Babes in Space - Reviews and Reflection!

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!

And a review from the wonderful Adam Collier of Moony on Theatre:

What I was expecting is top-notch dancing with imaginative, lascivious, if not humorously sexual, choreography. This is precisely what I got. 

The whole group!

Melody Merlot as an Orion Slave Girl

Percy Katt as Captain Picard

Charlie Quinn as a Storm Trooper

~ Red

Reveal Me at the Rivoli - Reviewed!

The wonderful Rachel of Rachel Approved attended Reveal Me at the Rivoli's March show and was lovely enough to write this wonderful review!

Spoilers below:

Approve: I do approve, and I would go to another show to cement that good opinion.  ~ Rachel

 Oh yeah. We're approved. Take a look at everything else Rachel approves here!

Check out the next Reveal Me at the Rivoli June 6th, with information here!

I'm always interested in seeing what performers have to offer, and I always pay. Would you like to be on my stage? Apply!

~Red

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

Photographer Spotlight - Robert 'Nix' Nickson and Myla Strange

 Nix and Myla are definitely an experience to work with. Their shoots typically have an edge to the sexiness, involving blood, heads not attached to bodies, or heavy machinery. I love photo sets that have a narrative, maybe because of my writer background. Every time they contact me with an idea, I'm super excited to jump on it.

Our first shoot tougher involved nuns, school girls, and heavy blood-covered chainsaws. While the photos didn't turn out due to some bad luck, the experience was hilarious and the story behind the shoot and their attitudes really encouraged me to continue working with them and I'm so glad I did.


Here are some photos we've worked on together with Rodrigo from Rue Morgue Magazine!

The redhead always wins! Photos by Nix, makeup by 3BArtistry

 Nix and Myla float between Detroit and Toronto (and possibly some other places) and have recently opened up their studio in Detroit, where one of our shoots was used as a major unveiling! This one:

Christmas Corpse! Photo by Nix

As a bonus, I never leave a shoot with them empty handed. Whether it's a gorgeous fascinator, a really lush Santa Hat, or even framed prints of our previous work, they really appreciate and support the girls who work with them.

Check them out, and give them love!

~ Red

2011 in Review!

2011 was a whirlwind year for me, and now that it's at a close I finally have a chance to look back over what I've accomplished and what still needs to be done in the coming year.

This year I made the decision to roll with the punches and layoffs and try to manage a self-employed career involving burlesque and some of my other talents. I'm hoping I can keep that up in 2012!

Image from weheartit.com

Productions:

I produced two shows this year, and helped out with a few others. Ladies in Red was the first show of the year, at Cherry Cola's Rock 'N Rolla. The show went spectacularly, and I am so happy to have had a chance to work with the girls who have become a staple in my cast for producing. Also on this show was the debut of Izzy Ridged, aka Joey Arrigo who you may know from So You Think You Can Dance Canada. The drama following this show was disappointing and I found myself losing faith in the community due to the behaviour of some jealous people but it's best to ignore it and move forward, and that's what I did and will continue to do!

Babes in Space was another resounding success! My Star Trek vs Star Wars burlesque show sold out both nights of its show and received several positive reviews, as well as TV spots with Naked News and Cosmo TV. I'm so thankful to the audience and my performers for pulling out all the stops to make this show amazing, and to my friends who worked their pert asses off at FanExpo to help with the booth.

I've come to expect drama surrounding productions. Babes in Space was dogged by a very similar pair of productions by a group that had originally stated that they were aiming to promote and contribute to their community. Originally. I've removed myself from their association and the success of my event speaks for itself.

I've learned to guard my productions a little bit more seriously heading forward, and to consider those who I am making partnerships with more carefully. There are a lot of unscrupulous people that I simply do not need to waste time on. I will continue to surround myself with inspiring and talented people who don't feel the need to bully others to get ahead. Lead by example and all! Both shows were great success and moving forward with that will be my main goal!

Babes in Space group finale, photo by Chris Suppa

Shows:

I've had a chance to perform and play with a load of amazing people this year! The highlight was the recent show with my teacher Coco Framboise. Performing with Armitage Shanks and the whole cast was stellar.

The Toronto Burlesque Festival seemed to whip by this year and I really wish I had more of a chance to throw myself into the crowd! My performance on Sunday was both less and MORE stressful than performing at the beginning of the 2010 festival. Last year I was the Thursday opening act, and able to enjoy the rest of the weekend with the pressure off (though the pre-performance pressure was insane!). This year I had a load of other performances in my head and nervous anticipation leading up to the show! But the environment was great and I was in the first set so I got to see the rest of the performances. I was also able to write up the first few days of the festival for 21st Century Burlesque, and you can check out my diary over there!

Impromptease is probably my favourite regular show, both for the reason that its producers are brilliant, and the show is a ball of hilarity. I was also able to perform at Comedy Bar again, which was a bit nostalgic as that's the bar where I did my first burlesque performance!

Learning:

I was able to take quite a few classes this year, and I hope I can continue that into the new year. Coco's classes are a regular thing for me, and I was excited to take lessons from Burgundy Brixx and Jett Adore (whom I got to interview later). Through her I was also able to learn from Minnie Tonka and Armitage Shanks (who was brilliant, as usual).

Other classes I was able to take included a series of circus classes with my trainer through Centre of Gravity. I hope to focus more on my aerial skills in 2012, since quite a few things got in my way this year! I managed to make some progress on vocal classes with my sexy teacher, but due to time and cash I also had to let those slide. Again, something I want to pursue more responsibly in 2012! I also took some dace classes with Carla Catharwood, and though her idea of burlesque is at odds with mine (PussyCat Dolls style vs Strip Tease, which is a whole other blog post) she's an amazing dancer and a great teacher. I'd like to take more classes from her in the future.

A major class I took with the Hourglass Workout with Lyzabeth Lopez. This is a really hardcore women-only bootcamp focused on creating and enhancing an hourglass figure. I lost 15lb and about 15 inches over the course of the her classes, and made huge increases in strength. I'm continuing these classes in 2012, and you should too.

People:

I met some great people this year and furthered some previously existing relationships.

Toni Wallachy of Pink Panther Studios was a great connection and we've done amazing work together (and I hope to continue to do so).

Brook Alviano has continued to make some amazing costumes for me and others, and was indispensable with Kinky Biscuit (an upcoming star) during Babes in Space and the insanity there.

Tatiana of Spanish Fly Films has been incredible at filming and editing some amazing trailers, and I've got a load of work for her in the new year!

Coco Framboise stepped in near the end of the year and has been amazing, despite her busy schedule.

Kinky Biscuit, Toni Wallachy, and Tatiana in Windsor

I've learned a lot about how to keep positive influences close and disregard the negative ones that come out, and I'm going to try to get better at this in 2012.

The Future!

2012 already has a ton of things underway. I've been running in circles throughout December trying to get moving on projects that don't have dates yet. Of course, without dates, I have nowhere to go!

I'm really excited for the productions I have lined up for the new year! You can expect another Babes in Space from me some time around FanExpo. I will also be coproducing with the amazing Toni Wallachy of Pink Panther Studios , and have another show in the works with another infamous (and dapper) colleague that I'm incredibly excited about.

My monthly show is an experiment that will be launching February1st (stay tuned for more news!) and I have plans being made to attend Miss Exotic World in Las Vegas during the summer, and BurlyCon (finally!) in the fall.

With my passport renewal underway I'm excited to explore performance opportunities across the border and maybe even overseas!

That being said, obviously production is a major push for me this coming year. I'm hoping to continue my streak of sold-out shows! No pressure.

With my employment situation transforming from corporate salary to self-run business, I'll be looking for multiple opportunities to expand my social media clientele and taking some time to teach myself more tips and tricks in this area. Even though I feel I'm strong in this category, I'm all about staying on top of learning!

This blog will be undergoing a mini-makeover with some expansion into advertising, and I'm hoping to push forward on my Youtube page as well! My website needs an overhaul. This'll be a top priority for me.

As for my performances, I would like to audit my current acts and work on 'upping' their 'wow' factor. Less acts, higher quality! There are two festival style acts that I have buzzing in my head, and I'd like to refine my plane act as well.

Basically, more more more for this coming year!

Here's to 2012!

~ Red

Orangeroads Photography and Pink Panther Studios

I'm in love.

Don't tell the boy.

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!)

Check her out, and don't tell her I have a crush!

~ Red

Red Herring at Elefant II - No Elefants were harmed

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

Sucker Punch Review - G33KPRON Posts!

Remember when I went into the theatre with fangirlish glee, somewhere mid-March, and promised you all a review of Sucker Punch?

I suck. So here it is now.

The overall reaction to the movie from the critics and fanboy base was 'Meh' and frankly to them I give a glittery manicured middle finger.

What, you boys are having a hard time relating to women an action movie with no male lead characters? Who's surprised.

Yes the movie was shallow, largely centering around action and fire and explosions. It was also the only movie of its kind: Female ensemble lead with NO romance. It's basically a female version of The Expendables, minus the romance.

Here's a challenge: What other movies can you think of with strong female leads that aren't motivated by some dude?

Badass. Any questions?

Some people bring up the Angelina Jolie movie Salt when I mention a lack of female leads. FYI, it was written for Tom Cruise originally, and she's motivated by the husband's death (I think, I don't remembe.r It was a bad movie and I've already seen Bourne Identity*). Rarely has the Sucker Punch kind of movie been done before.

Not that I'm bitter or anything, but seriously? Your male action movies are so deep and meaningful. Who goes into a movie like Sucker Punch hoping for a deep and meaningful Oscar nominee? There are dragons and guns and knee socks in the trailer. This is female wish fufillment, just like superhero films for guys.**

And for the record, where are all the female pro movie critics? There's a serious lack in the field.

Jessica from G33KPRON shares my opinions on Sucker Punch, and is also a cool new site. Take a look, and comment here or there with your agreement or disagreement. She brings up the same points I've been harping on, and has a great quote from Mr. Snyder about the extended length of the director's cut. And a great quote from Jess herself:

"No damsel waiting for some jacked up, knight-in-shining-armor type to rescue her. These chicks are brutal, unflinching, and you believe every second of it."

Go. Discuss. I only hope for more female centered movies that don't end with a romance. We've got other shit to do.

EDIT: Bunnyhero on twitter linked me to this amazing in-depth review from Tor. Go, read it. Part 1 and Part 2. I love it. I love Tor, how did I miss this?!

"It amazes me how, even regarding a movie about women, straight men dominate the conversation."

~Red Herring

* The similarities are striking....except that BI was better.
** COOL female wish fufillment. If your wishes are more in the line of Twilight or Sex in the City I'm probably not your friend. Girls who want to fight dragons? Come chill.

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...

~ Red Herring