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Dear Constant Reader,


Please click and nominate the Boston Babydolls for “Best Burlesque” and Naked Girls Reading for “Best Literary Gang”. Thank you!

We’ve completed out first weekend of Unlucky in Love with near sell-out crowds on Friday and Saturday. If you’re thinking of coming, get your tickets now. Even the off nights (Thursday, Sunday, and Monday) are filling up.

When you come to the show, consider going to Foundry (above us) or Saloon (next door). They’ve been really great to us and the food & drinks are just right for pre-show/post-show.

Published in: on 30 January 2012 at 3:05 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip!

Dear Constant Reader,


Please click and nominate the Boston Babydolls for “Best Burlesque” and Naked Girls Reading for “Best Literary Gang”. Thank you!

This tip is courtesy of some parasol repairs I made this week. (See the parasols in Unlucky in Love, opening tonight!)

When using with E6000 or similar adhesives, work in a well-ventilated area and let the item stay some place well-ventilated and far from your bedroom overnight.

I know E6000 is a favorite amongst the burlesque community for attaching rhinestones. Sometimes it is the only choice, but its vapors are toxic!

Open your window when you’re working with it. Then stash the stuff to dry somewhere far from where you’ll be breathing, like the garage or porch. Or at the very least put it near an open window.

Published in: on 27 January 2012 at 11:00 am  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip!

Dear Constant Reader,

Please nominate the Boston Babydolls for “Best Burlesque” and Naked Girls Reading for “Best Literary Gang”. Thank you!

Now that that’s out of the way, here’s your Friday tip!

Always be aware of your hands. Having energy and liveliness through your hands will improve a number, even if the audience doesn’t notice why – they will notice if your hand seems limp or “dead”.

Published in: on 20 January 2012 at 2:17 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Nominate us!

Dear Constant Reader,

In 2010 and 2011 The Boston Babydolls were voted Best of Boston by Phoenix readers. It’s time for nominations for the Best of 2012. Please nominate the Boston Babydolls for “Best Burlesque”. We’d really like to keep that shiny “Best” crown and the first step is to get on the ballot!

They seem to have done away with the category “Best Place to See Some Skin”, which would be a perfect fit for Naked Girls Reading. How about “Best Literary Gang” for NGR?

You can nominate once a day per IP/email address. So be a doll and keep nominating us.

Thank you so much,

Published in: on 19 January 2012 at 9:40 am  Leave a Comment  
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More on Gifts

Dear Constant Reader,

After seeing my gift guide, someone asked me what I wanted for the holidays.

My first thought was “Peace on Earth; goodwill towards man” (name that movie!), but I figure a girl’s allowed to be a little materialistic once in a while…

* Any of the books on the Boston Babydolls’ Library Wishlist (scroll down). Bonus points if you buy them at an independent bookstore.

* Wonderful confections at Secrets in Lace, Fabulous Feathers, Stop Staring, or Vogses Haut Chocolat.

* Tickets to Sleep No More.

but really, more than anything, I’d like you to vote for Scratch in the Burlesque Top 50. It’s for people who have “made an outstanding contribution to burlesque this year” and if you’ve been to The Wrathskellar, you know he has. And then there’s the Expo and the Burlesque Marathon, just to name a couple of his other projects that benefit the entire burlesque community.

Published in: on 15 December 2011 at 3:01 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Thank you!

Dear Constant Reader,

The Boston Babydolls won the 2011 Dig This Award for “Best Lowbrow/Burlesque”! It wouldn’t have been possible without your support. Thank you all for voting!

We’re never complaisant about these things — who knows which way voting will go? We’re grateful for our loyal (and vocal!) fans. For you, we constantly strive to improve our shows and always bring you the best burlesque.

As winners, we got to attend the Dig’s party last night, which was a heck of a lot of fun. We arrived in style in the Babydollmobile — Scratch’s 1956 Packard — and were greeted by our personal paparazza who took pictures throughout the night. Maybe I’ll even share some of them.

And now, onward and upward. We’re preparing to participate in The Burlesque Marathon next weekend and we’re already working on our Valentine’s Day show, Unlucky in Love, at the Davis Square Theatre.

Published in: on 10 November 2011 at 12:08 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip!

Dear Constant Reader,

This week’s tip is inspired by a class on chair dance I’m teaching to the more advanced students at B.A.B.E.

When using a chair in your routine, bring your own chair to the venue. Do not expect the venue to have a chair you can use. You might need a straight-back chair and end up with a barstool, a swiveling office chair, or something broken.

And it’s always nice to perform with a chair that you’ve rehearsed with, so you know all its quirks.

P.S. Voting for the Weekly Dig’s “Dig This” awards ends tonight! You can vote as often as you like. Please vote for the Boston Babydolls for “Best Burlesque”!

Published in: on 4 November 2011 at 10:35 am  Leave a Comment  
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Review: Dita: Stripteese

Dear Constant Reader,

Today’s “book” is a little different.

Dita: Stripteese. by Dita von Teese and Sheryl Nields (2009).

At first glance this is a dainty pink book tied shut with a satin ribbon. In actuality it’s a box containing three tiny flip books. Each book can be riffled front to back and then back to front to display one of Dita’s signature acts in “motion”.

The collection contains her Bird of Paradise act, Martini Glass act, and a striptease in a vintage outfit. The flipping only gives a so-so presentation of each act, but unlike pausing a video, each still photo is crisp and clear, if small. One can feast one’s eyes on every detail… of her costumes.

It’s a cute idea and the presentation is charming. Recommended for Dita fans.

P.S. Just a reminder… We’ve been nominated for “Best Burlesque” by the Weekly Dig. Please vote for us!

Published in: on 2 November 2011 at 12:47 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Review: United States of Americana

Dear Constant Reader,

What does today’s book have to do with burlesque? Take a look at the full title.

United States of Americana: Backyard Chickens, Burlesque Beauties, and Handmade Bitters: A Field Guide to the New American Roots Movement by Kurt B. Reighley and Aaron Bagley (2010).

There are many people in America seeking a return to a time past, when things made by hand were quality and had value. It’s not a nostalgia movement, pining for things that once were, but a new appreciation of craftsmanship.

This “field guide” highlights old-school products that are still made as well as new ones in the same vein. It showcases back-to-basics endeavors like chicken raising, straight-razor shaving, classic bartending, &c. The music section stands out as being a somewhat different format from the rest and clearly the author’s passion. Most of the focus is on the Pacific Northwest, the author’s home.

So, what about burlesque? The last section is on entertainment: burlesque and circus. It’s focused on the burlesque revival in Seattle with a little bit about New York. There’s some history as well. There’s a little overlap between the burlesque and circus sections, but it boils down to about 10 pages specifically on burlesque.

I can’t recommend this as a burlesque book — the percentage of information specifically on burlesque is too low. It’s not a bad book if you’re also interested in such eclectic topics as styling a mustache, buying a bespoke suit, and home canning. If you just want to learn about the burlesque revival, try Burlesque and the New Bump-n-Grind instead.

P.S. Just a reminder… We’ve been nominated for “Best Burlesque” by the Weekly Dig. Please vote for us!

Published in: on 26 October 2011 at 9:58 am  Leave a Comment  
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Campaigning

Dear Constant Reader,

The Boston Babydolls have twice won a “Best of Boston” from the Boston Phoenix. Once for “Best Dance Troupe, Sexy” and once for the newly created “Best Burlesque”. And don’t you worry, I’ll be bugging you to vote when it comes around again.

Today I discovered we’ve been nominated for a “Dig This” award from The Weekly Dig in the brand new category of “Best Lowbrow/Burlesque”. If you’ve seen our show The Wrathskellar, you’ll know we’re not lowbrow, but we certainly are the best burlesque.

Please vote for us!

Published in: on 24 October 2011 at 9:46 am  Leave a Comment  
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