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

Chartruice, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Before the pandemic, I was fully able to live off of just performing/my art. Since the pandemic, that’s just not the reality anymore. I will currently have to search for a day time job for the first time in years as every club/venue I worked at has cut costs and let a lot of their performers go, or just don’t have the funds for them anymore. I’ve been surviving for a while thanks to a goFundme an artist from tiktok started for me, but that is running out. There are just less opportunities now than there once used to be, and I’m not the only performer who’s experiencing this currently in NYC. It’s daunting because I worked really hard, went to a lot of open stages, went out every night to meet new people, networked, and now I have quite a following, but I have less gigs than ever. It wasn’t easy at all, and I’ve lost multiple accounts and had to start all over again multiple times. To anyone who wants to pursue full time performance art but has zero support system like I do or isn’t a thin white woman/man, you’re going to have a hard time. I think a major milestone is I continue performing even after everything I have endured being a performance artist, and another is getting sober completely forever from alcohol. I couldn’t be where I am now without quitting drinking, facing my demons, holding myself accountable, and healing my mind, body, and soul.

Chartruice, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Well, I’m Chartruice. It comes from the color/drink: chartreuse. I have been attracted to this particular hue of green for many years now, and thought it was a unique name, but of course I had to be complicated and unique the unique. I got into performance art (burlesque/drag) because it was something I always did and admired already. I excelled in every art or literature class I was in. I was heavily involved in theater. I was not born to be a doctor or a scientist, I was born to be an artist. And the thing is, the majority of if not every talent I possess? I taught myself how to do. That includes writing, drawing, painting, embroidery, costuming, headpieces, choreography, burlesque, drag, makeup, singing, everything. I think that’s what makes me particularly stand out from other artists/performance artists. All of my choreography, makeup, costumes, and concepts are all done by myself, they are all uniquely me.

I am extremely proud that I never listened to one naysayer, and continued to do things my way and stick to my principles. Everyone was quick to berate, slow to congratulate. I was told I was too weird, too fat, too alternative, yaddah yaddah yaddah. I said ‘fuck you!’ And did it anyway! I may have a small following, but I still have one, something those negative energy people told me I would never have. I feel like people are so quick to follow the crowd because it’s more comfortable, and easier. But I’d be so much more miserable if I did things the way everyone else did. I love my fans, and they help me remember why I do and love what I do.

Through my art I also want to help equity and inclusion flourish. When I produce shows, I hire those who are underrepresented often. You won’t find many thin white cis people in my productions. I am someone who is mad at the way the world is and is hellbent on helping to make a change in it some way, somehow. How idiotic is it that these human meat sacks have the nerve to tell someone whether they are worthy of happiness or not based off of how much melanin they contain in their skin?? I’m waiting for the day people learn once and for all we’re all from the same cookie dough, we’re just cut with different cookie cutters. I hope to bring unity through my position and my artistry.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Consume with care. We are human beings with feelings and struggles like everyone else. Go to local art shows. Go to local drag and burlesque shows. You’ll pay $100+ to go see your favorite drag artist? You can pay $20 to see a local show with multiple artists. Expand your minds and expand your horizons. There are so many performers and so many opportunities if only you’ll give them to us. See an artist struggling? Share, like, comment, anything to boost or support them. A lot of us artists support each other, as lots of people outside do not. If you own venues, provide safe and accessible places. Reach out to more performers and put on more shows at your venues. Help us, help you!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I was just born to create, so that’s what I do. But really I would love to be able to live comfortably once and for all solely off of my art, I don’t want to be a millionaire. I don’t want a mansion. I want to be able to just be me and be able to sustain myself in this world through my artistic expressions/endeavors.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @chartruiceee
• Youtube: @chartruice

Image Credits

Flaminia Fanale
Vivienne Maricevic
Austin Ruffer