evening all!
i really dont want this to sound like a rant or a good old moan (cause im over that now) but id like to share my view about performers with tattoos.
ive been performing, in one way or another for many years, and have had rejection like many in performing arts, but in the past month ive come across discrimination because i am heavily tattooed. Being accepted in general society has sometimes proved a problem, but more people are now realising that not everyone who decorate their bodies are ex cons. Anyway, the answer i got from the promoter was that the clients did not want anyone with tattoos. Firstly, I seriously doubt that the promoter knew all of their clients exact preferences without asking first and i do respect peoples opinions, but inside i was screaming about what have my tattoos got to do with my burlesque performance, and isnt this just one persons opinion who as a promoter should maybe think of the overall impact an event should create.
I also felt that adverts by this promoter in particular have now been tailored to specificaly exclude a large section of performers such as myself and is this realy good for business and does it realy help the burlesque movement as a whole? It seems like a far too personal angle is being taken on who is booked for performances, which could lead to some people being forced into a more fetish based arena purely on the way they choose to adorn themselves instead of on how good they are at what they do. thanx for listening. xx

Hi Tallulah,

I think you are right to rant.

Thats terrible that a promoter has criticised you for your tattoos. Having met you and seen some of your body art I can tell you its a wonderous thing to see - unique - and its people like you that bring something different to the world of Burlesque. Performers must keep pushing the bounderies in performance and appearance or Burlesque will never move forward. We've argued this before that we need to hang onto the root performances from back in the day but we also need to strive to try something new. Tattoos are not new and have been in modern Burlesque for a very long time and the promoter is clearly more concerned about their audience than the quality of the performances they recruit. This is the danger with Burlesque becoming more popular and entering the corporate market - the shows will become purified and lose much of the raw passion and inventiveness that the underground acts have.

Grrrrr

Silver x

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Tease me I tease you back.

Please don’t loose heart, and please please do not absorb the opinions of some bigoted short sighted half wit. I have always had to deal with other people projecting their insecurities and ignorance. I come from a small town, and didn’t fit in from a young age. I have always been different in the way I dress, think and behave which to people who like to fit in and conform is extremely threatening. My most recent (last weekend!!) string of verbal abuse was from a member of my own family, whom by the way dresses like a chav and never once have I commented!. It’s one of the main reasons why I moved to London, people barely even notice me here.

And I don’t even have any tattoos!!!

Embrace your individuality and feel happy that you are obviously beautiful on the inside as well as the outside.

xxx

I don't really know that much about "agents booking ethos" etc, but sounds like you need a hug

Obviously first impressions have always been nonsense, but being relevent to your career, then that is discrimination, and will affect your immediate life.

Sod that.

I reckon, . . . . . . this guy is one in a few and it's not the generall idea. If you,ve got "it", which no doubt you have, then "it"'ll be in demand. Which no doubt it is in the venues you want it to be.

"Horses for courses?"

xx

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Never let you down

What utter nonsense! Please don't worry about what some idiot thinks about your ink!
Both Lily White and Marrissa Carnesky are heavily tattooed and they've both been on the British Burslesque scene since before most of the people on this forum even knew burlesque existed.
I know it's difficult with tattoos - more than it is with piercings because if it comes to it you can always remove your jewellery - but it's just as personal. I have a few reasonably discreet tattoos but lots of ear piercings - if I am doing theatre / acting / commercials I always leave them in for auditions and castings but always remove them when "on the job" unless asked to leave them in - purely because they glare in the light. When I perform as myself I always wear them. (I also teach in primary schools and don't ever worry about it)
I only realised how some people might view 5 earrings in one ear, two plus a tragus piercing in the other and a nose stud when my (soon to be ex) husband who works in recruitment said he would never send anyone for any job (even not public facing) for a job looking like me (despite the fact I am highly educated and have been headhunted more times than he has had hot dinners!) I was genuinely shocked...
As horrible as it is when people make stupid judgements, particularly if it affects your job / income - all I can say is...
It's your life and your lifestyle - no-one else can live it for you...

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"Me and men are like pianos - when they get upright I feel grand!"
www.libertypink.com

That's crazy. almost every burlesque performer I have met has at least SOME tattoo work done... and piercings. In fact, in Canada and the US, it's quite unique to NOT have any body modifcation.

If it's not about quality of the act, then what the heck is it about? Aesthetics are important, but they ain't everything.

x :?

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www.delilahburlesque.com
www.myspace.com/bangbangvariety

Don't even worry about it, it sounds like the promoter is trying to get the 'trendy' crowd in, rather than actual burlesque lovers - seems that catering for glory-fans is something of a problem at the moment, judging by the all the posts after the T.I.T.S. night recently.

From what I was always lead to believe about burlesque performing, it's all about what you can do and how you can bring something new and interesting to the medium, not about whether you look like a generic-Britney-a-like model - or at least I certainly hope so, or my performance days are over before they have even begun!

It sounds to me like you have come across some one who is very interested in cashing in on the fashionable interest in burlesque, but from the responses here it seems that the people with the real passion for it have a wide and varied view of what they want to see, so don't change anything or stress about not being able to be 'pigeon-holed'

There, rant over, seems I feel quite strongly about this as well!

Forgot to steal the thread. . . . Hi Cherry

xx

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Never let you down

Just wanted to add my concurrence to all the above posts. The bloke's an idiot and quite which client's he is imagining won't like tatoos I've no-idea as I have seen many performers with tatoos and never heard anyone complaining. Personally I think that burlesque and tatoos go together rather well. There's something slightly subversive about it that I can't quite put my finger on, but that gives a certain something to the performance.

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Castlist - One Site To Rule Them All

i have about 6 tattoo's and people can get rather funny about them, i usually get asked if the bettie paige on my arm is me! i always get asked by clients about them places i have preformed and photographers always try to get them in photographs so i don't know why some organisers shy away from them.
i recently heard that i was in the running for a tour but they didn't ask me in the end because i had tattoo's. all the preformers i know have them and the ones who don't are the girls who aren't really into vintage and are in it for the money! it get's them all the work!