Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Heading off to the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend!

.Off to Vegas I go!

Burlesque Hall of Fame, here I come!

One of the images from 2011's event
This year is the 55th weekend event and the 22nd annual Miss Exotic World Pageant that will decide the Queen of Burlesque for the year! It's being held at The Orleans Hotel and Casino.

I'm so unbelievably and extremely excited to finally be heading to Vegas. This will be my first BHoF, and my first Vegas experience! A little overwhelming...but luckily I've been so busy lately that I haven't even had a chance to worry about what I've gotten myself into (aside from the spastic flailings at showgirls who have gone, along the 'What do I pack?!' lines)Luckily, the BHoF site has this little gem of a guide:


I want to go to everything.

I will be heading there with he talented Toni Wallachy of Orangeroads Photography, and Pink Panther Studios, who you've seen images done by...everywhere. Including yours truly. She will be one of the official photographers of the weekend, so keep an eye on 21st Century Burlesque for almost instant photos of performances over the course of the weekend!

This year's image! That's Jennie Lee and Dirty Martini!

'What is Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend?' you may be asking:

The Burlesque Hall of Fame is the name of the burlesque museum that is now located on Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas. It was formerly located on the site of an abandoned goat farm in California and known as Exotic World. Dancer Jennie Lee started collecting burlesque memorabilia after she retired. After Lee's death in 1990, burlesque legend Dixie Evans took over the farm and turned it into The Exotic World Burlesque Museum. Disrepair and a host of other events eventually had it relocated to where it now sits on Fremont Street.


Dixie Evans started the Miss Exotic World competition in 1990 as a way to draw people to the museum. Queens of the past include Dirty Martini, Michelle L'amour, and more.



Indigo Blue, in chartreuse. Previous queen Roxi D'Lite in blue. Photo by Don Spiro, from BHoF 2011

The annual Miss Exotic World pageant is the first Saturday of every June. Each year a burlesque performer is crowned Miss Exotic World in a contest that is basically the Miss America of Burlesque, or the Superbowl of Burlesque. Winners receive both the title and a gigantic trophy. Last year Miss Indigo Blue of Seattle won, and the year before we had our first ever Canadian winner: Roxi D'Lite!
Roxi D'Lite. Photo by Don Spiro, from BHoF 2010


This year, who knows?

Off to...pack? Ick.

~Red

Friday, May 25, 2012

GEAR BOX: A Steampunk Burlesque - Photos



Red Herring Productions teamed up with Les Coquettes and Canadian Steam Productions to provide you with a show sure to get your gears grinding!

This was an amazing show for me to produce and I feel so honoured that I had the company of so many amazing performers and crew on stage and off. Here are some photos from what is one of Toronto's only fully-plotted burlesque shows!


Percy Katt as the mad scientist

Eve of Destruction as the experiment

JD Spark as the cat burgler

Tsuki Tsunami as a cabaret performer

Obskyura as a cabaret performer

A review from Edward Williamson

Red Herring really knows how to entertain the masses. If you have the opportunity to attend one of her events, I do highly recommend you take that opportunity. Not only does she find the best acts in the land, but she also finds the best venues with the friendliest staff.

It is always nice to see familiar faces and old friends, but I do also enjoy meeting new people. With Gearbox being tied to the convention circuit, Red did an excellent job of bringing in new faces. I do believe I spoke to as many people who don't attend conventions as I did convention attendees. A most superb turnout, indeed.

Mina LaFleur as the Madame

The cast of GEAR BOX: A Steampunk Burlesque

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Performing for Free? Note to Club Owners - Article by Dave Goldberg


A common issue across all performing and artistic communities is the struggle of performers to actually get paid for their art, their work, their time, and their talent.

I am firmly, and occasionally viciously, against performing for free. There are very very few cases in which I think it's acceptable. Especially in burlesque, in which you are stripping. Call it what you like, but you are stripping. There is absolutely no excuse to be giving that away for free.

Don't event use the word 'exposure.' After I'm done shuddering I might just expose you to a blunt object.

This article lays out the 'why' very well. Mind you, it's specifically directed at LA club owners, and from the point of view of a musicians, but the concepts cover all artists and club owners. The next time someone wants you to perform for free, think back to this.

Click here to read it.

Do you want some good points to convince you to click over?


"...it is no longer good enough for the musician to be willing to perform for little compensation...The expectations are that the band will not only provide great music, but also bring lots of people to their venue. It is now the band’s responsibility to make this happen, not the club owner."

"When a venue opens it’s doors, it has to market itself….Do you really want to leave something so important up to a musician?…I’ve played places where for whatever reason only a few people have walked in the door on a Saturday night.The club owner got mad at me, asking where are the people? I turned it around on him asking the same thing: Where are all the people? It’s Saturday night and your venue is empty. Doesn’t that concern you? What are you going to do about it?"

"...explain to the club owner that it’s not in their best interest to operate their business like this. There is too much at stake for them not to be truly invested in the music presented in their venue. Convince them that if they think that live music is important to the demographic that they are trying to reach, then they need to reach out to that demographic in a professional way. "          ~Dave Goldberg

There are many more ideas for how to get this point across tothe clob owners in your area. If this becomes a bit more commonplace maybe we'll start to see a change across the artistic community as a whole.

~Red

Monday, May 21, 2012

The Charleston Burlesque Festival!

A brief announcement:

I've been accepted to perform in the Charleston Burlesque Festival in South Carolina!

Showgirl travel booking commences! So many trips this year!


Wednesday, May 16, 2012

What is BurlyCon?

You need to go.

I'm just going to write that there before dumping any more information on you, so you get it. Do you get it? Do you understand?

If you are a burlesque performer, or want to be a performer, or are involved in the burlesque scene in a large way...you really need to attend this event. And if it's not 'for you' to attend? You need to promote it to every performer that you know.

BurlyCon is the only annual Burlesque Educational convention that I know of. No shows, no competitions, just pure, old fashioned learnin'!

From the site:
Our aim is to further the development and historical knowledge of this rare American art form that is experiencing a popular resurgence worldwide. Unlike other Festivals and Expos that highlight Burlesque performance, this weekend-long gathering contains no show and no audience. Rather, all activities at BurlyCon are focused on the behind-the-scenes components of Burlesque: building skills, deepening knowledge, and growing as a community.             ~ BurlyCon

BurlyCon is coming up in November, from the 1st to the 4th. That may seem like a ways off, but the deals for tickets started months ago. I advise you get in on it now!

They also have payment plans available! More information and registration options are AVAILABLE HERE!

BurlyCon 2011 class photo, by Don Spiro
You get four days of expert instruction, over 100 classes to choose from, and teachers like Alotta Boutté, Ophelia Flame, and Peekaboo Pointe
Keep an eye on their website for more updates, or sign up for their newsletter!
Will I see you there?
~Red

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

G33KPRON's Star Wars Day 1st Year Anniversary Party


May the Fourth be with you!

Get ready to celebrate international Star Wars day and G33KPRON's one year anniversary!






Obskyura, who will be C3PO. Photo by Orangeroads Photography

That's right! Just in time to give a little sneak peek for Babes in Space: in 3DD (August 26th and 30th this year), Red Herring Productions has let the sexy nerds out to do a little Star Wars burlesque on the stage of Tattoo Rock Parlour

Skaii Walker, who will be Darth Vader. Photo by Aaron Schwab


There will be quite a few sexy ladies for your enjoyment! From The Nerdy Stripper Skaii Walker as Darth Vader, Obskyura as C3PO, TyTanya as a bellydance Leia, Charlie Quinn as a delicious Storm Trooper, and of course me with R2D2!

Charlie Quinn, who will be our Storm Trooper.
And there are prizes, so check out what we have in store for you:

  • Darth Vader ForceFX Lightsaber
  • Star Wars The Old Republic game
  • Big Millenium Falcon Lego set
  • Jedi Force books
  • Star Wars Blu-Ray set

TyTanya, who will be Leia. Photo by Orangeroads Photography
Costumes are encouraged! 

Also, Jedi & Sith drink specials a the bar!

If you came to G33kPRONs last Comicon party then you know there will be impromptu lightsaber battles on the dance floor, awesome costumes and a just an all around good time. 


Red Herring (me!), who will be R2D2! Photo by Orangeroads Photography
Come celebrate one year of awesome for G33KPRON!

19+ event (please bring valid ID). $5 at the door before 10:30pm



See you there!

~Red



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