Oh, The Glamourous Life!

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! We’ve been rehearsing for our shows in Salem and Hyannis next month. Something that occurred in rehearsal inspired this tip.

What is the surface of your performance space vs. your rehearsal space? Can you do all your choreography in both places?

I’ve talked about stage surfaces before in the context of tap dancing, but now I want to expand that to anything. In a recent rehearsal Ava slithered across the floor, which was easy on the studio’s marley floor. However, the stage at Deacon Giles has carpeting on it — not conducive to smooth slithering. Knowing that, she can be prepared.

So, if you’re doing something floor dependent, like roller skating, be prepared to modify if necessary. Someday ask me to tell the story that involves performing on sawdust over dirt…

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 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! I had an exciting time last night (but not the good kind of exciting). I drove to the storage unit to get some folding chairs for tonight’s acro chair class with Kerri N’Fuego. On the way back I ended up on the side of the road with an overheating BeauTeaseMobile. Fortunately I was 15 minutes from The Manor and Betty was good enough to bring Scratch and a bottle of coolant to me and then follow behind until I was safely home. Happy ending (other than the hassle of getting the car into the shop and the expense that follows). However, this experience inspired this week’s tip.

Have a membership to a roadside assistance service.

In a previous tip I recommended having emergency gear in your car, especially when traveling. However, sometimes the problem is more than you can take care of yourself. Imagine being stranded on the side of the road in a strange town with a dead car. Being able to call a service for a tow or a new battery is invaluable.

And sometimes your membership can get you discounts on other services too, like hotel rooms or museum admissions. I know that’s the case with AAA and I take advantage of it whenever I can. (I’d rather buy rhinestones…)

Stay safe out there!

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 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 just one week from Not Just Sitting Pretty: Intro to Acro Chair Flow with visiting instructor Kerri N’Fuego and I can’t wait. And that brings me to this week’s tip…

Try a new skill.

If you have the opportunity to try something new, take it! (like acro chair…) You never know if it’s something you might use in a future act or you might just think is fun. Even if you decide it’s not for you, you’ve still had a learning experience.

I once took a class on rope tricks (yeah, like spinning a lasso). Not something I’m probably ever going to use, but now I have an appreciation for the skill of those who do it and make it look easy. And who knows, there might be a situation where I can use or share the knowledge I gained.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 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! B.A.B.E.’s second Student Showcase is this Sunday and I’ve heard that there are only 4 tickets left!

So many classes in May: Introduction to Burlesque with me, Floorwork with Devastasia, Intro to Acro Chair with Kerri N’Fuego, and Shimmy at the Speakeasy in Salem.

Onward to your tip…

Posture check!

I’m talking to you (and me)! Are you hunching, slouching, shrimping, or otherwise sitting or standing with poor posture?

Stand up. Straighten your spine. Roll your shoulders down and back. Lift your chest. Pull in your core. 

Now, don’t you feel better? You look better too.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 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,

I am so excited for the B.A.B.E. student showcase tomorrow! I’m doing a little last minute costuming, which brought this tip to mind…

Keep the humidity in mind when working on a project.

Ah, humidity! The bane of summer — frizzy hair, runny makeup, sticky costumes… and slower drying times. If you’re painting or gluing or dying something, just remember that it’s going to take longer to dry. Factor that into your timeline along with everything else.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 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! I recently spent a couple of days in New York (but that’s a separate missive) and found myself in the Garment District with some time to kill, which brings me to your tip.

Keep a wish list for impromptu shopping.

You never know when you’re going to find yourself in a fabric store or a thrift shop or some other emporium of goodies that might have some component for a project or an act or a costume. Are you going to remember what it was you wanted?

Thus, a list, not only of the items, but quantities or sizes. I used to keep my list on paper in my wallet, but now I just have it on my phone. That’s how, when I saw the rhinestone zippers, I could confidently buy a 7″ zipper to replace the boring one on my NYE gown.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 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,

We’ve got so many exciting events coming up at B.A.B.E. — student showcases! acro chair workshop! floorwork classes! I can’t wait!

And now for your tip!

You are the only one who knows your choreography.

This is a tip I like to give students creating a burlesque solo. When you are performing, if you forget something, miss a cue, or otherwise deviate from your intended routine, the audience will never know unless you tell them.

So, don’t break character or show panic or annoyance on your face or in your body language. Keep that inside (no matter how hard that may be) and go on your merry way with confidence until the well-earned applause at the end.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.