User blog:Idekmandy/Staff Spotlight: Celebrating Pride With Vinny Venuti, Sr. Coordinator of Experiences at Fandom

Hello, hello, hello everyone!

It’s the final week of Pride Month, but we still have more celebration coming your way! We’re thrilled to continue sharing the stories and lived experiences of passionate LGBTQIA+ folks who embrace authenticity and promote inclusivity in everything that they do. Through our theme of “Looking Back and Moving Forward”, we are focusing on the importance of understanding where we came from in order to get where we need to be. Learning and empathizing with queer stories is a powerful step to progressing toward a world of acceptance for all, so I highly encourage you all to open up your minds and hearts to understanding the unique journeys of people different from yourself.

Last week, we kicked off a new Staff Spotlight series where we highlight incredible Fandom Staff members who work to make this platform the most inclusive destination for all fans. To continue our focus on the Drag community, I would like to introduce you all to another amazing drag artist we have at Fandom - Vinny Venuti, Sr. Coordinator of Experiences. Some of you may have had the pleasure of meeting him at Community Connect this year (and if you did, you know just how great of a person he is), but if you didn’t, I hope you enjoy getting to know a bit about him!

Read on to learn more about his role at Fandom, his performance art journey, and how he spreads joy and kindness through everything that he does.

Meet Vinny
Hello! My name is Vinny in and out of drag (any pronoun). My style of drag is more from the 80s - 90s era of New York City where they were referred to as “Club Kids”. I moved to NYC in 2014 and got my first job at an underground cabaret in the Lower East Side. This introduced me to the cabaret and artistry of performance art where my drag was born. I bounced around New York City managing clubs and parties in my drag. Coming from a background in theater, this was a whole new world where I could display all my skills at once. There is also a hint of punk and rockstar vibes from my favorite person in the world - P!nk.

'''1. What is your role at Fandom? How long have you been with the company?'''
 * My role at Fandom is titled Sr. Coordinator of Experiences, where I put together the events that Fandom puts on all around the world, internally and externally. I have just passed my six months with Fandom and I have already traveled to two countries and 5 different states for events. My favorite part about my job, here at Fandom, is meeting the people that support Fandom and actually create the wikis that hundreds of thousands of people refer to. They are a major part of Fandom and meeting them face to face is an honor.

2. What is your drag persona and the meaning behind it?
 * My drag persona is a cabaret inspired vibe. Coming from NYC cabaret, I’ve developed a persona that captures that old underground essence and throwback to the old glamorous days of elite parties in NYC. The cabaret is a place of expression and art with high skills from the circus, and that captures all of my interests where I can throw it all in a mixing bowl and produce “V!nny”.

3. What inspired you to start doing drag?
 * While working in these underground clubs and parties, I had met so many performers living their truth. I mean NYC is definitely the spot to inspire and encourage. You can find performers anywhere you go, and seeing these artists really pushed me to express myself. On top of that, my first experience dressing in drag was one night after a show hanging out with Alexis Michelle (before she was on RuPaul’s Drag Race) and she put me in some of her amazing lewks. This lit a fire in me to take my creativity to the next level and become a personality in the NYC nightlife scene - which I did!

'''4. What does the art of drag mean to you? How much has it impacted your life?'''
 * The art of drag means that I can be whoever I want and be able to make others smile and look in awe, as I once did. It means being expressive, being seen, being representation and showing that drag comes in many different colors, shapes, sizes, and forms. It means YOU can be YOU. Drag opened many doors for me, pushing my career along a path I had never expected. It made me feel free and create bonds with other queens. I wouldn't be where I am today or have had the opportunities I had if I didn't do drag.

5. One of our core company values is “We Bring Joy.” How do you spread joy through your drag?
 * My persona is all about joy and kindness. I stand for not belittling anyone and accepting those who want to express themselves, no matter how big or little they want to go. If a little glitter on your eyes brings you joy - do it. If you want to dress over the top - do it. I love meeting people that want to take pictures with me and hold conversations, and allowing that opportunity to do so brings joy to myself and others. I spread joy by spreading kindness - because we need more of that in this world, and I am fortunate enough to be with a company that promotes just that.

6. Are there any fandoms that have influenced your craft or are personally meaningful to you?
 * The fandoms that really inspired me came from animation. Pixar, Dreamworks, Studio Ghibli, etc. These worlds created characters that had personalities that truly reflected the character they were portraying. These artistic characters influenced beauty and self expression to get the idea across to viewers. It brings you to a different world where imagination thrives, and that has always been my goal - Imagination!

'''7. Our theme for Pride this year is “Looking Back and Moving Forward”. Thinking about where you are now and how far you’ve come, what advice would you give to your younger self?'''
 * I would advise my younger self to stop hesitating and just do it. I spent so much time in my own head trying to build the perfect persona. That's all great, but actually doing it is how you will learn and grow. It would have allowed me more experience. When I finally took that first step - it was blast off! Don't wait, just do it. Even if you think it's bad, its growth and opportunity to learn, and NEVER anything to be ashamed about. Those who see you- they want to grow with you and want to experience this path with you. You are not alone in this journey and there will always be people who want to support you - no matter how busted you thought you looked.

8. What do you hope the future holds for you, for drag, and for the LGBTQIA+ community as a whole?
 * I believe that the future of drag is very colorful. The idea of makeup being genderless is where i hope to see drag going. I hope to see more people showing off their own styles to the point where it feels like we are characters in a game or movie, but in real life. I hope to see more acceptance, kindness, and tolerance from those who don't understand. I hope to see more education on what it is that we actually do rather than creating their own narratives that just aren't true. I want to be part of the solution and continue inspiring others to be their authentic selves and be kind - especially within our own community.

9. What words of inspiration would you pass on to anyone interested in doing drag?
 * I say this with my whole heart - Do Not Compare Yourself To Other Queens. The point is all about originality and showing who YOU are. Copies of others will not get you far. Now, taking inspiration from others and learning from each other is a strong way to go. Your community are the ones that will uplift, educate, and inspire you. Be yourself and spread kindness.

10. What actions can queer folks and allies take to promote forward progress for the LGBTQIA+ community?
 * There are many actions that can be taken - like joining us. Whether that means dressing yourself up as a King or Queen, or even showing up to support local drag. Your local drag queens are the ones that need your support, not just those who made it mainstream. By showing up to shows or events, or even online promotes the growth in your community. A small drop creates a ripple effect - be the drop.

11. How can the community continue to follow your journey?
 * Follow me on Instagram: @vinnyvenuti

Big shoutout to Vinny for sharing his story and experiences so openly with all of you! I hope everyone has learned the power of being kind - not only to others, but also to yourself. There is only one YOU in this world, so embrace the qualities that make you unique, and those who see you will be there to uplift you. "You are not alone in this journey" - always remember that.

Stay tuned as we wrap up our Pride celebration this week, but in the meantime, go show Vinny some love in the comments!