Boy oh boy am I lucky! Last week, I went down to NOLA to celebrate Halloween and go to the Tattoo Voodoo Convention, and much to my delight, I was able to catch the Dangerous Curves Ahead: Burlesque on the Go Go girls again! Performing at Rubyfruit Jungle on Decatur Street in New Orleans, watch their amazing opening act wearing my favorite undergarments, American Shapewear!
Don't forget! While these ladies are on tour you can receive 10% OFF your purchases at www.AmericanShapewear.com when you use the code: DANGEROUSCURVES!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
This past Saturday was a blast! One of my favorite traveling burlesque troops, DANGEROUS CURVES AHEAD: Burlesque on the Go Go had their Tour Kick Off show at Superfine in DUMBO, Brooklyn- NYC. And guess who their official sponsors are this year? None other than my favorite glamor lingerie company -- American Shapewear!
Not only were the ladies sporting some bad-ass shapewear, but they had a SAMPLE SALE in the back. That's right -- and everything there was only $5-$25!! Yup, you heard me. I came home with quite a few more items...
On a related note, I am loving the album American Shapewear posted on their Facebook today, so I thought I'd share it with all of you. Click on the picture below to view the album!
Dangerous Curves Ahead Show on Facebook
Oh and I forgot the best part!! They gave out these cards:
That's right -- 10% OFF your entire purchase when you use the code: DANGEROUSCURVES on www.AmericanShapewear.com! So ontop of my sample sale shapewear and an amazing performance -- I also get to take home a non-expiring discount code. I don't think it gets much better than that..
Not only were the ladies sporting some bad-ass shapewear, but they had a SAMPLE SALE in the back. That's right -- and everything there was only $5-$25!! Yup, you heard me. I came home with quite a few more items...
On a related note, I am loving the album American Shapewear posted on their Facebook today, so I thought I'd share it with all of you. Click on the picture below to view the album!
Dangerous Curves Ahead Show on Facebook
Oh and I forgot the best part!! They gave out these cards:
That's right -- 10% OFF your entire purchase when you use the code: DANGEROUSCURVES on www.AmericanShapewear.com! So ontop of my sample sale shapewear and an amazing performance -- I also get to take home a non-expiring discount code. I don't think it gets much better than that..
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
I've been a BurlyQ aficionado for quite some time, and we all know about my affinity for shapewear. Well, imagine my delight when this popped up in my newsfeed!
That's right! My favorite shapewear company, American Shapewear did a photoshoot with one of my favorite performers, Miss Gal Friday!
And just to further prove how the universe works in mysterious ways, I had an opportunity to see Gal perform the following evening at Nurse Bettie! After the show, I approached Gal to compliment her on her performance and photographs -- And she was kind enough to offer to do an interview with me for the blog!
Gal and I sat for a casual encounter in my home over coffee to talk photos, Burly Q, Life Philosophy and Lingerie! It was an absolute blast. Check it out!
Interview with the lovely "Five-Alarm Fire of Burlesque", Gal Friday:
Betty: Hi there! Thanks so much for agreeing to sit down with me and talk!
Gal: Hi! You're welcome, I'm totally glad to be here!
Betty: Before we get into the thick of it, let's talk about those photos I caught of you on Facebook for American Shapewear.
Gal: Oh, those were a ton of fun. I was referred by a friend of mine to an ad agency that has American Shapewear as a client. They're trying to open their market to the performance and Burlesque community a little bit more, so they asked me to do a photoshoot in exchange for some shapewear and a disc of the photos. They were shot by a really down to earth photographer, Lane Bensen, who works for the agency -- but also has her own photography company called "Bunny Lane Photography". You can get a hold of her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BunnyLane.
Betty: Oh, that is fun! I saw you had on American Shapewear by RAGO, which I am a longtime fan of. What products were you showcasing?
Gal: Let's see, I had on their:
Satin and Lace Bra - Rago Style 2190
Wide Band Thong - Rago Style 801
Girdle with Garters - Rago Style 21
Betty: Can we post some of the pics on the blog?
Gal: Absolutely. I'm a big fan of the one of me on the phone, it's super dynamic and was really fun to play around with. They also have a video of my shoot on Youtube. It reminds me of the classic "Bettie Page Reels" -- It was really great working with American Shapewear and the Ad Agency.
Click to View Gal's Photos
Click to View Gal's Video of her Shapewear Shoot
Betty: And you said you have a coupon to offer readers?
Gal: Yes, go ahead and log on to www.AmericanShapewear.com and use the coupon code GALFRIDAY to receive 10% off your orders!
Betty: Wow, that's a great deal, thanks!
Gal: No problem!
Betty: So, now that that's out of the way -- Let's start with a little background info. Where are you from?
Gal: I'm originally from Tennessee and went to school in Kentucky for Theatre -- That's the reason I moved to New York.
Betty: [laughs] I can hear it! I love that you still have your accent!
Gal: [laughs] Yep!
Betty: So you moved to NYC to pursue theatre?
Gal: Yep!
Betty: And how did your time in NYC influence you to start getting involved in the Burlesque scene?
Gal: Well, I was looking for a creative outlet -- I wanted to perform, but my interest in theatre was waning to be honest. I just didn’t enjoy the competition and I wanted to not only perform but to make friends and to have, I guess, a "support community" around me.
Betty: New York’s kinda tough for that sometimes -- finding a community.
Gal: I think so. Especially supportive females. I found that to be one of the most important things to me at the time.
Betty: So, you sort of found solace in the community aspect of Burlesque... How did you actually end up in the performance aspect of that community?
Gal: Long story short, a girl that I worked with had done burlesque and I saw her debut performance and really enjoyed it. But it wasn’t until a full year later that I sought it out for myself.
Betty: And what was the process for that?
Gal: Well, that's a funny part of the story. The girl and I had worked at the same gym and quit long ago. When I wanted to do it I didn't know how (we didn't have the NY School of Burlesque then) so all I knew is that she was my “connection”.... So, one day I’m on the R train and I see her and I’m like "Janice!" And I had to get off in like two minutes and knew I didn't have a lot of time so I asked her quickly: "I wanna do burlesque, how do I do burlesque?" [Laughs] And she goes "Meet me at Raffifi tomorrow at this time.." or whatever, and she’s like "It's gonna be a great show! I’m gonna introduce you to World Famous Bob."
Betty: So you get to the show...
Gal: Yea, the really cool thing was that the show itself was a "Miss Exotic World Benefit" show -- and the great thing about that was I got to see some of the best performers in the industry, so I really got a great chance to see a “powerhouse show". At the time, World Famous Bob's "New Girl Review" was going on. It was great -- My friend Janice, (who's stage name was Lola Pearl) introduced me to Bob and she was like "Here is my contact, contact me and I’ll put you in a show."
Betty: And that was that?
Gal: That was that! The coincidence was fabulous.
Betty: So, what was your first show like?
Gal: Incredible. There was so much I didn’t know, but it was great. I met a girl who became a good friend and it was just FUN. I never did the act again because the act was awful. [Laughs] I mean really awful. But, I remember how fun it was to put together and practice in my tiny bedroom. But to walk in and see Bob put on her makeup and be like “Glitter on your lips!?!? That’s amazing!”. [Laughing] But, I walked away with so much and felt fantastic and thought “This is it. I’m going to do this!”.
Betty: So, I'm dying to know. Who is your favorite Burly Q performer?
Gal: My favorite legend of burly is Patti Waggin’. The thing I like about her is that her performance style is very upbeat and she's a real Powerhouse. Her moves really have that "Pop!" -- She’s doing a lot of traditional burlesque stuff but its very bump and grindy. And she always looks so full of joy – the dirty moves come off nice and clean.
Betty: You keep using the term, ”Powerhouse”. Whats that about?
Gal: There’s something about watching performers to me -- Some people are good, but some people are good and have that UMPH. [Chuckles] That thing that makes them really exciting to watch.
Betty: A stage presence?
Gal: Yes. To me, a "powerhouse performance" goes above and beyond a dance or theatre background. It's that special something that makes people gravitate towards you. You know, you can feel it. Watching a particular performer when you see they put that extra “something” into their act or persona is really a treat.
Betty: So, a sort of "je ne se quois"?
Gal: Yeah, for example. Watching videos of Patti Waggin', there are a couple of times she does moves that could appear awkward -- but you can look beyond it, and it even becomes charming because there’s something about her that just radiates and she makes it work. She's incredibly dynamic. I use both those words a lot, dynamic and powerhouse.
Betty: So I hear you work at the New York School of Burlesque?
Gal: Yes, I am one of the instructors there. Jo Boobs (Owner/Head Instructor) is generous enough to call me her “business partner”. It’s something I’ve learned a lot from, and really enjoy.
Betty: Jo Boobs? She just put out a book right? :
Gal: Yes. The Burlesque Handbook -- And it's excellent. It really is. It’s got great advice and practical use. For example, she has a whole section on how to make pasties with pattern, but it's also personal and she talks about her inspirations. It’s a fun read -- and it has a lot of great pictures , which I love.
Betty: If someone wanted to take a class with you, how would they go about that? What do you teach?
Gal: You can go to www.schoolofburlesque.com and it has a full class schedule and a contact email. And we teach a variety of classes, but one of the most popular ones we have is actually a series of classes called the “essential burlesque series” and it's every weekend for a full month and it includes a variety of classes such as “fan dance, glove and stocking peel, classic moves, etc”. I teach all of those classes as well.
Betty: Where can we find you? On the web? Venues?
Gal: Well, you can find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/galfridaynyc. I always list my upcoming performance dates and I have a website in the works so I’ll let you know when that’s up.
Betty: Gal, thank you so much again. It's been a real pleasure!
Gal: Likewise!
That's right! My favorite shapewear company, American Shapewear did a photoshoot with one of my favorite performers, Miss Gal Friday!
And just to further prove how the universe works in mysterious ways, I had an opportunity to see Gal perform the following evening at Nurse Bettie! After the show, I approached Gal to compliment her on her performance and photographs -- And she was kind enough to offer to do an interview with me for the blog!
Gal and I sat for a casual encounter in my home over coffee to talk photos, Burly Q, Life Philosophy and Lingerie! It was an absolute blast. Check it out!
Interview with the lovely "Five-Alarm Fire of Burlesque", Gal Friday:
Betty: Hi there! Thanks so much for agreeing to sit down with me and talk!
Gal: Hi! You're welcome, I'm totally glad to be here!
Betty: Before we get into the thick of it, let's talk about those photos I caught of you on Facebook for American Shapewear.
Gal: Oh, those were a ton of fun. I was referred by a friend of mine to an ad agency that has American Shapewear as a client. They're trying to open their market to the performance and Burlesque community a little bit more, so they asked me to do a photoshoot in exchange for some shapewear and a disc of the photos. They were shot by a really down to earth photographer, Lane Bensen, who works for the agency -- but also has her own photography company called "Bunny Lane Photography". You can get a hold of her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BunnyLane.
Betty: Oh, that is fun! I saw you had on American Shapewear by RAGO, which I am a longtime fan of. What products were you showcasing?
Gal: Let's see, I had on their:
Satin and Lace Bra - Rago Style 2190
Wide Band Thong - Rago Style 801
Girdle with Garters - Rago Style 21
Betty: Can we post some of the pics on the blog?
Gal: Absolutely. I'm a big fan of the one of me on the phone, it's super dynamic and was really fun to play around with. They also have a video of my shoot on Youtube. It reminds me of the classic "Bettie Page Reels" -- It was really great working with American Shapewear and the Ad Agency.
Click to View Gal's Photos
Click to View Gal's Video of her Shapewear Shoot
Betty: And you said you have a coupon to offer readers?
Gal: Yes, go ahead and log on to www.AmericanShapewear.com and use the coupon code GALFRIDAY to receive 10% off your orders!
Betty: Wow, that's a great deal, thanks!
Gal: No problem!
Betty: So, now that that's out of the way -- Let's start with a little background info. Where are you from?
Gal: I'm originally from Tennessee and went to school in Kentucky for Theatre -- That's the reason I moved to New York.
Betty: [laughs] I can hear it! I love that you still have your accent!
Gal: [laughs] Yep!
Betty: So you moved to NYC to pursue theatre?
Gal: Yep!
Betty: And how did your time in NYC influence you to start getting involved in the Burlesque scene?
Gal: Well, I was looking for a creative outlet -- I wanted to perform, but my interest in theatre was waning to be honest. I just didn’t enjoy the competition and I wanted to not only perform but to make friends and to have, I guess, a "support community" around me.
Betty: New York’s kinda tough for that sometimes -- finding a community.
Gal: I think so. Especially supportive females. I found that to be one of the most important things to me at the time.
Betty: So, you sort of found solace in the community aspect of Burlesque... How did you actually end up in the performance aspect of that community?
Gal: Long story short, a girl that I worked with had done burlesque and I saw her debut performance and really enjoyed it. But it wasn’t until a full year later that I sought it out for myself.
Betty: And what was the process for that?
Gal: Well, that's a funny part of the story. The girl and I had worked at the same gym and quit long ago. When I wanted to do it I didn't know how (we didn't have the NY School of Burlesque then) so all I knew is that she was my “connection”.... So, one day I’m on the R train and I see her and I’m like "Janice!" And I had to get off in like two minutes and knew I didn't have a lot of time so I asked her quickly: "I wanna do burlesque, how do I do burlesque?" [Laughs] And she goes "Meet me at Raffifi tomorrow at this time.." or whatever, and she’s like "It's gonna be a great show! I’m gonna introduce you to World Famous Bob."
Betty: So you get to the show...
Gal: Yea, the really cool thing was that the show itself was a "Miss Exotic World Benefit" show -- and the great thing about that was I got to see some of the best performers in the industry, so I really got a great chance to see a “powerhouse show". At the time, World Famous Bob's "New Girl Review" was going on. It was great -- My friend Janice, (who's stage name was Lola Pearl) introduced me to Bob and she was like "Here is my contact, contact me and I’ll put you in a show."
Betty: And that was that?
Gal: That was that! The coincidence was fabulous.
Betty: So, what was your first show like?
Gal: Incredible. There was so much I didn’t know, but it was great. I met a girl who became a good friend and it was just FUN. I never did the act again because the act was awful. [Laughs] I mean really awful. But, I remember how fun it was to put together and practice in my tiny bedroom. But to walk in and see Bob put on her makeup and be like “Glitter on your lips!?!? That’s amazing!”. [Laughing] But, I walked away with so much and felt fantastic and thought “This is it. I’m going to do this!”.
Betty: So, I'm dying to know. Who is your favorite Burly Q performer?
Gal: My favorite legend of burly is Patti Waggin’. The thing I like about her is that her performance style is very upbeat and she's a real Powerhouse. Her moves really have that "Pop!" -- She’s doing a lot of traditional burlesque stuff but its very bump and grindy. And she always looks so full of joy – the dirty moves come off nice and clean.
Betty: You keep using the term, ”Powerhouse”. Whats that about?
Gal: There’s something about watching performers to me -- Some people are good, but some people are good and have that UMPH. [Chuckles] That thing that makes them really exciting to watch.
Betty: A stage presence?
Gal: Yes. To me, a "powerhouse performance" goes above and beyond a dance or theatre background. It's that special something that makes people gravitate towards you. You know, you can feel it. Watching a particular performer when you see they put that extra “something” into their act or persona is really a treat.
Betty: So, a sort of "je ne se quois"?
Gal: Yeah, for example. Watching videos of Patti Waggin', there are a couple of times she does moves that could appear awkward -- but you can look beyond it, and it even becomes charming because there’s something about her that just radiates and she makes it work. She's incredibly dynamic. I use both those words a lot, dynamic and powerhouse.
Betty: So I hear you work at the New York School of Burlesque?
Gal: Yes, I am one of the instructors there. Jo Boobs (Owner/Head Instructor) is generous enough to call me her “business partner”. It’s something I’ve learned a lot from, and really enjoy.
Betty: Jo Boobs? She just put out a book right? :
Gal: Yes. The Burlesque Handbook -- And it's excellent. It really is. It’s got great advice and practical use. For example, she has a whole section on how to make pasties with pattern, but it's also personal and she talks about her inspirations. It’s a fun read -- and it has a lot of great pictures , which I love.
Betty: If someone wanted to take a class with you, how would they go about that? What do you teach?
Gal: You can go to www.schoolofburlesque.com and it has a full class schedule and a contact email. And we teach a variety of classes, but one of the most popular ones we have is actually a series of classes called the “essential burlesque series” and it's every weekend for a full month and it includes a variety of classes such as “fan dance, glove and stocking peel, classic moves, etc”. I teach all of those classes as well.
Betty: Where can we find you? On the web? Venues?
Gal: Well, you can find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/galfridaynyc. I always list my upcoming performance dates and I have a website in the works so I’ll let you know when that’s up.
Betty: Gal, thank you so much again. It's been a real pleasure!
Gal: Likewise!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Dita Von Tease-Inspired Make-Up Tutorial!
Another great one! I simply love how she does the eyes! I think I'm going to try this look with a pencil skirt and my favorite "innerware as outterware" piece from Rago! That bra in black looks fantastic paired with a classic skirt!
Can't wait for Friday night!
Click to view!
Can't wait for Friday night!
Click to view!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
I've been looking at alot of Burlesque Performances lately on Youtube...
I searched the internet far and wide looking for a reasonably priced fan that I could potentially practice with. To no avail, everything I found was between $200-$1000 big boys to buy a pre-made or even fan making kit! Being the resourceful young lady I am -- I decided to make my own. Follow this to the "T" or change it up a bit, but these feather fans are perfect! They turned out super luxurious looking!
You'll Need:
- 25-30 large real or fake ostrich feather plumes, all roughly the same size
- Felt, velvet, valour, contact paper or any other material you deem fit.
- Posterboard
- Hot glue
- Ribbon
- Old brooch, beads or costume jewelry
- Pick out your feathers with co-ordinating colors. You can get them at a variety of places from craft stores to online wholesalers. I bought mine online and it seemed to be the best deal. (30 plumes for $87). Try to stick to the ostrich style feathers as you want that wonderful movement they make as you wave them.
- Take your posterboard and choose a style for a fan base. It can be a semi-circle, or if you'd like to get more complicated, you can do a scalloping design. Cut out two identical shapes and make sure they match up nicely. Then with the hot glue, wrap each piece in your felt, contact paper or velvet and neatly secure it on the inside of the posterboard pieces.
- Take one piece of the posterboard and lay it out on a flat surface, with the inside part facing you. Arrange your feathers across the base of the fan and make sure they are evenly distributed. Hold your thumb just above the bottom of the quills and secure them with a little drop of hot glue, just to tack them into place. Let harden completely (5-10min). Then make any adjustments you need to make sure the feathers overlap properly.
- Secure the fan handle pieces together with more hot glue. Make a few swirling patterns of hot glue on the quills of the feathers and glue the two pieces of posterboard together. Weight it down and let dry completely for 15 minutes. You will now have a fan, a rough one, but a functional fan. And now the fun begins! It's time to decorate!
- Give your fan some personality! Add embellishments to the front of your fan. Glue some dangling beads or ribbon to the front of your fan, then glue the giant brooch or other decorative element to the front to tie everything together. Once you have finished decorating the fan, let the glue dry and make sure everything is secure enough to not fall off while you're using it. Add additional glue where needed, and your fan is completed!
How To Make Your Very Own Burlesque Fan:
Now that I have my wonderful homemade fan -- I need a costume to match it with. I'm thinking I'm going to take my RAGO Wide Band Thong from American Shapewear and embellish it with some fringe and sequin rope -- cute, no?
I'm going to try it and blog about it next week so keep your eyes peeled!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
The New York Burlesque Festival is an annual event in New York City attracting the best Burlesque performers in the world -- and let me tell you -- it attracts beyond the best.
Last year I caught the Saturday show, hosted by Scotty the Blue Bunny, who's spandex blue suit and killer heels made the MC experience more than pleasurable. I'm grabbing my tickets early this year -- last year was packed full and the price is higher at the door.
The festival this year will run as follows:
Thursday September 30th: Teaser Party
Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Doors: 8pm
Show Time: 9pm
Friday October 1st: The Premiere Party
The Bell House
149 7th street (between 2nd & 3rd)
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Doors: 8pm
Show time: 9pm
Saturday October 2nd: The Saturday Spectacular
BB Kings
237 W 42nd Street
NY, NY 10036
Doors: 6:30pm
Show time: 7:30pm-11pm
Saturday Night Official NYBF After Party
11pm-1am @ Lucille's Bar
(Next door to BB Kings and free for all Saturday ticket holders)
Sunday October 3rd: The Golden Pastie Awards
Highline Ballroom
431 16th Street
NY, NY 10011
Doors: 7pm
Show: 8pm
This year I'm looking to go Friday at the Bell House (Gowanus, BK) to see one of my favorite performers in NYC, Gal Friday!!
Gal teaches at the New York School of Burlesque , and man does she school you a thing or two. Not only is she a brilliant performer, but I've had a few opportunities to meet her and she really is a genuinely nice and down to earth gal (pun intended). Maybe this year I can convince her to let me shoot her in that series of photos I've been talking about....
Friday, July 16, 2010
Learn how to make your very own set of pasties in this easy beginner's tutorial from Randi Kittens on CutOutandKeep.net!
I'm personally a huge fan of any type of DIY project and can't wait to try making a sequin pair to shake what my mama gave me in my new black waist cincher from -- where else? -- American Shapewear!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
I'm sure most of you have heard of famous Pin-up photographers such as Viva Van Story, but lately there have been small independent pin-up photo studios poppin' up in cities countrywide. I'd be lying if I didn't say that I've always thought about doing something along these lines.
I stumbled across a photographer named Celeste Giuliano the other day and was simply thrilled. She has an all inclusive studio in Philly, and provides everything you need to turn you into a gorgeous and camera ready pin-up.
Image: Celeste Giuliano Photography
What I love about these studios is that they are all inclusive. They have sets, costumes, a make-up girl, hairstylists, lingerie -- and from all the best designers as well. I keep seeing alot of clients in these photos wearing my favorite brand of undergarments, American Shapewear. Particularly the Satin and Lace bra and Rago's Open Bottom All-in-One Body Briefer (pictured above)-- but that's not what I'm writing about here.
This summer seems to be the Summer of Burly Q. Everytime I log onto Facebook I'm greeted with another event invitation to another burlesque show. Since I'm planning on going to a variety of events this summer, perhaps I can convince some of my favorite and lovely dancers to allow me to photograph them to get a head start. Who knows, maybe one day I can own a studio like Celeste Giuliano's, or be the next Viva....
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