I saw a comment on a site about how to become a burlesque performer. At the end of the article, a comment distressed me. It said, "Burlesque is dead, go to school and become a real dancer." This couldn't be farther from the truth. In every major city, you can find a show at some point. Dita Von Teese is an international icon and she ain't just selling lemonade! And burlesque competitions are always happening, with more forming every year. I got my first taste of the world of competitive burlesque this year, all thanks to my BurlyMama Dish Delish.
It started late 2015 when Dish told me of a duet she wanted to perform with me. I'm just starting at this point, having only done three or four shows over the course of two years maybe, but was visible in the pinup community. Dish and I were already good friends and she's done way more shows around the country. Our duet, "The Maid" debuted at a charity burlesque show, where she also had it filmed.
A few weeks later, Dish asked if she could submit the duet to the Burlypicks Michigan Regional, an international festival. Of course, she could submit it! If we won, we would be invited to the championships in Pittsburgh. In April, we had the regional and won Masters of Comedy, with Dish winning Third Best Overall for the entire competition! And like that it was decided, we would be going to Pittsburgh in September.
Now at this point, most people ask "What happens at a burlesque festival?" Mostly dancing and stripping, of course, but there is also so much more. Drag queens and kings, fire breathers, contortionists, and clowns. So it's more like a vaudeville, variety show. And the categories are endless. They are the following: Master of Comedy, Singing, Lipsync, Amazement, Improve, Tassels, Assels (yes, tassels on your ass), and Best Overall. Some acts are up for multiple awards and some, like the improve and tassels are made up on the spot. That takes talent!
So we went which meant we road tripped it to Pittsburgh four months later. In that time, I entered a Facebook photo contest and won another performance spot. A solo in the Best Overall category. I was elated and extremely nervous. I made a whole new routine and made a new costume from pretty much scratch. It's was my first time performing in this level and making a costume like that, but I loved it.
Our first night in Pittsburgh, I compete in the Miss Pinup Perfect Pageant which had three categories: daywear, talent, and evening wear. I planned my outfits months in advance and was extremely confident in everything I presented that night. The other contestants were a good group. It was almost like we were all in this pageant together instead of against each other. When I didn't win, I was disappointed, but everyone looked amazing, so I knew it wasn't because I did badly so I wasn't actually upset. I still had fun, and it was only the first night of the festival!
The second night was when the actual burlesque portion began. I mean, several girls did burlesque as their talent the previous night, myself included. But now it was in full swing. That night we saw Masters of Singing, Amazement, Lipsync and Comedy. I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but there were anywhere from four to seven performers in each category. There were so many amazing acts across the board, with Dish and I getting lots of great feedback. We did not win sadly, but when you are competing for Master of Comedy against a really good clown it isn't really surprising.
The third night was the big show. Best Tassels, Assels, Improv and Best Overall. These performers are no joke. The costume pieces I saw were covered in crystals and rhinestones, made and designed just for them. I instantly realized I was not on the same level with all these performers, but I was here and I was still going to give it my all. The thing I found the most shocking is these performers are all normal people like you and mean with normal jobs, off-beat sense of humors, and intelligent. But on stage they were beyond raunchy, baring pretty much it all. Some performers did things on stage I wouldn't imagine, but of course, we all love stunts and burlesque is about pushing the boundaries and is poking fun a bit at society and culture.
I didn't win and I wasn't surprised with it being my first time on a stage of this caliber, but the winner Egypt BlaqueKnyle who won Miss Pinup Perfection, Best Over All, Best Assels and several other awards (I can't keep track, haha) said "I' have work at winning this for three years." I knew this was just the start for me.
