By Miss Bouvee
Wilton Manors, and more specifically, Wilton Drive has no shortage of entertainers, specifically cabaret performers that are live-singing and all-request based. Many may not know that I have been performing in the Wilton community for almost 10 years. However, nearly 6 of those years were only seasonal and in pants behind a piano. That’s right, Miss B plays piano too 🙂 I remember a time before Covid when the city was just as vibrant, but it does seem like we are at the center of a performer renaissance! This is not to say, “out with the old and in with the new”. In fact, quite the contrary.
From newcomer Natasha Ricketts to firmly established Brian Mason who has made a name for himself as a solo performer over the last year, the community is constantly supporting a vibrant cabaret scene. This kind of thriving, and growing, scene does indeed put us on par with many of the famous LGBTQIA+ cities like Provincetown, Puerto Vallarta, and Palm Springs. I would be remiss if I did not comment on one major difference between Wilton Manors and the aforementioned communities; the shows presented in those respective towns are all ticketed.
People have asked me about this topic often and I admittedly go back and forth on the subject. There are benefits to ticketing; for example, the venue would transfer the cost of the entertainment to the price of the ticket. Said ticket money can also make for much more of a significant pay base for the performer. However, ticketing comes with some negative aspects as well, like creating the demand for the performer to constantly sell tickets (often referred to as barking for sales on the street before shows), and ticket sales often diminish or eliminate altogether possible tip revenue. I don’t know if a change is called for at this time, but it would be worth mentioning that I have seen bars across the nation add a $5 p/p entertainment fee to patrons’ bills. This fee, at least in the three bars I am thinking about (one in Naples, one in Detroit, and one in Chicago), is added only when there is any form of entertainment on stage, and if a certain tab threshold is not met. This does indeed help supplement the performer base and create a shared culture between patrons and venue in financing some of the best entertainment around. It also grants access to a better living wage for cabaret performers. It is something to think about.
While I don’t pretend to speak for all of my cabaret colleagues, I would imagine they support me in saying THANK YOU to the entire community for keeping live vocalists employed! Enjoy this special time in our history. Ever grateful!!!
