Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Beauregard Elliot. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Beauregard, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
I am Black , I am fat, and I am trans. Most rooms I go into, I will most likely be the only one who looks like me. So I have a lot of experience being in places where I am the only one who looks like me, especially because one of my many roles is being an opera singer. There are Black opera singers out there but we are still rare. Plus the fact that I am also trans, makes it even more rare. But I like to think that rare equals value. This means that I stick out in the crowd. This means that my experiences are far more different. This means that I have something special to offer. This also means I can be a catalyst and pave ways for others who look like me or identify in similar ways as me. As a performer, vulnerability is a key component to the art. If you can’t be vulnerable, you’ve lost the meaning of the art. As someone who has had so much against them in this world, art is an amazing way to express myself, and if I’m the only one who looks like me, and talks like me, and acts like me, then I know that my value is limitless.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Hello, my name is Beauregard Elliot, aka Sir Beauregard Elliot, Esquire (in drag). I am a performance artist who specializes in any type of performance that involves music. I graduated from Texas State University in 2022 and got a bachelor’s in vocal performance, with a focus in classical music. And around that same time I started drag. I was pretty much the only drag king in San Marcos at the time, but I only did the sign up nights every Sunday at Stonewall Warehouse, so it wasn’t that big of a deal at the time. Stonewall Warehouse ended up closing down on New Year’s day of 2023 so that forced me and other performers to have to start going to Austin if we wanted to continue to perform. So every Sunday, I would travel to Austin, as anxious as I was, and I would do the sign up nights. Which were also competitive because they would have the audience root for who they liked best and whoever won would get a paid brunch gig. It was a process that I was not fond of. After doing that show every Sunday for a couple months I found out about the sign up nights that happened every first Saturday, that weren’t competitive. And once I started doing those, I was starting to get recognized and asked to do spotlights (performances for shows that aren’t paid). And then eventually I was asked by my now drag father , Gothess Jasmine, to be in an all Black variety show for Sapphics called Sappho Songs.
After starting drag, I started getting a lot more performance opportunities outside of drag shows at bars. I started getting asked to be in music videos and album activations. And now I’m starting to dip back into the opera scene. I got to learn a lot about myself and how I want to identify through my art. I’ve met so many amazing people. I found community. I got adopted by my drag mother, The Trans Era. And I have never felt so good. I grew up in a very religious home with pastors for parents who taught me to be homophobic and transphobic and sexist. But because of art (I was in choir and theatre and decided that was the professional path I wanted to take) I am now able to be my true self and am able to uplift those who need that guidance. I am now almost 2 years on Testosterone and I have a top surgery coming up on Jan 9. I am also the coproducer of a show called Drag Me to the Tavern, with Sir Travis Randy Travis at the Tiny Minotaur. I am about to launch my first music video for a song I wrote. And I am just so excited to keep making art and spreading love.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three most important qualities, skills, and/or areas of knowledge are faith, trust, and pixie dust. Have faith in yourself, trust your gut, and the pixie dust symbolizes the magic that’s within. Everyone has that magic, but it can go dull if you don’t pay attention to or believe in it. Just like Tinker Bell.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
My biggest growth in the past 12 months was the realization that the only way I can get things done, and do the things that I loved was by doing it. And also realizing that I don’t have to do things alone. I learned the true meaning of community. We work together to lift each other up, to keep each other from dying. As someone who is a full time artist, I struggle with funds. But I ask for mutual aid when I need it and my community always helps. Or if I need something for a show, the community is there. Because of my community, I can afford top surgery. The reason I was able to do a music video this year was because a community member, my friend, (Kate Taylor) saw me and wanted to offer me a residency and then helped me find people who were down to make this video magic happen. Because of community I get to live in house with my amazing roommates, who helped me with said music video. If you want something, go for it. If you need something, ask for it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @sir.beau.elliot
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sirbeauelliot?si=yo2yo7jVpY-7Sfdg
Image Credits
Michelle Bluhm
Minerva Villa
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