Thread: Are tattoos a negative selling point for a performer in Cabaret?

This might have been a topic on here before, but it is something that I have been pondering over for a few days.

Does being quite tattooed (having more than 3 or 4) have a detrimental effect on the performer in the promoters and public eye? If so, then in what way? Why? If you don't think so, again, why and in what way?

Does the performer need to heavily tattooed in order for the tattoos to have a positive effect? (a grotesque attraction...)


What are your thoughts on this?

(I'm not just talking about traditional burlesque, but circus, performance art and modelling!!!)

Missy.

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Well I think tattoos look great!!!!!! I have a couple of teeny ones myself but I'm SUCH a wimp I daren't have any more. Lots of performers have tattoos and I don't think it has harmed their appeal or bookingability. I personally like to see tattoos as it shows uniqueness and individuality, although 'no tattoos' are fine too!!

It's GOOD to be different!!

kisses
PixieParasol

Originally Posted by Missy Macabre

This might have been a topic on here before, but it is something that I have been pondering over for a few days.

Does being quite tattooed (having more than 3 or 4) have a detrimental effect on the performer in the promoters and public eye? If so, then in what way? Why? If you don't think so, again, why and in what way?

Does the performer need to heavily tattooed in order for the tattoos to have a positive effect? (a grotesque attraction...)


What are your thoughts on this?

(I'm not just talking about traditional burlesque, but circus, performance art and modelling!!!)

Missy.

My feeling is that every promoter will have a different opinion as to whether tattooed performers are acceptable on their show. For the record I will happily employ a tattooed performer.

Personally I like some body art and dislike others but my personal opinion will not affect a performers booking with me, their ability to perform and their personality backstage and in the audience are the deciding factors.

I believe this subject is like every other aspect of how someone looks - some like tattoos of any description, some like small tattoos only, some like tattoo free skin and others only like the heavily tattooed look. You could easily substitute the word tattoo for hair colour, hair length or body shape and, with some adjustments to my previous statements, come up with the same results.

I've wondered about this myself - to what extent do tattoos affect performers, especially burlesque performers who are going for a vintage look? Tattoos, whether they be small one offs or large pieces, certainly weren't common on ladies back in the 40s and 50s, so if a performer is going for a truly authentic look, a tattoo collection will ruin that illusion. So I suppose if you want a really authentic look, and a performer who looks like she's stepped back in time, then tattoos could be detrimental to your career. But then, how often does this happen? Some of the most successful performers to have sprung up in recent years have multiple tattoos, such as Millie Dollar and Beatrix von Bourbon (whose recent sleeve is absolutely gorgeous, might I add!), and it doesn't seem to have hindered their careers. Maybe we need a tattooed lady to say whether her body art has helped, hindered, or made no difference to her career progression.

It's something I've thought about quite often, not in relation to tattoos, but to piercings - and even hair dye! It's a case of, how important is an authentic vintage look to me? Would I rather look like I could genuinely have stepped out of the 40s, or modify my natural looks? And in my case, I simply can't decide which would make me happier, so I've stuck with the natural look purely because if I regret that later on, I can change it, whereas making big and often permanent changes to your look can often be regretted but not soon altered ...

I believe you have made a wise choice Fleur - if you aren't 100% certain tthat you want something like a tattoo then I believe you would be foolish to have one. My first tattoo was finally inked after I spent a whole year wanting it - not because of the price or finding the right artwork but because I wanted to be absolutely certain I wanted it.

Originally Posted by Gehenna

I believe you have made a wise choice Fleur - if you aren't 100% certain tthat you want something like a tattoo then I believe you would be foolish to have one.

Ta ^_^

I got my belly button pierced after something like five years of deliberation! I'm glad I did it - I'll admit it's not very vintage, but it's a little extra bit of sparkle I can add or take out when I want to, and I love it! I dyed my hair jet black after even longer - over ten years of wanting to. I wasn't 100% sure even when I got either of them done, because I'm the kind of non-committal person who'll always have a few doubts, but will just go out and do it without really believing I'm going to, if that makes sense (I do this with new routine ideas - I'll come up with a crazy new idea, think of a way to implement it, and then just start putting the costume and props together impulsively - but somehow they always turn into real routines, so I must be doing something right!). I always end up loving whatever it is I've done impulsively-but-with-years-of-deliberation though, so I've had no regrets as yet. But the piercings I want are a much bigger deal than the belly button, and expensive too, so I won't just be going out and doing them in a hurry ...

Yeah, that was a bit off-topic - what were we saying?

I would say it probably depends on your audience (not very helpfull I know!). It may be a problem with "pretty pants" burlesque and a positive benefit with the more alternative nights. Personally I think nice tats add a bit of colour to the performance and look good but that's personal bias!

Originally Posted by evildrneil

I would say it probably depends on your audience (not very helpfull I know!). It may be a problem with "pretty pants" burlesque and a positive benefit with the more alternative nights. Personally I think nice tats add a bit of colour to the performance and look good but that's personal bias!

Lilly White does a lot of the "pretty pants" burlesque and is quite heavily tattooed if memory serves, it doesn't seem to affect her popularity! :love:

I don't know if it varies around the country but quite a lot of the performers on the Scottish circuit seem to have tattoos and it doesn't seem to be an issue here. :twothumbs:

Without going off on one...

I used to think that my tattoos got in the way of me being employed. I've definitely felt that I am unable to work in certain European countries because the aesthetic of tattoos on women can be problematic in some cultures...

...but recently, they've been GETTING me work. The main poster for the show in Germany features an illustration of a woman with my chestpiece.

So during the process of re-branding myself, I will be drawing attention to my tattoos. I also plan on creating one or two new acts that play upon my tattoos.

This is a very interesting topic.

I've been wanting to get a large tattoo done for ages, and I'm hoping that it will add to my appeal.

Being an opera singer I love to play on the 'I'm a rocker, isn't it weird that I sing opera' thing, and I'm hoping that having a tattoo will further accentuate that. Not that thats why I'm getting it done, but it's definately a factor.

On the other hand though, I really want to do weddings and 'straight' things where the tattoo would need to be at least mostly covered. And I've never even thought about being a tattooed lady in other cultures being a problem.

Sorry, I'm not entirely sure what my point was. I suppose it's that getting tattooed WILL make people look at you differently, but perhaps, like me, thats what you want. And I don't think it needs to be detrimental at all. It can definately add to your appeal, depending on what that is.