Why Bingo's Not A Drag
Think of bingo and what do you imagine? A group of senior citizens in a retirement community whiling away an afternoon as a zestless member of staff wearily calls out the numbers? Well, you could easily be excused for imagining that's all there is to the old-style of bingo, but that's not to say it's a reality today.
So please let us introduce you to the glittering, glamorous and altogether fabulous world of drag bingo.
The title alone tells you pretty much all you need to know about the concept — it's bingo, but with a dazzling array of drag artists at the helm. It's also a worldwide phenomenon with events taking place all over the world from the US to the UK and even Australia, as you can see at http://www.sydneydragqueen.com.au/drag-bingo.
It all started way back in Seattle in the early 1990s when a lady called Judy Werle was in charge of fundraising for an AIDS charity called the Chicken Soup Brigade. She started to think about places where lots of people gathered together and spent money. Bingo halls were perfect - and were ripe for livening up. The first-ever drag bingo event was hosted by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — who are still going strong to this day at https://www.thesisters.org/ - and a phenomenon was born.
Soon, news of these fun events spread, and before long it wasn't just the LGBTQ+ community that was taking part. Many fans of the more traditional form of bingo also started to come along to see what it was all about, bringing friends and family with them.
Fast forward a few decades and drag bingo is still on the up and up. A lot of this has to do with the huge popularity of online bingo which has drawn in many new players to the game. You only have to take a quick look online to find that there are a plethora of sites all offering generous incentives to play, with https://promos.paddypower.com/bingo being a prime example. And with a wide range of games and frequent special events to look forward to, this particular site also captures some of the fun and vibrancy of a typical drag bingo night.
As for the live nights themselves, while bingo's an important part, it's just one element of the show. Naturally, there's a drag cabaret to get things off to a flying start, as well as karaoke and probably a dance-off or two.
But you shouldn't think that the bingo is treated any less seriously than it is anywhere else. Sure, the callers might be a bit more fabulous than usual, and the prizes might also include novelty gifts as well as cash, but all the normal rules apply. For example, call out "house" too soon, and not only will you be jeered by fellow players, but you can also expect the caller to set you a forfeit to be completed too.
So, if this sounds like your kind of night, check out the listings in your local area, and the chances are that there's going to be a drag bingo event soon. Then it's eyes down, and get ready for some outrageous fun.