N.L. drag queen Tara Nova exposes low pay at St. John's nightclub, leading to backlash against venue
Velvet owner says he's actively working to increase performer pay
A St. John's performer is urging the city's drag community to sashay away from Velvet Club and Lounge — the city's only 2SLGBTQ+ venue — after a high-profile conflict between the nightclub and drag queen Tara Nova.
Tara Nova is representing Newfoundland and Labrador on the latest season of Canada's Drag Race. In the first episode, she disclosed that drag performers at Velvet are only paid $37.50 per night.
Tara Nova is performed by Lukus Oram-Feltham, who says after the episode aired, the nightclub threatened to cancel his contract for his next show, which was supposed to be a viewing party for the season's second episode.
"The club immediately told me that I attacked them on TV, which is untrue. I only stated what were paid, and I also stated that the owner was a straight man, both just facts," said Oram-Feltham.
Oram-Feltham made a post on social media alleging that Velvet had cancelled his contract, and asked the internet for help finding a new venue.
Failed negotiations
After garnering significant backlash online, the club asked to meet with Oram-Feltham and negotiate better pay for performers.
Oram-Feltham says negotiations went well. But the club posted another statement — now deleted — on social media after that meeting, one that painted a different picture of their relationship.
The club's manager, Stephen Dillon, sent CBC News the same statement in an email, after declining an interview due to unforeseen personal reasons. In it, Dillon suggested Oram-Feltham misrepresented the club's financial constraints and offered conditions the club decided it was not in its best interest to fulfill.
"Tara Nova exposed the previous pay rate at the Velvet Club and Lounge," Dillon wrote. "Tara did not expose that there was a budget of $255 per night divided by the number of queens added to the show."
Dillon also said the number of performers is decided by the show organizer, adding he's now decided to allow only four performers per show to increase their pay.
He also noted Oram-Feltham asked to headline four shows per month, which would have added up to 50 per cent of all shows in a year. Dillon also said Oram-Feltham told Velvet he would "not help with damage control" until the bar agreed to those terms.
"The owner and I feel this is unfair to the remaining 40+ drag performers in our city. We feel that everyone should have full access to the stage and [ability to] express their art form," said Dillon.
CBC News also received a statement from the club's owner, Luc Viau, denying that he cancelled future events with Oram-Feltham. He also said he's adding a $5 cover to increase the show budget.
Viau declined an interview.
"It needs to make sense for everyone," wrote Viau in an email. "[There's] slow weekends and busier weekends and I have expenses as well. Clearly [there's] a need to change things.
"Tara said to us she was forced to make those statements on the show. I guess it makes for good TV. Tara is enjoying her moment in the sun right now and that's great, but at the expense of Velvet and me, the straight gay-bar owner?" he said.
"Unfortunately right now I'm not sure Velvet will survive this and I will have to rebrand the venue for another purpose. That is not my goal."
Better pay needed
After Velvet published its statement, Oram-Feltham said the club "nullified our agreement and said that we could not move forward."
Oram-Feltham said there are other factors that have contributed to the club's backlash.
"I think that there is a lot that we should be looking into, because me stating a simple fact on TV should not be enough to take a business down," he said.
Oram-Feltham acknowledged that the rate of pay went up to $60 per performer, per night after the show's production had already wrapped, but says it's still not enough compensation for all the work that goes into a drag performance.
"$60 is still a very, very low rate for drag queens to work on," said Oram-Feltham. "$60 maybe covers the cost of just our foundation, let alone outfits, let alone wigs, let alone the rest of the makeup."
Oram-Feltham also said drag shows can bring a lot of money into venues.
"We bring guaranteed business, we bring guaranteed liquor sales. We bring guaranteed experiences for the public and that is something that is so valuable. Our art is so valuable," he said.
On the same episode of Canada's Drag Race, contestant Xana from Vancouver said she pays performers a flat rate of $200.
"Drag queens are similar to a band. We are providing you an experience. We are providing you with entertainment for the night. Pay your entertainers," said Oram-Feltham.
Oram-Feltham found a new location for his next show, but says it's time for the local drag community to find a new venue.
"We are so excited to bring drag into new spaces, into all these spaces that we've already been in, and that appreciate us and that pay us well and listen to our needs," he said.
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