Oh, The Glamourous Life!

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! I’m back from BurlyCon where I learned a lot and hopefully imparted some knowledge as well. Here’s your tip!

Be kind to your knees.

I’ve already talked about wearing knee pads for practice. I wanted to gently remind you that knees are delicate parts of our bodies and should be treated accordingly.

In particular I want to caution you about the knee drop. It’s a dramatic way to get down to the floor, but if it’s done wrong you can cause yourself some serious damage. Unless you know how to do it safely, every time, consider a different method for getting down to the floor. There are other exciting ways that don’t risk your precious knees.

If there is interest, I’ll do a short video of some of them. Please comment here if you’d like that.

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! This is coming to you from BurlyCon in Seattle where I’m teaching today. Here’s your tip!

When traveling, bring more than one pair of shoes.

As performers we often spend a lot of time on our feet and often in shoes that look great but aren’t so comfortable. Soothe your feet by changing your shoes. A different heel height and sole shape will feel good on your feet and give you spring in your step again.

Pictured above, my shoes for BurlyCon: character shoes for daytime classes, heels for the dance, comfy flats for the plane and venturing out of the hotel, mules for relaxing.

Like this tip? There are lots more in Miss Mina Murray’s Little Book of Better Burlesque.

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! It’s the day after Halloween and that means your tip is…

Go shopping today!

It’s a great time to buy all sorts of burlesque accessories. Stores that carried Halloween supplies are now desperate to get rid of them to make room for the next wave of holiday items. You can usually pick up useful staples like gloves, stockings, boas, eyelashes, makeup, and the like at deep discounts. They’re only costume pieces, so don’t expect high quality. Go today because tomorrow they’ll probably be replaced with Christmas stuff. Not that that’s such a bad thing…

Like this tip? There are lots more in Miss Mina Murray’s Little Book of Better Burlesque.

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! We’re appearing tonight in Burlesque Macabre and I am incredibly excited to be doing a darkly seasonal show. This is the only time of year we get to do anything like this.

Here’s your tip!

Stage kittens have a very important job.
(Photo of stage kitten extraordinaire Guilted Lilly by Bruce Davis)

A “stage kitten”* for the non-burlesque folks are the crew members who clean the stage of discarded costume pieces and props. They also set up and remove any set pieces and sometimes interact with the performers, maybe to hand them an item. Backstage, they are there to support the performers and the best ones always seem to have that thing you need right now, like a safety pin. They are a vital part of the show.

A great stage kitten is an amazing asset to a show and makes performances run smoothly. It’s also a good way to get your feet wet in the world of burlesque.

However, I don’t love the idea that being a stage kitten is a required stepping stone to performing and that one has to pay one’s dues by being a stage kitten before performing. Like I said, I think it’s a fine way to start out, but it’s not required. Not everyone is cut out to be a stage kitten. It requires a certain focus and attention to detail.

I do think every performer should try their hand at it at least once, because it will give you an appreciation for the job and those who do it. It’s absolute nonsense that performers are somehow a step up from kittens (yes, I’ve heard people refuse a kittening job as though it were an insult to be asked). You’re all necessary for a good show!

In the world of theatre, there are performers and there are crew. Stage kittens straddle that line, since they are meant to be a visible part of the show, but also help keep it moving smoothly.

*Also called a stage panther, pickup artist, and other cute names. Let me know your favorites in the comments!

Like this tip? There are lots more in Miss Mina Murray’s Little Book of Better Burlesque.

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!

Feathers are happiest in a moderate environment.

Optimally feathers should be kept between 60 and 75 degrees F and at 45-55% relative humidity (these are museum guidelines). Now, most of us don’t live in places that are that rigidly climate controlled, but there are still things we can do to keep our feathers at their best.

Avoid storing them near bathrooms, laundry areas and other places with high humidity as too much moisture can encourage mold. Also, keep them away from radiators, direct sunlight, and other sources of heat. If the feathers get too dry, they can crumble.

Don’t worry too much. Like I said, most of us don’t have perfectly climate controlled places to store our fans and boas and headdresses, but we can be aware of the issues.

I’ll be talking more about caring for feathers and other costume items at BurlyCon next month!

Like this tip? There are lots more in Miss Mina Murray’s Little Book of Better Burlesque.

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.