The Coney Island Double Horror Feature

 

This weekend was the Double Horror Burlesque Feature down in Coney Island. We had Serial Killer Burlesque VII and Killer Clowns of Coney Island. It was my second time producing at Coney Island and my first time hosting at the Sideshows by the Seashore.

I was extremely thrilled that It's A Little Stormy gave me a chance to help out with her with her Serial Killer Show. Living upstate, sometimes it's hard for her to make it to her shows and I offered to help her as co-producer in case she was stuck up in the mountains again. I have always enjoyed working with Little Stormy because she never censors my art. She encourages me to get wild on stage, and it's something about the magic of Coney that lets me feel like I can be the freak I am on the inside. My first performance in one of her shows was "Twilight Zone Burlesque" that was done in complete grayscale. I only took the gig because I happened to have an entire black and white costume for a cutesy silent film act I created a long time ago. Picking the Twilight Zone episode "The 16mm Shrine" transformed that cheeky little act into this incredibly intense story of an aging woman grasping onto her youth. My act ran over six and half minutes, way over the standard burlesque performance, to the complete Mars Volta song "Roulette Dares (In The Haunt Of)" and Stormy never complained about the time. The crazy guitar solo was her mental breakdown, the act took on a whole new level than the actual episode. I felt the connection to the character because I sometimes wish I could go back and make changes to my early burlesque career. I must say the experience completely changed my feelings about the art I wanted to bring to stage. Yes, burlesque involves nudity, but it's so much more than that. I wanted to tell stories, create a reaction out of the audience besides tightness in their pants. I have never performed the cutesy version since.


As much as I love creating interesting and complex acts, my experience in the burlesque community and everything I learned from working so closely with the Slipper Room made me also understand not all producers or audience are not fit for such acts. Some people come to shows as a pleasant escape from a stressful work week. They want a little humor, and a little sparkle. I have acts to fit these certain needs but I know whenever I work with Little Stormy, I can go balls to wall. And acts like that is what I look most forward to. When I first performed in her Serial Killer show, I did a tribute to Aileen Wuornos and Stormy told me that the act brought tears to her eyes. I put a lot of thought and research into this act, exploring the roots behind such vicious murders. Why she stood out so uniquely as a ruthless serial killer, not normally a slot for a woman to be in. But if you learned about her life, you can't really blame her. She went through so much abuse in her childhood, adulthood, all her life that one day she just snapped. Though I do feel sympathy to her innocent victims, I also feel an incredible pity for her. And I feel my act pays a proper tribute to her life, victims and circumstances. I think any girl that has been exploited or hurt by men can understand what brought her to such insanity.

                       A man hater- but can you blame her?


Producing this show also allowed me to make a few other people's dream come true. For one, my friend Obsidian Absurd made her debut there and also my darling co-host Clown Kong. I was very surprised that Clown had never performed at the Sideshows by the Seashore, he loves Coney Island so much. He always says that his two favorite holidays are "Halloween and Mermaid Parade"- and I think that's why we get along so well. It's mine too. We had such a great time hosting together, I may even say (write) that it was our best show yet. I felt at home. Clown really shined that night. His roommates came to the show, dressed also in clown face, and I got a good laugh seeing them beam about the show as we were crammed in a taxi on the way home. Three drunk clowns all stuffed into the backseat. I wish my camera hadn't died because that would have been a great sight to share.




    Matt Knife as HH Holmes       The darling Obsidian Absurd

30 Day Writing Challenge

Hello everyone,


Sincerely Yours here. Yes, I know it has been a long time. I apologize for such a long absence. There has been so much that has happened since my last entry and I don't know where to begin. It's been a challenge figuring out the best way to talk about the last three years of my life. So I started to think about that time I met the author Ron Rosenbaum, a writer mainly of non-fiction. I met him at a coffee shop in Midtown at a communal table and wound up talking about writing.

A few weeks later, we met up to have lunch at a nearby Indian restaurant. Probably the nicest one I have ever been. He let me pick his brain for a bit as he picked about the rest of the several dishes we ordered. One thing I will never forget is how he described his process. He told me:

        "Write everyday. Get yourself a good book, a good pen and start the habit of writing something everyday. Even if it's just ten minutes. It doesn't matter what, just write something everyday."

So that's what I decided I should do. I have committed to this by writing something here everyday for the next 30 days. With my schedule it certainly will not be a set time but I promise to share something every single day to those who care to read it.  

I'm getting very excited about the next big Debauchery show. It will be our first show back since Kings County Saloon closed down and also Clown's 50th birthday! 

As much I loved our personal little home at Kings County Saloon, it's great to be back in the East Village. Clown's Debauchery show was originally home there, to several different venues. His former co-producer owned Kings County Saloon, so we moved there back in January. 

Doing this show together at a new venue is almost like a re-affirmation of our commitment to one another as co-producers. When I heard the news and Clown talking about finding a new venue, it was kind but also kinda a relief. I am a baby producer, he took a chance with me when I had only produced one show in my career at that time. So it made me happy to know he take me with him to the next new adventure, next night spot. The show will go on!

XXXO,

Sincerely Yours

Wow, was last week's Glitter Gutter amazing or what? In case you weren't there, Scotty the Blue Bunny was back in town from Germany and it was his birthday! The staff of the Slipper Room had been buzzing about it all week, how excited we were to see him. Scotty the Blue Bunny was a frequent emcee at the old Slipper Room, so anyone on staff that were not familiar with him were quickly educated by the older staff. I remember one time when we were decorating the new club seeing an old flyer with Scotty touting a glorious porno mustache. What a legend. It was almost like we were anticipating the Easter Bunny.

Even the customers were excited. There was definitely a shift in energy transitioning from Debauchery and the Glitter Gutter. Different walks of life came in. Friends proudly and eagerly walking in sporting big bunny ear headbands, even bringing little homemade gifts. Here is a cute little toy bunny I snapped at the bar.

At the end of the night, I cleared the tables and scooped up all the candles onto my tray. I like to keep them lit so I can still see where I am walking around the main floor. I whizzed by the remaining performers and regulars, it's sorta like our end of the night staff party.  More like family time.

Scotty's eyes lit up when he saw me with the tray and we looked at each other with this strange excitement. Without saying a word I rushed up to him and he proceeded to blow out the pretty tealights like the tray was an enormous birthday cake.  "Happy Birthday Bunny!" I shouted, and I felt like a little kid again playing make believe. Scotty the Blue Bunny kinda has that effect on people, he brings out this joy and wonderment. Standing larger than life, he is just himself in a bright skin tight blue bunny outfit, a character all on his own. He's naturally the center of attention but also is considerate and generous about praising others, even on his own birthday he acknowledged me and Chris Harder's birthday, which are only a day apart.

I remember the first time I met was on New Years Eve 2012. He greeted me with a full on open mouth kiss. I didn't mind, just laughed. Kisses were spread throughout that night more than glitter but I was alone that night. When the ball dropped I was throwing confetti off the balcony onto the crowd with Nick, even he has his girlfriend there to smooch in the new year. So a little later one of the Coney boys stopped by for a drink. He too missed a kiss at whatever nearby party he had come from, so he laid one of me by the DJ booth. I remember Mel Frye noticing from across the bar and I started blushing. Later that night another certain boylesque performer grabbed me behind the curtain, while drunk customers danced away the disappointments of the previous year. I didn't mind as I considered him a friend and just went with it. I like boys and so I was still kissing a cute boy. Kissing a gay man was hot and it made me feel like I was the man. I scooped him up in my arms and threw him up against the wall and as he straddled his legs around me. Although I went unscathed that night, not everyone else did, as we found a naked man passed out in one of the bathroom stalls. It took four of us and a handcart to wheel him out of the club, having to use the elevator as stairs were not an option. It was cold and snowy out but our cab we flagged down was reluctant to take the fare. We hurried him into the back and spent a good five to ten minutes pleading and negotiating with the driver to take this man back home to Brooklyn. 

It was a pleasure working with you...

Photo by Delysia LaChatte

Last Thursday was my last night posing with the Society of Illustrators. I have been asked to start working Thursday nights at the Slipper Room. Although I wanted to go out with a bang, the above ground train kept delaying over the freezing cold. I started to panic when I approached Manhattan exactly at call time, I thirty minutes before session started.

I had managed to get all my makeup on, lashes included, as I sat waiting anxiously on the Williamsburg Bridge. Where I need to be was just over yonder, I can almost grasp it. At least there was a beautiful sunset. People always watch me on the train when I put on my makeup, but I have gotten used to it. I have gotten surprisingly steady with liquid eyeliner on a moving train. Cars are actually harder. When they see that the application is going high scale, bigger than date night look, they watch curiously with a respectful distance. Sometimes I briefly catch eye contact with elderly men and women, who look at me with this endearing nostalgia of when pin ups were really Pin Ups. I smile at them and get back to work in the mirror.

I had no time to waste and changed my clothes in the taxi. I told the young driver my plight and he had his mission. Our theme was exotica and here I was peeling off layers and layers, even changing to a strapless bra, to transform into a tropical beauty. Scarves were replaced with sweet smelling coconut oil, my head before wrapped was now blooming with pink peacock plumes. And of course my favorite beautiful stargazer lily clip. When it comes to summer wear, the Floridian comes out shamelessly in me. This is my terrain, I understand the art of flip flops.

Despite the cabby's best effort, traffic made us practically idle just a few blocks away. I felt no choice but to hoof it, crunching through the snow with a long maxi dress billowing out of my Winter Wonderland red coat, a promise of warmer times just a few months away. Oh how you tease chartreuse and flamingo pink! Feathers bopping all down the block where everyone was staring at me. I've gotten used to it, haven't we all? I didn't have to time to care, nor even shiver.

Posing as an art model is a lot different than posing for a photoshoot. Standing still is a skill. The ten, twenty minute poses are especially challenging, and when I first starting working with them I would over commit to my poses. I remember a couple times my knees buckling or arms going entirely numb. Keeping a facial expression can also be tricky, as I try to bring something that tells a story, sometimes I have to switch between two different expressions. Or else my face may stay that way! I have been told that something that I bring into my burlesque and modeling is deep emotions, whether bright or dark. I know that when I stare into the audience, my eyes seem to glaze over. I remember my very first burlesque class was with Indigo Blue, where we went over penetrative and receptive stares. I was paired up with Cherry Typhoon, but didn't know at the time. Her stare was intense and lurked even danger deep within. When I eyes started to blur, I asked Indigo if that means I need to see a doctor and she said instead "No! That is actually a very good skill to have!"

I hope to pose again soon on another night, even it means another group, although I really enjoyed working with the Society of Illustrators. The building is a beautiful old Victorian style building, with an old swanky bar included. We used to get dressed in a big beautiful library, with shelves to the very top. All it was missing was one of those cute ladders to slide across in a musical style fashion. Here are a few photos of some of the sketches during my time with them.

Luma Rouge

Russell Bruner- Man of Mystery

http://swingtimepdx.com/

Last week at the Glitter Gutter we had Russell Bruner from the West coast. I chose him for my favorite act of the night because how well developed his performance was. It was a combine striptease and talent act, where he performed hat tricks and fancy footwork with his cane to ragtime style music. I appreciated the details to his period costume, not only bejazzled to the nines, it incorporated textures and decorative inner lining. I am someone who also enjoys embellishing the insides of my costumes, sometimes to be more sparkly than the exterior. I suppose I like it is my way of paying tribute to inner beauty, or not judging a book by it's cover.

The striptease element was one of the best I have seen in the boylesque circuit. It is clear the man has been dancing for a while, you just have to look at his sock gartered calves. He's routine stayed always interesting and was not repetitive. It danced about in a playful fury with his man sparkly man thong, bouncing all about a front row filled with mostly men. It was hilarious and the audience explode with applause and laughter. Later at the bar after the show, I asked him what was in those panties that made him able to bounce the way he does, which in indulged to me but unfortunately not for my readers.

Rush Hicks and Velvet Crayon

This week Sincerely Yours gives Rush Hicks and Velvet Crayon the title of 

"Slipper Room Star Act" of Wednesday nights!

I love working Wednesday nights, I'll take them over the crazy weekend crowd any day! Weeknights are the best nights at the Slipper Room to curl up with a date at a table and watch some real LES entertainment. The Glitter Gutter always features some wild acts and this week Rush Hicks and his sidekick Velvet Crayon take the cake! Part of the Squidling Brother's Traveling Sideshow,

www.squidlingbros.com

these boys sure represented the "gutter" aspect of the show. Rush is born with a rare genetic condition that makes his cells extremely elastic, allowing him to twist and contort his body in way it just shouldn't. Just don't applaud him for it, as he hates applause. As Rush continues to twist and torture himself, with trusty Velvet Crayon by his side, audience members avert their gaze, head to the bar with their back to the stage and tipsy couples holding onto themselves tightly as they view on in  absolute horror. 

 For the duo's second act, Rush proceeds to stab himself multiple times as Velvet plays a sad lonely folk song, which appropriately sets the scene. Rush does not only puncture himself in the typical sideshow spots but straight through his Achilles tendon! Rush, didn't you learn in history that's a very delicate area?

As much as I love learning new styles and art forms, I will keep the sideshow arts to these experts.

Other mentions I would like to bring up is the duet "The Miss Understanding" by Italian burlesque artists Dixon Ramone and Albadoro Gala which was a playful spin on Tempest Storm and Betty Page and Little Motown's diamond heist number. I sure hope that huge diamond prop breaks down into parts Little Motown!

One of the issues of creating acts in New York City.

Also, I got a huge laugh for this one birthday boy who came in late but just in time for the Slipper Room Birthday Spanking Machine. That is how the Slipper Room recreates your birth on stage with the night's cast. Let's just say that I didn't have to push drinks on him, he was already "fully celebrated" by the time he shown up. He stripped his top layers off as he went inbetween the lovely legs of tonight's performers, revealing a Star of David necklace. He kept going back into the machine, making Mel Frye exclaim "He's born again!"

Hello!

Welcome to my blog! I have so much to tell you, so many stories to share about my amazing journey into the world of burlesque. Please check back in soon when I have my posting up to date and in order. Thank you!