Oh, The Glamourous Life!

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! If you are celebrating Independence Day this weekend, I hope you do it safely. Here’s your tip!

Research your research.

Jo Weldon recently talked about burlesque history and some of its problems, which inspired this,

When researching anything but let’s focus on burlesque history, don’t take anything at face value. Even primary sources, like newspaper articles and autobiographies are full of exaggerations and grandiose statements. Publications wanted to sell copies and performers wanted fame (or notoriety). A good story, particularly a salacious one, was preferable to reality. And some of these have been handed down as fact by publications about burlesque. It’s hard to blame them — I’ve heard stories directly from legends that change over time or don’t match up with documented facts. (If every

So what can you do? Rather than just citing a source, check its sources. The easiest way is to follow the footnote trail. If there are no footnotes or other citations, dig a little deeper. Check contemporary sources. Accurate dates are so important! You may find yourself going down an Internet rabbit hole or buried in a library research collection to discover the actual facts and probably some things you didn’t expect (I’ve spent many fascinating hours doing this!). If you still can’t corroborate, it doesn’t mean don’t use the information, but make sure you note that the source may not be reliable.

Just do due diligence before presenting burlesque myth as burlesque fact.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 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! Here’s your tip!

Feeling overwhelmed with work? Set a timer.

When I have many things on my to-do list, I find myself jumping from task to task, accomplishing little. To create focus, I set a timer, usually for half an hour and work on only one project, with no breaks until the timer goes off. If I’m on a roll, I take a 5 minute break and set the timer for another 30 minutes. Half an hour is a manageable bit for time for me — your milage may vary — that I know I get get something done, but it doesn’t feel too onerous.

Another option, combining work and entertainment, is to use a playlist or a podcast as your timer. I like to do this when I’m cleaning or sewing.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 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 — time for a tip! But first I want to recognize that it’s Juneteenth today. The artists of The Front Porch Arts Collective have been celebrating all week and you should check out today’s programs!

And now your tip:

Review, reflect, revise.

Take a look at your acts with fresh and honest eyes, especially if you’ve been performing for a long time. Are your acts still appropriate to be performed? What can you do to change them up?

Are they at your current skill level? You may have grown beyond where you were when that act was created. If so, up your game or retire the act.

If you’re using pop culture or current event references, are they still relevant? You don’t want the act to feel dated or to leave the audience confused. I’ve seen great topical acts that kill when they debut and the reference is fresh, only to bomb six months later when no one remembers.

If you have very local reference in your act, would they be confusing for an out-of-town audience? Maybe make a more generic version or do some research and tailor it to the locale. Audiences love it when you make the effort.

Are you using any tropes that are no longer acceptable? Even if a classic performer did it back in the day, it may not be okay now. “Vintage style, not vintage values”.

This also applies to hosts and MCs. Check your schtick. Make sure all your stock bits and jokes still fly. Comedy is hard — what’s considered funny changes all the time. Some classic burlesque bits that had them rolling in the aisles in 1930 are horrifying now.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 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,

A little business before we get to your tip!

First, tonight we are presenting Live-ish From Deacon Giles (sort of)! on our FaceBook page at 8pm Eastern! I hope to “see” you in the audience!

Second, every Wednesday at 3pm I’m teaching a short burlesque lesson on IG Live. I’ve been posting them on YouTube afterwards. If there’s a burlesque move or technique you’d like to see, leave me a comment and maybe you’ll see it in a future Bite-Sized Burlesque Lesson!

When filming yourself, make sure your main light source is behind your camera.

If you only have one light, position it behind the camera (computer, phone, &c.). If you have two lights, shine one on the wall behind you, which will help create depth. For the best lighting, use two lights on you — one main, one for fill — so you don’t get shadows. Avoid overhead lights.

Here I am filming a reading for Booklover’s Burlesque in my bedroom using clip-on work lights. Very glamourous, no?

I have been learning A LOT these past few months about tech things I usually let other people handle… What new skills or knowledge have you acquired?

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