Thread: Tassels BANNED by liquor commission?! Please read...

I performed and produced a variety vaudeville Burlesque show in an upper class lounge/bar with a stage.

There was a huge turn out! And i actually made a profit for a change! But the owner approached me afterward and said that the liquor commission showed up, and said although the show did look great- tassels on my nipples were not enough, and this conflicted with their liquor laws....

WHAT?!

I'm looking further into this. But i want to know if anyone has ever experience something such as this.

It may be just some old and silly law in my area. I live in the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I'm sure there is a loop hole if this is for real!
I also wonder if that was just this persons opinion and they are trying to abuse their authority to get what they want.

Anyway, please tell me if you have ever had something like this happen.

Thank you all,

x

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Not to sure about this but I think that some countries and regions have specific laws which related nudity on premises where alcohol is consumed - specifically the combination of the two.

Yeah there are some old laws around that are still enforced when it's convenient... We can perform fine in some venues in the tiniest pasties and other places have to make pasties big enough to cover our full nipples and the under-part of the breast - covering as much area as a bra or bikini top would. It can get pretty creative but the standard is a larger pastie with some fringe hanging off the bottom to cover the bottom of the breast. I've also seen dancers who wear the vintage style of stripteaser bra where it is a mesh bikini and they attach pastie sized appliques to the outside of the bra to cover the nipples.
It's kind of confusing... I'm really not sure of the laws. Basically it seems like the venues around here could get in trouble with us just in pasties but they don't care unless on official of some sort will be viewing the show or stopping by the venue. We work with fire performers so sometimes a fire marshal will stop by, then we dust off the big pasties!
Unless the venue has a Class A entertainment license then we are fine no matter what.
It does have to do with how much nudity falls under the venue's specific liqour license but as I'm in America I don't know much about Canadian laws and licenses! For instance, we don't dance in strip clubs but as an example: strip clubs around here dictate how much nudity a dancer can show depending on how much liquor they sell. If they sell no liquor the dancer can be fully nude but if they sell liqour there are restrictions on how much a dancer can show.
I would say talk to other performers in your area to see if they know the exact laws or can point out where you can look. Some places have all of their laws posted online and you can search by key words. otherwise talk to the venues you perform at about what the various liquor licenses are and how they affect you as a performer.
And what their level of comfort is, say- is there a law that prohibits you to go down to pasties? If so do they care as long as you are dressed properly in the event of an inspection? And always keep some big pasties in your dance bag in case an official makes un unexpected appearance!

Wow, thank you for all the info! It is very helpful!

I'm going to call the liquor commission and find out specifically what i need to know.

Also interesting what you posted about strip clubs... so far i have been Burlesquing in the city piratically on my own, but now some others are getting involved, and one girl is trying to convince me to use a local strip bar as a venue.... i don't like the idea. I would rather keep those two things separate so as to avoid confusion from the already confused public. Burlesque is very new to this city, but it is finally starting to earn respect and get noticed

Thanks again,
x

~Miss la Muse

Glad to help!
Yeah we never perform in strip clubs and I do not know of any burlesque dancers around here who do - I have friends who worked at stripclubs so I know those laws a little better, a little more clear cut then burlesque/performance art laws!
Good luck finding out what you need to know!