Thread: A Burlesque Round up of 2008

12. Burlesque in the media in '08... any thoughts?

Still generally gripped by ill informed, poorly researched and stereotypical views of Burlesque - we need to keep educating those journos!!

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported, inspired and created alongside me this year!! You know who you are! Bring on 2009!!! :twothumbs:

Right, part 2....where did I get to, oh yes:

8. What has been inspiring your performances/modelling/costume design etc this year?

Acceptance of 'freaks', challenging society's 'norms' especially to do with body image and what is beautiful....these are on going projects with my modelling and my art, and I've found them invading the burlesque routines I'm developing too.

9. What have you achieved/been proud of this year?

So much. At the start of the year I couldn't leave the house. When I went to Scarlet Fever 's course in May, I hadn't been out for around two months and I cried myself to sleep the night before because I was so scared about getting out of the house and going to do this....but i knew from watching the Faking It that if there was one woman who knew what it was like to have rock bottom self-esteem...but who had beaten this through burlesque then it was Scarlet and if she could do it, then so could I. I've never been so terrified in all my life (even childbirth wasn't as bad as getting dressed that morning and thinking about what I was going to do) but I did it. Everyone who knows me was amazed. I was amazed. I did it. And since then I've been leaving the house more and more....I have changed from a woman who'd get dressed in the dark and never looked at herself in mirrors, who thought herself a disgusting blob....to actually realising I'm not that bad looking after all and letting people take photos of me....and if I'm character, actually quite enjoying having my photo taken. I've since made it to shows on my own (though with the help of wonderful people mentioned in the first half of my answering these questions....and I couldn't have done it without knowing they'd be there) and even by the end of the year maiding at three events now.....my mental health care nurse CANNOT believe I'm the same shy depressed little mouse she first came to visit in January....and she is so proud of me, and to be honest, so am I.....it's pretty damn cool - it's not an understatement to say burlesque saved my life.

10. What were your Burly related goals this year, did you achieve them?

I only had one goal early on in the year, and at the time it looked like a serious stretch target - to go on a burlesque course. I sort of said it knowing there was no chance it would ever come true - but it did, and so many other wonderful things have followed on from it.

11. What are your Burly related goals for 2009?

I AM going to perform.....when I'm ready, but there's a whole 365 days to do it.....and bearing in mind I didn't think I'd manage a course last year and by the end of the year was 'performing' (ok acting up....sorry TDG ) in front of an audience at a burlesque show as a naughty maid, who knows what 2009 will bring

I'm also ready to start modelling in a much more concerted way. I know there's not a lot (or any) demand for a size 22 model.....but if any students want someone game for art/photography projects, then I'm your woman

To get more women realising they are beautiful and wonderful just the way they are

oh, and world peace too, through the art of burlesque

12. Burlesque in the media in '08... any thoughts?

The mainstreaming of burlesque although seen by many as watering down or misrepresenting what burlesque really is, has at least got people talking about it and has made it easier to start conversations with non burly friends about what I'm doing and why it is so important to me. Seeing burlesque in Bizarre, and people like Missy Malone and Leyla Rose etc popping up in magazines and Scarlet Fever appearing on This Morning, and of course Goodtime Mama Jojo, Crimson Skye and Mysti Vine appearing in Dawn Gets Naked has raised interest with loads more people who have found their way to MoB and I'm sure this has helped many of them discover themselves and discuss issues such as body image and confidence etc - so Burlesque in the Media in '08 gets a huge thumbs up from me :twothumbs:

Originally Posted by Candee Handful

...and Tempest Devyne - her unstinting support and encouragement for me in everything I have done Burlesque-related in 2008 has been more valued than she can ever know!!

ohhhh, it's been my absolute pleasure (especially as I didn't really think I'd done anything special) - you've been fantastic helping me get where I am now too

Originally Posted by Candee Handful

To do a Tura Satana inspired shoot with Leyla Rose .

CANNOT wait to see this! Fanbloomingtastic!!!

I just wanted to say thank you to those who said they liked watching my performances! It means alot as I tend to get a wee bit worried people dont 'get' me. Thanks guys.

Right...now off to answer that questionnaire!

1. Performers, maids, promotors etc - what has been you favourite night you performed at/promoted/organised/maided/compered/helped out with this year?
I loved performing at Curiouser & Curiouser, Northampton and Vivid Soda. Also I loved performing at the Peacock Lounge as the girls were AWESOME! Oh and Robys/Birdcage in Bournemouth as the team behind both places are so welcoming and lovely.

To be honest I have had blast performing everywhere though some places more than others.

1a. Without naming names - tell us about the worst show you were involved in/watched this year (if there was one!)

I recently performed at a show where some scary woman kept giving me very dirty looks....slightly off putting but hey its all part of performing .....Oh and one show where the band were heckled so much that the singer burst into tears....Cue a very angry Khandie who jumped to her defence.

2. What was/is your first and last gig of 2008 (watching or performing )?

My last gig will be in Carlisle for the NYE party. I cant wait as I love going up North to perform.

3. Who were your favourite performers to watch this year?

I loved Darkteaser, Emerald Ace , Millie Dollar , Rose Thorn , Golden Delicious and Des O'Connor . Oh and the Darlings Divine.

4. What was the best act you saw this year (and who did it)?

I loved watching the Darlings Divine...they had butterflies flying out of their bras!!!! I also loved Darkteaser for her ingenuity with her acts.

5. What was the best costume you saw this year (and who did it belong to)?

This is a hard one...I think it would probably have to be Golden Delicious's Geisha Girl costume. So beautiful!

6. What was the worst thing about being a burlesque fan/performer this year?

The playground politics (there's a suprise) also not being paid when I was meant to. I was left for two months without payment from a show with a high end company.

7. Who have you met and made friends with this year though burlesque ?

I have made so many friends it is fabulous. Darkteaser is always my partner in crime it seems....Vivid Soda's mad toilet dash always brings back fabulous memories of running down the high street in full costume.....

Candy Jayne, Rose Thorn , Emerald Ace , Broomy ( I love you! Though yet to meet) and millions of others that I havent mentioned have made this year a FABULOUS year for me.

8. What has been inspiring your performances/modelling/costume design etc this year?

Admitttedly its my own warped imagination that plays a huge part in my costume creations...though I work with some truelly talented people to help re-create my scatty ideas such as Burldoir and Tamsyn of Curiouser & Curiouser.

My performances are shaped by me but have influences from all over the shop...one of my acts is inspired by my dad's dancing at my mom's birthday party.
9. What have you achieved/been proud of this year?

10. What were your Burly related goals this year, did you achieve them?

My goal was to headline this year and I did...three times!

Also it was to make my compere debut and I have.

11. What are your Burly related goals for 2009?

I want to come back to burlesque in the New Year and travel with it. I dont mean up and down the UK (not that that isnt fab) but to go to Paris again, Germany and beyond.

Improve my column for 21st Century Pinup Magazine.

To do some more TV work would be great and perhaps radio again...

12. Burlesque in the media in '08... any thoughts?

Not too many thoughts as I am typing this at 7am but I can say I have read some truelly dreadful articles as well as some insightful ones on the subject.

1. Performers, maids, promotors etc - what has been you favourite night you performed at/promoted/organised/maided/compered/helped out with this year?

Obviously, Red Rocks has to have the biggest shout out here of all, for without that show i wouldnt even be involved in the scene in any way except for a crowd member/S.O.O.P.

2nd favourite has got to be Silhouette Burlesque @ The Appleby, Burton, organised by the wonderful Miss Cherryfox! She has been kind enough to extend an invite to me to be resident compere for her now too, although i'm sure thats more to do with lowering her stress levels on the night as opposed to anything else....:lol:

Silk Stocking also deserves a mention here as well. Angel and Gehenna allowed me to unleash my alter-alter ego on the unsuspecting burly world! Although i am pretty sure it was not what they expecting!

And finally, Scarlet Fever presents....was a great night too for the alter-alter ego!


2. What was/is your first and last gig of 2008 (watching or performing )?

First gig was Red Rocks 1 in May! And last gig was Silhouette Burlesque @ The Appleby 22nd December

3. Who were your favourite performers to watch this year?

Ivy Paige was amazing! And she saved our skin when a technical hitch occured at Red Rocks 2. But i also enjoyed Golden Delicous, Crimson Skye and on a non- burlesque note, Al Geek was awesome! Oh, and i always enjoy Delilah Dufioe's performances too

4. What was the best act you saw this year (and who did it)?

Ooooh, tough one! Sooo many to choose from - For sheer entertainment have to go with either Crimson Skye's "I saw mommy killing santa claus", or Al Geek's performances in general - dude makes me laugh!

5. What was the best costume you saw this year (and who did it belong to)?

Emerald Ace 's Octopus costume was outstanding! I also liked Suzie Sequin 's Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas too...

6. What was the worst thing about being a burlesque fan/performer this year?

Cost! for i am poor

7. Who have you met and made friends with this year though burlesque ?

LOADS! But closest of all have to be Cherryfox (She's now apparently my burlesque wife - we make a good double act!) and Steve & Deb @ TipTop! See you at new years party guys!!!!

But people like Fleur Du Mal , Al Geek, Decadent Gent , Angel Lavey & Gehenna, Scarlet Fever & Tony, Candee Handful & Jacob and Tempest Devyne to name but a few are all great people who i look forward to working closer with in 2009

8. What has been inspiring your performances/modelling/costume design etc this year?

Well, as i am merely a compere i draw most of my inspiration from stand-up comedians, especially Tim Vine, Russell Howard, Lee Mack and also Rodney Carrington. I have also been inspired to take up ventriloquism by Jeff Dunham too

9. What have you achieved/been proud of this year?

Getting on stage!

10. What were your Burly related goals this year, did you achieve them?

I didnt have any, as at the start of the year i was quite content to drift along as a audience member/plus 1/S.O.O.P


11. What are your Burly related goals for 2009?

Get my ventriloquism on stage!

12. Burlesque in the media in '08... any thoughts?

Nope! I tend to steer clear of it and pick of the gist of whats said from people i meet in the scene - most the time, they say its too narrow-minded and uninformed, and i dont enjoy reading uninformed media......hard not to these days, mind.

Haha ... SOOP ...

Actyually I forgot to mention that I made friends with Khandie Kisses in 2008 who introduced Angel LaVey and I to the enjoyment known as going to a resturant and ordering just dessert. I also forgot to mention Deb and Steve from TipTip Photography...

... in fact if I haven't mentioned you as a new friend in 2008 then this bit is for you...

:cooler:[YOUR NAME HERE]:cooler:

1. Performers, maids, promotors etc - what has been you favourite night you performed at/promoted/organised/maided/compered/helped out with this year?
Cherry B's in Stockton, it was nice to be somewhere i haven't been before and new where we were treated so nicely and i wish them all the success in there next show

1a. Without naming names - tell us about the worst show you were involved in/watched this year (if there was one!)
A cringe worthy evening which i had to beg my male friends to come along to as they were the only people free only to end up apologising to them for what they were having to watch and promising to take them to a better show when it came to town

2. What was/is your first and last gig of 2008 (watching or performing )?
First gig i saw of this year will of been Jeepers at the cluney in Newcastle
last i performed in was Cherry B's

3. Who were your favourite performers to watch this year?
Anna Fur Laxis has been a treat and a pleasure to be on the same bill as her which has meant seeing a fair few acts of hers

4. What was the best act you saw this year (and who did it)?
Anna's goldfish act

5. What was the best costume you saw this year (and who did it belong to)?
Thats a tough one although i must admit i have total respect for anyone who has made their own costume and am eternally greatful to our maid Charis for making my Saturn rings one for the time and effort which goes into them x

6. What was the worst thing about being a burlesque fan/performer this year?
politics

7. Who have you met and made friends with this year though burlesque ?
All of the Jeepers Peepers Girls

8. What has been inspiring your performances/modelling/costume design etc this year?
a mixture of sci-fi space and old romance

9. What have you achieved/been proud of this year?
My first performance and the ones that followed, performing ever so slightly out of my backyard although next year i would love to go further and perform in more places

10. What were your Burly related goals this year, did you achieve them?
I wanted to hit the stage and i did so without falling flat on my face or dropping my hoop!

11. What are your Burly related goals for 2009?
to perform more and get to know more people in the burly world

12. Burlesque in the media in '08... any thoughts?
ever so slightly tarnished yet glamorised at the same time


you can tell i'm just waiting for dinner time to come now

1. Performers, maids, promotors etc - what has been you favourite night you performed at/promoted/organised/maided/compered/helped out with this year?

Without a doubt, it has to be the variety show I'm currently involved with in Germany. The staff are all wonderful and apart from one slightly wobbly week, the comradery and energy between the cast members has been perfect. Plus I've made one, if not two, new best friends for life.

1a. Without naming names - tell us about the worst show you were involved in/watched this year (if there was one!)

There was only one payment I had to chase this year... and chasing payments always puts a dampener on the performance experience . I also did one show for an entirely male audience (and we're talking hundreds rather than tens of men) who didn't really care for the artistic side of what I was doing. It was a big shame and made me feel quite awkward.

2. What was/is your first and last gig of 2008 (watching or performing )?
First: I worked on New Year's Eve at Pitty Patt Club in Nottingham
Last: I will be on New Year's Eve in Germany. We will be doing the countdown on stage! How magical!

3. Who were your favourite performers to watch this year?
Hula Artists, Tigris and Marawa
Clowns, Max Nix & Willi Widder Nix (jump to 03:23 & 04:45)
Music from Top Shelf Jazz
The Cast of La Clique
Burlesques from, World Famous *BOB*, Gwendoline Lamour, Rajesh the Bollywood Lounge Singer, and all the performers who have graced the stage at Hot Muffins (MySpace.com - Hot Muffins Burlesque! - 24 - Female - Reading, UK - www.myspace.com/hotmuffinsburlesque).

4. What was the best act you saw this year (and who did it)?
Strictly burlesque ? Sheesh. I don't know. There are several acts I could watch over and over again from Vicky Butterfly , Leyla Rose , Missy Malone , Cherry DeVille and Diva Hollywood ...

5. What was the best costume you saw this year (and who did it belong to)?
Cherry DeVille's lobster costume! Very modern, very colourful, very creative.

6. What was the worst thing about being a burlesque fan/performer this year?
The mother-trucking credit crunch putting a damn big dirty spanner in a lot of works.

7. Who have you met and made friends with this year though burlesque ?
Too many to list!! If you entered my phonebook this year, you're one of them.

8. What has been inspiring your performances/modelling/costume design etc this year?
Namely wanting to give something from my heart rather than to create something to pay the bills. It's a little more complicated than that, but that's the basic premise. I've a lot of act killing to do within my repertoire on my return to the UK...

9. What have you achieved/been proud of this year?
Did I mention my current contract?

In all honesty, it's been very useful to perform the same act one or twice every night for a similar audience. It's enabled me to learn more about how to play to an audience through the use of breathing techniques and minute, sub-conscious body-movements and body-language. I've also learned about where my acts are born from and how important it is to bring this back into the performance itself.

10. What were your Burly related goals this year, did you achieve them?
To work overseas. And yes, I achieved it twice!!

11. What are your Burly related goals for 2009?
I have them, but can't divulge them here.

12. Burlesque in the media in '08... any thoughts?
Not really... the media's the media: love it or hate it, innit.

1. Performers, maids, promotors etc - what has been you favourite night you performed at/promoted/organised/maided/compered/helped out with this year?

Goodness...let me think, well I think I can name one for a couple of the things mentioned above.

My favourite night to have performed at was The Bongo Cabaret re-launch night in, July I think it was, it was the pre-cursor for its return to the Edinburgh Fringe this year. It was just simply one of those great, fun nights to perform at with a fabulous bunch of professionals. Amelie Soleil and Edd Muir , Gypsy & Viva, Impressive Johnson , Leggy Pee , Wild Card Kitty etc - brilliant chat afterwards and a really impressive show. Rockaburley in September comes in at a close second for the same reasons, that was an awesome night.

My favourite night to have organised/promoted was the Dr Sketchy Glasgow 1st Birthday Bash - it was such a huge event to pull off and I am immensely proud of its success. It featured every performer that had modelled for us throughout the year including some very special guests in Kitten on the Keys and Molly Crabapple . We packed the place with around 400 people, had every model perform, gave out goody bags and simply had a kick-ass celebration and I couldn't have been happier with the result.

1a. Without naming names - tell us about the worst show you were involved in/watched this year (if there was one!)

Hmm, well, I'm in agreement with Bea - having to chase payment for something is no good. I had a pretty terrible corporate booking this year that left me a little bit deflated and cynical about the level of professionalism that exists out there in this industry.

The worst show to watch, well in all honesty I haven't seen any bad shows per se but I've seen some pretty awful acts...but I can't tell you what they are without naming names now can I? However, having said that, I'm a big believer that if you have one awful performer/act in your line up then your show could be great in every other aspect but it doesn't matter as the bad act tends to be what people go away remembering. So, quality control please people!

2. What was/is your first and last gig of 2008 (watching or performing )?

First - I believe it was the first Dr Sketchy Glasgow of 2008 in early February, I was actually modelling/performing at that one as well as hosting so I was kept busy.

Last - A combination of Burlescapades at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh (with my lovely fellow Duskettes ) and Dr Sketchy Glasgow's Christmas Special the following day, it's a combination because I still class Dr Sketchy as a gig even though I'm just hosting it because I do a fair bit of singing.

3. Who were your favourite performers to watch this year?

Oh dear, there are a few...
Again, I'm with Bea on this one, the cast of La Clique. The are quite simply at the top of this particular game... burlesque /cabaret theatre.

Missy Malone and Leyla Rose are two favourites who I never tire of watching

Beatrix von Bourbon of course...her Rockaburley act was just class

Miss Leggy Pee makes me so happy, she reminds me why I got into this game in the first place

And of course the inimitable Kitten on the Keys


4. What was the best act you saw this year (and who did it)?

I adore Des O Connor and particularly enjoyed his act with Red Sarah at the Bizarre Ball

Then there was Bearlesque at Candybox, I don't think you've really seen everything burlesque has to offer until you have watched their version of Mein Herr!!!

Edd Muir and his "Mister Cellophane" Chinese Pole act

5. What was the best costume you saw this year (and who did it belong to)?

I'm a bit rubbish in this respect because I don't tend to remember costumes, it's not what I'm looking for in act/performer. Don't get me wrong, it is of course part of having the whole package but I'd prefer for other elements to stand out. However, two that stick out because they were simply so great are Kitten on the Keys , in particular her creative use of pasties!!! Her booze miniature pasties with the straws are just GENIUS! And Leyla Rose 's mermaid costume is stunning.

6. What was the worst thing about being a burlesque fan/performer this year?

The over-saturation of burlesque making the pool of decent paid work for professionals even more shallow, a lack of professionalism within the scene and too many people with the attitude that burlesque is not a legitimate theatrical artform.

7. Who have you met and made friends with this year though burlesque ?

I've made some brilliant friends this year through burlesque ; there are some really wonderful people performing on this scene and the ones I'm really grateful to have met/spent more time with and am pretty certain I can call friends know who they are (not least because they've been plied with wine and chinese food in my flat at some point or another throughout 2008 )

8. What has been inspiring your performances/modelling/costume design etc this year?

What has been inspiring my performances this year is a desire to be the best that I can be, the desire to try and do something a bit different and above all else what inspires me is to think about things from an audience POV -i.e. would I think that was good enough? Would I pay to see that? What am I giving them for their ticket price?

9. What have you achieved/been proud of this year?

The growth and success of Dr Sketchy Glasgow
The growth, success and recognition of Rhymes with Purple Productions
I'm proud of what I've achieved in terms of my reputation both as an artist and a promoter

10. What were your Burly related goals this year, did you achieve them?

I don't think I had any - I just know I enjoy performing and being a part of this scene. If anything I wanted to perpetuate cetain attitudes about quality, artistry and professionalism and in some small ways I think I've managed that.

11. What are your Burly related goals for 2009?

Like I mentioned above I don't have any goals specific to burlesque , it's a small part of what I do. My goals are related to the success of my theatre/production company as a whole and I can't really discuss them here. However with relation to burlesque I suppose my goals for Dr Sketchy are relevant. They would be simply to expand on the growing cult popularity of the sessions in Glasgow and beyond and continue to maintain a high level of quality in performers booked for the artists

12. Burlesque in the media in '08... any thoughts?
Nah, not really. Bored of seeing it in the media really, unless it's press for something I'm doing Most of the reports I've seen on it have been inaccurate and have in some way directly contributed to all the negative things we experience relating to burlesque .