Thread: Need an Oomph

Maybe it's the weather, or the New Year slump, or my absolute brokeness regarding money, or maybe it's the evil penguins, I don't know, but I really need a bit of an oomph, especially where performing is concerned.

For a month or so I've been really down about performing and it's a vicious circle as the more down I get, the less I want to perform, so the more down I get because I'm not performing!

I have all these grand ideas for routines and costumes and stuff like that but don't have the finances to actually put them together, and the only way to get more money is to get another job which would give me less time anyway to go out doing what I actually want to do with my life. I could make the costumes myself but despite having the ideas in place, I'm not actually very good at the making side of things, and I can't even afford the material to make the costumes!

It makes me sad when it's dark and yukky outside and all I want to do is sit inside and eat chocolate, which means I put on weight then my costumes don't fit so... guess what, I don't want to perform.

I don't know what's wrong with me, as I've wanted to perform since I was a little kid and I love being on stage. It's probably just a phase and I need a severe kick in the bum :worried:

WARNING

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

Originally Posted by Miss Dani California

It's probably just a phase and I need a severe kick in the bum :worried:

Or maybe just a hug? :hug:

To start with, don't beat yourself up about feeling down. Everyone goes through slumps, even the most experienced performers.

With regards to the costume making, didn't I see a thread where you talked abut making your own fans? To me that sounds like someone who knows their way around a hot glue gun and sequins! As I recall you roped in members of your family to help, maybe they, or friends would be willing to help you achieve what you want, especially if they know how important it is to you?

I know what puts me off making my own props and costumes is the fear that they may not look professional enough. I'm not a professional prop maker or costumier so they won't look anywhere near as good as say, Vicky Butterfly's costumes, but....it's the quality of my performance that will eventually make me a successful performer, regardless of how amazing or not my costumes/props are.

Bear with me while I use a sound engineering metaphor...when I was training to be a sound engineer, my tutors told me that my mixes should sound as good played through a pair of crappy car radio speakers as they did played through a £50K+ sound system. I think the same applies to performing - your performances should be able to be as good on a cleared floor space in the local pub as in a major west end theatre. It's all in the performance.

I agree with you about the dark, it's hard to feel motivated when it's nasty outside. Getting outside and going for walks may help. The exercise help you feel better and the increased exposure to daylight will improve your mood. If you find you start feeling down every year it could be to do with SADS (seasonal affective disorder), might be worth investigating.

I'm sure it's just a temporary blip hun. As you said, you love performing, and that doesn't go away overnight. Maybe thinking about what inspired you to do burlesque in the first place will help?

Good luck, and more hugs :hug:

Hi honey
we all get like this sometimes and it can be for various reasons, heath, weather, no money or maybe it is the evil penguins that are getting to all of us.
I think what Honey just said is very true its not what you are wearing that makes you act ,it can help, but its what you do.
My 'Evolution of Woman' act is one of my most popular acts and I have done it so many times now since it was made. It is probably one of the cheapest costumes and props that I have ever made and its brought me the most money back. i think I have always been inspired by the New York way of doing things they are much more hand made in there approach where as in LA its more about the bling. I was talking to a few US performers about this and they thought it was odd the way that the Uk burlesque scene was heading towards the LA style.
Anyway I am rambling off topic now sorry. You have some pretty cool acts already stick to making them as good as you can. If you need any advice on making stuff give me a shout I come from the Blue Peter school of art its all making things from scratch somehow, if I can not help I am sure I can find you someone that can. DO NOT GIVE UP IN JANUAY everyone knows its the kind of month you should either sleep through or go on holiday.
Seeyou in Birmingham on the 17th
Hugs
Diva xxxxx

well as some one who has seen you perform I can tell you you MUST get back on that stage you were great the emotion you put into your eyes when you are afraid of the spiders was great.

Please don't worry about the dark it will be spring soon.....

love

Andromada :hug:

Go on Dani, ger out thar, I dare yu, go on, you can do it! Get that brain working over time on the costume side....A nice bit of organza from that wee fabric shop, some nice silver stars from that wee craft shop, a few sequins glued on, a nice pair of tights all glued up th outsides with lotsa shimmering glitter on them. Down the local "Harvey Nicks" (Sue Ryder to you) or a quick look in "Harrods" (Help The Aged) for a nice glitzy top and skirt that can be torn apart...................Go on, I DARE you!!!! Hobby Craft for a cheap glue gun and a couple of their nice multicoloured organza flower wrapping bags, then down to B&Q to see what is in the sales of left over Christmas deccies.......Go on, you CAN do it

Originally Posted by Miss Dani California

It makes me sad when it's dark and yukky outside and all I want to do is sit inside and eat chocolate, which means I put on weight then my costumes don't fit so... guess what, I don't want to perform.

I don't know what's wrong with me, as I've wanted to perform since I was a little kid and I love being on stage. It's probably just a phase and I need a severe kick in the bum

I know exactly how you feel - I'm the same when it's winter outside! :hug:

It sounds to me like you've got a nasty fit of the blues and you need a little TLC rather than a kick, however please try and get back into practising and performing, doing something you love, even if you don't feel like doing it, will almost certainly make you feel a bit better about things.

If you don't mind the suggestion, how about marking out a half hour long slot every day for the next couple of weeks and decide in advance that that is going to be your practise time - that way you've got less of a mental excuse to keep putting it off and putting it of and you're more likely to get back into things (at least this is what works for me when I don't want to do stuff that I know I will enjoy when I get into it) and to give youself more of a chance to start enjoying yourself again.

Sorry to hear that you're feeling so down, Sweetie - I hope you start feeling better soon! :hug:

Sorry if I'm coming across as too bossy - feel free to deliver a swift cyber-kick to me if so! ops:

Ah, you've hit the vicious circle of upcoming performers! I was in it a while back (and to a certain extent, I'm still in it!) so I know exactly where you're coming from! All of it - the lack of money, lack of costume-making skills, lack of time, desire to eat chocolate and do nothing else, conflict with jobs which equal money but also lessen time, conflict with chocolate which equals comfort but also weight gain ... been there, done that, still do!

All I can say to you is that it's just a phase and it will pass. One day, something will happen to kick you out of it. You'll get a good booking, or you'll come up with a way of making a costume that will work, or someone will suggest something that will get you fired up. It will happen, if you keep yourself open to the possibility.

Or, you could just make the decision to kick yourself out of it and throw yourself into a routine or something constructive. Get an exercise routine set up place (or if you already have one, try something new) to raise your endorphins and get your energy flowing. Find some online tutorials on sewing basic patterns and try to adapt them to your skills. Try recycling garments you already have. If you want to break the bad habits you're in, you can.

I do know where you're coming from - I've only ever wanted to perform since I was a kid, and now that I am, I'm a little bit, well, jaded about it. But the desire's still there! A few knocks and obstacles can lessen your confidence, but you know you love performing, so all you need to do is stop seeing the obstacles as massive hurdles, just little blips which can be overcome. It's hard, and I should practise what I preach sometimes, but it can be done!

I had a slump in the summer - because I wanted to be outside, mainly. I prefer making costumes, props etc in the dark winter months. Anyway, we all have highs and lows and times when chocolate provides all the answers! I have pretty much stopped doing burlesque now, although I'm busy doing other performance related stuff so I'm still active. If I'm not doing anything like this, then I start to feel a bit mizzucks. Burlesque is fun, hardwork and rewarding, but it is and never has been something that hoped to be involved in for the long term.

It this is something that you want to do in the longterm, Dani, then maybe it is worth investing more into your chosen 'career'. If performing is something that you've wanted to do since you were little, then give this your all. I know you said you don't have the finances, but you do have grand ideas - so get a (business) bank loan and this way you can really start to launch yourself and propel yourself towards where you want to be. All going well, you'll position yourself in the market, and start to reap the rewards. Have a strategy and an expenditure plan and only invest an amount you are prepared to risk losing.

Where there's a will, there's a way - chocolate is merely there to aid with the contemplation - enjoy!!!!

Thank You everyone :hug:

You've cheered me up, definitely - I know it's just a case of getting myself into gear and I'm sure something will click soon.

In the meantime, thank you