Episode Summary:
What makes an event unforgettable isn’t the spotlight — it’s stewardship.
In this wildly smart (and hilarious) episode of Beats Working, legendary drag icon and philanthropic powerhouse Dr. Kevin Cook, aka Dr. Poison Waters, shares four decades of hard-earned event wisdom. From reading the room before doors open to redirecting chaos without embarrassing your audience, Poison reveals what separates average hosts from unforgettable ones.
You’ll learn why the mic is not a mirror, how to set tone before you ever speak, and why loyalty to great vendor partners is one of the most underrated strategies in events.
If you’ve ever wondered how to turn pre-show nerves and mid-event mishaps into standing ovations, this one’s for you.
Takeaways:
- Your mic is not a mirror. The fastest way to tank an event is making it about the host instead of the cause.
- The audience matches what they walk into. Registration flow, music vibe, and team readiness set the tone before you ever speak.
- Don’t narrate the disaster. Redirect without spotlighting the problem — and never scold the room.
- Lead like a kindergarten teacher (with heels energy). Clear expectations + frequent reminders reduce anxiety and boost participation.
- The 3 E’s win every time: Educate, Entertain, Embrace — meet people where they are, no matter why they showed up.
Timestamps:
[03:52] — The #1 lesson: “It’s not about me.”
[06:39] — How to predict the crowd before doors open: pre-meetings, run of show, and first impressions
[12:49] — The 3 E’s + what’s in Poison’s event bag (Sharpie, fan, breath strips)
[18:46] — What great MCs do when things go off the rails (and what they never say)
[24:37] — Walk-on song: Aretha Franklin “Respect” + closing anthem: Kool & the Gang’s “Celebration”
[39:15] — What’s next: the dragathon documentary “Meeting Hate With Joy” + giving back to The Trevor Project
Resources & Links:
-Dr. Poison Waters: Website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube
-Website: Dragathon: Meeting Hate with Joy
-Instagram: Dragathon: Meeting Hate with Joy
-Alysse & Libby: Bios & LinkedIn
Connect with Us:
-Website: www.beatsworkingpodcast.com
-LinkedIn: @Beats Working Podcast
-Instagram: @beatsworkingpodcast
-Facebook: @Beats Working
-YouTube: @beatsworkingpodcast
Follow & Subscribe:
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your feedback helps us improve and reach more listeners.
Send Feedback:
If you have a show idea, feedback, or just want to connect, email us at info@beatsworking.show.
Beats Working is a platform on a mission to redeem work—the word, the place, and the way. We believe that work is the most honorable act in the universe, and through inspiring stories and practical insights, we want to transform the way people think about work and help them discover greater fulfillment in their lives. We invite you to join us as we build community through sharing and actively demonstrating what we learn.
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Transcript
The following transcript is not certified. Although the transcription is largely accurate, in some cases it is incomplete or inaccurate due to inaudible passages or transcription.
[00:00:00] Number one thing I’ve learned is, and it’s so hard for me to admit this, is that it’s not about me. What? Like, yeah, no, I’m like, you know, drag queens, we are self-centered, egotistical. Look at me, look at me, look at me. Which I’m still that. But the success of the event, it’s, I have to know that the event is not about me.
[00:00:21] I am bringing a lot to the event. I’m bringing a lot of, I have bring a lot of value under my wig, but the event, the success of the event. And I’ve seen it, but I’ve, okay. Two things. I’ve learned so much from bad event hosts, I’ve learned so much from witnessing what not to do and my brain, mm-hmm.
[00:00:43] Instantly catalogs that and I just know because I see the event going off the rails or financial failure in the fundraising because of just the host wanting it to be all about them.
[00:00:56] Welcome to BEATS WORKING, winning the Game of Events where [00:01:00] we share stories and strategies to turn any event or life moment into something Unforgettable. Events are wild and the people who work in them are some of the most resilient humans on earth, if you know, you know. So come with us behind the curtain for a look at their most memorable experiences, as they say, the show must go on.
[00:01:22] So let’s get on with the show.
[00:01:29] Libby Sundgren: Welcome back to another episode of BEATS WORKING, winning the Game of Events Today. Oh, do we have a treat for you? Dr. Poison Waters is not just a performer. She is an experience, an award-winning drag icon mc host, philanthropist, and. it. Cultural Leader Poison has spent nearly four decades entertaining, advocating and building community across the [00:02:00] PNW and beyond.
[00:02:01] Known as the Smile on the face of Portland. She’s raised millions for charitable causes. Broken Guinness World Records. Taught the history of drag and continues to command the stage with heart, humor and purpose, whether in heels or hosting as her alter ego, Dr. Ook Poison embodies what it means to create unforgettable moments that matter.
[00:02:24] Welcome Dr. Waters slash Cook.
[00:02:29] Alysse Bryson: The crowd goes wild.
[00:02:31] Kevin Cook: Oh my God, the crowd has gone wild. How are you? Two? Good to see you both. Thanks for having me.
[00:02:36] Alysse Bryson: So four decades. I didn’t realize you started when you were five. How did I
[00:02:41] miss that memo?
[00:02:42] Kevin Cook: You know, times were different. Back then you could be in drag in kindergarten, and nobody cared. Now it’s a problem. Now it’s a problem.
[00:02:52] Alysse Bryson: Yeah. Now it’s a problem. Now it’s a problem. Oh, we are so thrilled to have you on the show. You know, for our listeners [00:03:00] that ha have not been following along with the Elise and Libby escapades for the last 15 or 20 years, we actually have clocked a lot of time at a lot of events
[00:03:10] with poison in
[00:03:12] Washington state, Oregon State, the great state of Texas.
[00:03:17] Libby Sundgren: Woo hoo.
[00:03:18] Alysse Bryson: have traveled. We have seen a lot.
[00:03:22] Kevin Cook: We’ve been there, done that.
[00:03:25] Alysse Bryson: Yes, we have.
[00:03:26] And oh my gosh, so much fun. We’ve had so much fun, but this isn’t about how much fun we’ve had, although I’ll probably bring it up like 10 more times. But I would love to know like four decades. What What if you had to explain to someone in an elevator ride what you’ve learned over the course of the four decades of your career as an entertainer philanthropist, what would you tell them?
[00:03:52] Kevin Cook: I would tell them that the number one thing I’ve learned is, and it’s so hard for me to admit this, is that it’s [00:04:00] not about me.
[00:04:01] Alysse Bryson: What.
[00:04:02] Kevin Cook: Like, yeah, I know, I know. I’m like, you know, drag queens, we. Our self-centered, egotistical, look at me, look at me, look at me. Which I’m still that, but the success of the event, it’s, I have to know that the event is not about me.
[00:04:16] I am bringing a lot to the event. I’m bringing a lot of, I have bring a lot of value under my wig, but the event, the success of the event. I’ve seen it, but I’ve, okay. Two things. I’ve learned so much from bad event hosts. I’ve learned so much from witnessing what not to do and my brain instantly catalogs that, and I just know because I see the event going off the rails or financial failure in the fundraising because of just the host wanting it to be all about them.
[00:04:50] It’s a fine line to be like, Hey, listen to me. I am in charge, but let’s have a lot of fun and also I’m here for you. So one of the things, [00:05:00] learning that it’s not all about me, um, really changed my mindset. It really changed my focus. I used to think events were rinse and repeat. Oh, it’s poison. Waters on the mic.
[00:05:09] Poison waters on the mic. Poison waters on the mic. Regardless of what I was saying, I thought they wanted me for me. Which they do, but I learned there’s more value in me learning who they are. And so knowing who the organization is, knowing who the arts group is, knowing who the audience is, it that it’s not the same.
[00:05:30] It can’t be the same. I can bring my same smarts, humor, and , and kindness, you know, compassion to the cause, but I can’t bring the same delivery. It has to be unique to that event. And that can seem. Overwhelming and daunting, but it pays off hugely on both sides. Doing a little research for new companies.
[00:05:51] Who are you? What have you done? What do you hope to do? How can I help you get there? Instead of just thinking everybody is the same. You know, company [00:06:00] X,
[00:06:00] Alysse Bryson: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
[00:06:01] Kevin Cook: that was a long elevator ride. Sorry.
[00:06:04] Alysse Bryson: very long
[00:06:05] Libby Sundgren: We’re here for it.
[00:06:05] Alysse Bryson: have very tall buildings where we live, so that totally tracks. How do you know that’s such a great, that’s such a great thing for event people listening, especially the ones that are doing the hiring of talent and MCs. Like that’s a really important thing to know. How do you know you can feel a room pretty instantly once it fills up. Obviously, you’re there way before the people get there, but how do you know? What’s the first sign when you pick up that the audience is gonna be like, it’s gonna be a good night, versus if it’s gonna be, oh, like this is gonna be a a, a drag pun
[00:06:39] Kevin Cook: I. Yeah, pun intended. No, I feel like I can tell immediately. I can tell what the audience is gonna do based on the pre-event meetings, the walkthrough, the organization behind the event, the people that are putting it on the team of volunteers I’ve been given to work with. I can tell where they are because audiences literally will match what they walk into if they walk into [00:07:00] disarray.
[00:07:00] If they’re gonna be chaotic and not pay attention. If they walk into easy registration, here’s a cocktail, here’s the, you know, very clear, define what’s gonna happen, then they’re gonna fall in line and go for it. You know, if it’s, if the music is rowdy and, and ruckus, like after party music at a pre-event cocktail party.
[00:07:20] They’re, then you’ve already set yourself up for failure because they’re gonna be loud and, and raucous thinking. That’s the vibe They’re gonna match the vibe that they walk into. And there’s been some tough times where I had to like, pull it on the brakes. Okay. Audience, we’re turning this around. You’re already at the end of the event.
[00:07:36] We need to amp up to that. You know, it’s, it’s a gentle ride from registration, cocktail hour fundraising, and then party. So I can tell be even before I get to the event, just based on pre-event meetings, the script and notes I’ve been given, and I can try to, you know, lean in and say, Hey, organization X, you might want to, let’s, [00:08:00] let’s switch this around or soften this up.
[00:08:02] You don’t want to, you’re, you’re starting off on the wrong tone.
[00:08:05] Libby Sundgren: Oh, such a dance. Such a dance that you do with these people.
[00:08:11] Kevin Cook: It really is because I, , need to, you know, first I have to, uh, honor and respect the organization because this is their, this is their baby. I’m not, they’re putting in a big financial, you know, they have a, a risk of, of financial hit if this thing doesn’t go well. But I also have to own who I am and what I bring to it.
[00:08:32] Why did they hire me? They hired me for a reason, and I’ve never had. I shouldn’t say never. I rarely have any pushback to my, , 2 cents to my saying, Hey, I’ve done this a lot, and you’re kind of new. So while this is a great idea, what about this way? And they’re like, oh, we never thought about that. That’s great.
[00:08:51] Thank you so much. There are a few people, they’re egos are running it and they don’t want to hear anything. And then I just go, okay, that’s why I’m just gonna sit back and do the best I [00:09:00] can. But then later they’ll be like, oh yeah, you know what, you’re right about A, B, or C. So it is a dance ’cause you wanna be firm, but you also wanna be respectful and be like, Hey, it’s your thing.
[00:09:09] I’m just gonna do what you want me to do without, you know, doing too much.
[00:09:13] Alysse Bryson: What’s your favorite way to win over a tough crowd when you know, like, you
[00:09:19] know, it’s tough or you are seeing that it’s tough, like you, what, what do you have? Like a go-to trick or a joke or something that you try
[00:09:26] Kevin Cook: No, no, I don’t really have any canned jokes. I’m more, , observational humor and I think, you know, just calling it out, just be like, okay. Okay, you guys we’re outta control. What’s going on here? What’s our goal here? Let’s get this together. And just kind of owning it. Or if I’ve kind of kind of come in feeling like the wrong vibe, like if I didn’t realize, oh, these people don’t want to hear these facts and figures, I could be like, oh my bad.
[00:09:51] I didn’t realize you already knew. You know, the, the nuts and bolts of this organization. I don’t mean to preach to the choir. Let’s get onto, you know, I can like [00:10:00] redirect and while, you know, a, an event might be, you know, two hours, three hours, then the script is, you know, 50 pages. I’ve worked on that script so I know things so I can easily jump and be like, okay, hey.
[00:10:11] Kevin, we’re going to page 20 now. Let’s just get to that. You know, as long as it’s not messing up any av, you know, slides or music cues or anything, I can just be like, Hey, let’s switch to this part. You know? So just kind of redirecting audiences are like children, you just kinda redirect. There’s no sense in punishing them.
[00:10:27] You’re not gonna get anywhere. I, oh my gosh, when I hear event MCs like scolding audiences, it’s the worst. You’ll never get them back. They paid good money. They took time out of their lives. They got a babysitter, they got a Uber and a new dress or something. They, they’re, it’s really their party, so you kind of do, you’re kind of at their mercy, but if you come in, strong and positive, they’re gonna, you know, and, and you know, confident in what you’re doing, they’re gonna follow along and they’re gonna be there for the ride.
[00:10:57] They didn’t come to that event to think like, what’s next? What do I [00:11:00] have to do now? They came to be told what to do and to have some fun. And if they don’t, if you, if they’re not given that direction and then just like a child, they just kind of go their own way and then they’re admonished for it. That’s never gonna go well.
[00:11:14] Libby Sundgren: Oh my God, I love it. It is totally like leading a kindergarten classroom. You just gotta kind of guide them. That’s why when we would do time reminders, we tell ’em it’s five minutes left until they vote or whatever. When there’s really like 30 minutes left and you just like every five minutes they’ve lost another minute because you know, time blindness.
[00:11:33] Kevin Cook: Like, oh my gosh. Oh, absolutely. And you know, I really do believe that, , an audience that has been fed where they have food, they have drinks, appetizers, whatever, that, that’s one thing off their list. You know, when they walk in, they’re like, oh my God, I just came from work. I changed my clothes, dropped off the kid.
[00:11:49] Oh. I didn’t have dinner. I always tell people it’s gonna cost you a little, but it’s gonna pay off in the end. Give them something, need to eat and drink right off the bat. Then they’re not like, ’cause audiences want to [00:12:00] know what’s happening, what’s happening, what’s next? Okay, when do I eat, when do I drink?
[00:12:03] It’s just like a kid. Oh, now what do I, what do I do? Do I fill out this? Oh, when do I raise my bid cards? You know? So you have to give them again and again, just like you said, the reminders. You have to give ’em the details. I love starting the an event out detailing what we’re gonna do. Hey, right now we’re having a silent auction.
[00:12:20] And then don’t worry, a little bit later we’re gonna hear from our president and then we’re gonna have a live auction. So take a look at this. After that, you know, you came to raise your bid cards to make sure you locate that. At the end we’re gonna have wonderful performance and delicious dessert. You know, just kind of say, here’s what we’re doing.
[00:12:34] Now you
[00:12:35] Libby Sundgren: wanna know the schedule.
[00:12:37] Kevin Cook: want to know, you know, an uninformed audience is an anxious audience, and an anxious audience is not gonna participate.
[00:12:43] Libby Sundgren: Oh, so true. So true.
[00:12:47] Alysse Bryson: Mm.
[00:12:48] Libby Sundgren: Okay.
[00:12:49] Kevin Cook: We’ve seen it time.
[00:12:51] Libby Sundgren: time and time again. Okay. I wanna know three things in your event bag that are not makeup or beauty related. [00:13:00] What do you bring? Three essentials.
[00:13:03] Kevin Cook: Oh, so like, like actual tangible things. , ’cause what I bring personally, I always, I say the three E’s I educate, entertain, and embrace. Those are what I bring to every event, every interaction with an audience, I’m, I’m there to educate them by telling them what the organization is about, why we’re here.
[00:13:23] Entertain them by distracting them with humor and embrace. ’cause some people, you gotta meet them where they are. Some people aren’t. Some people are devastated by this cause we’re raising funds for, you have to be there for them. Some people are just there for the free food and dinner. You gotta embrace them.
[00:13:37] Some of them are like, who’s this drag queen talking to me? And you gotta be able to embrace them with that too. But actual things, in my hearse, I always bring a sharpie because there’s always gonna be changes and you can’t read somebody. Somebody’s always gonna hand you. Tiny little pen or a pencil.
[00:13:54] They’re like, oh, here, let me change it. I’m like, no, I’ll change it in my handwriting in the way I need
[00:13:58] Libby Sundgren: These old eyes, they gotta see [00:14:00] a Sharpie.
[00:14:00] Alysse Bryson: Mm.
[00:14:01] Kevin Cook: yeah, I got old eyes. I gotta see it. I always bring a personal handheld fan because, um, ballrooms and hotel venues, for some reason, it’s always a thousand degrees, and I don’t know about you all, but a sweaty mc is gross.
[00:14:12] Nobody wants that. And I always bring my Listerine breath strips because there’s nothing worse than a person that’s talking all night long with dry mouth, possibly alcohol on their breath. That just stinks. Nobody wants that. You know, as the mc, I’m bringing in some of the most important people in the room onto the stage to receive an award, to present an award, to give a keynote speech.
[00:14:34] And if I’m going and fumes are coming outta my mouth, that’s what they’re gonna remember. So I always bring Listerine breath strips. Those are my three things.
[00:14:42] Alysse Bryson: This episode is not brought to you by Sharpie or Listerine, but if you
[00:14:47] work for one of those companies, that act actually could be in the future.
[00:14:50] Libby Sundgren: We’d love to insert a
[00:14:51] Kevin Cook: Yes, that’s right. And I, oh my God. And I spend so much on both of those products. I buy them from a company
[00:14:57] Alysse Bryson: buy in bulk? Do you buy in
[00:14:59] Kevin Cook: I buy, [00:15:00] I buy in bulk, delivered to my house in two hours or less. We won’t say how
[00:15:03] Alysse Bryson: local. We know you shop local. It’s fine. It’s fine.
[00:15:06] Kevin Cook: local. The warehouses right down the street. Okay.
[00:15:11] Alysse Bryson: Okay, so we’ve kind of covered a beginning of
[00:15:14] the event vibe. Let’s move to the middle, the messy middle. Sometimes energy dips things go sideways. Somebody gets really drunk and like falls somewhere. What are some of your go-to moves to bring people back into the moment? Like, I feel like you’ve answered this a little bit because you are so quick-witted and like, move with the room. But, um, when, when things do go off the rails, like what, what or do you wanna give us like a a, an example of an event that has
[00:15:46] Kevin Cook: Sure.
[00:15:46] Alysse Bryson: rails?
[00:15:47] Kevin Cook: Sure. So first, , my go-to and I, I suggest it for all MCs and, you know, hosts. It’s not just drag queen related, but changing costumes throughout the night is huge. The [00:16:00] audience loves it, and it takes two seconds to drop a dress.
[00:16:03] Libby Sundgren: true.
[00:16:03] Kevin Cook: Audiences like, oh my God, you changed. That’s so great. And that really does.
[00:16:08] I tell people all the time, it’s the simplest recharge you can do. ’cause I’m off stage and something’s hap you know, a boring speech or, um, it was just the dinner time and nothing was happening, but some, you know, canned music or a slideshow and then I’m back on in a completely different sparkle colored dress.
[00:16:24] Something they’re like, every, literally the room is like, oh my God, you have to change. You don’t have to say anything. I’m just, Hey, I am back, da da. And that literally recharges the room every time. And so I’ve told several MCs, I’m like, do that. And I’ve worked with. Auctioneers and other, you know, even fellas that will just change a blazer like to a bright color or something.
[00:16:41] And it just really is just a visual charge , recently, um, I was doing an event, um, which shall remain nameless, and the right in the middle, the. Board chair was to present an award to the venue, the president [00:17:00] of the venue. And they, they were not around. Like, we’re like waiting. I’m literally on stage waiting to go and here, and they’re like, Rick, where is, where’s the president?
[00:17:10] Where’s the president? Where’s the president? All eyes are on me. I’m like, I’ve got this. Go find them. ’cause the recipient’s standing right there too. So here’s what’s neat about. This is, again, unique probably to me and other drag queens or any mc that’s not really attached to the organization, which I know a lot of groups will get.
[00:17:31] Radio personalities, TV personalities, so this kind of works for that. The audience really is kind of intrigued about who you are, whether you’re a news anchor, or whether person or a reporter, a dj, or a drag queen. And while I said, you know, it’s not about you. When things go off the rails, it’s a great time to put the spotlight on you.
[00:17:50] Take it away from the organization, take it away from the faulty av, take it away from the late catering. I’m just like, so anyway, I’m a drag queen. And yeah, some of the funnest things I’ve ever gotten to [00:18:00] do was work with RuPaul or you know, whatever, or just, you know, and that’s what I did. This group was a, it was an arts organization I’ve never worked with, and the, for the most part, they were in it to win it.
[00:18:09] And then, you know. All of a sudden we threw out the anchor because the main person to give the, we couldn’t find them. And so I just started telling them story. I work at Darcell, it’s still the drag club of the world. And people started clapping and you know, in these shoes, I’ve been wearing these heels all afternoon.
[00:18:25] And they’re like, oh my god. You know? So just kind of then turning it around and I, when I turn it back to me, it’s almost like self defi
[00:18:34] Libby Sundgren: Deprecation,
[00:18:35] Kevin Cook: What’s, what’s the word?
[00:18:36] Libby Sundgren: self-deprecation, not self-deprecation.
[00:18:41] Kevin Cook: I’m like, yeah. I’m like, I pooped myself. No. , I, yo yes. And so
[00:18:46] Alysse Bryson: That’s a bad
[00:18:46] Kevin Cook: know, it makes me, yeah. Yeah. That’s a different event altogether. Um, those people paint a lot. No, I al I like to like, turn it back on me, but not in a bragging way, but like from a place of humility and humor and like, [00:19:00] or that’s a good thing too.
[00:19:01] They know that something’s up. So talk about another time, something was up to, just to take away from what’s happening. It’s like, oh yeah, this one time I was in the Portland Art Museum and my wig fell off and not nobody told me, or, you know, just, just telling a story. So, just distracting, taking it completely out of it.
[00:19:17] Don’t try to, you know, cover it up. Don’t patch it up. They can see what’s going on. So don’t acknowledge the, the, the, the mess that’s happening around you, but just take it away from the whole. Take them visually and mentally out of the event, just briefly.
[00:19:32] Libby Sundgren: You’re the one derailing them, not the actual derailing event. Yeah. That’s very
[00:19:37] Kevin Cook: Yes.
[00:19:38] Alysse Bryson: Are you gonna write a book? You should write a
[00:19:40] Kevin Cook: I, I, I, yeah, I, I, I’ve already written a book, three of ’em. And you didn’t buy ’em? No, I haven’t written a book. No, I haven’t written a
[00:19:47] Alysse Bryson: like, oh my God, you,
[00:19:49] I
[00:19:49] Kevin Cook: no, no.
[00:19:49] Alysse Bryson: I was so good at buying your merch. Oh no.
[00:19:52] Kevin Cook: know. No, the worst thing, I think, again, you know, learning from seeing it happen from other people and it’s like when people [00:20:00] go, oh my gosh, the DJ lost all the files.
[00:20:03] Like, you don’t have to say that. Just say, so we’re gonna move on to this. You know, you don’t have to say what it is or like. When they did find the president, I, I didn’t say, oh my gosh, where have you been? We’ve all been waiting. Or, you know, you don’t have to, don’t acknowledge the actual problem and then don’t highlight it even further when it gets rectified.
[00:20:22] Like, like, thanks for waiting through that 30 minute, you know, you don’t have to do that. The audience knows what’s, you know,
[00:20:28] Alysse Bryson: Mm-hmm.
[00:20:29] Kevin Cook: I think sometimes you don’t have to state the obvious.
[00:20:31] Alysse Bryson: Mm-hmm.
[00:20:32] Libby Sundgren: Okay.
[00:20:33] Kevin Cook: make sense?
[00:20:34] Alysse Bryson: does.
[00:20:35] Libby Sundgren: Yeah. Yeah. And that’s a really good tip, and I gotta know, since you mentioned TA, talking about your heels, do you leave them on all night or do you take them off? Because if you take them off, is that like you’re never gonna put ’em back on, so you have to keep ’em on? What do you do when you’re backstage?
[00:20:54] Kevin Cook: Jefferson’s deciding to make an iced coffee when I’m doing this Very important [00:21:00] podcast. Put the ice in the cup already. He is like the
[00:21:10] Libby Sundgren: We can’t even hear it, but maybe Tamara, could
[00:21:13] Kevin Cook: know when you’re done darling. Okay, he’s done because you know I Jefferson could possibly drink hot coffee like the rest of the world. He is gotta put all this on him. Okay. Um. Do I take my shoes off? Uh, I take my shoes off when no one’s around, when no one’s looking, when or when the event is over.
[00:21:36] Most people know this, and this is even men’s shoes too. If your feet hurt, if they’re, they’re tight. ’cause you know, you’re probably wearing dress up shoes that you don’t always wear when you take that shoe off, your foot expands and then it’s more painful to put it back on. So I’ve learned the hard way.
[00:21:51] I’m not taking my shoe off until I do not intend to put it back on that night. So, yeah, I’ll usually bring like a slipper or like a little slide for like after, if I’m helping like [00:22:00] clean up or just, you know, socializing. Sometimes these events are, you know, very fancy, but during the after party people do like, get a little casual so I can take my heels off and just wear like a flat or something.
[00:22:10] But yeah, it can be rough. It can be rough, but you know, that’s part of the thing. You gotta have the heel, you gotta have the posture, you gotta have the swag. You know,
[00:22:18] Libby Sundgren: It’s a
[00:22:19] Kevin Cook: around and no, hey dude.
[00:22:21] Alysse Bryson: Speaking of rough, do you have any tips on, because you know, if you’re wearing a gown, an outfit, a jumper, romper, whatever, and it’s covered in sequence like that is work like that is, that could be painful sometimes. The
[00:22:38] heaviness of the jewelry on your ears, on your neck. So do you have any like style tips and tricks when it comes related to like ornate costuming?
[00:22:49] Kevin Cook: No, you just have to wear it. It’s the, it’s
[00:22:51] Libby Sundgren: gotta do it.
[00:22:52] Alysse Bryson: Mm.
[00:22:53] Kevin Cook: it’s the hit you take. It’s the hit you take. I have seen people like, oh, this sequence itched me, so I’m gonna put some sort [00:23:00] of velvet collar, or I’m gonna put tape or underneath and it, it just looks terrible. Just wear it. And own it and love it. Don’t fidget all night.
[00:23:10] And here’s, here’s something I do tell myself, if I’m wearing something, I, I’m like, oh, good. In my mind, I go ahead. I’m like, in, in one hour you’re gonna take this off. You know, you like, or you just have to know like in, in 90 minutes you’re gonna be back in the car and you can take off your Yeah. Or you know, if it’s gonna be a really long event and you really just are, if, if it’s gonna distract you and take you out of the moment.
[00:23:32] Don’t wear it. You know, if you wanted to wear these big, giant earrings, but they were gonna keep falling off and you’re gonna be just girl, just put in some pierce hoops and just know you’re gonna have more fun. No one’s gonna know. No one’s gonna know what you didn’t wear. You know what I mean? Like, if you just like, it’s just too much.
[00:23:47] I just can’t, then don’t do it.
[00:23:48] Alysse Bryson: And the outfit changes do help because if you do have an outfit like that,
[00:23:52] like put it at the beginning maybe, or put it at the very end because you know that you’re gonna only wear it for this short period of time.
[00:23:58] Kevin Cook: yes.
[00:23:58] Alysse Bryson: the outfit change [00:24:00] trick.
[00:24:00] Kevin Cook: Yeah, outfit changes. I think that’s for everyone. Everyone.
[00:24:03] Alysse Bryson: Everyone should just bring like three outfits and there should
[00:24:05] just be a
[00:24:06] Kevin Cook: That’s right. That’s why we have, we have dressing rooms for that, and I definitely do do that. I look at the timeline, I look at the run of show, the shortest amount of time on stage is where I’m gonna wear the heavy long sleeve, the most hot or uncomfortable, but it’s gonna have great impact on stage. And then the one where I’m like, the longest time, you know, that’s when I can just wear, you know, comfy casual, something that’s less cumbersome.
[00:24:28] Alysse Bryson: Do you have like a song, if you were to like pick, if you had your pick of a song to come out on stage to or to enter a room to, do you have like a go-to song?
[00:24:37] Kevin Cook: Yes, Aretha Franklins respect. Every single time the audience goes crazy. Men, women, old, young, everybody just knows that song. When those
[00:24:47] Libby Sundgren: They do.
[00:24:48] Kevin Cook: saxophones like da, da, they just do. Everybody does. And it’s something that I didn’t ever really think about and I would just tell people, oh, play whatever. But sometimes if they pick a song that maybe they like and nobody knows it.
[00:24:58] So I just, [00:25:00] anytime people ask now like, just play Aretha Franklin with respect and you’re good to go.
[00:25:04] Libby Sundgren: That’s the one. That’s the one baby.
[00:25:06] Kevin Cook: Yep. That’s. And to close an event. , cooling the gang celebration. Every time it’s just a party. The party celebration, it’s over. The people that worked hard, it hits them differently. Like, oh, thank God it’s over. The people that were celebrating raising the money, they’re like, we did it. Celebrate, you know, it’s good.
[00:25:25] Libby Sundgren: Celebration
[00:25:26] Kevin Cook: Those are your two hits.
[00:25:27] Libby Sundgren: Woo.
[00:25:28] Alysse Bryson: folks.
[00:25:29] Kevin Cook: We are gonna have a good.
[00:25:31] Alysse Bryson: Time to not.
[00:25:32] Libby Sundgren: celebrate, it’s so right. Okay. So after celebration plays, everybody’s out of there. You are just like 10 seconds away from getting into your car, taking off the heels. How do you define success, especially when the goal is community impact, not just entertaining people, because like you said, you work with so many [00:26:00] nonprofits that are really, um, you know, trying to make money for some, for some really good causes.
[00:26:07] Kevin Cook: Yeah, so success, you know, comes on so many looks like different things to different people. So for me, as the mc host, when people I have never met before, between the time it’s over and the time I’m trying to get to my car. Want to stop and tell me what a great job I did, how they never saw an event through the eyes of, you know, somebody like me, how they never met a drag queen before.
[00:26:29] How they, they really connected with me as an individual. That’s my personal success and I love that. , obviously when the event. Hosts, the people that are running the event, the nonprofit, the executive director come and say, thank you so much. That was the best one ever, or You really nailed it. We can’t wait for next year or step, stuff like that.
[00:26:49] That success I can really pay attention during. Again, that goes with really kind of learning the material and knowing, um. In pre-event meetings, what was the goal for the paddle raise? What [00:27:00] is the, the value of these auction prizes? That sort of thing. Um, how many people did play heads and tails, or how many people did buy, you know, raffle tickets that I can clock that, you know, track that in my head and be like, oh my God, they made a but ton of money.
[00:27:14] That’s awesome. So then I know that too. So obviously financial success. It’s huge. , but that’s, that’s an easy one to track. It’s the other stuff, just reading the room, seeing how people are people that stay till the very end, I think. Success, they’re not like bored or, or
[00:27:29] Libby Sundgren: Yeah. When you have to kick people out, that is a successful event.
[00:27:32] Alysse Bryson: good party. That’s a good
[00:27:34] Kevin Cook: Yeah. Yeah. I know it’s a pain in the butt to kick people out, but you know, he did it good. Yeah.
[00:27:39] Alysse Bryson: You know, you’ve earned a lot of awards, recognitions and honors over the decades. Is there a standout one that like means the most to you, that you were like, like, wow, this is a real honor.
[00:27:52] Kevin Cook: Well, a couple of them. So I work with children my whole adult life in one capacity or another. And so Operation School Bell [00:28:00] is, , the Assistance League is a national organization and I think they even have some international chapters, but in Portland, the Assistance League of Greater Portland. That’s a, a lot of retirees and they raise funds to all sorts of things to provide, um, school supplies and clothing and even, even dental services to under, um, privilege.
[00:28:20] Students in the schools. And so I’ve hosted their galas, , for years and years and years. Um, I met them through like my high school guidance counselor, my high school music teacher, they were part of this organization and so they were like, Hey, we know somebody that could mc for us. And so just building their event with them year after year, having as much, you know, equal say to what’s going on, because that’s what they came to me for.
[00:28:44] And so we built it and we really made their program and their fundraising. So successful that I was given the one National Operation School Bell Award for all of the chapters I was nominated. They, I didn’t know [00:29:00] anything about it until the day I showed up and they gave it to me. And so I thought that was very cool because I really, , loved working with them for the work they do for the, the underprivileged children.
[00:29:09] And the plus also, you know, you get a lot of plaques and awards. This is a fricking old time school bail. It’s this big ass school bail. And anyway, so that I love.
[00:29:16] Libby Sundgren: cute.
[00:29:17] Kevin Cook: Yeah, I love that one. They’re really great. I love them. , I also, you know, the Guinness World Record we broke was really great ’cause we got to send $300,000 to the Trevor Project that helped the L-G-B-T-Q youth with mental health services and suicide prevention.
[00:29:32] So that was a big deal. And then , this last year. The, uh, honorary doctorate from Portland State University meant a lot to me because one of my first gigs was with Portland State University way back in 1990. When I first started working with Darcell and we’re in a college campus. I’m like, this is so weird.
[00:29:50] I never went to, you know, a four year college and I’m on campus in drag. This is odd. And then I just worked with them, um, over the decades. Hosting events, planning [00:30:00] events, working with their gender, um, studies, working with their L-G-B-T-Q community groups and just working with them all the time, over all the decades.
[00:30:08] And so they said, Hey, we want to give you this honorary doctorate. So all that, you know, it’s, it’s not like, oh, I want pageant one night. All of these are something that was given to me ’cause of the decades of work. And so those mean a lot.
[00:30:20] Alysse Bryson: Mm-hmm.
[00:30:21] Libby Sundgren: Yeah,
[00:30:22] Alysse Bryson: What about, now I’m gonna put you on the spot. Do you have a standout event that you did with Alysse and Libby that you can, that you think, when
[00:30:31] you think of the two of us, what, what’s the first event that pops into your mind?
[00:30:35] Kevin Cook: Well,
[00:30:35] Libby Sundgren: most memorable, whether it’s good or bad.
[00:30:38] Kevin Cook: I know. Well, there’s so many. And then, you know, for, for the company that we worked with, there was different event folks. So I’m trying to think, did we do. We, the Houstonian launch
[00:30:52] Alysse Bryson: Yeah, we
[00:30:53] Kevin Cook: kind of because, I mean, I knew he did it, but I didn’t know like what all because one, I [00:31:00] rarely do an event remotely.
[00:31:03] Now, this is before COVID, of course, so like where I’m not gonna know anything until I walk in there. You know, it’s outta state. I don’t know any of the vendors. I don’t know any of the entertainers. I don’t know anything here in the Pacific Northwest. We’re lucky. It’s kind of a small community, so we know.
[00:31:17] Who the caterers are, who the event, so this to that was, to me, it was so kind of, I don’t wanna say surreal ’cause that just sounds weird, but it was like, I didn’t know. I literally was walking in blind. And I can’t imagine how you all felt because you had to do all the nuts and bolts and all of the little stuff.
[00:31:33] And so, but then I did. I really did like it because the point of that party was to learn and highlight all the facets of Houston. I’d never been to Houston, I didn’t anything about Houston. So in the middle of the party, I’m learning all about this great city. So I love that you guys put so much thought between all of the, the catering and the
[00:31:49] Libby Sundgren: a cool city. I like it.
[00:31:51] Kevin Cook: Yeah.
[00:31:51] Alysse Bryson: I actually still have a blouse that I got shopping with you at the Nordstrom Rack. You f and you found a fabulous dress. I don’t [00:32:00] remember. I don’t remember. I’m sure it had sequined. That’s all I remember about it. But I still have this blouse that, like, I, I don’t, I haven’t even worn it in a while, but I think like, I can’t get rid of it.
[00:32:10] ’cause I’m like, oh, I got that shopping with Kevin and Claire. I can’t get rid of it. I love this blouse
[00:32:14] Kevin Cook: that’s right Pearl.
[00:32:16] Alysse Bryson: Dazzling Pearl. That’s, that was, that was where we got our, our nicknames. Yeah.
[00:32:22] Kevin Cook: Yep. Yep. That
[00:32:23] Alysse Bryson: Shout out to, shout out to, to dazzling pearl.
[00:32:27] Kevin Cook: Oh, there they go. You know? And, but I just think I. Again, events that, Hmm. You know, so many events, you’re kind of preaching to the choir. It’s an annual thing, and so it’s kind of rinse and repeat. So the job’s a little harder ’cause you gotta make it a little more exciting. But most of the people in the audience know the product, know the organization, know what the need.
[00:32:48] And so it’s, it’s, it’s a challenge to kind of make it fresh and new. But something like the events that you all were putting on, introducing a product to a new market. That’s kind of exciting. It’s such a great challenge and a [00:33:00] great opportunity to just like, this is, these are all new people. Everybody involved in this.
[00:33:04] Uh, the audience is new, so you really get to be like, Hey, look at this. You know? So yeah, those were good times and you know, it also helps events that kind of at that time and now looking back probably was the best idea to have these great giant kind of unlimited budgets. So we, the money that was thrown at some of these events, like,
[00:33:21] Alysse Bryson: we gotta have so much fun.
[00:33:23] What about, so you mentioned the Pacific Northwest. You did, you did. You’ve obviously, you’ve done a, a bajillion events in the OR in Oregon State, but you’ve also done a really large number up in Seattle, up in Washington.
[00:33:36] So can you just like. What’s the different in the vibes between Seattle and Portland crowds?
[00:33:42] Kevin Cook: Yeah, and you know, I hope, I don’t get in trouble for this, but I’ve always felt this, and, and it’s not good, bad or indifferent, it’s just the obvious change difference. You know, Seattle is bigger and therefore, in my mind, the events are a little more sophisticated. Portland is smaller, so it’s a [00:34:00] little more.
[00:34:01] Casual. Even though, you know, Portland does a great job. There’s a lot of black tie, high end events, but they’re all still a little smaller. It’s still a little more familiar.
[00:34:11] Alysse Bryson: right? They’re a little
[00:34:12] Kevin Cook: Yeah. Yeah. Everybody, everybody. I don’t wanna say everybody knows each other, but in the nonprofit world, in the events world, in the arts world, you do kind of see when we have, you know, it’s kinda like the, the event circuit.
[00:34:25] Okay, I’m gonna see you here, then I’m gonna see you here, then I’m gonna see you here, this, and so where is in Seattle? I rarely saw the same people. They definitely were targeted audiences at different events. , and also for me, living in Portland, the Seattle events always just seemed. You, you know, ’cause there were always new venues to me.
[00:34:43] You know, in Portland I worked all the venues. So it’s like, oh, I’ve been here before. So it was always new. And when it’s new and it’s fresh, you, to me, it’s just a little more kind of exciting. As, you know, one of the vendors, it’s like, oh, I’m in a new space. So.
[00:34:56] Libby Sundgren: Okay. If you could host one dream event [00:35:00] anywhere in the world, what would it be? And who is invited? Other than Elise and I obviously.
[00:35:06] Kevin Cook: So you two are invited to anything I ever, ever, ever, ever do. And you know, I do prefer, this sounds kind of wimpy. I prefer working places that I’ve already worked before, so I don’t have the anxiety of what’s behind those doors. I already know. So I can’t say anything fabulous in Europe or whatever.
[00:35:25] ’cause I’ve not been there. I’ve been to Spain, I’ve been to cis, uh, in Barcelona. But that, I don’t wanna do an event there. It’s too hot. But I think, , a fabulous event would be in New York City
[00:35:35] Libby Sundgren: Sweaty drag queens. Not good.
[00:35:36] Kevin Cook: It would involve. No, nobody wants it. So a rooftop in New York City, , a sunset event. So it starts out in the daytime where you can see everything’s beautiful and then it just all return thing turns sparkly and glowy.
[00:35:50] , obviously flowing, , cocktails and mocktails, not a actual sit down dinner, but a big giant, um, appetizer stations all [00:36:00] around so people can just circulate and mix and mingle. The event really wouldn’t have, like in a three hour event, there might be a 15, 20 minute program. Um, it wouldn’t be a fundraiser.
[00:36:12] I would like to throw an event where I could just pay for all my friends to just have a wonderful time and they just have to show up. But it would definitely be, you know, cocktail elegant, no jeans, no flip flops, no short, sorry, Jefferson can’t come. Um, so yeah. Yeah, I mean,
[00:36:29] Libby Sundgren: go.
[00:36:30] Alysse Bryson: we did do a rooftop event together in Seattle on the waterfront, and I specifically remember.
[00:36:38] Kevin Cook: Was it for um, um,
[00:36:40] Libby Sundgren: Yeah,
[00:36:41] Kevin Cook: Yes, yes,
[00:36:42] Alysse Bryson: controversial and like Somebo. I remember there was a few people that perhaps, I don’t know that they were overserved other than they got themselves overserved, but then
[00:36:53] in with keeping in with the theme with over, they went overboard on the side of the building from [00:37:00] the rooftop
[00:37:01] in
[00:37:01] Libby Sundgren: Well, no, not the human,
[00:37:02] Kevin Cook: I do re
[00:37:03] Libby Sundgren: Didn’t their, their exc their, they’re vomiting.
[00:37:07] Kevin Cook: ooh. Yeah. Oh
[00:37:09] Alysse Bryson: I was trying not to say vomit. Thanks, Libby.
[00:37:11] Kevin Cook: Oh, it’s okay. We’re adults. No, I remember.
[00:37:14] Libby Sundgren: they pooped over the thing and
[00:37:16] Alysse Bryson: Oh, we’re back to
[00:37:17] Kevin Cook: Now long, long, long end. No, I definitely remember that event. I remember, um, events in the library. I remember events. Um, God, what was that one event? There’s so many great
[00:37:29] Alysse Bryson: you remember a generosity where we did it at the, um, the
[00:37:32] Libby Sundgren: The Living Computer Museum. That
[00:37:34] Alysse Bryson: like
[00:37:34] Kevin Cook: I love that.
[00:37:35] Alysse Bryson: Yes.
[00:37:36] Kevin Cook: Yes. Oh my gosh, I love that computer. The first time I went to that place, I’m like, what is this place? I had to keep remembering I was working ’cause I wanted to play with all the exhibits. It was so neat. All the old phones and computers and all the stuff to play with and, and that just was always fun, you know.
[00:37:52] Just, uh, you didn’t ask, but one of the things that I loved most about our, , events. Are the relationships we’ve built [00:38:00] with the DJs and the photographers and the caterers and like, I got to see them. I think there’s something to be said for, um, loyalty and, and continually working with the same people and bringing them in.
[00:38:09] ’cause they do a good job and you know what you’re gonna get out of them. They know what they’re gonna get outta you. It’s just such a easy thing. You know, I tell people when they’re putting together the event, I’m like, who did you use last year? They’ll say A, B, and C, but you are using these other people.
[00:38:22] Why? Well, we wanted to switch that. I said, was anything wrong with those people? Like, no. I go, you’re gonna have more anxiety trying to figure out what these people are gonna bring. When you already know the other people are doing good, if something’s not broke, don’t fix it. Keep the photographer. ’cause you know, they’re great.
[00:38:37] Keep the catering, you know, they’re great. Don’t you know if your flowers were crap, well then get a new florist. You know what I mean? But just those relationships. And I just, this morning was texting with Thomas Malcolm Cook, who used to be, you know, with photo tainment and we are still.
[00:38:50] Alysse Bryson: Ah, photo, shout out to photo
[00:38:55] Kevin Cook: Yeah, yeah. You know, they just, they did it for the, all those years and Thomas is still [00:39:00] working in Portland. I see him at many events doing his own Tom Cook photography. So yeah, those kind of relationships that are really important to keep, I believe.
[00:39:08] Alysse Bryson: Well, as we wrap up, um, what’s next for you? What, do you have anything on the horizon you want our audience to know about?
[00:39:15] Kevin Cook: Well, to just always follow poison waters.com all around the world. , our drag Aon, um, Guinness World Record, , is now the subject of a fabulous documentary with the big time documentary director in New York City. So we’re just, it’s, it’s all been shot, it’s all been edited. the. The release. The release, um, not the, the trailer is just, I just heard this week, um, from Fiona McCann.
[00:39:43] As a matter of fact, she’s one of the, um, helping with that. She, they, they just finished it. So the, the actual, I’ve seen like, like teasers and I’ve seen pieces, but the actual trailer that now is gonna be sent to film festivals all over. Um, and it’s, yeah, it’s a really big deal. [00:40:00] And I think, you know, one of the reasons we did it was because there’s so much anti L-G-B-T-Q legislation out there, and then of course giving the money that was raised from the event to the Trevor Project.
[00:40:11] That was great three years ago when we did it. But now more than ever with the climate of this ding dang country, I think people want to, it’s actually called Meeting Hate with Joy is the name of it. Dragoon the documentary, and I think. Going to be received so well, people, just, the fact the entertainment value of drag queens up for 48 hours, 11 minutes and 30 seconds nonstop in the oldest drag club in the whole, you know, it’s, that’s enough.
[00:40:40] But then just the stories behind it, they went back and re-interviewed almost all of the drag queens to talk about what it meant to them. So there’s, it is pulling, you know, the show itself is entertaining and high energy, but they’re also mixing it with some really good heart and stories and. So
[00:40:57] Libby Sundgren: Oh, I can’t wait to see it.
[00:40:58] Kevin Cook: when you see
[00:40:59] Alysse Bryson: [00:41:00] Oh.
[00:41:00] Kevin Cook: drag is on the documentary meeting. Hate with Joy When you see it be it, do it.
[00:41:06] Libby Sundgren: Is there gonna be a premier in Portland? Like a big fancy
[00:41:10] Kevin Cook: Um, there’s gonna be, there’s
[00:41:11] Alysse Bryson: Because
[00:41:12] Kevin Cook: gonna be everywhere. And I’m gonna be,
[00:41:14] Alysse Bryson: we’ll come to all the West coast ones.
[00:41:16] Kevin Cook: yes, on the red carpet, we’ll be there.
[00:41:19] Libby Sundgren: doing a tour.
[00:41:21] Kevin Cook: Yeah, I’ll definitely, I’ll definitely,
[00:41:22] Alysse Bryson: it.
[00:41:22] Kevin Cook: I’ll definitely keep you posted when that’s gonna happen. I’m excited.
[00:41:26] Libby Sundgren: Oh, we follow you. So we’ll know. We’ll follow. We follow all your socials.
[00:41:32] Kevin Cook: I’m at all times.
[00:41:34] Alysse Bryson: All the time. Well, Libby definitely does because she like, like she knows more about my calendar than I do. It’s, she just, she loves that kind of information. She just
[00:41:43] Libby Sundgren: yeah, yeah. I like to fill you in on your own lives, people. That’s the way I do it.
[00:41:51] Kevin Cook: Yeah. We forget it. We’re li, we’re so busy living it that we forget some of the great stuff we’re doing. People have to remind me what I’m up to.
[00:41:57] Alysse Bryson: Well, thank you so much [00:42:00] for joining us today. We’re gonna put your links for your socials and your website, uh, in the show notes. And that is a wrap for this episode of BEATS WORKING, winning the Game of Events. If you have an idea or wanna reach out, please email us at Info Twerking Show and remember. Every detail matters. Every moment counts. And Libby
[00:42:21] Libby Sundgren: No matter what, the show must go on.
[00:42:25] Thanks for listening to BEATS WORKING, winning the Game of Events where we explore what it takes to make moments unforgettable. If you’re leaving with a little more inspiration, a little more perspective, and a big side ache from all of the laughing at our funny jokes, then we’ve done Our Job BEATS WORKING is a work P two P production.
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