Oh, The Glamourous Life!

Dear Constant Reader,

I decided to close the studio on March 17th. For the rest of the month, I tried to figure out how to move forward. I decided to teach remotely and I’ve been doing so on two platforms.

I started with mini-lessons on Instagram Live. After trying a few things, I settled down to a schedule of every Wednesday at 3pm. We’ve turned the library into a studio and it’s working pretty well. We’re not really actively using it for anything else and it’s got a lot of natural light (hence the mid-afternoon broadcast). Previously I tried shooting in our dining room, but it’s darker and the chandelier is just a terrible lighting source.

IG Live is very weird. I know people are out there, but the only way we interact is if they comment, which I can’t read in real time because my phone is set up too far away for my myopic eyes. I’m so used to seeing my students and tailoring the lesson based on their feedback, both verbal and physical.

After I finally figured out how to save Live videos (that first floorwork class is gone forever — probably for the best…), Scratch is doing a little editing to make them pretty and they’re going up on IGTV and YouTube. I’m cringing a little afterwards at how any time I say “um” or have to stop and think about what I’m doing next, even with prep or just forget to introduce myself.

I agonized about how to handle my regular classes. After all, people had already paid for classes and I figured they also needed a little distraction, some fun. I got a pro Zoom account and learned how to use it on my tablet (I don’t own a laptop). I tried running classes from my dining room (as mentioned above) and finally decided to use the B.A.B.E. studio. So, once a week, I drive to the empty office building and lock myself in at The Arts Nexus. Scratch set up some lighting in the smaller studio and I bring a stand for my tablet.

My April students have been great! Their enthusiasm really bolsters my spirits. They’ve been taking some of the clunkier aspects of class — like the costume show and tell — in stride. Again, teaching is challenging. I have everyone set up in a grid view, so I can kind of keep an eye on what they’re doing while I teach, but really I have to get close and peer at the screen to check on their progress. Also, everyone is muted unless they have a direct question, so I get a lot of silent thumbs up, when I check in. I desperately miss the in-person interaction.

I decided that everyone who had registered for class prior to the shut down could take that class on-line, but also in-person once we reopened, whenever that would be. Some have opted to wait for studio classes. I hope it’s not too long…

For the May Intro classes, I’ve introduced an on-line only price. I’m hoping people who have always wanted to take a class, but live too far away or couldn’t afford the full price can join in.

I’m also planning a series of one-hour workshops for those who don’t want to make the commitment of a multi-part course (or just don’t don’t have the attention span right now). I’m thinking of making these donation-based rather than a set price.

Speaking of money (which I rarely do), at the moment I’m teaching for free. Yes, the Bite-Sized Burlesque lessons on Wednesdays are and will remain free on social media for as long as I run them. I mean, I’m not getting paid right now for the regular classes, although my student have all duly paid their registration fees.

Right after I closed the studio in March, I got am email from my ticketing company. They were overwhelmed with cancelations and refunds and reduced staffing, &c. All outstanding checks were being canceled and would be reissued in 14-21 days. Unfortunately, that message came several days after I had deposited my checks. So, the checks bounced and the bank hit me with fees. And I haven’t heard anything about when those payments will be reissued nor when payment for the April classes will come. It’s convenient to run registrations through this company and we have a long-standing (and usually great) business relationship, but if they’re going to hold my money indefinitely, I’ve got to find another solution.

The tl;dr of it is: I miss my students and I’m trying my best to put burlesque lessons out into the world, but it’s a challenge.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.