Dear Constant Reader,
Happy Friday! Here’s your tip!
You don’t have to move at the exact same tempo as your music.
Try moving at half time for drama or double time for excitement. Just make sure you’re still using the beat.
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.
Dear Constant Reader,
Happy Friday! For those of you who celebrated, I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving and had some quiet time to reflect on the things for which you are grateful. If yesterday wasn’t a holiday for you, I hope you had a pleasant Thursday and you also had some quiet time to reflect on the things for which you are grateful. It’s just something we should do more often. Here’s your tip!
Give your costume a holiday makeover.
It’s a busy time of year for many performers and holiday-themed acts are much in demand. However, it doesn’t always make financial sense to have a costume you only pull out for a few weeks a year. Instead, if you can, give an existing costume a temporary make-over with appropriate trimmings and accessories to fit the bill. Craft stores are full of shiny sparkly things that just scream “winter gift giving occasion and other celebrations” and many of them even clip on or can easily be temporarily attached.
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.
Dear Constant Reader,
Happy Friday! We got our first snow here on the East Coast! And then it poured rain, so no Winter Wonderland for us. Here’s your tip!
Learn the basics of audio and video editing.
It will make your life so much easier if you can make simple edits yourself, like trimming a video clip or joining two tracks.
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.
Dear Constant Reader,
Well, it’s Friday and I was supposed to be sending you this tip from BurlyCon. Instead, I’m at home. Why? That’s today’s tip.
Sometimes heroic measures are not called for.
In the performing arts we talk a lot about the heroic measures that performers take when they are sick or injured to make sure the show goes on. Sometimes it’s necessary, as anyone who’s ever pushed through on stage with a sore throat or a pulled muscle knows.
Sometimes it’s not heroism, it’s foolishness. Continuing to perform when you are very sick or severely injured can making things worse for you. You’re lengthening your recovery time and, in the case of illness, exposing others. Taking the time to rest and recover is important. And you know what is heroic? Finding a replacement if you have to drop out of a gig.
This is why I’m not at BurlyCon. On Halloween I developed a cough that rapidly got worse. I was determined to fulfill my obligations and go to BurlyCon to teach my classes and distribute my books. We worked so hard to get the new book ready in time.
About 5 hours before I was going to leave for the airport, I realized this was dumb and also selfish. Exposing my already weakened immune system to the stresses of two flights and a hotel full of people was probably going to make me sicker. Not to mention that I just wouldn’t be able to enjoy the event or get much value from it. I can barely go 5 minutes without coughing — how was I supposed to take classes, let alone teach? And despite any precautions I might take, I’d probably pass this charming virus along to some of my fellow burlesquers. Not cool.
So I’m home. I’m not happy about it, but I’ll be spending my “vacation” continuing to try get healthy. And just a reminder, get travel insurance.
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.
Dear Constant Reader,
Happy Friday! Here’s your tip!
Structure your experience! When creating a new routine, set small deadlines for completion of elements of the process.
Instead of just one big end deadline (everything completed and stage-ready!), set smaller goals along the way. When are you gong to have a minute of the choreography completed? When is the main costume item going to be wearable? When do you show the act for feedback? Taking smaller bites makes the project more manageable and avoids last minute panic.
If you want to be coached through this process, join me at Burlesque Your Way at The Boston Academy of Burlesque Education, starting this Tuesday.
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.
Dear Constant Reader,
Just a quick book update before your tip!
Miss Mina Murray’s Little Book of Burlesque Costuming, Vol. 1: The Foundations is close to the third stretch goal with 4 days remaining! If we get another $150 in pledges, everybody gets a lovely and useful bookmark!
And now for your tip! Here’s another one from my new book, illustrated by Devastasia.
For maximum movement, place fringe on your bra at the apex of the cup.
If you put the fringe at the top edge, it will split like a curtain at the fullest part of your breast. If you put it on the bottom edge, it won’t move as much when you shimmy.
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.
Dear Constant Reader,
Happy Friday! This week’s tip comes from my new book, Miss Mina Murray’s Little Book of Burlesque Costuming, Vol. 1: The Foundations, now available for pre-order on Kickstarter.
Removable linings make laundering garments a snap.
If you’ve got a garment that you can’t wash because of the material or the decoration, add a lining that you can remove and clean. Just cut a second lining out of some comfortable cloth — I like cotton. Turn the raw edges under and zigzag stitch them.
Now attach it to the inside of your garment. When I first tried this I basted the lining in place, picked out the stitches, and resewed it after washing, but that got old real fast. Now I just add a snap at each corner of the garment and lining.
When the lining is soiled, remove and wash. When it’s dry, snap it back in. When it gets too worn to keep wearing, toss it and make a new one.
I use this most often on intimate garments like g-strings or in the cups of bras. You can also do a partial lining in larger garments where you just want to target a particularly grimy area, like the neckline or underarms of a gown.
Illustration by Stacey B. Rizoli (aka Devastasia), proprietress of Red Queen Crafts. You’ll see more of her charming clear illustrations in the Little Book of Burlesque Costuming.
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.
Dear Constant Reader,
Happy Friday! This week’s tip comes from the wisdom of burlesque Legend Toni Elling, The Duke’s Delight. I first met Miss Elling at Miss Exotic World in 2006, but received this pearl from her at the very first BurlyCon.
Keep your head up.
Toni said never to drop your head on stage. You’re not ashamed of what you do, so never look like it. She also said not to take a bow, but to receive the audience’s appreciation upright. I’ve taken this advice to heart ever since.
Keeping your head up is about more than just pride in your chosen art. It also keeps your connection to and interest in the audience. Dropping your head breaks that connection. If you want to direct the audience’s attention to something low on the stage, like your leg, lower your eyes, but not your whole head. Similarly if you need to pick something up, bend from the hips or sink down into a squat while looking out, rather than just bending over from the waist.
As always there are exceptions: since lowering your head signals defeat or shame, these are emotions you may want to project for a specific character or moment.
Chin up!
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.
Dear Constant Reader,
Happy Friday! Today’s tip is the flip side of last week’s tip. Here it is:
Go back to basics.
If you’re a veteran of your craft, you can still improve it by returning to the fundamentals of it. Perhaps you’ll see something new, try a different method, or otherwise hone your skills. Basic skills are the foundations of any art. It’s always worth it to return to them to further refine your technique.
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.
Dear Constant Reader,
Happy Friday! Here’s your tip!
Learn to walk before you try to run.
I know it’s tough to start with the basics when you just want to jump in the deep end. Begin at the beginning and learn the skills you need to have a solid foundation. Your learning experience will be a lot less frustrating.
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.
Oh, The Glamourous Life! 