Oh, The Glamourous Life!

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! I hope all of my American Readers have a great Independence Day tomorrow and everyone else has a pleasant Saturday.

This week’s tip harks back to last week’s about tissues.

Handkerchiefs are classy.

I stand by my tip that having a packet of tissues to hand is a useful thing, but also consider carrying a handkerchief. They are so much nice for weeping into, patting your glowingly damp brow, waving farewell, flirtatiously dropping, and surreptitiously wrapping up leftover petits fours.

Gentlemen, this goes for you too!

It’s thoughtful to give a crying friend a tissue, but so much more of a gesture to hand over your hanky. (If you’re on the receiving end, offer to launder it after you’ve used it. It’s a great excuse to get together again.)

It’s not so easy to find handkerchiefs for women these days. Men’s are usually available where suits are sold. Just make sure they are actually handkerchiefs and not pocket squares. Pocket squares are excellent and should be worn, but they are for decoration only.

Vintage handkerchiefs are easy to find and often inexpensive (I can usually find nice ones between $3 and $5). Here’s a few from my collection:

Hankies are also very simple to make. Cut a square of fabric (linen or cotton are traditional). 13×13 is a good size for a lady’s handkerchief, I’ve found. Add a narrow hem and you’re all set! If you’re that sort of person, you can add all sorts of embellishment — lace, embroidery, &c.

I’m still rather proud of this “something blue” handkerchief I made for my sister:

It has an embroidered initial, decorative hemstitching, and handmade tatted lace. Obviously you don’t have to go all out like that.

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! Here’s your tip!

Always carry a packet of tissues.

They are so useful! Besides blowing your nose or drying your tears (something I’ve had to do a bit today #lovewins), you can use them in all sorts of pinches: to blot sweat, remove your makeup (you are using Drag Eraser, right?), pick up icky things, separate your toes for pedicure repair, as emergency toilet paper, &c.

I got this charming pocket-sized tissue case from Pinky Shines at BurlyCon and it’s been in my purse ever since.

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! Here’s your tip!

Before you commit to a stage name, check to make sure it’s not in use already.

It’s poor form to choose a stage name that someone else is using. You probably don’t even want a name that’s close to someone else’s. To use a ridiculous example, you probably don’t want to be calling yourself “Lita von Cheese”. It looks like you’re trying to be mistaken for a better known performer and that’s not cricket.

This isn’t a situation particular to burlesque; the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) only enrolls unique names. The star of Birdman was born Michael Douglas, but since there was already an actor by that name, that’s why he’s billed as Michael Keaton.

People can get very bitchy when their name is “stolen”, even if it was due to ignorance rather than malice. These days you have no excuse not to do your due diligence before investing in business cards. Google is your friend. Search for burlesque performers, pin-up models, roller derby players, porn actors, &c. that share your potential name.

It can be so disappointing and even heart-wrenching to discover that a name you are already attached to is gracing someone else. Sadly, that’s show biz. What is it about that name that you love? How can you change it up to be different and yet keep those aspects that make it feel personal?

One of my students once wanted to use her legal first and middle names as her stage name only to discover that a porn actress was already using them. She chose to keep her first name the same and picked a new second name that sounded more theatrical and burlesque-y, but shared a syllable with her actual middle name.

Names have power and you want to make sure that your stage name is yours and yours alone.

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! Here’s your tip!

Having trouble getting your pasties to stick? Make sure your skin is clean and dry.

Sweat and skin oil can keep adhesive from, well, adhering. If you have the opportunity to wash and dry your boobs, go for it! For most of us in crowded dressing rooms, that’s not an option. Cleansing wipes are a great way to clean up quickly. Just make sure they don’t have lotion or moisturizers or are going to leave a soapy residue, as that would defeat our purpose. The kind billed as “refreshers” rather than make-up removers are your best bet.

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! I’m in South Carolina at Costume-Con this weekend. I’ll tell you all about it when I get back and I’ll try to post pictures to Facebook during the weekend.

Here’s your costume-related tip!

Cover your sewing machine when not using it.

Dust, lint, pet hair, and other nasty bits can get inside your machine and shorten its working life. Keep it covered and keep it clean. You can get basic plastic covers which will do the job (and many machines come with them). Or you can make your own. It’s a quick and easy project.

Here’s mine:

I made that charming (and slightly wrinkled) cover in an afternoon. It coordinates with the organizer mat under it, the cover for my dress form, and my curtains. You don’t have to be that compulsive. But it was fun…

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! Here’s your tip!

Straighten your seams!

If you are going to wear back-seam stockings (and they are so lovely), please make sure that your seams are straight. An illustrative example:

I don’t think I need to tell you which leg looks better…

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! Also Happy May Day! Here is Boston it’s rather grey and cold, but I can see the cherry blossoms getting ready to burst in the orchards at Stately Babydoll Manor.

Here’s your tip!

To dispel dizziness after spins or turns, either jump straight up and down or spin in the opposite direction.

Personally, I find the first method gives almost immediate relief, but looks kind of goofy, so save it for rehearsal and drilling. The second method can be a life saver on stage.