The newly GLAM-winning door queen of the newly GLAM-winning party ZOO, Mercury is everything but retrograde. [Cover photo: @pictureplastic / Mambiché]
Thotyssey: Hello Mercury, thanks for chatting with us today! First off, congrats on your GLAM win for Best Door Goddess! Did the win come as a surprise to you, or did you predict it?
Mercury: Hi! Thank you so much! Honestly, it came as a surprise. Many of my friends told me they voted for me and I was very hopeful, but it was my first GLAM Awards ever… so wasn’t sure if it would be Manhattan-centric or not. But Brooklyn had a great night, and I was so happy and lucky to be a part of it!
For those out there that don’t know what a door queen / goddess does, how would you explain the gig?
Any interaction can make or break your day; the same is true for night. The door queen has to make sure all our hard-working talent gets their money, but more than that we are the first or second person people interact with at the party. Sometimes it’s just a passing transaction, but has potential to be much more. I always try to get to know people, and make then feel like they’re coming to their friends place… or to see a friend. Depending on the party, the door person can actually have a significant role in curating a party, deciding who gets in or not.
Vena Cava also warned us onstage last year after her Best Door Queen win that the door girls know the true tea of who in the show gets what percentage at the end of the night, as mandated by the producer or venue… so don’t fuck with them, lol!
The door person knows everything, and can make or break your night. So just cover your ass! Be kind to all workers!
Outside of door queendom, are you an artist and performer in any media?
I’m not known as someone who often performs, but I have performed a handful of times: first at Essa Noche’s “Body Beautiful” / “Open Set Ovah” at C’mon Everybody.
Can you tell us a bit about where you’re from, and how you came to NYC nightlife?
I’m from North Jersey, but my family is from the City and Brooklyn off Knickerbocker. So I’ve been coming here for a long time. I got into nightlife by chance, going out with friends from high school and meeting some queens. I kept going out to those places and found my family and community.
Why “Mercury?” Is that from the Greek God, astrology, element, or planet… or something else?
Great question! I don’t remember exactly how the name came to me, but I have always struggled with permanence… so when I realized it fit, it truly deeply fit with me.
My Nana loved me more than anyone in the world, and and her family name was Mercurio… so I wanted to keep her alive forever. My birth name is after my grandfather and he really didn’t deserve that, so I chose to carry her on instead. And the more research I did into the significance of the planet, zodiac, god and element and basically every association of the name made me realize how right it is for me. Things like trickery are very indicative of me: communication, intelligence, commerce, thinking patterns, reasoning, adaptability. “Messenger” and psychopomp felt very aligned with my role in nightlife. Association with the god Wotan (Oden), etc. I could go on–the name just found me and aligned with me, like it was always meant to be.
So where can the kids usually find you working at during the week?
You can find me or my gorgeous drag sister Talia Fortune working door at “ZOO” in Brooklyn [at the Arlo Williamsburg or The.
Okay lastly… who are you rooting for on Drag Race? We had our first NYC winner of the season this past weekend!
I’m with Plasma right now so obviously my girl, lol! No, to be honest… I love Megami, Dawn, Xunami, Plasma, Amanda and Nymphia! Just so happy the world gets to see them too, now.
ABsolutely! Thanks Mercury, and congrats again!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Mercury’s upcoming appearances, and follow them on Instagram.
Thotyssey 