Daphne’s Tips, Tricks, and Other Bits!!

By: Daphne Dumore

Hello out there in internet land! This is Daphne Dumore, a fairly new performer to the Boston burlesque scene. This May will be my Burlesque-aversary, having performed five times in just one year. I thought it would be fun to share some tips and tricks I have learned in my first year  for other newbies out there. We have to stick together until we get experienced... then we kill each other Highlander style! (Joking. I would rather have a bake-off or Iron Chef-style competition for supremacy. Maybe a hug-off?) With that I present:


Daphne’s Tips, Tricks, and Other Bits!!

1. Do you!: When I started burlesque, I was under the assumption I had to be sparkly, sexy, and more feminine. That is not the case. I HATE glitter and don’t wear it. I have met other performers who give the finger to gender norms, let their nerd flag fly, and express their sexuality on stage in all kinds of ways. Never let anyone tell you that you HAVE to do only one type of burlesque. The world is too vast and beautiful to have anyone stuck in a single box. Learn what you like to do and do it well.
   
2. Performers are People: I am bad at giving compliments and am fully aware I came on a bit strong to performers before I started performing. However, there is this idea that because the performers are taking off their clothes that there is less professionalism. That is not the case. Burlesque is an art form and a job for many. There is a level of professionalism that needs to be had, but, there is plenty of fun as well as long as you are communicative. You treat your fellow performers with respect. They are hard working and it is a small community. Being rude will get you nowhere except out the door real quick. Introduce yourself (I am a bit socially awkward so I understand this can be hard), ask what pronouns they use, and, if you are able to, let them know if you can help them in any way. (I personally love to help people and tend to bring extra makeup in case fellow performers need anything.) I have found that being nice and a decent human being makes people want to be around you, and even *gasp!* let you know about possible performing opportunities. In other words don’t be a dick - these are your coworkers.
   
3. Be Honest:  When it comes to being invited to perform, or to kitten*, be honest (with yourself and with others) about your time commitments. I currently work, go to school, and am interning. I literally have no days off so I have been performing very little. It would be irresponsible for me to say I am going to perform even though I want to, if I know I might not be able to make it. It will make everyone's life easier if you are honest with yourself and producers. I had some struggles with this as I thought saying no made people think that I was lazy or not interested. In reality, it shows you’re reliable, responsible, and considerate of your producer’s needs as well as your own.  *Kitten: the term means “to provide stage help or pick up costumes” in the burlesque scene.
4. Practice!: The thing that people forget about burlesque is that it is about knowing your own body and how you can move it more than anything else. Whether you are super in-tune with your body, or you’re like me and feel like a magikarp when you’re onstage, practicing is the best way to know what you can do and what will work for an act. You can have an amazing idea but find out in practice that it will not read well or not work out. Practice, practice, practice. Your body will thank you and the audience will too!
5. Take criticism but do not take insults: One thing that is hard to separate as a newbie is the difference between criticism and insults. The best rule of thumb is that criticism should be about some aspect of the performance, music choice, or body language. I have also found that most criticisms in burlesque are given after asking permission. Constructive criticism also includes things you did well, in addition to things that can be improved upon. An insult that is hidden as a criticism is something like “You’d be hotter if you lost weight.” This has nothing to do with your performance and is a personal opinion stated as fact. This has no bearing on you as a performer, but shows their sense of character and is more likely to be from an audience member. Most performers should know better and want you to succeed.
6. You are enough: This is something I have to remind myself all the time when going to performances. There are so many performers who have been performing much longer than me. However, there is no need to compare yourself to another performer. We each bring something different to burlesque and that is enough. Instead of striving to be someone else, be the best you can be.
7. There is always the next show: It is almost impossible for every single performance to be amazing. There are bound to be mistakes or things that happen the longer you perform. I had my worst performance recently and it sucks! You just have to remember that it happens to everyone, and there is always another performance you can do. As long as it didn’t leave you critically injured, that is!
8. When in doubt, just have fun: So your shoe went flying off the stage, or your zipper got stuck. You have practiced so much and it’s ruining your mojo. Take a second, breathe, and just go with it. I can tell you as an audience member, it feels like a very human moment when a little “oopsie” like that happens. If you laugh, the audience will laugh with you, and even cheer you on with your struggles. Just have fun!
9. Backstage is not all play: Depending what venue you are performing at, the backstage can be super tiny, so it is important to be respectful of each performer's space and personal belongings. Do not touch what is not yours, and let people know if you have to scoot by them. Of course, there will be chatting and jokes, and some people who don’t get to see each other often will hug and talk. But remember, this is the set-up space for the stage and putting makeup on can be serious work.
10. Watch as many shows as you can: Part of being a newcomer is the awareness that my burlesque knowledge is limited. Before I started performing, I had only seen two troupes and had in my mind there was only a certain type of burlesque that was suitable. Once I went to other shows, especially the Alterna-Tease Neo-Burlesque Festival, I saw the breadth of burlesque. I learned that some ideas I had could be done and that there are so many different styles and props I had no idea existed! With that said, do NOT copy someone else's act. Plagiarism and influence are very different.

I hope that helped you all! I look forward to seeing you on stage or off. Shine bright, stardust!

Daphen Dumore is what happens when you sort a Magicarp into Hufflepuff. Magical, wet, and located next to the kitchen.