A Night in the life: Vivacious Miss Audacious
Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, Michigan native Vivacious Miss Audacious is known for her vibrant energy and mega watt smile. She has toured extensively across three continents from the USA and Canada, throughout Europe and across Australia. She produces wonderful monthly shows such as Kapow! and the Psychedelic Speakeasy.
One of my shows, The Psychedelic Speakeasy floats between Fridays and Saturdays but whichever it is, I try to set aside that day to focus on show prep. It’s typically sold out by midday, so in the morning I can relax over coffee and take my time waking up. Usually, I’ll kick off the day checking ticket sales, scrolling through social media and posting a final round of online promo.
My next step is finalizing the set list and making sure I have all the music tracks and tech info together for the sound and light person. While I book acts that fit within the framework of the show, this is typically when I finalize the running order to ensure that the psychedelic journey flows in a compelling way.
The core cast includes myself, The Great Dane and Eddie Lockwood, who are also part of the crew. So one element of creating the set list is determining where the three of us fit in with the guest stars and the overarching story of 'The Trip.'
We aim to create a unique experience for every show! While events unfold differently each night, it’s fascinating how every Psychedelic has a distinct energy based on the cast, whether GoGo McGregor or Lola Van Ella is hosting, and the audience makeup. It’s really special.
Some elements are constant, there’s always an act that’s ‘the bad trip’, which is more moody or dramatic - where the ‘trip’ takes a turn but makes for a more compelling story. Or our rotating opening act, which has the feel of a retro acid trip, and is akin to the acid tests of the 1960s with the projector and oils splattering colors and neon across the stage. I’m always thinking about flow, the costumes of each act, and where they fit into the journey.
Once I’ve finalized the set list, I’ll send that out to the cast. During this time I’ll also text with Sweetooth (The AllWays Lounge staff member) about my VIP list, the seating chart and where to fit people for the best experience with sight-lines and such.
Next, I’ll spend a while packing my costumes and my gear. There are a lot of set pieces, and so I have whole cases of black lights, color changing lightbulbs, curtains to dress the stage and the like. I’ll shower and do makeup before I head to the venue.
Myself, Dane and Eddie arrive early to set the stage. I have these giant mushroom props, which I bought from the drag entertainer, Apostrophe, who made them for their house float during the first pandemic Mardi Gras. Some are seven feet tall and they live at The Allways, and though they’re large, they’re fragile, and we have to get them onto the stage with care. We strive to transform the room and finesse the lighting for the right tone and maximum black light effects.
The time between showing up and house opening is always intense, especially if there's a show before us and we have to flip the space. We’re a well-oiled machine, but there’s a lot of variables. With such a large audience it’s crucial to have an intake procedure, making sure pre-sales are processed, people have drinks and are comfortable while they wait. Then, once everyone is mobilized and seated, and the house is ready, you take a deep breath, and it’s showtime!
Once the show wraps, I’ll linger with the cast and we’ll chat about how the show went and hang, often late into the night. After a recent show, I had to head out for a flight out of town at 4:30am, which was wild! I dashed home, scrubbed my face, and an hour later I’m on my way to the airport.
See where Vivacious Miss Audacious is performing next!
More features!
Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, Michigan native Vivacious Miss Audacious is known for her vibrant energy and mega watt smile. She has toured extensively across three continents from the USA and Canada, throughout Europe and across Australia. She produces wonderful monthly shows such as Kapow! and the Psychedelic Speakeasy.
One of my shows, The Psychedelic Speakeasy floats between Fridays and Saturdays but whichever it is, I try to set aside that day to focus on show prep. It’s typically sold out by midday, so in the morning I can relax over coffee and take my time waking up. Usually, I’ll kick off the day checking ticket sales, scrolling through social media and posting a final round of online promo.
My next step is finalizing the set list and making sure I have all the music tracks and tech info together for the sound and light person. While I book acts that fit within the framework of the show, this is typically when I finalize the running order to ensure that the psychedelic journey flows in a compelling way.
The core cast includes myself, The Great Dane and Eddie Lockwood, who are also part of the crew. So one element of creating the set list is determining where the three of us fit in with the guest stars and the overarching story of 'The Trip.'
We aim to create a unique experience for every show! While events unfold differently each night, it’s fascinating how every Psychedelic has a distinct energy based on the cast, whether GoGo McGregor or Lola Van Ella is hosting, and the audience makeup. It’s really special.
Some elements are constant, there’s always an act that’s ‘the bad trip’, which is more moody or dramatic - where the ‘trip’ takes a turn but makes for a more compelling story. Or our rotating opening act, which has the feel of a retro acid trip, and is akin to the acid tests of the 1960s with the projector and oils splattering colors and neon across the stage. I’m always thinking about flow, the costumes of each act, and where they fit into the journey.
Once I’ve finalized the set list, I’ll send that out to the cast. During this time I’ll also text with Sweetooth (The AllWays Lounge staff member) about my VIP list, the seating chart and where to fit people for the best experience with sight-lines and such.
Next, I’ll spend a while packing my costumes and my gear. There are a lot of set pieces, and so I have whole cases of black lights, color changing lightbulbs, curtains to dress the stage and the like. I’ll shower and do makeup before I head to the venue.
Myself, Dane and Eddie arrive early to set the stage. I have these giant mushroom props, which I bought from the drag entertainer, Apostrophe, who made them for their house float during the first pandemic Mardi Gras. Some are seven feet tall and they live at The Allways, and though they’re large, they’re fragile, and we have to get them onto the stage with care. We strive to transform the room and finesse the lighting for the right tone and maximum black light effects.
The time between showing up and house opening is always intense, especially if there's a show before us and we have to flip the space. We’re a well-oiled machine, but there’s a lot of variables. With such a large audience it’s crucial to have an intake procedure, making sure pre-sales are processed, people have drinks and are comfortable while they wait. Then, once everyone is mobilized and seated, and the house is ready, you take a deep breath, and it’s showtime!
Once the show wraps, I’ll linger with the cast and we’ll chat about how the show went and hang, often late into the night. After a recent show, I had to head out for a flight out of town at 4:30am, which was wild! I dashed home, scrubbed my face, and an hour later I’m on my way to the airport.
See where Vivacious Miss Audacious is performing next!
More features!
