Off the back of advice from Diva Hollywood, I finally bought myself a video camera in February. March-May saw me bogged down with MA coursework and exams, so unfortunately my own burlesque performances had to go on hold briefly.

Now I'm back with a more determined attitude than ever.

I've been booked for a corporate show tomorrow and have had to tailor my fan dance to suit alternative music. Just now I spent 30 mins tweaking the choreography and then asked my little sister to film me.

Watching the footage back has been a hundred times more benefitial than rehearsing with mirrors. It turns out that of the bits that I thought worked well, few looked slick when I performed them... and of the bits that I thought were a bit risky, they appear wonderful!

So, just as Crimble Fairy has today been converted to MAC make-up, I have been converted to an avid fan of filming your own rehearsals.

Has anyone else used this technique? How have you found it?

Or do you use an alternative rehearsal technique? How do you feel your performances benefit from these?

xox

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Hey huni. Glad your routine looks good. I cant afford a video camera at the moment but I have heard that it is a great idea. Its a lot easier to see things when you are sat back from them. I try doing it for friends. Only problem with that is that they dont want to be critical to my face. Is better to see it yourself. xx

i think i need this myself. i want to polish my act and dont know how i appear to the audience. think videoing would be a great idea

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Selena Lix and her damn saucy tricks!

Hi honey
really glad its helped I would never do a routine with out one now. Jessica have you not even a camera on your phone you could use. It would not be great quality but it would let you see the routine form a distance.
Diva x

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Diva Hollywood - http://www.myspace.com/divahollywood

I really want to get a proper vid camera to record rehearsals and watch them back properly. Our choreographer trys to film short sections on her phone which gives us a kinda idea that it looks ok but dosnt have the entire effect. I think we just put alot of trust into our choreographer to make sure we dont look stupid, and lets face it its her name on the line too if we look crap! Defiantly going to have to try the video camera idea though.

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Miss Violet Delight @ Myspace

Its great to know. I hate watching myself on video but I bet its fantastic for watching your routines back. xxx

I haven't yet been converted to the videoing of acts. The only tip I have for rehearsing is one that seems obvious, but is easily overlooked: warm up properly! Make sure you're nicely stretched out and limber, and everything you do will be ten times better than what you do when you're cool and stiff ...

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Terry Pratchett to Fleur - "Oh, are you the cleavage lady?"
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I intend to give this a try, if for no other reason to get the enthusiasm back in rehearsing. When you're on your own at times it can be hard to find motivation

I've got my surgery in 2 weeks so have nothing much coming up and would like to get on with things that'll help me when I jump back in

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Oh so true! It's so tempting to just do nothing when there's no one around to make you feel guilty!

Yeah I'm planning something similar - put the groundwork in now so when you get back into it you can hit the ground running. It's very sensible ^_^ Good luck with the surgery honey!

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

Jessica - kick their butts! Maybe an incentive, like Smarties or something, for those who can offer constructive criticism. Get a debate going!
Selena - oh, it really is!
Diva - I concur. I honestly hadn't thought it would be quite as useful as it has proved to be! I'll be joining you with singing this technique's praises from the rooftops!
Crimble - I hate it too, but I find I have to peel my eyelids back and force myself to watch. After the initial viewing of any new footage, the subsequent views are never as fearful!
Fleur - Yes! I put my back out rehearsing some chair work once... and all because I didn't stretch first
Midnight - I had no idea you had surgery coming up. I hope it's nothing too intense.

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