Dear Constant Reader,
I learned lots at BurlyCon and have all sorts of new tips to share. Like this one, from The Shanghai Pearl:
When hot gluing feathers, use a scrap of ribbon to hold the feathers in place without burning your fingers.
Genius!
BurlyCon: Shopping
Dear Constant Reader,
My head is still awhirl from BurlyCon (and trying to deal with a post-Wrathskellar house), so today’s missive is about something fun and light — shopping!
There was a lot of good shopping at BurlyCon. My unplanned strategy was to hit the vendors early, so as not to miss anything I really wanted and then come back at the very end and take advantage of packing-up bargains.
And this was my haul:
Top row, from left to right:
A fascinator from Palomita Mar. She works in wool felt, so some of her pieces have elaborate cutwork. I dithered about this for a long time. I hate the color yellow, but it really pops against my red hair. When it was still there right before the vendor room closed, I knew it was mine.
A fascinator from Christal Blu Creations. She had just finished making it. Again, the colors looked great against my hair. Scratch pointed out that it was *not* subtle, but I think I have enough subtle in my wardrobe.
Second row:
A bunch of products from Atomic Cosmetics. Some I bought and some were giveaways (and there might be some gifts not in the picture). I think I’m in love with Dr. Jen and her healthy, luxurious cosmetics & skin care. She was closed when I went back at the end of the con, but that just saved me from dropping even more cash. Hopefully, she’ll ship (or come to the Expo).
Glitter eyeliner from Elektra Cosmetics. This was a total steal as part of their “we want to go home with nothing” sale.
Last row:
A hair flower from Amber Ray Accoutrements. I realized I didn’t have a hair ornament to go with my fan dance costume and it was nice to have an excuse to get a flower from Amber Ray. Her table is incredibly beautiful, heaped with sparkling flowers.
An under-g from Juliet. I bought some from her before and I’m quite happy with them, so why not get another? I also have a bikini she made that I think I bought at the first BurlyCon. Maybe someday I’ll even post a picture of me wearing it.
Next is one of the coolest things — fan staves! It’s not the greatest picture, I realize, but they are beautifully shaped – you don’t want to hide these behind feathers! Bordello Labs does beautiful work. I’m planning to get more from them for an upcoming project (shhh….). The necklace of the Victorian lady riding an ostrich was lagniappe.
The leopard print object is a tissue case by Pinky Shines. Pretty and practical (and the perfect price)! I’m glad I bought one right away because they were all gone later.
Not pictured is a tin of Jacqueline Hyde‘s Bad Things tea. I think it’s still in Scratch’s suitcase
Everything is resting on a vintage apron (it’s reversible! — butterflies on one side, purple on the other, with contrasting pockets) I bought from Melissa Flynn. Scratch loves shopping there because she has items for guys — hard to find at many vintage shops. He did extremely well with a smoking jacket and classic Wayfarers. He also picked up some cufflinks and a rhinestoned necktie from Haute Under the Collar.
Perhaps next a report on something less materialistic, like the classes or social events!
Friday Tips!
Dear Constant Reader,
Today’s tips are all about packing!
Maximize space in your suitcase *and* keep your clothes from rumpling by rolling your garments into tight little sausages.
This doesn’t work so well for, say, a blazer, but it’s fantastic for a pencil skirt or t-shirt.
Stuff your underwear and socks into your shoes.
You’ll save space and your shoes will keep their shape.
Put your toiletries in individual ziptop bags.
Obviously, you should make sure all the containers are capped tightly. Just in case, seal them in an extra layer of protection, so if something does leak, neither your clothes nor your other toiletries will be covered in goo. Snack or sandwich size bags should be fine — you should be bringing travel-sized items anyway.
Happy Halloween!
Dear Constant Reader,
A little treat for you from The Wrathskellar!
Photo by Hans Wendland
Sometimes the Show Does Not Go On
Dear Constant Reader,
At the moment Boston is being visited by the much-dreaded storm Sandy. However, last night it was just a little rainy and we were all prepared for our penultimate performance of The Wrathskellar.
Then we got the call from the theatre. There was a flood.
Not storm-related at all, but there was a problem with the sewer pipe. All day long we kept getting one message after another – some dire, some positive. I was convinced The Diva’s dressing room had gotten the worst of it — it’s actually the lighting closet and when we were in the theatre in February there was standing water in it. The thought of all the set dressing in there was making me sick — I used my personal collection of vintage and antique dressing table accoutrements.
Finally, we were allowed in to discover the flood had hit right in front of the stage (where the cabaret tables are) and in one of the dressing rooms, but only some personal stuff that was left on the floor got wet. None of our lovely new costumes or set pieces or props or lighting equipment were damaged.
However, there was water trapped in the ceiling and the city said it was unsafe to be in the theatre. We canceled the performance and the cast & crew commiserated at Stately Babydoll Manor over wine and cheese.
I’m hoping with all my hope that the ceiling is drained and repaired in time so we can have our last performance on Halloween as scheduled.
Friday tip!
Dear Constant Reader,
Kindergarten rules: If it’s not yours, don’t touch it.
It’s a good rule for life, but especially true backstage. That prop may be loaded with something messy. This costume is laid out just-so for a fast change. That item may look like something to sit on, but it’s really someone’s set piece, and delicate. Moving or handling anything could be disaster for another performer. So, just keep your hands to yourself and ask first. Respect your fellow performers’ property and hopefully they will have also read this and do the same for you!
Report from New York
Dear Constant Reader,
Remember when I said I couldn’t remember much of Thursday night’s show at the New York Burlesque Festival? Fortunately J.D. Oxblood of Burlesque Beat wrote it all down.
Of your humble correspondent, he writes: “Boston’s Miss Mina Murray doing a straight-up traditional stocking peel, lying on a bench, legs up, the whole bit”
And there are great photographs from Melody Mudd. I love this one of my end pose.
Review: Looking for Little Egypt
Dear Constant Reader,
Looking for Little Egypt by Donna Carlton (1994).
In almost every book on the history of burlesque, there a mention of Little Egypt and how she saved the Chicago World’s Fair with her scandalous hoochy coochy dance on the “Streets of Cairo” exhibit. Her legend is huge — she used the newly invented zipper to shed her costume, her performance gave Mark Twain a heart attack, she was filmed by Thomas Edison. But who was she? Did she even exist?
Donna Carlton takes us back to the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 and explores the eastern entertainment on the Midway Plaisance that might have spawned Little Egypt. There were 3 places fairgoers could see authentic dance — the Algerian and Tunisian Village, the Turkish Village, and A Street in Cairo. There was also pseudo-oriental dancing at the Persian Palace. There’s no doubt the dancing was popular with attendees and horrified the more proper members of society. Oriental and orientalized dance spread across America.
So what does this have to do with burlesque? After the Chicago Exposition, most burlesque, vaudeville, and carnival shows featured a middle eastern-style dancer, often called a hoochy coochy (a corruption of the French hochequeue meaning “tail shaker”) or cooch dancer, and often billed as “Little Egypt”. These were usually western women in a fantasy version of eastern dance costume presenting an “exotic” dance. One can see the influence of the cooch dancer on stripper’s costumes and dance moves, or maybe it was the other way around.
So, was there an actual Little Egypt? Who was she? Ms. Carlton separates myth from history and makes a well-researched case for the identity of the original Little Egypt, but I will not reveal the results.
Decisions, Decisions
Dear Constant Reader,
In a mere week-and-a-bit, I’m headed to BurlyCon, an annual burlesque conference in Seattle. It’s been hard to think of preparing for that while my head is in The Wrathskellar still (and will be right up until a few hours before I leave).
Saturday night there is a movie PJ party and I haven’t the faintest idea what to wear. Normally I don’t sleep in anything (except a little perfume)! So, I’m asking you, O Constant Reader, to help me decide.
As usual, I apologize for the quality of the pictures as they were taken in my cheval mirror (which I only noticed later was rather dusty. It was the maid’s day off.)
Outfit number one: Red silk camisole & tap pants. Comfortable and suitable for lying on the floor with feet in the air. Will be ironed before being worn in public. See above note about maid and day off.
Outfit number two: Red silk slip, trimmed with black lace. Elegant, but requires decorous seating arrangements. Since we are to bring blankets & pillows, I expect there will be flopping about on the floor.
Outfit number three: Leopard bra, thong, and skirt set. Saucy, but not really sleepwear.
Whichever one is selected will definitely be worn with black marabou mules and possible a sheer black robe, trimmed with black & white ostrich feathers, if that impacts your decision.
So, my Faithful Correspondant, which outfit goes in the suitcase?
Friday Tip!
Dear Constant Reader,
Give compliments freely. Ask before giving critique.
People might not want to hear your commentary, especially immediately after a performance when adrenaline is high. If it is requested, give your constructive criticism as unemotionally and non-judgmentally as possible. Discussion is good; defensiveness isn’t. Avoid the phrase “You know what you should do is…”
Oh, The Glamourous Life! 