Thread: Your Tip Top Tips!

Hallo!

Being a complete novice and all, I thought it would be interesting to see what everyone thinks are the most important things to know about Performance and Promotion and generally anything Burlesque (and pick up some hints along the way! :eyebrows

So! What do you all look back and think "Man, I wish someone had told me THAT when I started out!"

Ivy, xxx

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Originally Posted by PoisonIvy

... what everyone thinks are the most important things to know about Performance and Promotion and generally anything Burlesque

hahaha you're not asking much then! Blimey where do you start?

I suspect the best bit of advice I've been given is to video routines when putting them together so you can see what they look like from the audience's point of view and what works and what doesn't (the wonderful Diva Hollywood gave me that one)

Mine would be, you're not nervous, you're excited.....when those inevitable nerves come before a performance, tell yourself how lucky you are to have this excited energy pumping you up ready to give a great performance.

Also that unlike a musician or an actor performing a well-known song or sketch, it's highly unlikely that the audience know what's coming next....so if things don't go quite to plan, it's probably only you notices, so don't fret about it.

Always be respectful of other performers (don't nick names, or routines, or ideas) and especially gracious to your maid or stage manager, don't treat them like dirt or talk down to them (mentioning no names) - don't give anyone any ammunition to shoot you with later

Try and put your track on it's own on a cd (so they can't play the wrong song) and have it clearly labelled with your name, the song and whether you want it started once you're on stage or whether you'll walk on to it. And take a back up copy cd.

There's a few starters....

If I had one thing, it would be that I wish someone had warned me just what an investment of time, energy and emotion putting together and practising a routine can be if you are going to do your initial ideas any justice (and believe me - coming up with the initial ideas is the easy bit!). :warn:

Don't get me wrong - I love doing it and the feeling of accomplishment when a routine starts coming together properly is amazing :excited:, but there's a lot more hard work and a lot less glamour going on behind the scenes than you'd think when you first set out to do it for yourself! :lol:

should this not be in learners burlesque??

looks to be an interesting thread xx

You may be right Candy, I wasn't sure whether it would turn into a discussion that would help others or just beginners so I erred on the side of caution lol! I'm still getting used to where best to put things

xxx

I'm still getting used to where best to put things

gah! I didn't mean that to be sarcastic! I just noticed the smiley name there!! eek! I was rolling eyes at myself!!!
xxx

Originally Posted by PoisonIvy

I'm still getting used to where best to put things

gah! I didn't mean that to be sarcastic! I just noticed the smiley name there!! eek! I was rolling eyes at myself!!!
xxx

hehe! no worries doll! i didnt mean to sound harsh myself there.. its been a long day xx

Originally Posted by candy jayne

hehe! no worries doll! i didnt mean to sound harsh myself there.. its been a long day xx

lol it's ok, you didn't Actually when you mentioned it I was thinking "Duh! Of course thats where it should be!" :lol: but someone kind has moved it! yay!!

So whats your tip top tip Candy

xxx

my top tip.....brush up on computer skills, I couldn't evan burn or rip a cd before I started burlesque but most of the time you apply online for things and the other day I had to fill out an application form in excell which was quite scarey. i am a bit better now but it still takes me ages to edit my music.
Oh, and know every bar/keychange of your song before you go on stage so you can get back on track if you loose your place...and another one, practice your basic moves and walks regulary because their will come a time when you'll want to use them in a routine..I can't believe the other day I actualley forgot how to peel a glove because I havn't used thet move for a while.doh.

I've only been performing for a few months, so I'm a total novice, too, but here's a few things I've learned so far:

- Invest the time and creativity into making your own costumes. Even the best performer will look less professional/impressive if they're just wearing something they dug out of their closet. Especially when it comes to lingerie! Even if you can't sew, find some way to jazz up your costume. If you can't sew, there's always hot glue and glitter and rhinestone bedazzlers!

- Find your own style, and peform in a way that works for your body. I recently saw a performer who was pulling out all the "sexy" dance moves that you see in music videos. But it just didn't work for her. It looked stiff and awkward. And because it looked so force, it ended up looking skankier and more strippery than she intended.
Not everyone moves the same way. Find moves that work for you. Better to look amazing in your own unique way than to look like a cheap imitation of someone else.