Thread: a couple of burly questions <3

hello everyone, i just have a few questions if you dont mind me asking, but i also do not intentially mean to sound a wee bit ditsy..its just me being me haha
*)Do you have to have an agent in order to be more professional?....do i have to sign up to an agency? if so where do i look, or do they look for me?

*How many routines do you have to have filmed in order to do a showreel? is a showreel classed as a CV or do you have to do a CV aswell!

*In general do performers get more work if they go down to tassells or Pasties? over than the ones who dont. I am yet to pop my pastie cherry, but i am going to do so shortly..the routines i have done so far i felt have not needed do go down that far, but then there is room in them to do so.but i think if i go down to pasties would i get more offers for work?

this one is going to sound really dumb and i dont want to insult any one by all means but could someone tell me what Dr Sketchy is??
and what is entailed(spelling sorry)
i am really sorry to the promoter for saying that but i dont have that many contacts in the burly world yet and its very popular on here..

i am only just loosing my newbie polish..and i am still learning the burly world as i go along xxx

thanks for taking the time to read my "most proberly common sense" questions

huggs and kisses
an embarrassed....

WARNING

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I dont actually know any performers with an agent, but I'm sure the top end girls have them, poss BvB is the person you need to talk to about this.

A showreel is just a vid that shows people what you dom, sometimes this is a video of just one routine, sometimes it's a reel of edited clips from different routines. Be careful with crappy editing if making a clips reel, it looks less professional than a simple vid of just one routine. CV's are usually just a list of the nights you've performed at, again the top end girls probably have more comprehensive cv's.

I personally think you should have a reason in your narrative for taking your bra off, I have some routines where I do, some where I dont. There are also plenty of great performers that never take their bra off, Cherry Deville, Pixie Parasol, Dorian Gray. So it really is your own decision. What makes an outstanding performance is confidence and a great narrative, its got nothing to do with how much or how little you remove.

Dr Sketchy's is a worldwide franchise of anti-art schools, basically they are a combination of life drawing class and burlesque night, so as a performer at a Dr Sketchy's you will generally be expected to do one routine and a few posed of various lengths. However Dr Sketchy's events often only have 1 or 2 performers at an event and are generally bi monthly, so dont feel let down if it takes you a while to get on stage at one.

Hope that helps. Do go through the articles from Beatrix von bourbon and Khandie Kisses on 21st century pin ups and the faq's on here are super useful for all the questions you might have but would feel silly to ask

CF
x

Originally Posted by Penny Feathers

*Do you have to have an agent in order to be more professional?....do i have to sign up to an agency? if so where do i look, or do they look for me?

I can only speak from my own personal experience here. I've found agents are good for landing corporate work and occasional promotions/commercial work (though these often involve attending castings/auditions AND tend to be bagged by those with more experience). For a newbie, I think it's more important to promote yourself and network with people who organise burlesque events. In fact, it's rare for any of the 'burlesque nights' to hire performers via an agency as there's often not enough money in the pot to afford an agent's commission on top of the performance fee.

Originally Posted by Penny Feathers

*How many routines do you have to have filmed in order to do a showreel? is a showreel classed as a CV or do you have to do a CV aswell!

The purpose of a CV is to illustrate where and how often I have performed. I would never use a showreel to illustrate this as it would be very unconventional.

As a part-time promoter, when I'm sent a performance CV I tend to only give it a quick glance as I'm much more interested in a video.

Personally I prefer to watch full act videos as they give an accurate depiction of exactly what a performer is capable of. Showreels are, obviously, an edit of 'good bits' so I tend not to trust them to portray a performer's capability accurately.

Plus I've always found it much easier to get someone to film and upload a full act than to film and edit several performances in order to make a showreel.

Originally Posted by Penny Feathers

*In general do performers get more work if they go down to tassells or Pasties? over than the ones who dont.

My initial, instinctual response is that performers who do not remove a bra need to 'prove themselves' more in order to get work. Or maybe I mean that they need to prove their capacity to entertain. I'm not entirely sure what drives me toward that conclusion - it's entirely instinctual. I think if you haven't got the 'boobs' gimmick (which is often the way smalltime promoters define 'burlesque') you need something else to fill its space, be it humour, dance, singing...

Originally Posted by Penny Feathers

this one is going to sound really dumb and i dont want to insult any one by all means but could someone tell me what Dr Sketchy is??
and what is entailed(spelling sorry)

Dr Sketchy's Anti-Art School - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Originally Posted by Penny Feathers

hello everyone, i just have a few questions if you dont mind me asking, but i also do not intentially mean to sound a wee bit ditsy..its just me being me haha
*)Do you have to have an agent in order to be more professional?....do i have to sign up to an agency? if so where do i look, or do they look for me?

Firstly, not all agents are really theatrical agents - many are people with other jobs who want to get involved in the new burlesque world (but not perform) and have popped up in much the same way that new performers and burlesque DJs and pastie makers and promoters... etc have.

Traditionally an agent will sign you on IF they can make money by getting you work. If you are an unknown newcomer, the chance of them being able to 'sell' your act is slim. You will need to build up your profile (reputation as a performer, video, publicity images, online marketing, testimonials).

In the mean time, just get as many gigs as you can and have someone film your performances. Invest in some high quality photos etc.

It's very easy to be your own agent these days - agents held their power in contacts and accessibility. Now people can search and advertise as they like online. Gigging in clubs is no longer down to a guarded 'little black book'.

Originally Posted by Penny Feathers

*How many routines do you have to have filmed in order to do a showreel? is a showreel classed as a CV or do you have to do a CV aswell!

A CV is a CV like any other: http://www.skillset.org/uploads/pdf/asset_7350.pdf?1

Keep it clear, honest and succinct.

The composition of a showreel is entirely up to you. Keep is short and to the point.

Originally Posted by Penny Feathers

*In general do performers get more work if they go down to tassells or Pasties? over than the ones who dont. I am yet to pop my pastie cherry, but i am going to do so shortly..the routines i have done so far i felt have not needed do go down that far, but then there is room in them to do so.but i think if i go down to pasties would i get more offers for work?

Yes, it's generally what bookers expect of burlesque. Unless you are a specialist in musical burlesques, or opera bouffe or classical burlesque (spoof Greek theatre), or traditional British burlesque (19th century bawdy comedy) then say so - but be prepared to explain that this is not the striptease form.

e.g. I offer a variety in blended forms, but each is rooted in what I call 'historical chic'.

There have been many discussion on here about relevance. Only strip off what you feel is relevant to a burlesque (i.e. what are you sending up? why are your clothes coming off?) otherwise, if it is a striptease (a form in it's own right and not a burlesque), then explain the level of nudity involved.

Originally Posted by Penny Feathers

this one is going to sound really dumb and i dont want to insult any one by all means but could someone tell me what Dr Sketchy is??
and what is entailed(spelling sorry)
i am really sorry to the promoter for saying that but i dont have that many contacts in the burly world yet and its very popular on here..

Dr. Sketchy is a social life-drawing class featuring burlesque performers founded by artist Molly Crabapple. It is a great opportuity for performers like yourself to get some stage time in an artistic and supportive environment - and to have pictures of yourself drawn

Originally Posted by Penny Feathers

i am only just loosing my newbie polish..and i am still learning the burly world as i go along xxx

thanks for taking the time to read my "most proberly common sense" questions

huggs and kisses
an embarrassed....

That's what we are here for. If you have an act and are looking for stage time, PM me about our Battle of Burlesque - it forms part of our professional High Tease show.

"There are also plenty of great performers that never take their bra off, Cherry Deville, Pixie Parasol, Dorian Gray."

Lol thats me, right?

My initial, instinctual response is that performers who do not remove a bra need to 'prove themselves' more in order to get work. Or maybe I mean that they need to prove their capacity to entertain. I'm not entirely sure what drives me toward that conclusion - it's entirely instinctual. I think if you haven't got the 'boobs' gimmick (which is often the way smalltime promoters define 'burlesque') you need something else to fill its space, be it humour, dance, singing...

I agree with this- since I made it clear this year that I dont show pasties etc I have had some nights say "well thats what we are after", and I feel I have to work a bit harder to get interest going, sometimes, more so than I used to. However, that could be due to a number of other factors too. My acts usually have a storyline of sorts so the natural climax ending just comes out of that. I have had some really good comments relating to the fact that I have a different approach, but there are some people who prefer pasties and twirling, so it depends what your event/audience is after. Do what comes naturally and comfortably to you and fits with the theme of the act.

Doh, Yes Glorian I meant you! I often mention your black widow routine as the filthiest thing I've ever seen anyone do onstage, despite you only removing your gloves! You made a big impression on me *mwah*