Babes in Space has come and gone again. For those who don't know (how could you not?) Babes in Space is my yearly Star Trek vs Star Wars burlesque show. For the last two years we've run double shows, which I've discovered is actually much easier and more fulfilling than running a single show!
El Toro, Kinky Biskit, and Charlie Quinn as Ewoks
This year the theme was 3-DD and I like to think we entertained in ALL dimensions! With singing, dancing, ewoks, cupcakes, aerialists, and some high profile audience members (like Playboy illustrator Doug Sneyd!) it was a packed show both nights!
Daytona Bitch as Princess Leia
This show has always been plagued with controversy, duplicates, and last minute 'Augh' factors...and this year was no different. The biggest hurdle this year was trying to figure out whether the show would have its customary booth at FanExpo, Toronto's largest nerd convention. Despite registration back in January, I didn't actually know if I had a table until a few weeks before the show. Luckily, I was able to share a space with The Comic Book Lounge, since despite my early registration I apparently did NOT have a position.
Coco Framboise as Uhura
The convention went well, despite the fact that the late notice meant I had no actualy merchandise beyond some prints and pasties to sell at the table. We sell a lot of tickets at the convention, but unfortunately that doesn't go towards covering the high table cost! It goes straight to production costs and performer pay.
That being said, the success of the show always makes the hurdles of putting it on worth it.
Nasty Canasta as Darth Vader
I had the privilege of booking Nasty Canasta,
one of NYC's biggest (and most hilarious) performers. Nasty had been
incredibly welcoming in my July trip to NYC (despite being under the
weather and very busy) and I was happy to have her and her Darth Vader booty on my stage.
Here's a few shots from the show, and a video with clips and reviews from the first night!
Earlier this month Mz Kitty Demure and I were invited to perform with Rockalily Burlesque in the 5th Annual No Pants Dance Party! All the way in Ottawa, Ontario! Or, as I call it, 'The Frenchland'
Of course, this requires a bit of a road trip. And, as I seem to do during road trips, I felt the need to film!
The trip was amazing, and I'm pleased to report that no cars were wrecked or towed! Of course, this video may contain drinking, shenanigans, no pants, and hot women.
For the first time ever, I just attended the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend in Las Vegas! For those who aren't aware, the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend is held annually as a fundraiser and competition to benefit the Burlesque Hall of Fame (henceforth, BHoF). Every year burlesque dancers from all over the world flock to Vegas to watch or compete for the title 'Queen of Burlesque" also known in the past as Miss Exotic World.
So, my first time at BHoF, my first time in Vegas.
The whole weekend? Utter win.
As many of my road trip vlogs apparently do, please be aware that this contains bikini's, debauchery, hot women, alcohol, and profanity. Also glitter.
Earlier this year, I applied and got into the Boston burlesque festival, known as The Great Burlesque Exposition. In order to get my plane down there (my awesome prop by 3bArtistry) I embarked on a road trip with my videographer (the maker of all the awesome trailers you see). Lord, was this trip an experience!
My faithful driving companion The Spanish Fly (aka Tatiana) was kind enough tot take on the task of driving me and my plane all the way from Toronto to Boston.
And then the car broke down.
The hilarity. It ensued.
Here're the videos of our adventures!
And part two!
So...warning for drinking, bikini's, and hilarity. How 'bout that sponsorship Doritos? Eh?
This holiday season was one burlesque event after the next! I don't think I had a chance to stop and enjoy the 'holidays' until I left Toronto on the train on the 24th!
Charlie Quinn and Timmy during rehearsal.
However, the rehearsals and meetings and events were fun and definitely worth it.
I had the pleasure of working with Coco Framboise, my teacher and
mentor, and took advantage of the chance to pack my mind with a ton of
tips and tricks she uses to stay cool and classy during a month that was
even more hectic than mine.
I also took advantage of the workshop class Coco ran with Armitage Shanks. This is the second one I've attended by him, and his format really encourages experimentation and learning. It really was amazing to learn from him, but also to learn from the other members in the class and how they executed his challenges, and what it took inside my own head to complete my portion of the workshop.
video by Spanish Fly Films
I'm trying to pull some of the attitude I displayed on poor Coco's lap into the act I'm doing tonight! We'll see how it goes!
Up Your Chimney: A Holiday Spanktacular, was an amazing show surrounded by hectic circumstances. There were many other events bracketing the show for Coco Framboise, including a huge personal inconvenience, a dashing out-of-town guest in Armitage (who was amazingly organized and amusing all times I saw him despite the busy schedule), and something like eleven gigs on her table.
Here are some backstage photos from show night!
Percy Katt as the Baby Jesus, Charlie Quinn, and El Toro in the backstage explosion.
Some components of the costume Lady Bonah, Coco Framboise and myself fabricated for our act.
Miss dd Starr making sure my rack was in place. Much thanks for the help!
Everyone pulled together to put on this show, and it was spanktacular
to be able to work with such talented and sexy people who I've known
and admired for a while. The show was a blast, and I had some dear
friends in the audience who I were so happy could make it!
Toni Walachy is one of the most amazing photographers I have ever worked with. She is the Mistress of Pink Panther Studios downtown Toronto on Queen St. East, which runs workshops on Sundays and Wednesdays, providing photographers with a full studio, and models with a full dressing room and wardrobe section!
Here's a video of a shoot we did with 3B Artistry and Spanish Fly Films. It was a full bodypaint, with two looks for photographers to shoot. This was a super long day, but we got some amazing shots!
Take a look at a few shots from some of our escapades!
You can add Pink Panther Studios on facebook too! Photographers and models can benefit from her huge prop room, Sunday workshop classes, and gorgeous space, which is also available to rent if you need a spot to shoot!
Here's a view of a corner in the front room, all done up for the holidays! Also available are the brand new corset bar, a kitchen and storage room with a load of props and a coffeemaker for those early-morning shoots, and a sexy private dressing room for models! The studio itself can accomodate at least two photosets at any given time, and probably a lot more! (What do I know, I just pose!)
I'm always a fan of the Toronto International Film Festival and the celebrity chaos it brings to the city. People tend to flock. Unfortunately the TTC feels the burden, and going anywhere downtown is a mess. Regardless, the chance encounters with some sexy stars tend to make it worthwhile.
Every year I end up working a TIFF event somehow, and luckily this was my second year at the Raindance gala! Take a look below at the interview I did while there!
One of my friends saw Ryan Gosling last year, hanging out at Cherry Cola's (where I used to gogo dance!) and another ran into Robert Pattinson.
I'm happy for the networking oppourtunities and the amusing artists I tend to meet.
Can't wait until TIFF 2012!
Babes in Space: The Wrath of Thong
was a sold-out spectacular spanning two nights at Revival Nightclub.
Toronto has never seen this level of sci-fi naked burlesque mayhem, and never will
again UNTIL 2012 when we return!
Thank you to my performers, sponsors, and
audience for making this Star Trek vs Star Wars geek-out fantastic! Take a look at a video compilation,
featuring performance clips, backstage peeks, and more!
Elefant II was a blast, despite containing absolutely no Elefants.
I
attended a benefit last Saturday and performed a burlesque act to help The Cheshire Unicorn promote their upcoming show Infinitum, an aerial and
acro dance spectacular. Alongside my tits 'n glitter were St. Stella and
Les Coquettes'Billie Black.
Billie Black on silks, Photo by Ryan Visima / vtography.com
Rawr.
Their cast of ladies were sexy and
talented, and I had a great time performing with them. Huge thanks go
out to La Minouche of Les Coquettes for allegedly reccomending me, and
to Melissa Major and Faye Rauw for bringing me in!
I also won the benefits' Infinity Auction for some acro and aerial classes! Aerial
taught by none other than the illustrious and beauteous and
nut-butter-covered Natalie Fullerton,* who was involved in the aerial
choreography of Infinitum.
Though there were no elefants at Elefant, I might do a good job
pretending I am one at our upcoming lesson. I haven't been in the air since
March-ish.
For more information on Infinitum, running Sept 30-Oct 16, visit their website: www.cheshireunicorn.com
~Red
* Note: She may not actually be covered in nut butter
Last year was my first ever attempt at producing a burlesque show. It was an opportunity for me to learn the ropes of pulling together a group of solo performers and constructing a night of stellar entertainment. It was also equal doses of insanity and doom.
I promoted tirelessly and we did a huge push during the weekend of the geeky sci-fi slash anime slash horror slash comic slash gaming slash GAH convention Fan Expo, which is a smaller version of San Diego Comic Con (and the biggest of its kind we currently have in Canada).
The show last year was a Star Trek versus Star Wars burlesque battle, Babes in Space: The Force, The Federation, The Fornication, sold out the Rivoli. I had to turn people away at the door! Despite my headliner cancelling an hour before curtain time (who does that?!) and a host of other insanity-causing issues leading up to the show (co-producing six shows, the convention itself, random variables that come about from trying to heard cats performers) the event itself was a resounding success!
Here's the trailer below, and stay tuned for performer features over the next few days!
Tickets are available online at: http://babesinspace2.eventbrite.com and I highly suggest you purchase them in advance if you plan on coming. There's an online discount (only $20! $25 at the door) and you're guaranteed a seat!
Me and some lovely ladies will be at Fan Expo again over the coming weekend, August 25-28th promoting the event. Come find us in Artists Alley229 and pick up some tickets, pasties, and a boozey cupcake or two!
Toronto's original Star Trek vs Star Wars burlesque extravaganza returns for its second year, bigger and better than last year's SOLD OUT SHOW.
We have a stars 'n studs cast of gorgeous ladies, knee-weakening men, and everything in between.
New this year are the introduction of aerial circus acts, one on each night! Miranda Tempest will be stunning as our Borg Queen, hanging several feet up! Faeya Tal will be our gorgeous redshirt in danger hanging from the silks!
I am SO excited to be featuring two of Toronto's sassiest drag queens. Heroine Marks and Daytona Bitch will be putting their stamps on the nerd burlesque scene, one each night of the show!
We are also featuring some of Toronto's sexiest men, courtesy of Boylesque TO and beyond.
Patastrophic Sexapeel, Mickey D Liscious, and the newcomer Percy Katt will all be representing the boys, and providing some manly acts.
Returning, we have such stars as Trixi Jones - winner of StripSearch 2010, the stunning pipes of Keela Watts, the most amazing Canadian Wolfman of Great Canadian Burlesque, and more!
Buy your tickets online for only $20! And hurry, because prices go up at the door, if there's any room left~
Don't forget, we have TWO SHOWS! One just after Fan Expo on August 28th and the next following on September 1st! We also have booze-filled cupcakes...because seriously? Boobs, booze, Boba Fett and Borgs. Win.
Can't wait to see you there!
~Red
PS: Orion Slave Girls return as raffle babes,and find me at Fan Expo Aug 25th-28th!
Hello all you burlesque babe wannabe's out there! This is for you!
Tassel twirling is one of the iconic moves in burlesque. That's what those tassels are there for! Now, while you don't need to twirl to wear them, or to do burlesque, I'm always in support of continuing education. This sort of continuing education is hilarious to practice, and makes a great party trick!
I learned to spin after a few drinks and some dedicated mirror-time. Very little else will get you to pro-status. Something that helped me immensley was attending Coco Framboise's classes, especially the one dedicated to this fine art. Not only is it amusing and sexy in equal doses, but it's also educational!
For those not able to attend Coco's classes (check out the current schedule here) this Youtube video also offers great instruction!
So there you go! Grab a bottle of wine and some spirit gum, stick those babies on and get to twirling!
But how do you go about using them on stage? Well for that, I point you to the spookiest of boobies: Elvira! Here's a video of some of the most classic and well known tasseling (and one of the best movies ever). Take a gander!
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is that!
If you haven't yet seen the feature film from which this scene is popular, I advise that you do. Buy it, watch it, love it. There's really nothing else to do where Elvira's involved.
~ Red Herring
Saturday, April 23, 2011
In which I ramble on about my Easter chocolate of choice (cadbury creme eggs!), a photoshoot with Craig Cochrane at Dragon Lady Comics, and more, plus! My tits say Ka-Pow.
I think the sound-to-video sync on this is off. I'm not sure why. Anyone have any tips? I'm using photobooth on my mac to film...
