Oh, The Glamourous Life!

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! I was just out for a walk and the trees are covered with blossoms. Spring is such a brief and lovely thing in New England! This week’s tip is:

There is no set order in which to remove your costume pieces.

Sure, sometimes you have to remove one garment to get to another, like shoes before stockings, or it will be easier for you to manipulate a fastening if you’re not wearing your gloves at that point. However, there is absolutely no reason to follow the “canonical” striptease of gloves>gown>bra if you don’t want to. It changes the audience’s expectations.

When I created my Lizzie Borden act, over a decade ago, I used to take the blood-stained apron off as the very first thing, then the skirt, then the blouse. Very pedestrian. Very much like getting undressed for bed. Now I take off the blouse and the skirt under the apron. It’s a bit more challenging, but there’s more tease. And the audience can have a little surprise when the apron finally comes off.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 20 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 again! I try to makes these tips practical or uplifting — more “do”s than “don’t”s, but that’s not the case this week.

Sometimes people just suck.

There are people in the burlesque scene who seem to derive pleasure from attacking others and rallying others to do similar. Sometimes those who do not join in or speak in opposition become targets themselves.

I don’t have any solutions. Just that if you have been the victim of one of these campaigns, you have my sympathies. If you are considering jumping on the bandwagon, think about the facts of the situation and form your own opinion before spouting someone else’s line.

There are much more important things in the world to be outraged about than the drama du jour, which, if taken far enough, can not only drive people out of the burlesque scene, but permanently damage their reputations and even livelihoods.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 20 Patrons. Welcome to my newest Patron, Danielle Colby! 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! A quick reminder that Introduction to Burlesque starts on Monday and floorwork the following Sunday. Here’s your tip:

Pack hangers along with your costumes.

If your dressing room has a clothing rack, you can’t count on it to also have hangers. If you bring your own, you can be sure you’ll be able to hang your costumes. If there’s no rack, you might be able to get creative…

We like those velvety hangers because they’re very flat and can pack easily.

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! First, a few announcements:

I will be teaching both Introduction to Burlesque and an intermediate-level floorwork routine in April!

The BeauTease will be performing at a new venue this month! On March 23rd we’ll be at House of Hatchets on the Cape. For those of you on the South Shore who wish we performed closer, here we are! Get your tickets here!

And at last, your tip!

Wash out your water bottle.

Yeah, I’m talking to you. Even if all you keep in it is water, you need to wash it from time to time. If you put anything else it, like a sports drink or some cucumber or fruit, be sure to wash it well. Bottle brushes are really helpful here! Don’t forget the cap, lip, and a straw (if there is one).

If you don’t have time for a thorough scrub, pour in some boiling water and swish it around. You can also use white vinegar to disinfect.

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 again. Today I have for you wise words from an icon.

“Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet.”
–Mae West

A little critical thinking and independent verification goes a long way.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 20 Patrons. Welcome Cmc420! Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page. Or you can just tip me if you liked this.