Oh, The Glamourous Life!

Dear Constant Reader,

Tonight is Absinthe Unveiled! and I’m unveiling a new act with a new costume. I’m rather excited to show you all! But first, your tip:

Don’t stretch yourself too thin.

It’s very flattering to be asked and invited to perform, to teach, to speak, &c. But if you’ve got a lot on your plate and you’re going to have to cut corners to get it all accomplished,  as hard as it is, you should turn the offer down. Doing a lot of things poorly is not going to enhance your reputation.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 16 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Dear Constant Reader,

Greetings from sunny Florida! This week’s tip is about tipping!

If there’s tipping at your show, make sure the cast, crew, and audience all understand how it works.

I have seen so many methods for tipping: performer goes through the audience with a container (champagne bucket, top hat, trick or treat pumpkin, &c.), stage kitten goes through the audience with a container, performer lets the audience stick money in their costume, audience throws money at the stage, container by the stage, container for each performer by the stage, envelopes at seats, &c. I’m sure there are more I have forgotten.

Make sure everyone knows what tipping method you are using, the cast and crew well before the show, and the audience early in the show, so there are no surprises.

Very importantly, how are the tips distributed? Does each performer keep the money given specifically to them? Or are the tips shared? If so, how many ways are they split? Does the host get a share? Does the stage crew? Again, this needs to be communicated in advance.

Also, don’t forget electronic tipping. Have QR codes or info for all the different payment services available to the audience. If the tips are pooled and split, let the performers know when and how they’ll be getting their share.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 16 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Dear Constant Reader,

I’m at the New York Burlesque Festival! But I didn’t want to forget your tip.

When you travel, try to go to a burlesque show.

Not only is it fun to attend shows, it’s good to get outside your usual stomping grounds. Unfamiliar performers and acts are inspiring in multiple ways. Regional differences in performance and production are always interesting (at least I think so!) and may give you some good ideas. And do try to meet the folks involved — you might make a business contact, or a friend.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 16 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Dear Constant Reader,

A quick reminder to vote for me for the Dorian Gray Award and the Producer’s Dream Award Golden Pasties!

Here’s your tip!

When using magnets in a costume remove, slide them apart instead of pulling.

If you try to pull magnets apart, depending on the strength, you could end up tearing your costume before you separate them. Sliding them breaks the hold more easily. I’m sure someone could explain the physics, but that person is not me.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 16 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Dear Constant Reader,

A quick reminder to vote for me for the Dorian Gray Award and the Producer’s Dream Award Golden Pasties!

Here’s your tip!

When everything is a rush, you need to slow down. 

Things seem to always go wrong when we’re trying to beat the clock. We miss a turn on the way to a gig. We sew a seam wrong side out. We forget to pack something important. We break things. We lose things. It ends up taking even more time and energy.

Stop. Take a breath. Yes, work quickly, but not in a panic. Take the time to double-check things

As the Emperor Augustus said, Festina lente, make haste slowly.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 16 Patrons. Welcome to my newest Patron, Adrian! Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Dear Constant Reader,

Before we get to your tip, I just want to remind you that nominations for the Golden Pastie Awards close on Sunday. Please nominate me for the Producers Dream and Dorian Gray awards. You can vote once a day! If I’m one of the nominees, I’ll have some silly fun for you in the next couple of weeks.

If you know the dressing room at a venue is small, arrive with hair & makeup done.

It frees up the space for active costume changes and you all won’t be piled on top of one another trying to put your face on before the show starts.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 15 Patrons. Welcome to my newest Patron, Fiona! Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Dear Constant Reader,

Before we get to your tip, I just want to remind you to nominate me for the Producers Dream and Dorian Gray Golden Pastie Awards. If you already have, thank you!

It’s not yet officially fall, but some are already buying pumpkin spice everything and planning their Halloween decorations. Others are trying to enjoy the last of summer. Both groups tend to snipe at one another. This brings me to my tip:

Let people enjoy what they like. It may not be your cup of tea, but there’s no reason to squash their pleasure.

I see this in burlesque when people sneer at classic burlesque for being boring or pop culture acts for being juvenile. and then mock the fans of that genre. You don’t have to like that style, but someone does and there’s no reason to be a jerk to them.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 14 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Dear Constant Reader,

Let’s try this tip thing again this week…

Feather fans, corset strings, wigs, and other burlesque staples are indistinguishable from toys by pets. Store your precious things carefully.

This is not inspired by a real life incident. However, realizing that Albert was an unusual cat who respected boundaries and that Bartholomew is a more typical adolescent cat, I have taken steps to protect certain belongings from his notice.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 14 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Dear Constant Reader,

We are deep in the heat of summer and not all venues have air conditioning. I remember being on tour in July and there was one place where the theatre had AC, but the dressing rooms didn’t, nor did the tech booth. It was brutal. Today’s tip can help alleviate some of that misery.

Use an insulated lunch bag as a micro-cooler.

The day before your show, open a bottle of water and drink about an inch. Now stick it in the freezer. Before you leave, put it the frozen water in your bag with a cold bottle of your favorite beverage and some snacks. I like bite-sized pieces of chilled fruit, like grapes, strawberries, and orange wedges. When it’s really hot, I add some salty items, like pickles, nuts, popcorn, or chips (make sure anything crispy is a container that will keep condensation out). Filling the bag as full as you can will help keep everything cold longer.

The frozen bottle will act as an ice pack to keep your snacks chilled and then you can drink it when it thaws. Bonus, the frozen bottle feels great on the back of your neck when it’s so hot and humid that you feel queasy. Ask me how I know.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 14 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.