Right, I've jumped on the slippery slope and ordered feather fans that I know I can't afford. But what can you do? That's the bitter sweet lure of the unnecessary yet coveted impulse buy...

Is it possible to make a living off of burlesque performing? It seems as if a lot of people here have side buisnesses, in costumes or production for other acts, and others have day jobs. I don't think my multitasking abilities could cope with putting together a routine whilst holding down a job that enables me to live in central London. I was just wondering how everyone else fares..?

xxx

It is possible to make a living from burlesque ... eventually. There are plenty of professional performers on here who manage to earn their living from burly, though possibly with varying degrees of success. And then there are some of us who make little or no living from burlesque, as of yet at least. The basic consensus seems to be that, at least when you are starting off, you can expect to invest more money into performing than you'll get back. I know that last month I spent far more than I could afford on costumes and props for one routine, and it'd take me a fair few paid performances to get that back. So if you're planning on starting out I'd say keep your job, but be aware of the limitations. I recently went part time in my job, which gives me more time to devise and perform routines, but the downside is that I have less money to be able to invest in my acts. It's a difficult balancing act, at least for me!

__________________
Terry Pratchett to Fleur - "Oh, are you the cleavage lady?"
Visit me - www.badflower.co.uk

I'm not sure what kind of standard of performing you are at yet to be able to judge if you could earn a living from burlesque - you say you want to live in central London - so my guess is that you'd need to earn a lot of money to be able to give up your day job completely? Personally, I think you need to be movitated to give sufficient time to learning the art and all that goes with it. So, a love of what you do will help you along plenty. If you've got talent, a natural flair, then you might have the recipe for success. If you find it hard to multi-task with a full-time job and you believe you have what it takes to be a burlesque performer, how about working part-time? If you have a good support network (friends, family, partner etc) who could help you with costumes, music etc then obviously this is a bonus and one less thing for you to think about.

I often find it hard to make a living at burlesque because there are so many performers who will perform for free just because they want to perform for an audience. This is especially true for new or beginning performers.

I found it helpfull to sit down, think hard about what shows I have, and how much I invested in each one, and then come up with a description and price for each show. Now, when someone asks me to do a show, I give them the list and its never a guessing game about what to charge them. My aerial performances are more because more training, time and money have gone into it. Where as a glove and gown show is cheaper than a fan show. The more shows they ask for, Ill give them a better deal. Things like this really helped me.

I personally think that too many performers undercharge for their talents. Its a crying shame becase I think this ruins it for everyone who takes the art seriously as a career or hopefull career.

So ladies STOP SELLING YOURSELF SHORT!

xo

Roxi

__________________
""I wasn't naked, I was completly covered by a blue spotlight" - Gypsy Rose Lee"

...

p.s. I work as a graphic designer as well, and am working my way to a degree in fashion design, with the occasional feature act in strip clubs. So yes I multi-task! lol

Roxi

__________________
""I wasn't naked, I was completly covered by a blue spotlight" - Gypsy Rose Lee"

hey ladies...

making a living just from burlesque is pretty much impossible unless your Dita !!!
and even then she models and sells books....

i am a full time performer - but only 40% of my work is burlesque and most of the time it pays very little !!!

don't give up the day job unless you become a household name !!

i entirely agree with Roxi - it is really hard for us proffessionals to get work anywhere now with so many performers charging nothing...... but i also wouldn't expect to pay performers who had very little experience. such a contradiction!!!!

best of luck

RedSarah

__________________
Winner "Best Female Performer 2007" MOB Awards
Mistress of Make Believe
Veteran of Circus and British Burlesque
http://www.redsarah.com
http://www.myspace.com/cherrybombola

i'm a full time performer but i live up in liverpool where rent is considerably cheaper, and i make fans and costumes too so i guess i multi-task!! but i must say i do work bloody hard, i'm away all weekend most weekends, i promote events, i make alo of my own costumes, i always get a huge load of orders at once to fill, and network like crazy!!

It would be lovely to be a full time burlesquer but i don't think it's feasable.
The u.k burly echonamy fuels its self.
I don't know how feasable it would be in the u.s or canada,
But i think for the few women are at it full time, ( modeling, millinary,pasties,promoters )
quite a bit of there income is friends,word of mouth,and enthusiasts.

I've no cash at the mo but what i have is going on gigs already booked and tickets of friends nights. It's a constant struggle finding the funding for the next act, and im having to sell some items later in the year to do what i want to do.
Unless your in it for the art the spell is quickly broken.

The only true money to be made in burly is in promotion and even that limited and specialized and possibly in art. Investing in an artists work.
If your an artists/photographer your pretty much in the same boat and rely on burly for part of your income.

So ladies if you can remember, buy british, buy burly.

__________________
buxom bimbo and political poltergeist

i have to disagree heather, promoting is a good way to lose money!! i lost over £200 last show, and most promoters do too!!i doubt there are many who profit after venue hire, performers, drinks, bands, posters etc!

Sounds like a swings and roundabouts kinda thing. Sometimes you will have a nice payment others...a lose. The main reason why people do Burlesque is because they are in love with it. Its a hobby not a job. You have your boring day job but at night and weekends you wow the audience with shimmying and twirling. Well thats how I see it. Costumes cost too much to make a profit on! xx