Dear Constant Reader,
My Constant Critic complained yesterday that my post was less than interesting. I confess I was pressed for time and only sent out the list of videos I had watched over the past week.
So, as it is now half way through the month, what have I learned? Let’s see…
Plus some intangible inspiration that I hope colors my upcoming performances.
Dear Constant Reader,
I’m sticking to my resolution to watch one burlesque video a day for the month of July. Here’s what tickled my fancy over the past week:
In case you’ve just joined us, the Week 1 videos are here.
Dear Constant Reader,
Happy Friday! Here’s your tip!
When rehearsing an oft-performed number, do something new to keep it fresh.
Rather than sleepwalking through the same moves, change things up. A fun way to do this is change your character. If you’re usually sexy, try being goofy. If it’s a light-hearted number, do it with drama. Just something different to shake things up. This doesn’t mean you can be sloppy!
Once, after the umpteenth rehearsal of “Is You Is“, Scratch told half The Boston Babydolls to do the dance as though we were pirates, the other half were zombies. It was silly fun and the next time we ran it seriously, we were all a little more focused.
Dear Constant Reader,
As part of continuing to improve as a performer I decided to watch a burlesque video a day for the month of July. I’m aiming for some inspiration, to break out of my comfort zones, to learn more, and what better way to do that than watch other people’s performances.
I don’t actually like watching videos on my computer so this is a bit of effort. But there are only so many live performances I can get to and without videos I’m missing out on so much. My rules are that it’s got to be an act I’ve never seen before and I’m trying to watch mostly performers I’ve never seen live.
This week I watched:
What are your favorite performances? I’m happy to hear suggestions. I have 24 more days!
Dear Constant Reader,
Happy Friday! I hope all of my American Readers have a great Independence Day tomorrow and everyone else has a pleasant Saturday.
This week’s tip harks back to last week’s about tissues.
Handkerchiefs are classy.
I stand by my tip that having a packet of tissues to hand is a useful thing, but also consider carrying a handkerchief. They are so much nice for weeping into, patting your glowingly damp brow, waving farewell, flirtatiously dropping, and surreptitiously wrapping up leftover petits fours.
Gentlemen, this goes for you too!
It’s thoughtful to give a crying friend a tissue, but so much more of a gesture to hand over your hanky. (If you’re on the receiving end, offer to launder it after you’ve used it. It’s a great excuse to get together again.)
It’s not so easy to find handkerchiefs for women these days. Men’s are usually available where suits are sold. Just make sure they are actually handkerchiefs and not pocket squares. Pocket squares are excellent and should be worn, but they are for decoration only.
Vintage handkerchiefs are easy to find and often inexpensive (I can usually find nice ones between $3 and $5). Here’s a few from my collection:
Hankies are also very simple to make. Cut a square of fabric (linen or cotton are traditional). 13×13 is a good size for a lady’s handkerchief, I’ve found. Add a narrow hem and you’re all set! If you’re that sort of person, you can add all sorts of embellishment — lace, embroidery, &c.
I’m still rather proud of this “something blue” handkerchief I made for my sister:
It has an embroidered initial, decorative hemstitching, and handmade tatted lace. Obviously you don’t have to go all out like that.
Dear Constant Reader,
Happy Friday! Here’s your tip!
Always carry a packet of tissues.
They are so useful! Besides blowing your nose or drying your tears (something I’ve had to do a bit today #lovewins), you can use them in all sorts of pinches: to blot sweat, remove your makeup (you are using Drag Eraser, right?), pick up icky things, separate your toes for pedicure repair, as emergency toilet paper, &c.
I got this charming pocket-sized tissue case from Pinky Shines at BurlyCon and it’s been in my purse ever since.
Dear Constant Reader,
Happy Friday! Here’s your tip!
To help quell motion sickness, have a piece of candied ginger.
Whether it’s a dance with a lot of fast turns, touring in a crowded van, aerial spinning, or doing burlesque on a boat, sometimes one gets a bit queasy. Ginger helps soothed a troubled stomach and the candied version is delicious, not messy, and easy to keep on hand.
Dear Constant Reader,
Happy Friday! I’m delighted to be in Chicago for the Windy City Burlesque Festival. Tomorrow morning I’ll be teaching a class all about corsetry. I thought I’d give you a little teaser for your Friday Tip.
When unfastening a corset, start at the top and work down. Or start at the bottom and work up. Just don’t change directions in the middle.
The middle clasp is often the hardest to unfasten, because there is the most pressure on it. Leaving it for last puts even more pressure on it. This can cause your busk to bend, which can wreck your corset. Make sure your lacings are nice and loose, especially at your waist, before you start to unfasten. Don’t give up on that middle clasp, it gets easier after you’ve got it undone.
Want to know more about how to wear and remove corsets? Come to Getting Tight: A Guide to Corsetry at 11am on Saturday at the Windy City Burlesque Festival!
Dear Constant Reader,
Happy Friday! Before I bestow your Friday Tip upon you, I just want to remind you that I’ll be teaching a delightfully informative, yet entertaining, class on Corsetry at The Windy City Burlesque Festival on Saturday, June 13th.
And here is your tip!
To keep the prong settings of rhinestones from catching on everything, cover them with fine tulle.
The audience won’t notice the netting from stage. Heck, they probably won’t even notice it close up. You can just barely see the tulle in this photo taken mere inches away from one of my gowns:
You’ll get sparkle without snags!
Dear Constant Reader,
Happy Friday! Here’s your tip!
Before you commit to a stage name, check to make sure it’s not in use already.
It’s poor form to choose a stage name that someone else is using. You probably don’t even want a name that’s close to someone else’s. To use a ridiculous example, you probably don’t want to be calling yourself “Lita von Cheese”. It looks like you’re trying to be mistaken for a better known performer and that’s not cricket.
This isn’t a situation particular to burlesque; the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) only enrolls unique names. The star of Birdman was born Michael Douglas, but since there was already an actor by that name, that’s why he’s billed as Michael Keaton.
People can get very bitchy when their name is “stolen”, even if it was due to ignorance rather than malice. These days you have no excuse not to do your due diligence before investing in business cards. Google is your friend. Search for burlesque performers, pin-up models, roller derby players, porn actors, &c. that share your potential name.
It can be so disappointing and even heart-wrenching to discover that a name you are already attached to is gracing someone else. Sadly, that’s show biz. What is it about that name that you love? How can you change it up to be different and yet keep those aspects that make it feel personal?
One of my students once wanted to use her legal first and middle names as her stage name only to discover that a porn actress was already using them. She chose to keep her first name the same and picked a new second name that sounded more theatrical and burlesque-y, but shared a syllable with her actual middle name.
Names have power and you want to make sure that your stage name is yours and yours alone.
Oh, The Glamourous Life! 