BOOKING
WHAT IS DRAG STORY HOUR?
Drag Story Hour NYC produces storytelling and creative arts programs for children and teens, presented by local drag artists, in libraries, schools, and other community spaces in all five boroughs of New York City, and virtually. Through fun and fabulous educational experiences, our programs celebrate gender diversity and all forms of difference to build empathy and give kids the confidence to express themselves however they feel comfortable.
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Are you interested in booking a program for your library, school, museum, or other venue? Please read the information below to learn about our programs and rates, then fill out this form to begin the booking process. All follow-up questions should be addressed to Sanina Clark at sanina@dshnyc.org
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Please note that we require at least three weeks notice to plan a program.
A FEW NOTES BEFORE YOU BOOK
Our Storytellers: We take pride in being inclusive of all genders and identities being their most unique selves, as there are no specific rules to doing drag. Our storytellers are committed to doing your event as the best representation of themselves, and can range from creatures, kings, things, and queens!
Rates: The rates listed include one drag storyteller for one Drag Story Hour (DSH) session. We bring our own books selected from our list of age-appropriate picture books. If you would like us to read a specific book, please send us a PDF of the book at least two weeks in advance so we can determine whether it’s a good fit, and please provide a physical copy of the book on the day. There are additional fees for any theme requests, costume requests, additional drag storytellers, multiple reading sessions, or audiences that exceed the maximum numbers listed.
Deposits and cancellations: For private events, we require a $100 nonrefundable deposit to secure the event date. For all other events, we charge a $100 cancellation fee if the event is cancelled after the date, time, and storyteller has been confirmed.
Please note: Due to the high volume of booking, if making changes to your event, we require at least three weeks notice to change scheduling once booked.
Promotion: DSH NYC brings drag performers to children and communities, but does not specialize in bringing families to venues. We list all DSH programs that are open to the public on our events calendar, but we can’t guarantee any promotion beyond that.
Bathrooms for the public: If you are hosting an event that is open to the public, we ask that you provide at least one clearly labeled gender neutral public bathroom so that everyone feels safe attending our events.
Schools: Please make sure you have the full support of your school’s administration before confirming your booking with us. Some schools end up canceling events if conflict arises over the nature of our programming. While DSH NYC offers its programming free of charge to public schools, the organization still pays the drag artist and event facilitator for each program, and when an event is canceled, we pay the drag artist a cancellation fee. Additionally, other schools miss out on the opportunity to book a free program, since we offer a limited number of free programs. If you need help explaining the value of DSH programs to your school’s administration or parents, we have resources available for that! Please email sanina@dshnyc.org and ask for our FAQ for Schools.
PROGRAMS AND RATES
We offer free and sliding scale rates for programs serving different types of institutions, based on the following categories:
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Category 1: Request a free program for your public school during classroom hours --virtual or in-person (limited availability) and for all public libraries within city-based funding districts.
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Category 2: Subsidized Community Program: for public libraries and public schools--virtual or in-person (limited availability)
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Category 3: Community Program: for nonprofits, charter schools, and volunteer-run community groups hosting events that are free and open to the public--virtual
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Category 4: Community Program: for nonprofits, charter schools, and volunteer-run community groups hosting events that are free and open to the public--in person
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Category 5: Standard Program: for private schools, private parties, and small businesses--virtual
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Category 6: Standard Program: for private schools, private parties, and small businesses--in person
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Category 7: Corporations--virtual
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Category 8: Corporations--in person
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Mary Beth Dromm Fund Application: --please note the separate booking form (see below) and the time frame required, in order to provide this programming
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Signature Program
Drag Story Hour NYC
45 min | Ages 3-8 | Max. 60 kids*
Drag Story Hour NYC offers a storytelling program designed for children ages 3-8. A local drag artist trained by children’s librarians will read picture books, sing songs, do movement activities, and provide an age-appropriate introduction to the concept of drag as a form of dressup and play.
Category 1: FREE
Category 2: $600
Category 3: $700
Category 4: $800
Category 5: $900
Category 6: $1000
Category 7: $1500
Category 8: $2000
* Max. numbers do not apply for virtual programs.
Bilingual Drag Story Hour NYC
45 min | Ages 3-8 | Max. 60 kids*
Bilingual Drag Story Hour NYC is a storytelling program designed for children ages 3 and up, presented in Spanish and English, Cantonese and English, or French and English. A local drag performer trained by children’s librarians will read picture books in both languages, sing songs, do movement activities, and and provide an age-appropriate introduction to the concept of drag as a form of dressup and play.
Category 1: FREE
Category 2: $600
Category 3: $700
Category 4: $800
Category 5: $900
Category 6: $1000
Category 7: $1500
Category 8: $2000
* Max. numbers do not apply for virtual programs.
Reading with Royalty: Middle School
45 min | Ages 10-14 | Max. 60 kids*
A local drag artist will read an excerpt from one of our favorite queer middle grade books and lead a discussion about the book. Participants are encouraged to read the book before attending the program. (This program must be booked a month in advance so that we can plan and announce the book selection and give participants a chance to read the book.)
Category 1: FREE
Category 2: $600
Category 3: $700
Category 4: $800
Category 5: $900
Category 6: $1000
Category 7: $1500
Category 8: $2000
* Max. numbers do not apply for virtual programs.
Reading with Royalty: High School
45 min | Ages 14-18 | Max. 60 kids*
A local drag artist will read an excerpt from one of our favorite queer YA books and lead a discussion about the book. Participants are encouraged to read the book before attending the program. (This program must be booked a month in advance so that we can plan and announce the book selection and give participants a chance to read the book.)
Category 1: FREE
Category 2: $600
Category 3: $700
Category 4: $800
Category 5: $900
Category 6: $1000
Category 7: $1500
Category 8: $2000
* Max. numbers do not apply for virtual programs.
Drag Story Hour NYC for Neurodiverse Kids
45 min | All ages | Max. 12 families*
Children with disabilities are welcome at all DSH events, but this program is designed with the needs of neurodiverse kids in mind. Attendance numbers are limited and programs incorporate visual schedules, social stories, sensory and movement activities, fidgets, and more.
As performers, drag artists are the perfect ambassadors for story time for children with social or attentional difficulties because it's hard to take your eyes off a drag artist! Learn more about the origins of this program at lineupthebooks.com/dqsh.
Category 1: FREE
Category 2: $600
Category 3: $700
Category 4: $800
Category 5: $900
Category 6: $1000
Category 7: $1500
Category 8: $2000
* Max. numbers do not apply for virtual programs.
The Art of Drag: Makeup Demo
& Conversation
60 min | Ages 8-18 | Max. 30 kids/adults
Learn makeup tips and tricks from a drag artist in this live makeup tutorial and demonstration. Makeup supplies are not provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own makeup supplies, follow along, and ask questions.
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Please note: due to our 1 hour time constraint, DSH NYC can cover the application of "contour and highlights" OR "lips and eyes". If you'd like to book a full-face demo. (or another application) please email DSH NYC Program Director, Sanina Clark, at sanina@dshnyc.org for pricing.
Category 1: FREE
Category 2: $600
Category 3: $700
Category 4: $800
Category 5: $900
Category 6: $1000
Category 7: $1500
Category 8: $2000
* Max. numbers do not apply for virtual programs.
DSH NYC+
45 min | Ages 8-18 | Max. 60 kids*
Category 5: $900
Category 6: $1000
Category 7: $1500
Category 8: $2000
Category 1: FREE
Category 2: $600
Category 3: $700
Category 4: $800
DSH NYC+ is the “big kid” version of our original DSH NYC program! A local drag artist trained by children’s librarians will read a picture book that explores themes of gender diversity, then lead a discussion on the book’s themes and answer questions about drag.
* Max. numbers do not apply for virtual programs.
Kids' Parties
45 min | Kids of all ages | Max 20 kids*
Yes, we do birthday parties! Please select the program you would like and choose category 5 (virtual) or category 6 (in person) when booking.
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Category 5: $900
Category 6: $1000
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* Max. numbers do not apply for virtual programs.
DSH NYC After Dark: for adults
45 min | Adults only | No Max
Kids are not the only ones who like stories! You can book a DSH NYC program for your office holiday party, baby shower, bachelorette party, birthday party, or any other occasion! At our adult DSH NYC events, a drag performer will read picture books, perform a lip sync number, get the crowd up and moving with the DSH song “The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish Swish Swish,” and engage the audience in popular activities such as “Find Your Own Drag Name.”
Category 4: $800
Category 5: $900
Category 6: $1000
Category 7: $1500
Category 8: $2000
Mary Beth Dromm Fund
Artwork by Petra and Theo W.
45 min | All Ages | Max. 60 participants
The Mary Beth Dromm Fund was created specifically for those community members who lack access to DSH NYC programs or do not have the means to bring a program to their district. This fund allows for any resident, organization, or creature within the five boroughs to submit a request for future programming here (please note, this is different from our original booking form).
Each year on July 1st, a panel of DSH NYC storytellers and administrators will go over submissions and choose to provide a FREE storytelling service to one of our greater NYC community members. DSH NYC offers these services in memory of Mary Beth Dromm.
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