Dear Constant Reader,
I promised that if I was nominated for a Golden Pastie Award, I would make campaign promises. And I always keep my promises. Here’s the first one:
If I win, I will leak to the media racy photographs of myself in compromising positions.
Vote for me for The MacGyver Award!
Dear Constant Reader,
We’re getting closer to The Wrathskellar and, among other things, are putting the finishing touches on costumes, which leads me to this tip:
If you have limited time, money and/or materials, invest them in the bottom layer of your costume. It’s the last thing the audience is going to see and you want to leave them with a dazzling impression.
P.S. I’ve been nominated for a Golden Pastie Award! Please vote for me for The MacGyver Award (For the performer who can fix any costume malfunction anytime, anywhere, and with anything).
Dear Constant Reader,
Thanks to you, I have been nominated for a Golden Pastie Award! Let me tell you, it’s an honor just to be nominated, especially since this is my first New York Burlesque Festival.
If you would, now please vote for me for The MacGyver Award (For the performer who can fix any costume malfunction anytime, anywhere, and with anything). I’ve got some really stiff competition — there are some talented and clever ladies on the list! You only need to vote once.
With your help, I can bring home that coveted Pastie!
Dear Constant Reader,
Sometimes you get lucky.
Don’t count on it, but if it happens, enjoy every minute.
P.S. Please nominate me for The MacGyver Award (for the performer who can fix any costume malfunction anytime, anywhere, and with anything) at the Golden Pastie Awards! Nominations close September 7th.
Dear Constant Reader,
Saturday was a flurry of activity in Babydoll Land. We were hosting a very generous Kickstarter backer for dinner and performing in the 3rd Annual Salute to Bettie Page. Simultaneously! Babydolls can be in two places at once (since there are 7 of us…)
Scratch already wrote about the fabulous feast. Go read it and come back here to read about the show.*
Just as the kitchen at Babydoll Manor was in full swing, Brigitte arrived in her adorable yellow sports car to whisk us away to Providence. I had the pleasure of modeling in the first Salute, but had to miss last year because of our tour schedule. It was Brigitte’s first time. And we were performing burlesque as well.
On our arrival we found BettySioux Tailor, as usual, humming around doing a thousand things. She pulled a couple of outfits for us to try on and made the pick. Brigitte got a red bustier and slinky pencil skirt for her first look and a blue leopard bra and retro-style garterbelt for the second. Quite hot, I must say.
I had a cute pink and orange sundress for my first look and the world’s most uncomfortable clear plastic heels. They looked good, especially with the pink bows on the toes but I was so glad to get them off. For my lingerie look, I really loved a sheer black bra & tap pant set with attached purple rhinestone pasties, but the bottoms weren’t cut right for me. Instead I wore an adorable sailor bikini with an anchor appliqued on the butt. Yachting cap included.
We all wore Bettie Page wigs for the fashion show. Brigitte had never worn one before, but BettySioux took a few moments out of her busy evening to make sure it was on just right. We also had the luxury of having stylists do our makeup. Such a treat!
I do hope someone got pictures — I had left my camera with Scratch.
There were some fine performances. BettySioux led off the night with a classic-style bump & grind with fantastic facial expressions. Corrine Southern performed a tribute to Bettie Page’s iconic Playboy photo, complete with Christmas tree. Acacia Spinstress amazed me with her skillful hooping (3 hoops!).
And then it was our turn. We performed “Mistress & Maid” from The Wrathskellar which was partially inspired from Bettie Page and Tempest Storm in Teaserama. Brigitte wore her Bettie wig, which just added to the fun. It went over very well. Girl/girl spanking always does.
Part of the Glamourous Life is making sure you leave with all the costume that you arrive with. I realized my bra was not in my heap of clothes. I knew what had happened: I drape it over the screen that I change behind during the act and it was probably still there. You can see it in the above picture.
Except the screen was now gone from the stage. After frantic hunting all over the club, we found it neatly folded up on the other side of the stage, with my red satin bullet bra neatly folded up inside it.
After saying goodbye and receiving some lovely goodie bags (that BettySioux is such a doll!), we headed north. Babydoll Manor was quiet and restored to pre-feast order. They’d even saved me a piece of Charlotte Russe.
It was a great night, tons of fun, and the audience appeared to have a blast. We’re already looking forward to next year!
* [EDIT] The blog post has disappeared with the old Babydolls website, but for posterity, the grand menu was:
Zakuski platter
Herring in dill sauce
Cheese spread
Black bread
Pickled onions
Mushroom salad
Vodka
First Course
Blini with dill, sour cream, chopped hard boiled egg, and caviar
Second Course
Cold cherry soup
Main Course
Kasha with mushrooms
Roasted cabbage
Carrot and cumin salad
Fried bone-in chicken breasts with garlic sauce, sour plum sauce, and walnut sauce
Dessert
Charlotte Russe
P.S. Please nominate me for The MacGyver Award (for the performer who can fix any costume malfunction anytime, anywhere, and with anything) at the Golden Pastie Awards! Nominations close September 3rd.
Dear Constant Reader,
Before today’s tip (which I know you are eagerly awaiting, like all of my pearls of wisdom), I’d like to mention that nominations are open for The Golden Pastie Awards at the New York Burlesque Festival. Perhaps you would like to nominate me? I wouldn’t want to structure your experience, but I’m thinking The MacGyver Award (for the performer who can fix any costume malfunction anytime, anywhere, and with anything), although usually I’m known as The Martha Stewart of Burlesque.
And on that note:
If something is spilled on your costume, quickly rinse it with cold water and blot with a clean towel.
Heat will set stains, hence *cold* water. Rubbing will grind the stain into the fabric, so blot. And by towel, I mean, napkin, paper towel, hankie, spare sock, &c. Once you get home you can properly care for the stain, without having made life harder for yourself.
For more helpful costume care information, attend my class at BurlyCon in November!
Dear Constant Reader,
Last night was The Improper Bostonian‘s annual “Boston’s Best” party and as the Best Burlesque Company, we were there in force. We were all dressed in red and black and I must say we looked fabulous. We got lots of comments and compliments (and photographs) because of our unified look.
The party itself was certainly the swankiest we’ve attended (this being the 3rd awards party we’ve been to in the last 9 months). It was at the lovely Langham Hotel. The food was wonderful, the champagne was plentiful (as was the beer, tequila, and coconut water), the music wasn’t too loud. What more could one ask?
We met many of the other winners (helpfully identified with a little “winner” pin) and made some good connections. We were going to end the evening at Drink with the folks from Formaggio (Best Gourmet Food Shop), but lost track of one another in the exodus. Ah well, another time.
Tonight, back to work. We have 1 more performance of A (Re)Movable Feast, we’re working on a special July project, and The Wrathskellar looms ever closer.
Dear Constant Reader,
For those of you that are not New Englanders, a Gansett Girl is a pinup for Narragansett Beer, brewed in Rhode Island since 1890 (we’ll ignore the 25 year hiatus).
Right now, they are having a contest to choose the 12 Gansett Girls for the 2013 calendar. I’ve submitted this photo:
That’s me, recreating a Gil Elvgren pinup painting with the help of Timothy J. Steiner. The original (called “Cold Front”) is probably my favorite Elvgren work.
All you need to do to help me become a calendar girl is to click here and comment with your vote (that would be for “Miss Mina”). You only need to vote *once*, unlike some certain Readers’ Polls (but I won’t name names…)
Thanks so much!
Dear Constant Reader,
This past weekend we were in Salem, MA at the Griffen Theatre. Most of the time it’s “The Witch’s Cottage”, but they took down (most of) the spooky stuff for our audience. We could still see the enormous bat attached to the ceiling above the stage.
On Saturday afternoon, along with friends from The Betsi Feathers, we made an appearance at A Beautiful Corset as living mannequins in the shop windows. I wore this corset. I’m grateful it wasn’t *quite* my size or I think I would have had to buy it right then and there.
Just as Ashley (our marketing gal) said it was time to get unlaced and back to the theatre, the clouds turned black and the skies opened up! The rain was torrential and the streets were awash. How were we going to get back to the theatre without assuming the appearance of drowned rats?
Scratch to the rescue! He pulled up his hard-working SUV as close to the store as possible (it was in a pedestrian square) and the first batch of dancers ran for it. He ferried us back to the theatre and went back for the rest. We ended up only a little damp.
Every show on this tour has been different so far, since not everyone has been available for every show. Betty Blaize was a guest at a dance conference this weekend, so her two numbers were out. One of our backup dancers was also out of town, so the two numbers she appeared in also had to be cut.
We added a new group number and Evie and Stella each had a new solo. But still, after Friday night, we felt the show seemed short. That’s when Stella said “I can learn Dagny’s part in Evie’s act.” So, instead of going out for drinks after the show, Evie taught Stella the choreography. Then Evie, Stella, and Gigi rehearsed it over and over again until Scratch was satisfied that it was up to our standards. Stella Diamond is one fast learner and great sport!
Now we have 2 weeks off and then we’re of to Portland, ME. Just because we’re not on the road, it’s not that we’re not busy! This Sunday I’ll be hosting Naked Girls Reading: Memory Lane with Jena Kitten, Lady Grey, and Fonda Feeling. We’ll be reading our favorite books from our childhood and there will be an audience participation “Choose Your Own Adventure” reading! Next Saturday, Scratch is presenting Mod Carousel’s “Wham! Bam! KaBOOM!”. Come see these Seattle’s super-sexy BOYlesque superheroes in the only Boston appearance of their transatlantic tour!
And lastly The Boston Academy of Burlesque Education has applied for a small business grant, but to even be considered, we need 250 votes! I feel like I’m always asking you all to vote for us, but I’ll swallow my pride again. You can use Facebook to log in, then search for businesses in Allston, MA. There’s just 5 days left and you only have to vote once.
Dear Constant Reader,
Last night was the first ever Phoenix Readers’ Poll Awards party. Kind of like the Oscars, but not really. The Babydolls met at B.A.B.E., squealed over everyone’s fabulous outfits, and strolled on over to the Brighton Music Hall.
We were pretty nervous….
We could not have done it without you, our loyal fans and friends!
Thank you for recognizing for the third year in a row that the Boston Babydolls are the best in Boston! (and I’m sure the Phoenix thanks you for driving so much traffic to their site.) We will strive to bring you even bigger and better burlesque as we continue stripping, teasing, dancing, and singing for your enjoyment.
Oh, The Glamourous Life! 
