustin Schlong
1. What inspired you to start doing drag?
I first started going to a local bar a few years ago for a Drag Queen BINGO event and my friends and I became regulars and fell in love with the queens hosting it. I loved watching them perform and host but knew I didn’t want to be a Queen, once I found out the concept of being a Drag King I fell in love and eventually stumbled into a Drag King Game Night going on at a bar and was painted for my first time ever and started to perform shortly after!
2. If you were stranded on an island – and had to pick 3 other drag artists to take with you – who would they be?
My drag Mimi, Kai Lee Mykels
My drag brother, Calder Goodlay
and Landon Cider
3. What country haven’t you visited (that you’d love to)?
I haven’t traveled many places internationally but I would love to visit Australia or Iceland!
4. What the 1 song you’ve always wanted to perform live or what’s your favorite song to perform live?
Once I find a song I want to perform I usually try to get it on stage pretty quick because I am inpatient, but recently I got to perform Feed the Dada by Dada Life and its probably been my favorite song to perform! Its super upbeat and a really fun dance song.
5. Tell us more about your regular shows. Where’s your “home bar”?
I don’t exactly have 1 bar I perform at more then others, but I host a few regular shows around Denver. I used to host a monthly show called All Night Schlong at Gladys the Nosy Neighbor, which was an all King themed show with Queens performing in King drag as well. We had to take a short break due to medical reasons, but working on getting the show up and running again.
I also am just about to debut a monthly show called Just Duet, which is a queer performance art duet / group show! It won’t just feature drag artists, but will include burlesque, comedy, and other forms of performances! This show is the 4th Sunday of every month at Pride & Swagger.
I am also working on launching a Drag King Boot Camp in November that will teach newer performers the basics on being a King and drag in general! Otherwise you can catch me at other bars in town like X Bar and Hamburger Marys fairly regularly with an average of 12+ shows a month in Colorado.
6. What your craziest party trick or on-stage gag?
I’m known in Denver for doing the nose flick trick on people all the time. Both on and off stage. I have a reputation for being everyones ‘Pop Pop’ in the Denver Drag community so I have a few dad jokes and tricks I tend to pull out probably more often then I should.
7. How’d you get your drag name? Is there a story behind it?
I loved the name Dustin because it was like Justin (like… Bieber) but not. It gave off a player / fuck boy vibe which was kind of what my beginning drag was based on. Then for my last name I just loved saying the word Schlong and wanted to make people say it any opportunity I can. It definitely makes professional situations a little interesting having to introduce myself with the name.
8. If you weren’t doing drag, what would you be doing?
I don’t even want to think about that! But for real, I used to work in the hotel industry before I started drag and was working all the time and ended up leaving the industry so I could have more free time, so chances are I would still be selling my soul to the hotel world overworked and unhappy. Drag also helped me find my identify and come out as a transman, so I’m not sure I would’ve been able to discover that without drag.
9. If you could click your fingers and have one thing done for you every day, what would it be and why?
Laundry easily. I love having fresh clean clothes but the process for it is pure torture for me and takes way to much time.
10. What is the wackiest, weirdest or most cringeworthy thing that’s ever happened while you were performing?
I haven’t had anything to crazy happen to me while performing thankfully, but I have this Justin Bieber mix I do that sometimes gets girls a little to excited for, especially when they are intoxicated. I once had a girl I pulled on stage for the performance and she insisted on trying to solely tip me with her mouth, which I really don’t like and kept getting a little to handsy on stage. Overall I am a pretty laid back performer and build relationships that being touched to an extent doesn’t phase me, but this one girl went a little overboard making it really uncomfortable while performing.
***
Dragr 