Oh, The Glamourous Life!

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! This is a crazy time of the year and I’m grateful you’ve taken the time to read this brief missive. That said, here’s your tip!

Go out and see live entertainment.

I’ve probably given you this tip before, but it bears repeating. In the past several weeks, I’ve seen a variety of different shows, from Shakespeare to sideshow, and it reminded me just how great live performances are.

The performers are energized by the audience and vice versa. There’s just something exciting about being in a space with a bunch of other people who are all there to enjoy themselves. And you never know what will happen with a live performance…

Live entertainment was hit really hard by the pandemic and is still struggling. Your ticket supports performers financially and your attendance supports them emotionally.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 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,

Happy Friday! B.A.B.E classes for January and February are open for registration! We’ve got Introduction to Burlesque classes, of course, floorwork with Devastasia, and two burlesque routine classes! I’m teaching a one-shot workshop at Deacon Giles in Salem at the end of January and a two-part class in our usual studio in February.

Here’s your tip!

This is a hectic time of year — lots of gigs, lots of parties and other social events, lots of family obligations. Remember to build in some down time. And I don’t mean on January first. You need to rest to be at your best!

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 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 had a different tip for you, but we’ll get to it some other time.

Tell those you love that you care about them.

We’re getting into the dark part of the year and it’s always good to spread a little light.

Dear Constant Reader,

I hope you had a good Thanksgiving, if you celebrate. We didn’t do the traditional dinner…

Scratch planned a simple meal of British favorites that was excellent. Betty brought Devils on Horseback (dates stuffed with goat cheese, wrapped in bacon, and broiled). Scratch made the mains — cullen skink (finnan haddie (smoked haddock) chowder) and steak, mushroom, & ale pie. I contributed dessert: trifle (layered with home-made sour cherry preserves on home-made vanilla cake sprinkled with sherry, strawberries macerated in vanilla sugar, home-made custard, Italian macaroons, topped with almond whipped cream.

And now here’s your tip!

Leftovers are not only good for Thanksgiving. They’re good in burlesque too.

You’re working on a routine. You come up with a combination you like, but it just doesn’t work in this act. Record it. Use it in a different act.

You’ve finished a costume and you have some fabric left over. Make a storage bag (you’ll know which costume pieces are in it because it’s the same fabric) or consider what accessories you could add to the outfit or if it’s just small bits, add it to a costume repair kit.

I’m sure you can think of other examples! Let me know how you use leftovers.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 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,

It’s Friday again! Have a tip!

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you needed to measure something and you didn’t have a measuring tape?

A quarter is about an inch.
A dollar bill is about 6 inches.
Your arm span from fingertip to fingertip is about your height.

This is good for rough estimates, not precision measurements, but better than nothing!

A quarter or a dollar is a good way to show scale in photos too.

Thanks to Scratch for reminding me of these little tricks.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 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,

It’s Friday again. It’s been a rough week. Maybe you feel similar. I wasn’t sure I was going to post a tip today, but there were these thoughts chasing around in my head. Maybe you need to hear them too.

It’s okay if you need to mourn, to cry, to rage, to scream, to talk, to listen, to seek out company, to be alone. Just don’t give up.

Dear Constant Reader,

Next Saturday we are at House of Hatchets in Hyannis. Wear your Halloween finery! Get tickets here!

On November 7th guest instructor Gaea Lady will be teaching a weighted veil workshop at B.A.B.E.! If you’re on our mailing list, you’ve got a discount code (and if you’re not, sign up). Learn this fun art with one of the foremost practitioners!

And now… your tip!

When you loan something, take a picture of the person you are lending it to with the item, then text it to them.

Now you both have a record of who borrowed what from whom and when.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.