We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mx. Pucks A’plenty. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mx. Pucks below.
Mx. Pucks, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today undefined
One of my crowning achievements is Fat Con and Fatlesque Fest NW—a 3-day convention for Fat Joy that happens simultaneously with a burlesque festival centered around fat performers. These events are innovative; they’re elevating; they train a spotlight on fat phobia. Anti-fatness is one of those things that people overlook. Our society overlooks the mistreatment of fat people because we see fatness as a moral failure. I think one of the most radical things that a person can do is to love themselves and accept themselves unapologetically. Is it innovative to love the body that you’re in regardless of your size? It shouldn’t be, but apparently it is. I’m here for it.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am Mx. Pucks A’Plenty, the Michelle Obama of Burlesque, Seattle’s Own Mxtress of Thiccness, and ‘“The They Them Yas Queen of Burlesque.” With a life-long background in dance, I perform, headline, and produce burlesque shows. But more than that, as a plus-size queer femme of color, I know my politics, body, and sex are potent and radical. I founded Puckduction: a production company to support marginalized creators, educators, and activists with a focus on BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, People with Disabilities, and People of Size. I use art and culture to activate spaces, build community, and provide financial compensation for marginalized performing artists.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Being a member of the communities I seek to serve helps to build my reputation in those communities. But I also understand that serving marginalized communities and creators requires education and relationships with people and organizations outside those marginalized groups. With that reputation established, I just keep creating events that allow people to find their community and a place that they feel seen. My reputation is the piece that enables me to build community; and it’s those communities that continue to support my mission. I want people to know it is radical to love yourself and to accept yourself in the face of your dehumanization. I want to create community nourishment and continue the radical belief that the number on the scale does not equal your value in this world.
Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?
(Switching to fit my industry) Managing a production company requires my “product” to be placed in event venues of all kinds. In burlesque, sometimes you perform on a big stage; sometimes it’s the back of a food venue. Unfortunately, many venues are unwilling to see the value that burlesque can bring to their spaces. Producers and performers are significantly underpaid and undercut. Even with a production company like mine helping to negotiate deals with venues, I can still end up being undercut by individual performers or other producers willing to work for a drink ticket and a slice of pizza. This makes it difficult to make sure that performers are paid a fair wage and provide opportunities for folks to take care of themselves financially by creating art and entertainment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mxpucksaplenty.com/
- Instagram: @pucksaplenty
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MxPucksAPlenty
