Dear Constant Reader,
I was going to give myself a pass for the day because I had some (minor) dental work done and even a small amount of novocaine renders me feeling cruddy for hours. However, I wrote a blog post before the appointment.
Later in the evening I was feeling better and practiced some slight of hand for The Faerie Queene.
I only managed to read one chapter of Goddess of Love (the Montreal years) before falling asleep.
Dear Constant Reader,
After the Main Event each year, The Expo holds a party at the hotel pool with music from The Waveriders. It’s a lot of fun, but very, very loud, between the music and the pool house acoustics. This year there was also a quieter option — the Game Room, overseen by the Game Warden, Scarlett Letter, with most of the games supplied by the invaluable Heather C.
I started out at the Pool Party, where it is traditional for the BeauTease to go-go to the surf music until late. You can’t really tell in this selfie, but I’m wearing 3 different leopard prints (scarf, bathing suit, and sarong). After a while of nibbling on cheese and watching my B.A.B.E. instructors frolic in the water, I realized I was completely exhausted. There would be no twisting the night away for me.
I dropped in on the Game Room which was indeed much quieter than the pool despite the rollicking game of Cards Against Humanity. It appeared that our copy of “Take It Off”, a vintage board game about a burlesque club (yes, really), was still in the storage room, ah well. No one seemed to miss it. I’ll write something up about it another time. It’s a hoot. But I was in bed long before either party shut down.
On Sunday afternoon I hosted a little tea party, with help from my hostesses, Corinne and Chelsea. I was so excited because the tea this year was provided by Jacqueline Hyde, which I just adore. I was delighted to addict a few more people with the pleasures of Bad Things (peach oolong) tea. And I got to wear my Stephanie Buscema mermaid dress with *two* crinolines. So fluffy! There are pictures out there somewhere…
As usual the food was terrific. The set-up, not so much. The staff brought in all the food when they were supposed to, but there was no sign of our tea equipment (hot water urns and tea pots). What we need to get started first is the tea! After they finally (with much prodding from me) brought in the hot water urns, I asked about the tea pots and was told that it wasn’t part of the order. Oh yes, it was. It’s been the same basic order for years now. Grrr.
At this point we were mere minutes from doors and there was already a line outside. I *hate* starting anything late, but how can we have a tea party without tea? Finally we got our pots and quickly got the tea started before opening the doors to the genteelly ravaging hoards. As I mentioned, the food was terrific — finger sandwiches, little muffins, and tiny cakes. I think the chef has fun with this event. It’s lovely to just relax for an hour or so before the final show and then strike.
And then it was time for the Sunday Showcases!
Dear Constant Reader,
I’m discovering with this challenge that almost every day I do something burlesque related. Usually it’s work to keep B.A.B.E. going. It’s not very glamourous or creative, but it’s necessary. Also making time to read a couple of chapters of Goddess of Love Incarnate is a wonderful end to my day. I’m a voracious reader, but forcing myself to go slowly and savor this book has been delightful.
I brought all the teaching gloves from the studio after rehearsal on Sunday, so I washed them.
I started working on my application to teach at BurlyCon. I’d like to get that taken care of in the next week, so I don’t have to worry about the deadline.
Despite Albert’s best efforts to get me to just snuggle with him all night, I got some rhinestoning done. You might remember that last year I made some Victorian undies for Costume-Con with the intention of reusing the corset in a burlesque routine. I’ve since made a bra, garter belt, and panties from the same brocade and spent some time last night stoning the panties.
Dear Constant Reader,
I finished decorating those Guest-of-Honor pasties I had made the previous day and brought them into the studio for the goodie bags.
Speaking of the studio, it was rehearsal night. After a little B.A.B.E admin, I spent my evening removing old silicon caulk from my bathtub. So glamourous, I know. I’m hoping one more session with my scraper will do it. Maybe two. And then I can re-caulk it.
I decided the drapes on the short ends of the tub should be replaced, but foolishly didn’t take the measurements. For some reason I thought I wasn’t going to have time before next rehearsal to make them, but that’s just wrong. I totally could have made them Monday or Tuesday.
And I squeezed in a couple of chapters of Goddess of Love before falling asleep.
Dear Constant Reader,
It was a quiet day on the rhinestone front. I worked on organizing my sewing room/office (so much paper to recycle or shred!), made the bases for 4 pairs of Guest-of-Honor pasties, and, of course, a chapter of Goddess of Love Incarnate.
Dear Constant Reader,
On Fridays I always send out a newsletter to B.A.B.E. students and post my Friday Tip and today was no different. I also set up registration for the May Introduction to Burlesque series, finalized the registration for a Burly-Q party, and some other miscellaneous admin stuff.
Made half a dozen more teaching pasties. We should be good for the two Burly-Q Parties next Saturday.
I brainstormed more with Scratch about my new act and jotted down some notes. This is quite different for me. Usually I have a hook already when I’m designing an act — a costume design, a piece of music, a prop. In this case I started from “I want a new act” and a couple of very high-level ideas. We’ve narrowed down a few things, but it’s still very wide-open. It’s going to be an interesting process. I’m not sure if next step is designing the costume or finding music.
And as usual, I ended my day with a couple of chapters of Goddess of Love Incarnate in bed.
Dear Constant Reader,
Happy Friday! Here’s your tip!
Price your merch at three to four times what it cost you.
If you are making products, remember to factor in your labor as well as the cost of materials.
Like this tip? There are lots more in Miss Mina Murray’s Little Book of Better Burlesque.
Dear Constant Reader,
So far I’m finding that I could fill my quota just doing administrative work for my school, but I’m trying to more than that. Anyway, on Day 3 I did some B.A.B.E. work and wrote a blog post.
I repaired 3 pasties from the troupe’s collection that had lost their tassels. Discussed the construction of my new Faerie Queene pasties with Scratch. We decided on an illusion base and I did a little on-line research toward that. I continued to tidy my sewing room and took care of one of those glamourous tasks — handwashing some delicate costume items.
I’m at the very beginning stages of brainstorming a new act. I have the highest-level concept of it. Hopefully it will continue to develop over this month.
And I read a couple more chapters of Goddess of Love. It’s very engaging.
Dear Constant Reader,
The Vendor Hall is one of the delights of The Expo. I never seem to spend as much time as I want there…
This year’s haul (sort of)
On the left is some soap from Amaranth and Rue. It’s a gift for Scratch, because he’s crazy about all things cherry. On the right is a new jewelry set from Farasha and Su’ad Dance and Designs. I have a lot of red costumes and very little red jewelry, so this was a no-brainer. Plus their prices are so reasonable!
The “sort of” is because I commissioned a set of pasties and a g-string from Glorious Pasties which don’t exist yet, so no photo. I have this act with a fabulous bathtub and a gorgeous costume, but my bottom layer is distinctly lacking in glam. And that’s what gets seen while I’m splashing around in the tub! Cheeky is specially making the set to withstand getting a soaking. I’m so excited!
There were a couple of vendors I didn’t patronize (this time!), but I’d still like to point out.
Next report, parties!
Dear Constant Reader,
Wednesdays and Sundays are kind of gimmes in this challenge because The BeauTease have rehearsals, but I did other stuff too, mostly administrative work for B.A.B.E., making sure everything is set for the new Introduction to Burlesque class series and wrapped up from the previous one. Also, it’s the beginning of the month, so I had to cut some checks. None of this glamourous, but it’s necessary to keep a dance floor under our feet.
I wrote a post here. And I managed to read a couple of chapters of Goddess of Love before falling asleep.
Oh, The Glamourous Life! 