Oh, The Glamourous Life!

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! Sometimes we perform in spaces that aren’t exactly theatres and the dressing room is nowhere near the stage. Today’s tip is a simple way to make sure you don’t miss your cue.

A baby monitor lets you hear what’s happening on stage.

Some theatres have an intercom system so the performers can hear the stage while they’re in the dressing rooms. This is our low-budget version. We stick the transmitter somewhere unobtrusive near the stage and set up the receiver in our dressing room/green room/backstage area. We even have two receivers, just in case we’re spit up.

It was really useful at our show at Deacon Giles last week (where I took the blurry photo). Our backstage (the distillery) is separated from the stage (in the tasting room) by a soundproof glass door. We could see Scratch introducing us, but not hear a word he said! The monitor was a show saver.

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! Tonight I’ll be at Deacon Giles in Salem for The Boston BeauTease Do It Again, our tribute to Grounhog Day. It’s a clever premise, which I’m not going to spoil for you. Come to the show and see if you can figure it out!

Also Universal will be at the early show giving away goodies and tickets for Fifty Shades Free! And of course there will be creative cocktails made with Deacon Giles’ very own spirits, distilled right behind our stage!

And here’s your tip:
In a pinch, conditioner can be used as shaving cream.

Conditioner is particularly good for shaving areas of coarse hair because its purpose is to soften, which makes for an easier shave.

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!

Your secret weapon for cleaning is distilled white vinegar.

I don’t cook with this kind of vinegar, but I do clean with it. It’s so useful! It’s a mild bleach, slightly anti-microbial, and a deodorizer. I’ve tried to make the tips below vaguely related to the life of a showgirl.

Just to be clear, you know that I’m talking about cheap distilled white vinegar, not wine, not balsamic, not that fancy herb-infused stuff at the back of the cabinet, right? Of course you do!

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! I’m still unpacking from The Expo, which reminded me of this week’s tip:

Wash your underthings as soon as you get home from a show.

I find the easiest way to do this is in the shower. I always take a shower after a show because I don’t like getting glitter in my bed. You can multitask and wash away the show residue from both body and costume bits. Hang your dainties to dry and in the morning they’ll be ready to go again.

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,

As the year draws to a close, I’d like to thank you for being my Constant Reader. Without you, I’m just shouting into the void.

For your tip today I’d like to echo something I’d heard recently and which has stuck with me.

Be kind.

I hope you all have a wonderful, beautiful, peaceful, and very kind 2018.

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! And a merry Christmas to those who celebrate it. Otherwise, I hope you enjoy your Chinese food and movie! Here’s your tip!

You don’t have to do it all. It’s okay to get help.

In burlesque, as in other fringe arts, there’s this DIY thing. There’s an expectation that the performer should also be a choreographer, costumer, producer, promoter, teacher, graphic artist, prop fabricator, music and video editor, roadie, &c.

Most of us aren’t good at everything. You can hire other people or trade your skills. It doesn’t mean you are less of a performer; it means that you know how to delegate and how to prevent burn out and frustration.

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! Tonight The Boston BeauTease are presenting Brrrlesque at The Thalia and it’s sold out! We’re bringing the show to Salem tomorrow and the early show is also sold out! Last I heard there were still some tickets available for the 9:30pm show, but I don’t expect they’re going to last very long.

And now, your tip!

When performing on a particularly small or unusually-shaped stage, mark the same size or shape on your rehearsal space floor.

By having a clear delineation of the performance area, you can see if your act needs to be modified (“if I do that, I’m going to smash into a wall”) and you get used to performing within the constraints of the space.

We have a wooden dance floor in our studio, so we use painter’s tape to mark the area. Make sure it’s tape that can be peeled up without damaging the floor. If tape isn’t an option, you could use string or perhaps chalk.

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!

After wearing heels, stretch your calves.

We burlesque performers love our high heels, but wearing them can cause tight muscles. My favorite stretch is to grab a chair back, a barre, or press your palms into a wall. Step one leg back, bend your front leg, keeping both heels on the ground. Tilt your hips up and press your chest forward. Repeat on the other leg. Sweet relief!

What’s your favorite for high-heel recovery?

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.