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

Hi Jami, thanks for joining us today. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

Drag kings in particular are often underrepresented in media and local scenes. I’m grateful there’s more king representation in Pittsburgh because it wasn’t always like this. And it keeps getting better! Support your kings!!

Once I started incorporating burlesque into my skillset, I felt some pressure to perform only as a king, or only perform as a very feminine burlesque performer. I recently competed in Mx Mom’s Basement, a weekly open-stage challenge at Ptown, where I gave myself the freedom to present and perform however felt right for the challenge that week. I did both drag and burlesque separately and. I blended them together for a few acts.

All I really needed to do was give myself permission to express myself however felt right. Jami Starling is a gender-nonconforming entertainer with a background in Rocky Horror shadowcasting, drag, and burlesque. And I haven’t looked back since!

Jami, 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’ve been doing drag since the pandemic started in 2020. While some folks were learning how to make sourdough bread, I was learning how to do drag makeup! I made my first foray into producing and hosting with a Twitch drag show called “The Baby Shower” which was created for drag artists who were getting started in quarantine like me.

Since quarantine ended, I joined the JCCP, Pittsburgh’s official Rocky Horror shadowcast. Shadowcasting is where actors perform movies while they play on the screen behind them. In addition to performing Rocky Horror, I’ve been a part of a few productions of “Repo! The Genetic Opera,” “Shock Treatment,” “Clue,” “Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical,” “Phantom of the Paradise,” “The Room,” and I recently directed a performance of “Mamma Mia!”

I’ve been doing burlesque regularly for 2 years, and I’ve incorporated my love of pop culture into my performance, which is called “nerdlesque” or cosplay burlesque. I’ve performed as characters like the Goblin King from Labyrinth, Chewbacca, Beetlejuice, and I even perform as celebrities like Freddie Mercury!

In the last 2 years in particular, I have taken a lot of pride in learning to produce shows of my own. I produced shows like Bowie Burlesque, May the Fierce Be With You, and One Helluva Hazbin Variety Show. I take a lot of pride in curating casts that are just as passionate about the themes as I am, and it really shows in the artistry that comes from it.

My shows and my acts are for the misfits and weirdos out there. They are for people who were told they were “too much” for being passionate about the shows, movies, and books they love. I want my shows to be safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people and allies who are nerds.

I am particularly excited for my next endeavor with my friends and collaborators, Pearl Necklace and Ramona Ryder, as we create our own performing arts group, The Coven of Misfits. There’s more news to come soon on that front, and we can’t wait to get started.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Consistency is key for social media or any kind of portfolio work. For visual art forms like drag and burlesque, Instagram and TikTok are some of the best ways to curate your own portfolio, and save posts from artists that inspire you.

How I built my following was by following my local drag and burlesque performers, and then when they posted their flyers for shows, I followed the cast. One of the best things to come from quarantine drag was being able to see the drag scenes of cities like Chicago and Atlanta. and Boston, for instance. Follow a lot of people, not just so they follow you back, but so that way you can connect and build familiarity. Also, nice comments and sharing someone’s post on your story are free. You are encouraging and cheering on a fellow artist, which is awesome, and it’s another way to connect with your local scene.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

One of the most rewarding aspects of being an artist for me is when people tell me they want to come to the next show I’m putting on after a show just finished up. It makes me feel so good about the work I put into producing and performing that someone is already ready for the next show and to see what comes next. I can’t wait either.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jami-starling.mailchimpsites.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jami__starling
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamistarling69
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jamistarlingperformances

Image Credits

@siennasnapshots, the JCCP, Joel Brewton Photogtaphy, @foedoughgraffy