Hello hello HELLO!

My, my! It has been way too long since I posted anything here. Isn’t it always the way of things that when you have SO MUCH going on, updates just don’t happen, while when not much is going on, it is easy to update? Seems like it should be the other way around and there should be  more updates when things are crazy, but so it goes. Too much has happened since last I posted to write about it all and get you up to speed, so I will just post some fun tidbits here instead!

First up, take a look at this great video to get a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to attend a Bombshell Betty Pinup Workshop:

The “Luxury Edition” Pinup Workshop Tour has been going really well. The photos from the shoots at the various hotels have been amazing! I will post some of my favorite photos here soon, just as soon as I get through picking a handful out of the thousands of photos we’ve shot in the last few months. We have workshops coming up in LA, NYC, Philadelphia, San Francisco (of course), New Orleans, Houston and Seattle, plus more being added to the schedule all the time!

One of my Burlesquercise students, Amy Martin, is a brilliant cartoonist on top of all her other talents. Check out her blog and buy her books! They are genius! Amy’s business card calls her “obscenely feminist” and you’ll see why. Here is a cartoon she did after attending Burlesquercise classes.

  
NOTE: In burlesque, unlike bellydancing, there is absolutely no problem with your ass shaking when you shake your shoulders! In fact, the more wiggle and jiggle the better, so let it all shake! Yes, really!

We produced a benefit show in July for our local (SF Bay Area) unemployed, under-employed and struggling performers, the $timulus Package Benefit Show. We were sponsored by Whole Foods, Annie’s Social Club, Sweet Petite Baking, and of course Bombshell Betty Dance, and helped raise ~$1500 to help feed our local performers! The event was such a great success that we have decided to continue running these benefit shows every 3 months or so for as long as it is necessary!

In keeping with the $timulus Package theme of the evening, all of the acts involved money, work, the economy, and food. RJ Johnson captured some really great photos from the show, and I have decided to post a few of them here for your enjoyment. You can see more photos from the show and from other shows by RJ Johnson by visiting his Facebook page and LiveJournal galleries. NOTE: I have only posted PG photos here. Enjoy!

Here I am singing with Fromagique! Bandmembers from L to R: Randy Johnson on bari sax, Patina de Copper on trumpet, Ezekiel Pseudonimo on clarinet, and Rusty 2.0 on trombone and backup vocals.

 

One dress down, one to go!

 

Sultra Violet and Vicious Veronica Voom in "Show Me the Money!" This was Sultra Violet's "solo" debut, with 4 backup dancers.

 

Miss Red Velvet looking amazing in green!

 

This was Kiki Yeah Yeah's solo debut! Woo!

 

Miss If-N-Whendy performed a fan dance with fans she made out of trash... very thrifty!

 

Agnes O'God read us a naughty bedtime story...

Randy and I did a skit to "Money Makes the World Go Around"

 

These girls choreographed this routine themselves to "Come on'a My House" in the Burlesquercise Intensive series. They created the costuming themselves after taking the costuming class!

 

Foxy Chartreuse hamming it up in one of the skits!

 

Holly Highbeams as Lady Liberty!

Fun Stuff

So much great stuff has been going on around the studio and at shows, it’s time for an update. Over the weekend, we had Living Legend of Burlesque, Isis Starr, present her take on burlesque in a workshop entitled “The Spirit of Burlesque.” On Monday, several students made their performance debuts at the Uptown Tavern in Oakland for the Hubba Hubba Revue‘s Burlesqueteer Night. Congratulations, ladies!

I am very excited to announce the first Luxury Edition Pinup Workshop in San Francisco! That’s right, the acclaimed Bombshell Betty Pinup Workshops have been upgraded at no additional cost to participants, and now take place in a posh suite of a luxury hotel, providing multiple beautiful sets as a backdrop for your transformation and photo shoot. Experience a day of pampering and girly fun in a supportive, body positive environment!

I am also excited about the upcoming Burlesque Choreography series that will include live musical accompaniment by Fromagique, my burlesque jazz band, and I’d like to officially welcome MJ Paul back as aspecialty dance instructor here at the Bombshell Betty Dance studio. Keep reading for more details on all of these great developments!

 

IN THIS POST

- 3/15: Luxury Edition Pinup Workshop in SF!
- 3/2: Burlesque Choreography with Fromagique
- 3/12: “Fosse-esque” Burlesque Jazz with MJ Paul

 

SF LUXURY EDITION PINUP WORKSHOP!

The first Luxury Edition Pinup Workshop in SF takes place on March 15, 3:00-9:00pm, at the Hotel Frank on Union Square, in a newly renovated suite – “A bold new style in a striking palette of black, white andemerald green. Houndstooth-patterned carpet, tufted faux crocodile headboards, sleek leather couches and custom hand-blown glass light fixtures. Stylish bathrooms outfitted in floor-to-ceiling carrera marble.” What a perfect setting for a pinup shoot!

Want to attend a Luxury Edition Pinup Workshop, but you don’t live in San Francisco? The 2009 Pinup Workshop Tour is going to cities such as LA, Seattle, Portland, London, Leeds, Chicago, Boston, NYC, Washington DC, and many more!

 

BURLESQUE CHOREOGRAPHY
With live accompaniment by Fromagique, the burlesque jazz band!

In this special burlesque choreography session, we will be focusing entirely on the choreography for the Burlesquercise acts that are performed with Bombshell Betty’s burlesque band, Fromagique! The band will play the music for the last class in the series, so that you can get some experience performing with a live band. It’s exhilarating and VERY different from performing to a CD. You won’t find another class like this anywhere!

All participants in the Burlesque Choreography series are invited to perform these acts with Fromagique at upcoming shows around the BayArea!

Mondays, 6:30-8:00pm
March 2, 9, 16 & 23

To sign up, go to: http://www.bombshellbetty.net/burlesquercise.html

 

WELCOME MJ PAUL TO THE BOMBSHELL BETTY STUDIO!

Starting in March, we are once again offering “Fosse-esque” burlesque jazz classes at the studio, taught by MJ Paul! He is also training to take over teaching the Cardio Can-Can classes! We here at the studio are excited to have MJ back at the studio, teaching his own brand of fun classes with lively choreography. MJ Paul can be found teaching various workshops and master classes throughout California. He is the long-time assistant to Emmy award winner Suzy Miller and has been dance director/resident choreographer for the SF Boylesque performance troupe for the past 18 months. His varied theatre background has included working on productions such as: Cabaret, Damn Yankees, A Christmas Carol with the renowned Gilbert Reed Ballet, 12 Days of Christmas with Ballet Theatre of SLO, Kathy Mata Ballet, Bombshell Betty’s Burlesqueteers, and Fieldwork at Shotwell Studios.

To find out about MJ Paul’s classes, go to: http://www.bombshellbetty.net/burlesquercise.html

Fosse-esque, Boylesque, Choreography with Fromagique, and MORE!

Hello burlesque fans!

Happy February! I’ve been looking forward to this month over a year, and it’s not because of Valentine’s Day. What’s got me so excited? Come out on Thursday, Feb 5, to the Pin It Up, Babycakes! art show where I will be debuting my collage and assemblage art work as well as performing with Fromagique and the Burlesqueteers. The art show starts at 6pm, burlesque at 9pm.

Also in Febraury, don’t miss out on a unique workshop with Living Legend of Burlesque, Isis Starr, on February 15!

In March, we are kicking off a lot of fun NEW classes! I’m starting a new Burlesque Choreography series that will include live accompaniment by Fromagique, my burlesque band. I’m offering “Burlesque for Men: A Boylesque Crash Course” for men who don’t want to leave all the burlesque fun to the girls! Plus MJ Paul is back at the studio to teach “Fosse-esque: Burlesque Jazz.” And don’t forget the popular “Cardio Can-Can” which is a great way to get a real workout while having lots of fun. There are only a few spots left in the February series, so sign up now if you want to join the fun! So many fun classes to choose from!

Have a look at the descriptions below, and I hope to see you all out at a show or out and about sometime this month.

Shake a tail feather!
Betty

Bombshell Betty Dance

http://www.bombshellbetty.net

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IN THIS ISSUE (Full descriptions below):

- Burlesque Choreography with Fromagique! Starts March 2
- Fosse-esque: Burlesque Jazz with MJ Paul! Starts March 12
- Burlesque for Men: A Boylesque Crash Course! Starts March 4

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BURLESQUE CHOREOGRAPHY
with LIVE accompaniment by Fromagique!

In this special burlesque choreography session, we will be focusing entirely on the choreography for the Burlesquercise acts that are performed with Bombshell Betty’s burlesque band, Fromagique! The band will play the music for the last class in the series, so that you can get some experience performing with a live band. It’s exhilarating and VERY different from performing to a CD. You won’t find another class like this anywhere!

In this series, we will go over the steps for “Put a Lid on It” (a sassy Charleston act), “Feeling Good” (a slinky Chair Dance routine), plus a BRAND NEW group act, never before taught or performed! Building up to the choreography, we will cover basic Charleston and chair dancing techniques that you can use for future acts or on the dance floor.

All participants in the Burlesque Choreography series are invited to perform these acts with Fromagique at upcoming shows around the Bay Area!

Mondays, 6:30-8:00pm
March 2, 9, 16 & 23

NOTE: Fromagique will play music for the class on March 23!

For more info and to sign up: http://www.bombshellbetty.net/burlesquercise.html
Find Fromagique online at http://www.myspace.com/fromagique

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“FOSSE-ESQUE”: BURLESQUE JAZZ with MJ Paul

Do you want to learn to dance, but you’re too intimidated to attend the “beginner” dance classes at most dance studios that seem “advanced” to you? This unique and non-intimidating beginner’s dance class will focus on movement and stage presence, and your body awareness will improve dramatically. You will increase your perfomance value, strengthen and develop your core, improve your flexibility, and learn basic dance skills that you can already do without even knowing it! This class will be invaluable as you pursue burlesque and other dancing interests!

In this series, you will learn choreography for the Fosse classics and will instantly recognize dance moves made popular by pop artists in the 60s 70s and 80s that Fosse originally choreographed in the 50s. Don’t miss this unusual and fun class series!

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: MJ Paul can be found teaching various workshops and master classes throughout California. He is the longtime assistant to Emmy award winner Suzy Miller and has been dance director/resident choreographer for SF boylesque for the past 18 months. His varied theatre background has included working on productions such as: Cabaret, Damn Yankees, A Christmas Carol with the renowned Gilbert Reed Ballet, 12 days of Christmas with Ballet theatre of SLO, Kathy Mata Ballet, Bombshell Betty’s Burlesqueteers, and Fieldwork at Shotwell studios. His main dance influences include Bob Fosse, Suzy Miller, Rob Marshall, Teresa Slobodnik, Gilbert Reed, Katy Warner, and Carlos Carvajal.

Thursdays, 8:30-10:00pm
March 12, 19 & 26

http://www.bombshellbetty.net/burlesquercise.html

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BURLESQUE FOR MEN:
A Boylesque Crash Course!

Have you ever been to a burlesque show and wondered, “Why do the girls get to have all the fun?” Would you love to perform burlesque, but you’ve been held back because you think burlesque is only for women? Boylesque is one of the hottest new things in the burlesque movement today, so come join the fun! In this introductory series, you will learn all the basics of burlesque performance including: * the burlesque strut and bump and grind dance movement * song interpretation and choreography basics * prop use * audience interaction and how to leave them wanting more * and much more! We will break down traditional and modern female burlesque performance and explore the traditional roles of men in the burlesque, using all of this information as a jumping point for creating modern and provocative Boylesque acts. All participants will be invited to perform at upcoming shows in San Francisco!

Wednesdays, 8:30-10:00pm
March 4, 11 & 18

http://www.bombshellbetty.net/burlesquercise.html

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BOMBSHELL BETTY DANCE
Exclusive Home of Burlesquercise!™
Mailing: PO Box 77842 SF, CA 94107
Studio: 715 Bryant St # 102 SF, CA 94107

http://www.bombshellbetty.net

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Blog: http://bombshellbetty.wordpress.com
Be an Everyday Bombshell! http://everydaybombshells.wordpress.com
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Online classes! http://www.bombshellbetty.net/onlinestudio.html
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Burlesquercise!™ DVD: http://www.bombshellbetty.net/introdvd.html
Pin-Up Book: http://www.bombshellbetty.net/pinupbook.html
National Pin-Up Workshops: http://www.bombshellbetty.net/pinup.html

2009 Pinup Workshop International Tour!

Hello from NYC, where we kicked off our 2009 Pinup Workshop International Tour with our first public Pinup Workshop of 2009 in Manhattan. It is freezing here compared to San Francisco, of course, but I just love NY so much it is really great to be here anyway. We’re heading out to see Kitty Nights, a local burlesque show, before heading back home tomorrow.

One of the ladies in the workshop yesterday was extremely pregnant, with only 4 weeks until her due date. She looked amazing and the photos turned out really well. I can’t wait to hear what she thinks of them.Another lady at the workshop told me that she found out about me through her 13-year-old daughter who really wanted to take the workshop herself and didn’t think it was fair that she had to be 18 to attend. Apparently she has a picture of me in her locker (wow! how flattering), wears leopard print and adores Bettie Page. Her mother was a bit chagrined by her pinup obsession and aspirations. I should have told her that the most sure-fire way for her to discourage these vampy tendencies is to strongly encourage them, thereby causing her daughter to rebel by being straight-laced, a la Saffron on Absolutely Fabulous. Ha! I’m not sure if this would really work, but it would be a lot more fun for the daughter if it didn’t. And I know that discouraging these tendencies doesn’t work in the long-run. My mom discouraged me… and look at me now! Ha!    Pinup Workshop International Tour Schedule January – June 2009   This year we are really ramping up the Pinup Workshop Tour with more workshops in more cities, and we’re even taking it international! Check out the tour dates (so far) for the first half of 2009: Jan 24, 2009: New York, NY Jan 31, 2009: San Francisco, CA Feb 21, 2009: Los Angeles, CA * Mar 7, 2009: Seattle, WA * Mar 8, 2009: Portland, OR * Apr 11, 2009: Chicago, IL * Apr 19, 2009: Santa Rosa, CA May 3, 2009: London, UK * May 10, 2009: Leeds, UK * May 30, 2009: Philadelphia, PA May 31, 2009: Washington, DC * June 6, 2009: New York, NY June 7, 2009: Boston, MA * * Denotes a “Luxury Edition Workshop,” an on-location shoot with multiple sets in a luxurious suite of an up-scale boutique hotel. More dates will be added to the tour schedule as time goes on. Don’t see a workshop coming up in your area? Contact me to find out how you can host a workshop in your city! It’s easy, so come join the fun!     *

Click here to see more pics from past workshops and for photo credits!

Sneak Peek: Collage Pieces for Pinup Art Show

I just received the official announcement for the “Pin It Up, Babycakes!” art show that I am participating in this February at 111 Minna. I have pasted the email below, since it is full of great information about the show. Sign up for the mailing list to receive information about pre-sales on the many fabulous works of art being shown in this event.

As promised, I am including photos in this post with some preview pictures of a couple of my pieces that will be included in this show, unveiled here for the first time ever outside of my studio! I’m only showing pictures of 2 of my pieces here, and I will have several more available for pre-sales and being shown in the event.

For more info,  about my artwork and this wonderful pin-up themed show, read my previous post.

“Shanghai Eve”

2009 by Bombshell Betty
Photograph, watercolor, fabrics and paper on wood.

Shanghai Eve – Full Image

“Nature Calls for the Glamourpuss”

2008 by Bombshell Betty
Photograph, glitter, sequins, potting soil, silk leaves, living pathos cutting, glass, plastic and watercolor on paper and wood.

Nature Calls for the Glamourpuss – Full Image

Nature Calls for the Glamourpuss – Detail

Nature Calls for the Glamourpuss – Photo detail
 

From: Alice Stribling
Subject: Pin it up, Babycakes: Fishnets, Tarts and the Art of the modern tease
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:10:31 -0500

Hello art lovers-

Pin it up, Babycakes is almost here!  I have been co-curating this project with artist Jessica Whiteside for over a year and I am excited to officially introduce it to you.

This exhibition features art inspired by pinups that span many genres: including hot rod, cheesecake, and faux advertisements. It also has modern burlesque influences, including a nod to the original ladies of burlesque in a film reel that will play on opening night.

Opening night will have something for everyone:

• Outstanding art and photography by some of the most talented artists working
  within this genre
• Red hot merchandise for you or your Valentine’s Day sweetie which will turn any lovely lady
  into an instant pinup star
• Burlesque performances complete with fashion show by our sponsor Dollhouse Bettie Lingerie
• Thee Merry Widows will rock out with their boobage out at midnight

Mark your calendars for the party that you don’t want to miss:

Pin it up, Babycakes opening night
February 5th, 2009  /  6pm-late*
111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco
*Please note that we will start charging $5 at the door at 9pm for the performances

To find out more specifics about the show and opening night event, please visit the show website: 
    http://pinitupbabycakes.com/

How pinup has influenced me as an artist:

I grew up with a warped idea that curvy ladies were not sexy or desirable, because most of what I saw in fashion magazines did not represent my shape in many ways.  So in my mind, to be sexy, a woman had to be very thin. Discovering and studying the genre of vintage pinup has made me see that this belief is not necessarily true.  These pinup ladies of the 1940s-60s had hips! And a bustline! And they were deliciously sexy and appealing.

These images can be many things to many different people: demure or erotic, free or fun, empowering, cute, or perhaps raunchy and a turn-off. That’s ok and that’s why they are interesting to me. It is certainly not for everyone.

For collectors:

We will be sending out an email with presale information about two weeks before the show opens to give all of you, my lovely fans, a chance to have first pick of the art that I have produced for the show. We expect collectors to jump quickly, so please don’t delay in purchasing if you see something that you like.

Thank you-
Alice Stribling

Add event in Facebook:  http://tinyurl.com/9kcjyb
Add event in MySpace:   http://tinyurl.com/8onzm9
Add event to your Google Calendar:

  

 

 

 

 

“Pin It Up, Babycakes!” Art Show

In February, 2009, I will be participating in a group pinup-themed art show, “Pin It Up, Babycakes!” at 111 Minna. The show is being curated by two of my burlesque students: Alice Stribling (aka Sweet M’alice) and Jessica Whiteside (aka Tinky Sparkles). The opening gala on Feb 5, 2009, will include burlesque performances by the two curators, the Burlesqueteers, and myself, and will be MC’d by Kitten on the Keys.

The other artists included in the show are:

Jessica Whiteside
Alice Stribling
UK artist Emma Mount
Molly Crabapple
Shaunna Peterson
Tanem
David Perry
Darling Propaganda
Kirsten Easthope

At this show, I am officially unveiling my collage/assemblage artwork, which combines my pinup and nature photography with watercolor drawings, fabric and found objects to create fantasy portraiture. Here is my artist bio from the website:

I started pinup modeling in 2000, shortly after jumping into the world of burlesque performance. I needed sexy promo shots, and since burlesque and pinup are two sides of the same coin, it was a perfect excuse to channel my inner Bettie Page. In 2003, I stepped behind the camera, using what I learned from working in front of the camera to help me direct my models to get the most flattering shots possible. I have pursued pinup from both sides of the camera ever since, including shooting for SuicideGirls.com and other websites, the Bombshell Betty Pinup Workshops and private clients.

As a photographer (and posing director with other photographers), I get great joy from helping women who do not look like conventional models get photos that make them look more beautiful than they thought possible. I believe that we all have a perfect pinup somewhere inside us, regardless of age or body type, and through the proper styling, posing, lighting and camera angles, that pinup queen can be brought out for the world to view. From the responses I have received from participants in my Pinup Workshops, I know that having beautiful glamour pictures taken for the first time can be a transformative and empowering experience for many women, having a tremendous positive impact on one’s self image.

My collage and assemblage pieces are a very new medium for me, and I am very excited to present them for the first time at the ’Pin It Up, Babycakes!’ show. This form allows me to tell a story visually in a similar way as when I perform a burlesque piece, the main difference being that I must tell a whole story through elements that are visible all at once rather than in a linear sequence of events as with burlesque. I am thoroughly appreciating the challenges and possibilities of this medium, and I hope viewers enjoy the pieces as much as I enjoy making them.

Artwork from this show will be available for presales starting in early January 2009. I will post samples and where to go for presales around that time.

Recent Highlights

Oh my. It seems like the times when I have the most to write about are always the times when I don’t write anything at all. So this is going to be a big update. Here’s a recap of highlights from the last several weeks:

Pinup Workshop in a Book, RELEASED!

Presales for my book, “Plain Jane to Pinup Queen: Pinup Modeling Workshop in a Book,” were shipped out a day ahead of schedule, and the book is now available for immediate shipment. Jam packed with information about how to create a flattering silhouette, this book will help you look better at photo shoots, for candid shots, and even on stage!

Tease-o-Rama Burlesque Convention

This was a truly magical event. I was euphoric for weeks after the Tease-o-Rama weekend. Everyone was so supportive: performers were friendly and non-competitive, audience members were responsive and super friendly, and the staff! The people helping out behind the scenes were some of my favorite people in San Francisco. Mynx d’Meanor, Reverend Dick, Lady Borgia and Candy came up from San Diego for the weekend, and it was so wonderful to hang out with those folks. They are really transforming the burlesque scene in San Diego, too. They are bringing individual troupes together for collaboration on shows, which no one in SD did before. It is great to see a trend toward more inclusiveness and cooperation in a regional burlesque scene. (Click here to see a great photo of me, Reverend Dick and Lady Borgia backstage after my act!)

My student group, the Burlesqueteers, performed at the opening night meet-and-mingle, and they did a fabulous job. We did our bunny version of “Take Back Your Mink” from Guys and Dolls followed by Josie Starr’s Bunny Assassin act. There was a malfunction during the first number when the power to the sound booth got unplugged, but the girls kept their heads and played it cool like true professionals, and we really pulled it off.

I also performed a solo act during the Saturday night show, and it was so much fun. I really adore performing for a big room, and the Tease-o-Rama crowd is such an appreciative audience too. What a rush! I performed my Tassel Tricks act, which starts out super glam and then gets really silly, sort of a burlesque version of the bait and switch, and the crowd went right along with me. So much fun!

“Fromagique”

On Monday, November 17, my new Dixieland/traditional jazz band, “Fromagique,” debuted at the Uptown Hubba Hubba Revue show in Oakland. I am singing, dancing, and playing the hoochicoo in this project, and I can’t wait for our next gigs! The performance was really well received, and it was so much fun. The band was amazing. Randy Johnson put together all the arrangements and organized the band, and I have to say he did a terrific job. We still need to get a web page up and running for the band, so I will post links here once we have that together.

Monday night was the first time I sang on stage in almost 2 years, and probably the 5th or 6th time singing in front of a crowd EVER. Talk about stage fright! You know, I really don’t think it’s fair that every new kind of thing I do on stage has it’s own stage fright about it. I mean, I’ve been taking it off on stage for over a decade, so nothing about that scares me any more, but whenever I add a new aspect to it (talking on the mic or any speaking role, over the top comedy, and now singing…) I get stage fright as if I’d never been on stage before. I’m complaining, but I have to be perfectly honest and say that the stage fright is one of the reasons I keep performing. It shows that I am stretching, growing, trying new things. The day I stop getting stage fright is the day I give up the stage altogether.

Hitting the Reset Button

Wow, I haven’t written in so long and there is so much to write about. I’ve just been working, working, working my sparkly butt off (more than usual) the last few months and have not updated here at all. In addition to “Plain Jane to Pinup Queen: Pinup Workshop in a Book” that is officially available on September 30 (presales are available now!) I am working on two other book projects, one of which I expect to have available in late October or early November. No, I’m not telling you what it is yet, you’ll just have to wait for the announcement, but I am very excited about it. Aren’t I just a tease?

Venus Zinepublished a writeup about my Pinup Workshop in their fall issue. Venus Zine is absolutely my favorite alternative magazine, with lots of great writeups about the alternative music and arts scenes plus great DIY instructions and coverage. Pick up their fall issue now! You can read Joelle Caputa’s writeup of the pinup workshop here!

The Pinup Workshop Tour has also been keeping me super busy. I’ve done a ton of traveling this year, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to be slowing down going into next year either. Woo! I adore traveling, and not just the part where you’re hanging out in new and exciting places. I actually love the traveling part, the getting from Point A to Point B, on the train, the plane, and walking. It’s that in-between, on-the-way-somewhere-but-not-quite-there-yet limbo place that I like. It’s very relaxing. There’s nothing to do but sit there, read, and daydream. I get a lot of great ideas on planes, trains, walking, or even a few times on the back of a motor cycle. I get a lot of ideas in the shower or doing dishes too, but that’s a different story.

Of course, this is not as relaxing when taken to extremes. My Boston/New Haven trip turned into the Murphy’s Law trip from hell, and would have been miserable if the people in the workshops hadn’t been such dears. In particular, the ladies in New Haven were total dolls. That story is so great, I will write a seperate entry about it.

Right now, I am in New York, staying in Brooklyn with my friend Legs Malone, who is an absolute sweet heart – and an amazing burlesque performer! She is brilliant and beautiful and a wonderful hostess. She has had a few days off and a childhood friend in town as well, and it has been very cozy and wonderful hanging out. Other than the Pinup Workshop on Saturday, Randy and I didn’t schedule any work for this trip, and I am glad. It is so nice to be able to just relax and hang out with wonderful friends.

It has been so good, in fact, that I think it fulfilled my horoscope for me! From Free Will Astrology, which is absolutely the most delicious and witty horoscope anywhere:

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): My friend Joan was experiencing a cascade of
annoying physical symptoms — mediocre digestion, mild headaches,
chronic congestion in her ear, itchy skin. None was terrible, but together
they were a big distraction. After two trips to her regular acupuncturist,
there was little improvement. The acupuncturist decided it was time for
more drastic measures: He was going to try a dramatic treatment that
was akin to pushing a reset button on a machine. Success! Joan was freed
from the nagging ailments and experienced a thorough rejuvenation. I
suggest you seek out the equivalent treatment, Libra: Push the reset
button.

(BTW: I always read Libra and Scorpio because I am a Libra born on the Libra/Scorpio cusp with a Scorpio rising. However, I am only referring to the Libra horoscope in this instance. In case you wanted to know.)

I definitely feel like this trip has hit my reset button. I am more relaxed and invigorated than I have felt in a long time. Who says taking some time off right before big deadlines is a bad idea? It is sure working for me! I will write more later, after I have finished lounging for a bit…

Travel and Super Heroes (or Villains)

I’m hanging out in my hotel room in Boston right now. I am here for a Pinup Workshop tomorrow in Boston and another one on Sunday in New Haven, CT. One of the Boston Babydolls will be attending the workshop tomorrow and portions will be filmed for the Babydolls’ upcoming reality TV show! How exciting!

My hotel is in the South Side area of Boston. My cabbie from the airport explained to me that this is the gay neighborhood. Lots of yuppies now, he said, but it’s still very gay. I told him that I’m from San Francisco and that I’d be very comfortable here. From what he was saying, I expected that I’d landed in Boston’s version of the Castro, but not so. I went wandering the neighborhood today, and it’s a very nice neighborhood. Lots of brownstones, cute restaurants, parks… very residential really. Other than the gay bar next door to the hotel, I didn’t see anything that put me in mind of the Castro. Oh well. He also told me it was a dangerous neighborhood, but I think he’s wrong on that score as well.

Next week I’ll be in San Diego for yet another workshop and to perform in the second Fishnet Follies produced by my friends Mynx d’Meanor and the Reverend Dick! I will be performing a number that I have been wanting to do for oh… about 3 years! Finally! I have some special shoe shopping to do when I get back to San Francisco!

I *heart* NY!

I have been traveling so much during weeekends lately that after this series I will no longer be teaching classes on Monday nights so I can travel that day instead.  After my last trip to NY in June, I flew home that Monday and taught a class a few hours later. I was so exhausted! I was dreading the start of class, wondering how I was going to pull it off when I was so beat. Then I heard a little voice from inside say, “Just have fun with it.” That helped so much. I have been repeating that to myself again and again ever since. It really makes a good mantra for me! Joy is contageous, so the best thing I can do in any situation, especially in class, is to have fun. And when it comes down to it, why do people choose to take a burlesque class rather than yoga or something more traditional if not to have more fun? So I bought a couple of energy drinks, downed them during the class, acted like my normal goofball self and no one seemed to notice that I was not feeling at all Bombshell-ish.

The trip to NY was wonderful. We did a private Pinup Shoot for a staffer at Venus Zine, my favorite alternative women’s magazine (you can usually find it in the music section on the news stands). Joelle Caputa is writing an article about her transformation for the Fall issue, which will be available September 1. I can’t wait to see it!

We also ran a larger group Pinup Workshop and Photoshoot while we were in town. People from both shoots were enthusiastic about attending another workshop soon. That’s the best feedback I could hope for!

I went to Coney Island for the first time to attend the Mermaid Parade. It was amazing! The costumes were truly inspiring. There were a lot of burlesquers in attendance as well. I recognized Darlinda Just Darlinda, Little Brooklyn, and Pookie Patootie. Unfortunately, I didn’t run into Molly Crabapple, but I saw pictures of her at the parade online afterwards. Randy and I went with Legs Malone, who was able to get us into the parade to help carry the Mermaid Ball banner, so we were able to participate rather than just watch from the crowded sidelines. To get an idea of how wonderful the costumes were, check out some of the photos from the parade! This guy got some great ones, and there are so many more!

Legs also performed at Pinchbottom Burlesque’s Indiana Jones spoof show that weekend, so we went after the parade. The show was wonderfully silly and well produced. I loved it! It was also very inspiring the way they wrote it up as a play and the burlesque acts helped advance the plot. Brilliant! I see why they get such good press. Lots of shows in San Francisco get produced with a very consistent theme, but I haven’t seen anything written into a storyline that coherently. The closest we’ve come to that in San Francisco has been the Cock-T’s show where they have a cheer competition with the Diamond Daggers. If you haven’t seen a Cock-T’s show, you should check them out!