A St. John's performer has ignited controversy over low pay at the Velvet Club and Lounge, Newfoundland's only 2SLGBTQ+ venue, after her comments made during Canada’s Drag Race premiere went viral. Tara Nova, representing Newfoundland and Labrador on the show, revealed the concerning pay rate for drag performers at the club—only $37.50 per night. Naturally, this ignited backlash from the drag community and supporters who rallied behind her, calling for fairer compensation.
Tara Nova, whose real name is Lukus Oram-Feltham, disclosed these pay disparities during her debut episode, prompting immediate fallout. Following the show, the Velvet Club threatened to terminate her contract for upcoming events, claiming she had attacked the venue on television, which Oram-Feltham refuted. He clarified, "I only stated what we were paid, and I also stated the owner was straight. Both just facts." This sparked outrage online, with many arguing it was unfair for the venue to react negatively to valid statements of fact.
Initially, after the backlash intensified, Velvet Club sought to negotiate with Oram-Feltham for higher pay rates for their performers, acknowledging the uproar caused by Tara's candid comments. Oram-Feltham described these negotiations positively. Yet, soon after, Velvet's management issued another statement, one which did not align with the previous positive outlook.
Stephen Dillon, the club's manager, expressed his concerns via email to CBC News, stating Oram-Feltham misrepresented the club's financial challenges and described how they must carefully budget around the number of performers included per show. Dillon mentioned they had previously allocated $255 per night to be divided among the queens performing. Increased control over the number of performers and making substantial changes to the budget is now part of their operational strategy moving forward.
Despite the management's attempts to clarify their financial structure and increase performer pay by limiting the show to four performers, the club faced accusations of mismanagement. Dillon noted the request made by Oram-Feltham to headline several shows each month, which he claimed would dominate the performance schedule and argued this was unfair to the larger drag community.
The show's producer, Luc Viau, emphasized the club's financial struggles and confirmed plans to increase the cover charge by $5 to grow the budget for shows to create a sustainable increase for performers. He also reassured patrons about the additional income from tips for performers, stating, "It needs to make sense for everyone. Clearly, there’s a need to change things."
While Viau declared his intention to reform pay structures, he expressed worry about the impact of the drama on Velvet's future, pondering whether they would be able to survive the public outcry following Tara Nova's comments. "Tara said to us she was forced to make those statements on the show... Unfortunately right now I'm not sure Velvet will survive this," he conceded.
Oram-Feltham remains adamant about the need for fair pay among performers, noting, “Drag queens are similar to a band. We are providing you with entertainment for the night. Pay your entertainers.” Earlier this week, he connected with new venues willing to support him through this turmoil, emphasizing the importance of finding establishments prioritizing fair compensation and supporting their community. "We’re excited to bring drag to new spaces and to all these venues which appreciate us and will listen to our needs," Oram-Feltham commented.
The controversy serves as not just local drama but also part of broader conversations about the treatment and compensation of performers, particularly those within LGBTQ+ communities. The widespread support for Oram-Feltham and the visibility brought by her television appearance have energized discussions surrounding financial equity and the artistic value of drag performance.
Overall, this conflict between Velvet Club and its drag performers has unveiled the struggles many artists face, not just within Newfoundland but across the country. Moving forward, the hope is for continued discussions on performance compensation and the importance of valuing all entertainers fairly, creating pathways for support and acceptance within their communities. The rallying cry from Oram-Feltham and others reflects their commitment to fighting for their rights and paving the way for future performers to step onto stages where they are respected and compensated justly.
