Well, I’ve been trying to fill up my spare time with volunteer work, I spend a couple hours a week at one place (and more time when there’s an event), and though I find it fulfilling, I want to do a few more things. Just for fun.
Well, searching through the database of local volunteer listings, I find one that looks incredibly fun: GAY BINGO!
The ad mentions they need people to help decorate, clean up, run concession stands, waiters, ID takers, the works. It says to volunteer, one should be open-minded, fun-loving, and be comfortable with adult humour. I thought - gasp - that’s my dream job! The place will be full of fun-loving gay, bi, lesbian, and transvestites playing bingo!
I am a shy girl, but I have always been very comfortable around people who have fun and are talkative and playful… I open up very quickly then, laugh easily and find myself having fun and making friends. This is my chance to meet new people! Make new friends! And have a blast! Plus - they’re on my schedule! It’s 3pm-11pm!
My question: What will I wear?!
There’s a little note at the bottom of the page:
How? How, how? All my clothes are rather… erm… conservative. What do I do? My “activewear” is not to be seen in public.
I think it’s more that you’ll be moving around a lot doing whichever of those things you volunteer to do. My guess is the six inch heels would not be a very wise choice. I’d say slacks and comfy shoes are in order. Ok, you might want to wear a shirt or somethin’ like that too. Go for it and have fun!
It’s a regularly scheduled bingo night with proceeds going to the Lifelong AIDS Alliance. 21 and up, straight/gay/bi/transvestites/transexuals, everyone shows up.
It’s emceed by a drag queen named Glamazonia, and she’s huge. Something like 7 feet tall without the heels. Add the heels and she’s massive. Funny and rude, she keeps a running commentary throughout the evening, saving her best lines for flirting with the straight guys. Her constant assistant is a little bubbly girl named Miss Intermission.
Never having been to Gay Bingo, I can only advise according to local bingo as what to wear: sequins, furs, rhinestones, feathers, lots of makeup and jewlery, the more the better.
Seriously, your friendly and genuine smile is going to be what all remember most.
Me, I’d wear jeans and my gold cowboy boots with my white rabbit-fur sweater layered over a tshirt because it might be cold or warm in the builing and you will be volunteering and likely running around a bit, so why not be comfortable and cute?
Yes, that’s exactly it. I mentioned it to my husband and he said he’ll drive me to and from - I’m just going to confirm with him that he knows the neighbourhood tonight when he gets home, maybe have him drive me by the place (only because I still get lost, and if I see the route for myself, it makes it easier for me - I can’t stand not knowing where I am). It looks to be only about five miles from here.
I could use the exercise, I could use the unpaid work, I could use the socialising - Seattle Trivia Night Dopers, you guys will be next!
[sub]I’m going to confess something to you guys, now: I’ve been too ashamed to attend trivia night because of my ADD being so bad this past year. I can’t focus, I can’t concentrate, and my mad trivia skillz are a little bit shite at the moment. This is on top of being very shy and agoraphobic. But I did want you to know I’m not avoiding you guys. I haven’t been taking my meds because I’m not insured here yet, and I’ve been keeping prescriptions down to just what I need to get by until I’m insured. I figure if I can get out and socialise with a crowd I know I’m very comfortable with first, I can take baby steps and get out more often. My other volunteer work mostly involves telephones, so I’m not face to face with anyone. This work will get me out there again.[/sub]
Anyway, thanks all for the advice! I suppose I’m fretting over tiny things… I’ll probably just wear my new comfy jeans and my fitted sparkly T-shirt the first night, and get a better idea of how the rest of the volunteers dress for next time. Maybe I’ll look for a troll doll with rainbow hair to accessorise. I don’t think anyone will be paying too much attention to me when Glamazonia enters the room, anyway.
Hell, I don’t even know what I’ll be assigned to, yet. There looks like a million and a half things that need to be done before, during, and after. I think I’m going to sign up for the entire evening shift, there’s an option for four hours, but my Saturdays are pretty tame and my weekend schedule is pretty empty. Besides, it’s not like I have* church * in the morning.
Oh, man, this is so cool. I just did a search for Gay Bingo in Baltimore and came up with Bingo every Wednesday night at the Hippo (an awesome club) in downtown Baltimore. Starts at 8:30pm. I gotta go. This should be really fun! I could go totally Edie Sedgwick (especially with short hair now, the look will work really well)… wow. I never even thought of Gay Bingo before.
As far as what you should wear… try something Mod… miniskirt, go-go boots, patterned tights, short faux fur jacket. Definitely a funky wig. Lots of bangle bracelets. Really, it’s not that uncomfortable, and you’ll look GOOD!!!
Damn, I learn some cool stuff on this message board!!
I like reading your posts and, as a semiregular Trivia Night participant, will be pleased to meet you when you’re ready. Mad trivia skillz not required. After all, they let me play…
Enjoy Gay Bingo! I went once (same night as Aguecheek, I believe) and it was tons of fun.
I did it! I did it! I hit submit! I offered my help! I raised my hand!
Now I have to wait for them to email me.
Maybe some of you don’t understand the enormity of this in my life. I really am agoraphobic. I love to think about all the wonderful things I will do to get out and socialise, I can see myself in the situation, having fun, laughing and talking to people… but to do it? EEEEK! :eek: :eek:
So I was sitting there, I filled out my information, offered a little about myself and wrote a friendly little note… then, rereading it, I kept thinking: “This is me. This is the friendly girl I am deep inside, the girl who wants out. This isn’t the shy little ho-hum who sits quietly on Saturday nights, playing EQII with her husband, or making taking in a quiet movie. This is the girl inside who I always wanted to be. This is who I am, if I just let myself out once in a while.”
Then I thought ahead to Saturday night. Would I wimp out? Would I keep putting off sending that email until it was too late? Only to hear about the night later and feel wistful, promising myself I would sign up for next month… and then not doing it again? NO!
Heck, E. Thorp’s right. We dolet him play… Anyone’s welcome, but like I said before, show up when you want to show up and we’ll be pleased to meet you.
What do I do? My “activewear” is not to be seen in public.
I don’t think anyone will be paying too much attention to me when Glamazonia enters the room, anyway. 
