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Daily Inspiration: Meet Wes Rankin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Wes Rankin.

Hi Wes, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
For years Desiré Decline and I have been dreaming up events and projects. We were allowed to host Boozed Up Bingo at Handlebar several years ago. We had a blast, and it became clear quickly that we were onto something good. We weren’t the only ones who saw that spark. Our close friends Chris Taber and Rusty Warning were regulars at our shows. They are now known as DJ TABER and Spectrama Lighting & Production. I remember chatting with them after a show. It was around the holidays. I told them our ideas for the show and how we would make it a bit more special. They both smiled, and then Rusty piped in, “we are also going to bring two light trees, 8 par cans, and a source 4 we can use as a follow spot.”. My eyes welled up with tears. We both hugged them tightly, and we all did a shot. That is how it all began.

We would eventually select the name Prismatic Events as our company name. By the time we did that, we were producing Piano Karaoke, Drag Bingo, and our monthly drag show at Handlebar with guest cast members. We were having a blast. On top of the drag events, I was also getting back into the day of wedding coordinating. I could support myself financially strictly from the events we had planned and the handful of wedding gigs I had.

COVID happened. Like so many other people, we lost all momentum. We were crushed and scared like so many others. But what happens when you tell queer creatives that they can’t create? They make their opportunities! I was out of work for a week before I found myself in drag on a Monday night with Desiré. We treated it like a talk show and Skyped in friends from out of town. We also found a way to host Drag Bingo online, and people could play with us. Then we had this crazy idea for everyone in the “Family” or company to record a drag performance in their living room. After our recordings were done, we sent them to Chris. From there, he made magic happen. He cut everything together and even provided some pretty bomb transitions to elevate it slightly more. After the first show aired, we knew we wanted to do more. Before we got to recording, Chris suggested we all purchase equipment to up the production level of the next show. We bought Green screen lighting, and it made all of the difference. Chris was able to use one of his video production skills and turn our at-home videos into legit music videos. It was a very challenging time for the family because we all thrive off seeing each other and collaborating in person. Some of us were essential workers and did not get to stay home, but that did not stop us. In-person meetings were transferred to several hours of us on FaceTime discussing and planning. The “Are you still Watching” series is something that I am personally very proud of. It was one of the first times I started thinking about what would happen next for Prismatic Events. I had made it my goal to help produce something that people wanted to watch and that they also felt represented in. That was when our mission statement became clear to me. We create events and parties that everyone feels welcome at and enjoys. Simple as that.

Shortly after the city started opening back up, we were contacted by Billy Thompson, co-owner of Tropical Liqueurs St. Louis. Billy scheduled meetings with Desiré and me separately. Not 20 minutes into his meeting with Desiré, it became clear that he should be meeting with the two of us. We are a package deal. I joined the meeting, and from there, we started the talks of what a Drag Brunch would look like at “Trops.” We were stoked about the opportunity. We knew we were the right people for the job and we are well into our second year of doing the brunch shows. Our show has grown and evolved since then and is, in my opinion, the most theatrically produced drag brunch in St. Louis. We are known for our immersive-themed events. We are also pleased to announce that one show a month at Trops will have ASL interpretation.

Pride 2021 was a game-changer. If you remember, Pride STL moved their festival to August that year. This left an entertainment hole in the community. You will also remember that this was the same time Lady Gaga released her Chromatica album. We knew instantly that we wanted to produce a live-drag version for pride. It was everyone’s first pride after the pandemic; honestly, we needed a party. We approached Billy about helping us produce the event for the weekend for what would have been Pride STL’s festival. That is the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, where pride started. We agreed that we would have the event outside on the Trops patio for safety. We got to planning, and the entire Prismatic Events family was involved.

We rehearsed. We built set pieces. We dressed in the alley in a tent with no sides. It rained ALL day. Rusty, Evan, Chris, and a team of friends made it happen, somehow. I stood under the awning with tears in my eyes because everyone had already worked so hard, and now everyone who wasn’t in drag was soaking wet, on ladders taking lights down so they did not get destroyed, only to turn around and hang them back up when the weather broke. People were starting to show up for the show and pitched in. I wasn’t sad. I was so touched and honored that these humans cared about our show that they would sacrifice their time to make sure it happened. We ended up having to push the show back a bit. Right before the show started, we decided that if it began to rain and we were not in danger, we would keep going! The second we stepped foot on stage, it stopped raining, and it was dry the rest of the evening. “Welcome to Prismatica” was a very defining production for us. It was the first time we did a large group production that included backup dancers, fire spinning, and aerial silks. The show poster is still hanging on my fridge.

In June of 2022, I made the jump and signed paperwork to make our company official. We are now Prismatic Events LLC, St. Louis’ newest queer-owned and operated events company! I am still determining when myself or the others find time to sleep, but I love it. I wake up every day blessed and am so honored to be able to work with such passion and creativity. Chris, Rusty, and now Evan are the most sought-after queer production team in St. Louis. Our family has also grown considerably. We started as a performer duo, and now we are a team of 11 and growing. As we look to the future, I am excited about the presented opportunities. We currently have several new projects we are working on and can’t wait to share them with everyone. Queer representation and visibility are core values of ours. We are humbled and grateful to be able to do what we love the way we love doing it.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Yeah, it has been smooth. I have to surround myself with people that are way more talented than me, and I love it. We are a family that happens to run a business. With that philosophy, things can get muddy, feelings can get hurt, and relationships can be tested. We always come out of disagreements stronger and more effective for the future. The team takes on more responsibility as the company grows to ensure it all happens. The bigger struggles that we have come from a creative place. Our minds are always turning and thinking of ways to improve our productions. Because of that, we have dreamed up events and productions that require a theatrical venue or major funding. So no complaints here! If our biggest struggle is finding a space, we can use to produce or work or figure out financing for our own. I’ll take it.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Prismatic Events creates events and parties that everyone feels welcome at and enjoys. We have a handful of drag shows throughout the city, and growing. We do quarterly installments of Pop Art Paint Nite and Piano Karaoke. Because we focus on a queer-inclusive environment, we have established a safe space for our events. We are very proud of that. I am most proud of what we do when we are mid-show, and I walk backstage after announcing the next performer. I hear the audience yell in support. I see the shadow of them performing. I can see the other performers backstage getting ready for their next number, and I’m just there soaking it all up with a huge smile on my face. I sit on the stool backstage and find myself overwhelmed with gratitude and humbled to do what I love with the people I love.

We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Can you share something that might surprise us?
What surprises people the most about Prismatic Events as a company is we are more than just drag shows. We can host the trifecta of performer, entertainment, and technical configurations or a single entity of collaborative production. People are often surprised to learn that we help plan several festivals a year and have the talent and equipment to do more and we are ready for more!

Pricing:

  • About $20 per person.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Taber Performance Photography, BOOM Magazine Paige Butler

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