Visions of Grandeur - An article i wrote that I didn't use in the end...
Got an idea for an act and a feeling you’d be a great burlesque artist? We salute you! Whether it’s to face your fears or to express your inner visionary, there are loads of ladies in the South West making the decision to grace the burlesque stage in 2010. Before you dedicate lots of time and money on achieving your goals, do some research on what you’ll need - apart from a pair of nipple tassels. You may be surprised!
If you’ve been going to shows for a while and would like to take the leap from guest to performer, there are a few things you should consider beforehand …
Number One - It’s hard. Be prepared for late nights sewing endless tiny crystals to hand made costumes, rejections, blisters, long train journeys from city to city, sleeping on sofas, living on station stop lattés. And the bitching! Oh! The bitching that goes on! Jackie Collins couldn’t write it!
Number Two - It’s expensive. You can’t spell “costume” without “cost” so you can throw your monthly splurge on Amazon out the window, and permanently switch from Taste The Difference to Sainsbury’s Basics in order to pay for those fans/ shoes/ custom corsets you’ll need! If you want to charge for your shows and are putting together routines for less than £200, you may not be ready to apply for the larger gigs until you can really invest in your act. And if you do get rejected for a show, don’t attack the promoter! Ask YOURSELF why you didn’t get the gig and what you can do to get on that particular stage. It’s not who you know as much as what you can offer.
Number Three - Burlesque is addictive. Once you induce that first applause, there’s NO going back. And the friends you’ll make are for life.
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So you’ve got a costume and an explosive act! You’ve done quite a few voluntary shows to get you over your first-time stage nerves and to get your contacts list together. Now you’d like to start charging specific rates for your performance. Here are some other essentials you will need to get you on the booking lists...
Costumes ... Your stage attire must be no less than spectacular if you are charging money for your act. It’s a product after all that you are selling and both the booker and the guest must be assured that they will be getting their money’s worth. When it comes to costuming, the term “Less is more” doesn’t apply in burlesque. If you can sew, your costs will be halved and if not, you will probably need to learn a few basic skills to carry out minor repairs (which are often required as wear and tear is an ongoing battle for a lot of full-time performers). If you need to find a costumier, ask around for trusted and recommended people that understand not only the look of your vision, but the mechanics of the costume as well. There’s no use trying to whisk your skirt off, ready to launch into the Charleston when it’s fastened under a tight corset!
Promo shots .... A web cam picture will not do when applying for work as a burlesque artist. (Believe me, it happens!). Hire a good photographer to make the best of your costumes and to capture you in character. It’s a good idea to include both studio shots and live shots in your burlesque resume. Most burlesque nights will hire a photographer to take pictures of you onstage but you must have studio shots in addition to show costume and styling detail.
A show reel .... Most promoters have a “no video, no response” policy so you’ll need to invest in a day to film your best acts and have them edited to show your name and contact details. Number Von Son is a great burlesque video editor and reasonably priced as well.
An internet presence... Facebook, Twitter, Myspace: it’s ALL got to be updated regularly in order for you to keep ahead of the game. A dot com is a great marketing tool as well and it also reassures potential bookers that you are dedicated and driven. It’s also important to check the social networks daily to keep up with news and opportunities.
And what about insurance? Increasingly, a lot of booking agents and promoters will not book you if you are not covered by Public Liability Insurance in the event of any on stage mishaps. You’d be surprised at how much carnage an innocent can of whipped cream will cause when it comes into contact with a tipsy hen party in high heels! As with any business, safety and security comes first.
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One of the main things that seem to surprise newcomers is the realisation that there is no seedy cigar smoking theatre owner named Alphonse that will throw a sequined corset at you, snarling at you to “get out on that stage”. There is no backstage green room dripping with old feather boas and crystal head dresses for you to take your pick from. No seamstress to get you set up for your “bit”. Heck, these days you’d be lucky to come across a stage with a curtain!
In fact, there is barely a burlesque “industry” to speak of. Sure the imagery is popular and the shows do well on a monthly basis, but in the UK there are very few full-time nightly burlesque clubs as such. The burlesque artists of today are 100% self-made, working around a revolving schedule of travel, promotion, rehearsal and performance, taking bookings from various events to make up a regular working week.
Many people find it difficult to grasp the fact that, for a performer, Saturday night is an office worker’s Monday morning. It’s a work day just like anyone else’s - comprising exercise, travel, preparation, risk assessments and a surprising amount of admin!
As much as performance is an exhilarating experience, it can be very tiring as well and you need to be careful to look after your health when you get a chance to have quiet time at home. A well-known performer recently told me they get ill almost every time they fly to overseas bookings, because they respond so badly to aircraft air-conditioning.
But enough negativity. What you ARE guaranteed to get out of the burlesque scene is friendship, support, endless inspiration, a chance to exhibit your creativity in many forms as well as self-confidence like you’ve never had before!
The South West Burlesque Collective meets Tuesday 23rd November 2010 at 7pm and is a great social networking opportunity for all involved in burlesque and those wanting to get involved, including performers, photographers, costumiers and promoters. Email geishagodisco@live.co.uk for location details and future events.
If you’ve been going to shows for a while and would like to take the leap from guest to performer, there are a few things you should consider beforehand …
Number One - It’s hard. Be prepared for late nights sewing endless tiny crystals to hand made costumes, rejections, blisters, long train journeys from city to city, sleeping on sofas, living on station stop lattés. And the bitching! Oh! The bitching that goes on! Jackie Collins couldn’t write it!
Number Two - It’s expensive. You can’t spell “costume” without “cost” so you can throw your monthly splurge on Amazon out the window, and permanently switch from Taste The Difference to Sainsbury’s Basics in order to pay for those fans/ shoes/ custom corsets you’ll need! If you want to charge for your shows and are putting together routines for less than £200, you may not be ready to apply for the larger gigs until you can really invest in your act. And if you do get rejected for a show, don’t attack the promoter! Ask YOURSELF why you didn’t get the gig and what you can do to get on that particular stage. It’s not who you know as much as what you can offer.
Number Three - Burlesque is addictive. Once you induce that first applause, there’s NO going back. And the friends you’ll make are for life.
******************************************
So you’ve got a costume and an explosive act! You’ve done quite a few voluntary shows to get you over your first-time stage nerves and to get your contacts list together. Now you’d like to start charging specific rates for your performance. Here are some other essentials you will need to get you on the booking lists...
Costumes ... Your stage attire must be no less than spectacular if you are charging money for your act. It’s a product after all that you are selling and both the booker and the guest must be assured that they will be getting their money’s worth. When it comes to costuming, the term “Less is more” doesn’t apply in burlesque. If you can sew, your costs will be halved and if not, you will probably need to learn a few basic skills to carry out minor repairs (which are often required as wear and tear is an ongoing battle for a lot of full-time performers). If you need to find a costumier, ask around for trusted and recommended people that understand not only the look of your vision, but the mechanics of the costume as well. There’s no use trying to whisk your skirt off, ready to launch into the Charleston when it’s fastened under a tight corset!
Promo shots .... A web cam picture will not do when applying for work as a burlesque artist. (Believe me, it happens!). Hire a good photographer to make the best of your costumes and to capture you in character. It’s a good idea to include both studio shots and live shots in your burlesque resume. Most burlesque nights will hire a photographer to take pictures of you onstage but you must have studio shots in addition to show costume and styling detail.
A show reel .... Most promoters have a “no video, no response” policy so you’ll need to invest in a day to film your best acts and have them edited to show your name and contact details. Number Von Son is a great burlesque video editor and reasonably priced as well.
An internet presence... Facebook, Twitter, Myspace: it’s ALL got to be updated regularly in order for you to keep ahead of the game. A dot com is a great marketing tool as well and it also reassures potential bookers that you are dedicated and driven. It’s also important to check the social networks daily to keep up with news and opportunities.
And what about insurance? Increasingly, a lot of booking agents and promoters will not book you if you are not covered by Public Liability Insurance in the event of any on stage mishaps. You’d be surprised at how much carnage an innocent can of whipped cream will cause when it comes into contact with a tipsy hen party in high heels! As with any business, safety and security comes first.
****************************************
One of the main things that seem to surprise newcomers is the realisation that there is no seedy cigar smoking theatre owner named Alphonse that will throw a sequined corset at you, snarling at you to “get out on that stage”. There is no backstage green room dripping with old feather boas and crystal head dresses for you to take your pick from. No seamstress to get you set up for your “bit”. Heck, these days you’d be lucky to come across a stage with a curtain!
In fact, there is barely a burlesque “industry” to speak of. Sure the imagery is popular and the shows do well on a monthly basis, but in the UK there are very few full-time nightly burlesque clubs as such. The burlesque artists of today are 100% self-made, working around a revolving schedule of travel, promotion, rehearsal and performance, taking bookings from various events to make up a regular working week.
Many people find it difficult to grasp the fact that, for a performer, Saturday night is an office worker’s Monday morning. It’s a work day just like anyone else’s - comprising exercise, travel, preparation, risk assessments and a surprising amount of admin!
As much as performance is an exhilarating experience, it can be very tiring as well and you need to be careful to look after your health when you get a chance to have quiet time at home. A well-known performer recently told me they get ill almost every time they fly to overseas bookings, because they respond so badly to aircraft air-conditioning.
But enough negativity. What you ARE guaranteed to get out of the burlesque scene is friendship, support, endless inspiration, a chance to exhibit your creativity in many forms as well as self-confidence like you’ve never had before!
The South West Burlesque Collective meets Tuesday 23rd November 2010 at 7pm and is a great social networking opportunity for all involved in burlesque and those wanting to get involved, including performers, photographers, costumiers and promoters. Email geishagodisco@live.co.uk for location details and future events.