Thread: Burlesque Idol!!!!!

Some of you may have come across advertisements on facebook for burlesque performers to audition to be guest judges/performers etc on a burlesque reality show.

It seems that here in Aus there is going to be a reality show that is similar to idol but for burlesque!!!

I was wondering what everybody thought of this?

No disrespect to the creators of the show but it just doesn't sit right with me. I know burlesque has entered the main stream now but this just seems to making it too commercial.

I've mentioned this to a few performers I know and they've all rolled their eyes at the prospect of burlesque and reality tv.

Opinions please

WARNING

Warning: This is an Old Thread This discussion is older than 60 days. information contained in it may no longer be current

I think it'd be an amazing idea for a run of club nights, but it doesn't sit well with me being on TV or so mainstream. Dilutes it a bit in my eyes.

I know the people who are running it (it's the same folk behind the Burlesque Ball) - it'll be interesting to say the least! "Reality TV" has been around forever in the vein of talent shows anyhoo. I'll say that it'll depend on who's involved and what their caliber of expertise is.

Originally Posted by The Merch Girl

I know the people who are running it (it's the same folk behind the Burlesque Ball) - it'll be interesting to say the least! "Reality TV" has been around forever in the vein of talent shows anyhoo. I'll say that it'll depend on who's involved and what their caliber of expertise is.

Yeah I knew who it was running it so i'm hoping that means it's going to be good and not a load of pussy cat dolls wannabe's entering for the show.

The PCD wannabes are bound to audition anyway :P hahahahaha

Here's me in my "Burlesque Factor" act. It's burlesque meets things like Pop Idol and The X Factor.
Been performing this since 2007.

YouTube - The Burlesque Factor

I edited out the actual flashing, because it's a bit too rude for you tube. Needless to say, it's a Burlesque of Britney showing everyone her favourite body part.

I did read about that show. But its for seasoned performers only.

I would love to enter it, but have only been performing a few months.

I guess it was only a matter of time before someone tryed to produce such a programme, but I am one of those girls who rolled their eyes and tutted! I despise reality television. It may be interesting, and it may serve well to cement the longevity of burlesque as a form and industry, which are all posative things. However, reality tv is a slippery beast and not to be trusted as far as I'm concerned.

I've been watching bits and pieces of Indian TV talent shows since I've been back. Some of the burlesque-like dance talent there is astonishing! Elaborate props and costumes, crazy antics. They don't even call themselves "burlesque" (I doubt they've heard of the term) but they blow a lot of burlesque artistes out of the water.

I wonder if the Burlesque Star show will be reminiscient of that. Out-there creativity, occasional cheesiness, audience in on the fun.

Cherry Poppins: the call-out for seasoned performers is for staff - judges, teachers, etc. They haven't called out for contestants yet, and I bet that would be mainly amateurs.

I think you loose the quality in performers with shows like this. The first series you get the people who have been doing it for a while and it's good, after that you get people who just want to be on tv and are really bad, and they become famous for being so bad.
For example the YMCA girl who said herself she never expected to get through on the X Factor/Pop Idol, but she gets lots of bookings now because she was so bad it's become a comedy act.
I'm not against the show exactly, but it does distract from professional performers and i would worry that people that had not seen burlesque before wouldn't watch it again if they saw lots of bad routines on tv, and they wouldn't go and see good performers at gigs etc.