So during this quarantine, we decided to resurrect our Chauncey Chat series and feature short and sassy interviews with nightlife personalities and local artists in the NYC area and beyond. Being a performer or an artist is especially trifling during a lockdown and we are here to find out what happens when you force a creative person to stay home. Let’s see what is happening with our next specimen in our second installment of CHAUNCEY CHAT : ELEVEN QUESTIONS (QUARANTINE EDITION) on The House Of Dandridge!

STATE YOUR NAME AND OCCUPATION

Makon Mayhem 

I am a drag artist, singer, multi-instrumentalist with a fascination for all things Broadway, magic and makeup.

1. WHERE DO YOU ALL HOME AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SELF QUARANTINING?

I am home on LawnGUYland and have been self-quarantined since before it was popular. 

Around the beginning of March. I posted on March 10^th that I was cancelling gigs throughout March and April.  

Ahead of the curve and flattening that bish!

2. HOW HAVE YOU BEEN PASSING THE TIME SO FAR?   HAVE YOU BEEN CREATIVE?

As many of us have during the quarantine, I recently did my civil duty; as a queer drag artist and I downloaded Tik Tok. I am both completely abashed and besotted by this news, as I am well sure you are. I have made the mistake of posting some of them, with a glimmer of pride, and the response is habitually an “Everything ok?” straight into my DM’s. I promise I am. 

In other creative conduits, I have been working more on my music chops. I find that I am posting more content with myself out of drag, which is new.  I have been playing my music more, trying to regain my confidence on some of the instruments I feel need bolstering.  Trying to learn new makeup techniques and applications.  Anything I can get my hands on that interests me is free game as of recent. 

3. HAVE YOU SET ANY GOALS FOR PROJECTS OR ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS WHILE YOU’RE IN QUARANTINE?  IF SO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THEM OR ARE THEY A SECRET?

THERE IS A SECRET….PPPSSST COME CLOSER I’LL TELL YOU. I HAVE NO PLANS RIGHT NOW AT ALL. 

I am currently focusing on learning as much as I can while under the strong arm of the Quarantine.  I categorically do my best to keep my mind busy from minute to minute. I hope to return to whatever I was doing before. Upon returning to the gig life I hope to include more live music in drag and more drag in live music.  (With a DJ of Course!)

4. DO YOU FIND YOURSELF DOING THINGS THAT YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD SINCE YOU HAVE SO MUCH FREE TIME?

Yes. I have rearranged my closet, at least two times. Having sorted the bigger sizes to the back and the “skinny” ones to the front. A week and a half into the quarantine the rotation began. The back of the closet to the front and vice versa.  Now I am exclusively living in sweatpants.   

5. ARE THERE ANY FRIENDS OR PEERS THAT HAVE BEEN ACTIVE ONLINE WITH SOME SORT OF CREATIVE OUTPUT YOU’VE BEEN KEEPING AN EYE ON?   IF SO, TELL US ABOUT THEM AND WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT THEM.

I appreciate the many talented performers who are going on IG LIVE. Some of these performers I just follow, like Landon Cider and others I have had the pleasure of working with. Local Kings, Queens and In-betweens. Bella Noche goes on IG live and I love her. Bella is a force; she continues to keep me entertained in Quarantine.  I can watch Annie Manildoo’s tiktoks all day.  Other performers Ashley Jade, Toni Homeperm’s have gone virtual with their snatch game. Many of these offer a familiar face, as well as a great show and looks for days!

AND NOW FOR THE MEATIER MORE PERSONAL QUESTIONS…

6. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GOTO SNACK OR MEAL THAT YOU’VE BEEN ENJOYING SINCE YOU’VE BEEN ON LOCKDOWN?   ARE YOU A COOK OR ARE YOU DEPENDENT ON THE GRACE OF YOUR DELIVERY GUYS TO BRING YOU FOOD? 

Ok interesting fact, I am a glutton for Jello (straight up no liquor). Jello has been my bestie since this lockdown began.

Thankfully I have always cooked and I am rather skilled in the kitchen.  I will confess that I have ordered an occasional grub hub on days where I am just over the idea of cooking, I make a mean Quiche and some banging beyond burgers on the grill.

7. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SHOWERED AND GOT DRESSED?

What kind of lady do you think I…

ok, I got dressed today but probably showered 2 days ago, much like tiktok…it’s a truth I am not entirely proud of.

8. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE YOU SENT NAKED SELFIES TO SINCE YOU’VE BEEN IN LOCKDOWN?

My phone crashed the other day I don’t’ know what kind of sign that was, or if that’s any indication as to the truth regarding this answer. Regardless of my personal pictorial proclivities…Either it’s received too many naked selfies or the phone has seen too much and just needed to power down.

9. IF THE QUARANTINE ENDED TOMORROW, WHERE WOULD BE THE FIRST PLACE YOU WOULD GO AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO THERE?

I would walk naked thru the frozen food section of stop and shop.  Directly to my Gardein, which since the quarantine is lifted in this scenario, would be readily available and not rationed.  Walk up to the cashier, hand her a $50 and ask for change in singles, I would then ask her to “MAKE IT RAIN”. In the end we would both have an amazing post quarantine story. 

10. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING GUILTY PLEASURE SO FAR?

I mean, how can you turn down a Netflix show with a gay, gun-toting, redneck meth-head that hoards tigers?  AND…that isn’t even the HEADLINE? I sat and powered thru Tiger King like it had a medal waiting for me at the end.  

11. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXPRESSING THEIR ANXIETY AND FRUSTRATIONS AND SHARING LOTS OF BAD NEWS AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA.  ARE YOU FREAKING OUT LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE ARE OR ARE YOU COOL, CALM AND COLLECTED AND OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE?

Honesty hour kiddies…

I am, as a standard; a relatively calm person.  I always try and find comedy in chaos and thrive by my sarcasm in the situations that would could most people panic.  For the future, I cannot help but look to viruses like the Spanish influenza and it’s ultimate demise. I think of the AIDS crisis and how many lives were cut short before adequate or affordable treatment. Sadly, this calms me when I feel like the world is spinning and we don’t quite have the wheel.  This is but a moment. One that will change the way we approach healthcare and illness, but a moment none the less. As humans, we are programmed to “freak out” under these conditions. It’s “caveman” instinct.  I think we all have moments of fear. Overall, I am optimistic.  Right now, I know that is nearly impossible to see.  

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS CHAUNCEY CHAT!   LET US KNOW WHERE WE CAN FIND YOU AND YOUR WORK ONLINE AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA

@MAKONMAYHEM on INSTAGRAM

Mak0nMayhem on TIKTOK