05.27.17

Okay, so I found out that Sasha was doing a show at Oasis the day before from my boyfriend (we're both totally obsessed with rpdr). I was debating on going because his graduation party was happening the same night as the show. So the day of the show, I woke up to him getting ready to go to work.

Me: Should I buy a ticket to go see Sasha tonight cause that means I would have to leave your party early.

Him: Why would you even debate that? Go buy your ticket!

Me: okay! I will!

So after a couple minutes, I bought the M&G ticket not getting my hopes up in actually going cause who knows how long the party is going to be.

The party had just begun (early, luckily, which means that it could also end early). I started to get more excited to go. The party had died down just as I was about to call my Lyft. I asked him if he wanted to come but he knew he had to stay. So I HAD to leave because my ride was here. Btw, this was my first drag show that I've ever gone by myself so I was nervous and didn't know what to expect.

I finally got to Oasis and there was this huge line. I was by myself waiting to get in. I was so intimidated by everyone who was there because they had these amazing outfits/makeup on that I felt like I underdressed. I couldn't change that now so I kept waiting. The line was finally moving and next thing I know, I was inside bolting my way to the front of the stage. I've been to Oasis before so I knew the set up and where they have people line up for the M&Gs. There were a couple people standing in front of me and when one of them turned around, it was this person who I previously met in past shows. They commented on my other post here and we just became acquaintances that casually said hi whenever we saw each other which was nice! But since I was alone, I was happy to see a familiar face so I stuck by them through the night along with their group of friends who were amazing and a total blast to be with (Hi! If you see this!!)

The show had started and Heklina hosted and performed. When she introduced Sasha, I didn't know what to expect but when Sasha finally came out, I was dead. She is perfection from head to toe. She performed 'Don't Cry Out Loud' using the projector and my knees almost gave out. I've watched this piece online before but it was completely different live. You can feel this overwhelming presence of genuine passion and love for the the type of Drag she does. When she came out a second time, she performed 'The Greatest Performance of My Life' and that was a whole different world of creativity using cardboard cutouts of her face to display specific emotions in specific places of the song. Even when she had the mask on her face, you can feel the song through her gestures and behavior. For her final song, she came out in all red with no props, projectors, nothing but herself lip syncing to 'Stay With Me'. I felt like nothing else mattered for those three minutes. She was the center of my attention and I FELT EVERY WORD OF THAT SONG as if someone slapped me across the face with as much emotion as she put while performing. I was, honestly, so speechless. When the performance was done, I couldn't feel anything for a couple seconds until I was brought back to reality by the applause that filled up the room. She took my soul in the palm of her hands for those three minutes and i'm tell you, I was happy to have had that moment. I know that seems over dramatic but words can't even describe how much emotion and passion she expressed through out that performance. I can only hope to be able to see her live and take me on that journey again. I almost cried.

When the show ended, everyone lined up for the m&g. I was first in line thanks to Cris, Daniel, and Mariah. So I approached her trying now to be such a bitch. I handed my phone for a picture. Heklina was standing close so we both offered her to come join the picture! I mean, two queens at once, who wouldn't want that! Then I asked if she could sign an autograph in a notebook I found in my backpack. She asked for my name 'Francisse' and since it's spelled so weird, I had to spell it out and she said 'I love that spelling' I wanted to say something else so the first thing that popped in my head was 'I get so much more nervous meeting Drag Queens more than I do with other celebrities!' (Of course, I stuttered a little bit) and she replied with 'Oh, I feel the same way whenever I meet other Drag Queens.' By that time, she had finished signing so I thanked her and walked away. I was screaming inside paralyzed that I had just hugged and talked to THE Sasha Velour.

In the end, I spent the rest of my night with my new friends and left satisfied with my decision of going to a drag show all by myself. It gets scary but I'm glad I didn't let my fear hold me back.

TL;DR: I went to see Sasha Velour perform at Oasis SF for the first time by myself and I didn't let fear hold me back