Melinda Clynes - Post 1: Wiggin' Out in Detroit
Posted By: Melinda Clynes
Posted: 6/4/2009
Brace yourselves, folks.
This Saturday, June 6, we'll have the largest convergence ever of people wearing wigs in Detroit. It's the first-ever Detroit Wig Out, and the wandering bums of Midtown won't know if that last pint put them over the edge or if people just look a little skewed.
What is the Detroit Wig Out, you might be asking? In a nutshell, it's an unrestrained, one-night party to enjoy great live music, flamboyant burlesque, and other shenanigans under the alternative guise of your choice and in the name of good fun.
The party starts at 8:00 p.m. at the Magic Stick in Detroit and continues into the wee hours of the next morning. (And, "no," you don’t have to wear a wig, but you might have a more intriguing experience if you do). All the entertainment details – from what three local bands will be shaking it up to the time of the Wig Walk – can be found on our website.
What I've discovered by planning the Detroit Wig Out is that a blow-dryer force energy and momentum are being generated by the sheer idea of wearing wigs. From the espresso maker in Ferndale to the ad agency exec in Dearborn, every guy and gal are scheming about their wigs and getting a little giddy in the process.
Why so much interest and intrigue? Maybe we need a forum to be a little kooky, provocative and playful in these doleful times. Or maybe, like me, folks have a few wigs hiding in their closets that they've been itching to wear. Better wigs than skeletons any day.
Actually, that's how I came up with the concept of the Detroit Wig Out. I had a couple of wigs sitting around my house. One was my mom's from the late 1960s and one was what I'd call a break-up wig. While I always wanted to wear the wigs out, I never got up the guts. So, I thought "why not create a party where everyone wears a wig?" Bam: a regular passing thought turned into a three-month crusade of coiffure.
Party-planning well underway, I teamed up with a local cancer charity that will benefit from the proceeds. Asking Gilda's Club Metro Detroit to be the recipient made sense. First, the agency provides cancer support, which seemed appropriate for the Detroit Wig Out, since many cancer patients wear wigs if they lose hair during chemo. I hesitated a little in approaching Gilda's Club, wondering if their staff members would see compatibility and fun in this association or be completely insulted by it. They loved the concept. Second, Gilda Radner had a number of famous looks, accentuated by wigs, so, to me there was a direct and perfect tie-in that fit Gilda's spirit and sense of humor.
In that same spirit of silliness and adventure, a group of local stylists at Flip Salon in Ferndale have been scheming up some auxiliary activities around the Detroit Wig Out. On Friday, June 5, between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m., Flip is hosting a Wig & Wine pre-party. Come to the salon for a little primping and styling on your wig for a donation to Gilda’s Club. You can chill with a glass of wine and hors 'd oeuvres, and get a sneak preview of what sort of wigs your fellow hipsters will be wearing.
Additionally, Flip is adding a bit of high-class flair and eccentricity to the event by orchestrating the Wig Walk at Saturday's Detroit Wig Out event. Models will be strutting around in their wild wig creations at 9:30 sharp. Don't miss it.