We were lucky to catch up with Daisy Buckët recently and have shared our conversation below.

Daisy, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

When I was in grade school, I entered a talent show and performed a show tune dressed in drag. I didn’t know that what I was doing at the time was drag but I just thought it was funny and entertaining. It ended up earning me my first ever standing ovation and the thrill of that moment was when I knew I found my calling.

Daisy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have been a full-time drag performer in Kansas City since 2006. I was born and raised in Kansas City but studied musical theater at the American Musical & Dramatic Academy in New York. That training helped prepare me for being on all kinds of stages and venues. After college, I started working at a cabaret bar in downtown Kansas City, where you had to audition by singing a song in order to be a server. It was at this venue that the owner wanted to produce a live-singing drag show and that’s where I launched my character, Daisy Buckët (pronounced ‘bouquet’ and to be clear, the umlaut over the ‘e’ does not make it sound like ‘bouquet’ whatsoever).

The persona I portray as Daisy can be compared to the styles of Bette Midler, Joan Rivers, and Lucille Ball. A lot of brass, sass, and humor. One of the traits that sets me apart from fellow drag artists is that I am an accomplished singer, with two solo albums under my belt (“Pansy” 2018; “Welcome to Springfield” 2023), both of which won The Pitch Magazine’s Best Local Album of the Year.

What’s unique about my particular style is the versatility I have to offer as an entertainer. Being able to cater my craft to a client’s needs is one of the things I actually value most. Whether I’m hired to emcee a fundraising event for a non-profit or if I’m performing a solo show in a banquet hall, being able to adjust and adapt my material to the setting is, to me, one of the most important parts of what I do without sacrificing my integrity or talents.

When someone reaches out to hire me for an event, I have a template of initial questions so I can give them a proper quote. If I’m being hired to do a full show as the surprise entertainment for a birthday party, my fee might be vastly different than if a well-known corporate business is hiring me to do a ten-minute set. I am my own agent, which comes with its own share of pros and cons. The ability to grow my brand over the years has largely been in thanks to the clients who have hired me and have been impressed with my work to recommend me to others or have me back for other events -not to mention a growing fan base that returns to see me again and again. That is truly the most meaningful part of the work.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I’m not alone in saying that 2020 was a life-changing year for many people -in business, career and life! When everything was shutting down, my mind went into panic mode because my primary source of income has always been through in-person entertainment. However I knew I had to retool my approach and figure out how to engage audiences without being in-person.

What ensued was a weekly series of live online shows where fans would tune in for an hour while I provided some form of entertainment (Daisy Hosts Game Night!; Daisy Reads the Phone Book & Other Instruction Manuals) and it led to a program that took off so successfully, that it got picked up by a radio station where I was interviewed about it.

The show was called “Driving Miss Daisy” and the premise was that, each Tuesday at 6pm on Instagram Live, I would drive around the Kansas City metro with my phone rigged to my windshield. As I emceed and sang, I would drive to notable landmarks around town where other drag performers would be waiting, I’d introduce them, blast their music in my car, and they’d perform a routine in front of my car while people tipped virtually. People from all over the country started tuning in and telling their friends: “Hey, there’s a drag queen in Kansas City hosting drag shows where the performers dance in front of her car”. A ridiculous concept that, to this day, I still get thanked for and asked about.

Would I do it again? Not if I don’t have to! I still feel the thrill of in-person entertainment to be the most exciting feeling because there’s a connection you can feel which doesn’t come through the same in a virtual performance. But the point is, being able to adapt my talent and craft to this other form of entertainment, helped me continue to do what I’m most skilled at.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Because I don’t regularly tour or perform in extended engagements, this line of work relies on having some ambition and drive to keep working. One particular video that’s impacted me is “Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work”, a documentary behind one of stand-up’s greatest comediennes. In it, there is a behind-the-scenes moment where we see Joan going over her schedule for the month and pointing to any blank dates on the calendar. Another scene shows rows and rows of file cabinets, filled with her jokes each meticulously hand-typed onto index cards.

The hustle to keep working and keep at your craft are the two things you have to do in order to make it in the industry. You don’t even have to be particularly great at the start, but as you continue to better yourself in the field, the better the offers that come in for work because you don’t want to see a lot of blank dates on the calendar.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.missdaisybucket.com
• Instagram: @missdaisybucket
• Facebook: facebook.com/missdaisybucket
• Twitter: @missdaisybucket
• Other: facebook.com/daisybucketkc (Page)

Image Credits
Vixen Pin-Up Photography Maggie Gulling Photography