Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! We had a great time performing at Flying Embers last night and can’t wait to be back next month. Thanks to those of you who came out!

Here’s your tip!

When sending out holiday cards, include the producers who booked you this year.

It’s a nice gesture that not only says that you appreciate them, but also reminds them that you are interested in their shows.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 13 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 17 December 2021 at 3:46 pm  Leave a Comment  
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New Show

Dear Constant Reader,

Tomorrow is our first show at Flying Embers! Get your tickets for an evening of cheerful holiday burlesque that will warm your heart and soul (and other body parts)!

And we will be back on January 20th and every other Thursday after that to entertain you. This is a different sort of show because we’ll be performing to a live jazz band!

Performing to live music is a treat we don’t get to do enough. Once a year, we perform at the Mardi Gras ball to an amazing band and several years ago our Valentine’s Day show, Unlucky in Love, had a band and a trio of singers.

There’s an entirely different energy with musicians versus recorded music. It’s more exiting, in several ways. Even when the band plays the same arrangement you are used to, it’s never exactly the same as the recording, which can be fun and challenging. You have to trust and learn to communicate to create something fabulous. As you can imagine, timing is very important for striptease, so if someone feels moved to change thing up (it is jazz, after all), you need to think on your feet.

Betty and I have had this experience before. In fact, Betty is a mistress of improvisational dance and can make magic out of whatever the musicians throw at her. But it’s going to be new for Ava and Devastasia and I’m looking forward to seeing what they create!

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 13 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 15 December 2021 at 1:15 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

It’s Friday again! Here’s your tip!

Masks are here for a while longer. Make or buy some that coordinate with your costumes and post-show outfits.

Depending on your local regulations and the requirements of the venue, you may need to wear a mask when you’re not actively performing or even when you are. You might as well make it into an opportunity for as glamorous a look as you can.

If you’ve got leftover fabric from making your own costumes, it’s easy enough to make a mask and glue on some decorations. If you don’t sew, there are a number of places you can get rhinestoned masks.

I have a tutorial for making origami-style masks for all tiers on my Patreon. I find this is the most comfortable style for long-term wear; it fastens around the back of your head rather than over your ears Although, if you’re a clever seamstress, you’ll figure how to make it with ear loops, if you prefer them.

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Just for fun, here’s a cute picture of me visiting the Showstoppers costume exhibit in NYC, wearing a skirt and mask combo that I made.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 13 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 10 December 2021 at 4:34 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Upcoming Performances

Dear Constant Reader,

After a quiet November, we’re returning to the stage! You can catch us at least monthly through the winter.

One week from today we’ll be at Flying Embers Taproom in Boston with a winter holiday show sure to warm you all over. Expect to see more of us at this venue in the New Year!

On January 8th, we are heading south to AS220 in Providence, RI where we will be joined by special guest Guilted Lilly! To make this show even more enticing… some of our apprentices have been cooking up their own routines. Be the first to see them!

February 6 we’ll be performing a dinner show at Premier on Broadway in Somervile and we’re back on March 6 for brunch!

Even more shows to come as soon as the details are hammered out. 

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 13 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 9 December 2021 at 11:22 am  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday!  It’s hard to believe that 2021 is almost over. I feel like this year has gone by so fast. But we’ve still got a few more weeks and a few more tips!

If you’re performing a sing-and-strip, design your act around the type of microphone you’ll be using.

Each type has its advantages and disadvantages. If you are using a hand-held, remember that one hand is always going to be encumbered, but you’re free to move around the stage however you like. If it’s a stand microphone, your hands are completely free, but you’re kind of stuck in place while you’re singing. If you’ve got a lavaliere microphone, you can move and your hands are free, but you’ll need a place to clip the transmitter that will stay on for the entire strip and to arrange the cord so it doesn’t get caught in your costume pieces as you strip.

With a little planning (and a lot of practice), you can dazzle the audience with your striptease and your voice and make it look easy!
M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 13 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 3 December 2021 at 11:28 am  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

I hope you had a good Thanksgiving or a pleasant Thursday, depending on your location and inclination.

Here’s your tip!

Make sure your tassels are entirely concealed inside your bra cups as you get dressed.

Just scoop them up into the cups as you’re putting your bra on. Not only do tassels hanging out below your bra look a little odd, you’re giving away part of your big reveal early!

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 13 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 26 November 2021 at 11:00 am  Leave a Comment  
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The Tale of the Topless Donut Shop

Dear Constant Reader,

It’s story time!

Ten years ago The Boston Babydolls (back before we became BeauTease Burlesque) went on our first tour, Madame Burlesque. I only mentioned this tale in passing, back in the earliest days of this blog

In July 2011, we were in Portland, Maine. Brigitte had heard there was a topless donut shop nearby and we should definitely check it out after the show. So we piled into Brigitte’s little yellow sports car and Scratch’s big black SUV and set out into the hot, sticky darkness in search of fried treats served by topless staff.

We couldn’t find it. So, we pulled off the road to regroup and strategize. I believe into the turn-off in front of a gravel pit. Almost immediately a cop pulled up behind us and went to question Brigitte about our suspicious doings. She cheerfully said something like “Hello Officer! Could you direct us to the topless donut shop?” Thus reassured that there was nothing more nefarious going on than pack of lost and hungry burlesque performers, he told us the whole sordid story.

The donut shop had burned to the ground, a victim of arson. They had valiantly reopened, but never recovered and closed for good mere months before our donut quest. Alas, no donuts for us that night.

One of the people on tour with us that fateful night was Corinne Southern, now one half of The Bottle Blondes. And the incident clearly made an impression on her.

We were so amused when their latest single dropped, loosely based on a true story…
topless donut shoppeListen to it on Spotify, Apple Music, or Bandcamp!
M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 13 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 22 November 2021 at 10:40 am  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! Today’s tip was inspired by a conversation with a friend just this morning.

Refrain from licking your lips while you’re wearing glitter on them.

I know, it seems so obvious! And yet it can be so hard when it’s an unconscious gesture like that. Also, remember to use a straw when drinking! And always use cosmetic glitter.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 13 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 19 November 2021 at 2:53 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Review: Honey & Spice

Dear Constant Reader,

Before The Burlesque Handbook was published, Jo Weldon filmed some instructional DVDs (I think this was one of the first). She’s an excellent instructor with a wealth of knowledge and here’s yet another way to learn from her.

Honey & Spice: Sensual & Fierce Burlesque,  Jo Weldon, 2009.

Nominally this one-hour DVD teaches two burlesque routines, but there’s additional information, which can be applied to other acts.

As the title indicates, Jo teaches Honey, slow and sensual with a boa, and Spice with lively bumping & grinding. Each routine has an introduction that covers the specific fundamentals: sensual flow and bumps n’ grinds. She demonstrates each dance first, in an appropriate costume. Each dance is made up of five segments of four moves. The names of the moves are shown on the screen and each segment is numbered so it’s easy to follow along. Then there’s a step by step breakdown of each section. Each routine involves striptease with gloves and a bra (although Jo is very coy in the video, you don’t have to be). The music is from The Shim-Sham Revue so it will be very familiar to any B.A.B.E. students.

Before actually diving into the routines, Jo talks a bit about the costume she’s wearing and good dance posture, then runs a short warm up. Afterwards, she demonstrates how to remove stockings and a corset, how to twirl tassels, and how to wear pasties. None of these garments actively figure into the routines, but they’re a good bonus and might inspire you to create your own routines.

Definitely recommended for beginning burlesquers. The more advanced performer can benefit too! It’s always good to go back to basics and you’ll probably learn some new tidbit.

M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 13 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 18 November 2021 at 12:56 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Review: Dollface Vintage

Dear Constant Reader,

A while ago I reviewed Cherry Dollface’s second book, but the first one has still been sitting on my shelf, unreviewed. So here we go, out of order!

Dollface Vintage: An Everyday Gal’s Guide to a Vintage Lifestyle! by Cherry Dollface, 2017.

This is an overview of ways to live a vintage lifestyle, according to Cherry Dollface plus tips from some experts. She shares her thoughts on hair, makeup, style, decor, and entertaining, demonstrated with photos.  Most individual topics within those categories are restricted to a page or two, so don’t expect exhaustive information on every possibility. Every topic has a section of tips, including some “dos and don’ts” and my favorite, ways to save money.

My favorite part was the mix and match photos of retro wardrobe basics and then the tips for dressing for hot and cold weather events while keeping your vintage chic.  However, the makeup how-to was a little disappointing as the photos were taken from too far away to really see the details of how she made up her eyes. The entertaining section has a few recipes for appropriate cocktails and menus ideas, but for actual dishes you’ll need to check out Dollface Kitchen.

It’s a light look at how to incorporate vintage into your lifestyle, as little or as much as you like, in your personal style, without breaking the bank. The emphasis is not historical accuracy, but a retro flair. There’s an over-all focus on practicality, which I appreciate.

The print edition is currently unavailable, but you can get a digital version, which has links to some of Cherry’s videos and some bonus features. I can’t tell you what they are as I only have the physical book…
M2These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 13 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.

Published in: on 16 November 2021 at 12:53 pm  Leave a Comment  
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