In case you haven’t read it…
http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/the-burlesque-shoah/Content?oid=4399613
there you go!! Seattle based sexy columnist Dan Savage has caused an honest to god UPROAR over his review and general opinion about Burlesque and its future in an article posted on thestranger.com. The main meat of the article that seems to have every person’s (well not every person… but some persons) panties in a twist involve the fact that he actually gave a negative review (SHOCK! HORROR!) and that he suggests the scene won’t last long without higher standards from all involved. The comments after and on his facebook page range from complete agreement to angry outrage with the occasional burlesque is for fatties comment thrown in.
Me? I can see where he’s going with this. I think any connoisseurs of well.. anything! have an opinion on their favorite thing. Be it cooking shows, musak, or slam poetry. You have your opinion on what is good and what is bad. Different strokes for different folks or something like that. And we all have seen some bad Burly-Q. Bad Burlesque was in fact, what inspired me to try it. If those crazies can have some stage time… why not me? And thus the beginning of my end so to speak. But to demand absolute perfection from Burlesque? Sometimes performers are shitty. Sometimes even the best have a bad night and are shitty. Lack of preparation or experience or sometimes talent. I think we all got our start somewhere and I think that new performers should be allowed that grace period as well. How else will they improve? I think that if overall your show is entertaining we can survive a few diamonds in the rough. I think that the danger here in demanding only the super polished survive will result in losing some of what makes Burlesque truly beautiful. Its humanity. This is a grass roots art form. Arts and crafts basically. Here we are allowing regular girls and boys next door a chance to create and inspire. And to be less than perfect because God knows we are bombarded with that image every single minute in every single day. And its boring. And its unrealistic. And it makes people feel shitty because they can never live up to that standard. I can see absolute “perfect” (and I mean perfect in the most absolute sense in terms of performance and body) nearly naked girls dancing anytime. Vegas Showgirls, the Ballet, Pussycat Dolls, Crazy Horse in Paris, high end Strippers, any dancing girl on MTV.. I could go on and on and on. I think that the perfection of Burlesque sometimes lies in that imperfection. And celebrating that. For someone to see a body or person that isn’t perfect and still be beautiful and confident and creative! And maybe just possibly identify with that and think maybe I could do that. It’s magic if you ask me!!!! We are all creative beings. All of us. And seeing new performer’s vision and ideas and their bravery all come to fruition? I know it inspires me. I know I don’t want to see an entire show of shitty acts but honestly I never have. There might be a few that could have used some extra time in the studio and I have seen wardrobe malfunctions from every single performer I have ever seen. But its how they or the show carried on after; its a really nice metaphor if you think about it. There is no such thing as perfection in live performance. Not every time. Sounds like life to me.
I know negativity is a hard go. But I do think that negative reviews should be allowed and welcomed. How else are you going to know that it sucked!? And a little rejection can make you stronger in the long run. But I think that it should be limited to an honest review of the talent or performance and not body. Burlesque is beautiful because of the diversity. Skinny and Fat. Tall and Short. All of it. And honestly? Lets not get snotty. Community is another of the amazing things about this art. Instead of poverty thinking, maybe offer to help constructively? When you turn down that performer because they aren’t good enough, is it possible that you could say why its not right and maybe come back next year when you’ve put the time into it that it needs. And maybe, if you can’t help, maybe offer them a resource where they can find some?
I know we are all concerned about the future of Burlesque. But in my opinion there are some things that can’t go out of style! I think the comparison between bands and performers is a correct one. Some are going to suck, some are going to rule. Some are going to get better and some aren’t. The great will survive and the mediocre will probably move on to their next basket weaving project. It really is up to the producers at this point to offer variety in their shows, but with overall quality control. Its a delicate dance I do not envy.
However I do believe that the great cultural legacy in Burlesque lies in the beauty of imperfection and that you are giving regular people and just more people in general as this is such a do it yourself art (No one is going to make up your act for you) a voice and a chance to create something amazing. I love it when you are perfect, but I also love it when you aren’t.
Look what you did Dan!? You dialogue causer You!!
I like your response April and I have to say, I also liked the general critique in Dan’s article. Yesterday at the Toronto Burlesque Festival, we were in a press conference and this article (and your blog post) were cited in a question to the panel. There were eight of us in the panel, each with a strong view on the subject.
Mine is that as an audience member, I am going to a show to be entertained and hopefully surprised. I’ve seen performers that have been a bit rough in their routines, but at the same time have genuinely charmed audiences with a real sense of entertainment.
I have seen MC’s give instructions of how to cheer for a performer and while I understand the value of the doing so for a neophyte audience, in general if the performer is engaging their audience, these and any cheers will come naturally.
I’m a huge fan of this art form – both of the grass-roots supportiveness of the community and the often great acts and visuals that transport me through a world of sexy magic.
I have no worries for the future of Burlesque. I see and hear enough performers pushing boundaries and innovating, morphing beyond the classical homage (which is beautiful) into some new and extremely exciting moments of entertainment.
I re-read Dan’s article, today… because I was sitting here thinking about how same-y things get in burlesque, and remembered how amazing his constructive criticism was.
I’ve noticed that burlesque performers are less likely to TAKE constructive criticism as just that… constructive. Anyone says anything negative, or notices a trend that is boring audiences… and performers act like puppies are being shot and the world is about to end!
There isn’t another showbiz industry in the world that would tolerate that level of “end of the world” and “omg, why are they SO MEAN” diva bullshit. Either you make the grade, or you do not… and you get passed up for the next big thing.
I absolutely adore burlesque and burlesque performers! But, I also recognize that there is a “uniform”. Lately, it’s rhinestone covered opera gloves, a mermaid evening gown that zips UPWARD (and we’re expected to find that novel each-and-every-damn-time-we-see-it!) and a boa or feather fans.
Same old saw starts to play… girl comes on… girl gets REALLY involved with herself… girl takes off clothes… girl plays with feathers… girl twirls tassels (sometimes rhinestoned, too! Ooooo! *yawn*)… and girl prances about “appreciating” the audiences sudden interest.
I spend more time listening to the audiences in Strip Cheez videos than “basking” in the performance… unless the performance blows my freakin MIND (ie: Ms Tickle… is a GODDESS of creativity and presence! She brings an energy and creative life to the stage that burlesque NEEDS right now! I find myself watching and re-watching her acts… every time TRYING to listen to what the audience is doing/thinking… and EVERY TIME getting lost in her act again and forgetting what I’m trying to learn from watching again!).
Now… YES… we all have bad nights. Bad nights happen!
But, here’s the deal… if JUSTIN BIEBER can break his actual leg on stage… and finish out his concert without you being able to tell what happened (that boy is a PRO!)… then, there is NO excuse to have girls who come on with the attitude of “the audience is just here to see me naked”.
Burleque shouldn’t make the public think: “They just couldn’t get jobs as real strippers because they’re too fat or too nerdy or too ugly or too boring… so, they came here!”
…
I don’t care as much about the history of burlesque (which doesn’t mean I haven’t done my homework).
I care more about where burlesque is headed… and who is steering that ship.
…
I’ve attended one of the biggest shows in the world… and noted that the entire front row was a line of 12 photographers! 12! And, they all go regularly. Because, apparently, it’s important to block the audience and make sure you get every moment at every angle possible. “You know the show is doing bad when the photographers stop coming”… was something a producer told me.
I simply smiled and nodded (like I want to get myself axed from a show for being mouthy!)… while thinking “No, dude… you know a show is in trouble when you look out into the audience and ALL you see are performers and photographers.”
It’s literally the same 100 people, per scene, passing the same $20 around. How confusing to anyone who has ever been involved in other professional artforms! WHERE IS THE AUDIENCE!? WHERE ARE THE STRANGERS!? Where is the fresh blood!?
I’ve been advised to never go to someone else’s “home turf” and “out do” the locals. *blink blink* Wait. What!? Really!?
I’ve been told that I need to attend shows a few times before I can get booked in them (regardless of my talent level, fan base or promotional abilities). Wait. What!? Really??!
Granted… I can only speak from my experiences on the West Coast… and from what I’ve seen people put out into the internet.
But, people keep telling me that this is gospel truth *everywhere* you go. So, it’s hard for me to imagine that performers don’t have to walk on eggshells and kiss a lot of ass everywhere they go… being sure to not offend or out-do the other performers… and not blinking an eye or cringing when some pervert “regular” photographer (from the front row) rolls up and gets all handsy and puts his mouth on you.
We’ve had a “Burlesque Revival”… let’s go for a “Burlesque Revolution”… and hope to have a “Burlesque Renaissance” where we can all thrive and explode this industry to the professional status it has always deserved.
Just my twenty-two cents, kids.
I’m fully expecting to take the consequences of my actions and mouthiness. Performers and producers can keep stealing my costumes, sabotaging my acts, destroying my props… and putting me on dead last.
If burlesque is anything like theater, modeling or competitive public speaking… then, I take that as a compliment and a sign that I am doing so well that people think they need to intervene.
Eventually I’ll get to a place where I don’t have to deal with that stuff anymore (I don’t know if it happens beyond the “$5-10 a show bar scene” crowd… but, I hope it doesn’t!). I consider it “paying my dues”, for now… and I look forward to a time when pettiness and poor behavior gets you shunned instead of promoted, in this industry.