I've worked as stage manager for every Wigstock since 1989. It was great to have Wigstock back in Tompkins Square and I even liked the shorter format. Yeah okay, it's not like it used to be, but what is? We can't live in the past and shouldn't want to. And yes, maybe the afterparty at Webster Hall was lame, but the afterparty at Opaline with Sister Dimension and Linda Simpson was loads of fun!
Yes, there were some assholes backstage working security. It's a problem that should be brought up with the promoters. Hopefully next year it'll be better. On the other hand, the sound and stage people couldn't have been better. They were much more professional and helpful than the idiots who worked on Wigstock. At least no one had any temper tantrums and threatened to shut off the sound.
As far as Bunny's comments and old jokes go, let me just say this. I much prefer Bunny's misogynist idiocy to Penny Arcade's geezerly rants about the good old days of junkies during the Way the Fuck off Broadway segment. I mean really, nostalgia for junkies? Ridiculous.
Finally, for those who complained that the Howl Fest concentrated too much on the past. If they had only featured new talent a lot of people would have been like, "what about the rich heritage of this neighborhood? How could they forget about _______?!" Maybe there is room for improvement but I thought it was a good mix. All in all it was a fantastic event, pulling together elements from every part of the East Village.
(Penny Arcade rant mode)
And all of you who didn't like it, go back to Levittown! You're the people I came here to get away from! Why, back in my day, we had the real junkies here, not you fake whippersnappers pretending to be junkies! Dagnabbit! I remember when I used to have to take a taxi three blocks home from the Pyramid! Those were the good times!