The Trixie Little’s Burlesque Bootcamp recital went off spectacularly! I could not have asked for anything more.
We all got there nice and early and each went through our routines on the stage for our final practice. Interestingly enough, each and every one of us mentioned that we were early on our cues…even me. We all figured it was because we were pretty nervous and excited for the show. It did not take too long for us all to do a run-through and then we went to put on out makeup.
I wanted to give myself plenty of time for my makeup. (As opposed to me forgetting my makeup case at the hotel for the Jim Thorpe burlesque festival and running back to get it, leaving me 20 minutes to do my makeup and get ready for the show) I had Photoshopped my intended make-up plan on a photo of me, and printed it out to act as a “roadmap” for applying the makeup. I did this because I have never done a large patch of pink eyeshadow on my eyes before, and I wanted to do whatever I could to help myself out.
Dr Lucky arrived and introduced herself to all of us. I couldn’t believe that she was going to stage kitten for the show, actually I was very shocked when I heard that, pretty awesome!
There were so many women in this show, most of them brand new to performing, all nervous but of course getting along, sharing glitter, tape, safety pins and glue and taking pictures. Once I was done with my makeup, I figured to go out into The Ottobar and hang out for a while.
I was the last of the bootcamp women to perform, and I had quite a bit of time until I should be putting on the many pieces of my costume. So I stood out there, talking to people, trying to be calm about the whole thing but realizing that once I went back to put on my costume, the nerves would come.
Right before the show started, we did a huddle and a cheer and then Trixie Little went out on stage and had everyone pledge of allegiance to pasties and thongs. And once the show started, it was all a blur. I had seen the performances before in all of our practice classes, but it was so great to see them once again with the crowd and the lights and the makeup.
Miss Moxie Madhouse (priss turned hippy) was the first to step up there, and I saw something in her face that kind of seem powerful, for even though I knew she was turbo-nervous going on first, she did not show it at all. Then Gigi Holiday (superhero bitch), Roma Mafia (jolly leprechaun), and Scarlet Let Her (budding Medusa) all came and went from the stage, all of them pretty much killing-it in their own ways.  I loved watching them all, and knew that with every performer leaving the stage, that was one more closer to my weirdness stepping up there. I left before the end of the first half of the show to allow myself a whole lot of time to put on all the parts of my costume.
About 40 “rice grains” were carefully attached to my white dress, each one getting attention to make sure it was well velcroed on. It took me all of the intermission and help from Petra Precocious (bee keeper) for the rice to be attached. I had practiced a few times with the rice before, but for all the practices I kind of half-assed slapped them on with out a care, for the actual show I paid attention. Once all the rice was on good and secure, I put on my seaweed wrap and then put on my wig with my hat safety pinned to the wig to assure that it wouldn’t fall off.
Since I was the last of the bootcamp performers, I saw the entire second half of the show through breaks in the curtain and at an angle, but I still watched it as much as I could.
I was backstage in time to see Summer’s (Orange Peel) performance. She is gorgeous, legs to die for, and everything in her routine was orange!   As all the performers finished and stepped off stage, I’m sorry I was not able to congratulate each one, but I was spending my time getting into my mental “zone”. I watched them all in a bit of a daze, and thinking about my routine very hard. Then Petra Precocious (bee keeper) came out, with a bunch of pom-pom bees popping out of various places of her costume as well as a strategically placed honey pot. Cyndlicious was a beautiful butterfly with big graceful wings…and then it was my turn.
I am aware of my mental process for performing and I embrace it now: During the performer right before me, I feel very nervous, but when my name is announced, the nerves peak-out and then drop as soon as I step on stage. And then, there I was, a big silly sushi roll stepping out onto the stage. A tube of green, 40 “rice-grain” small pillows, plus a fish tail! I was nervous about my routine, nervous that people wouldn’t “get it”, nervous about not hitting my cues right with the music, nervous about my hat falling off, nervous that my body might be shaking, nervous about stumbling, and nervous about being last. But my routine seems to have been a hit! Ive spent weeks paranoid I would be a big weird failure of the whole show, so Im glad people thought it was funny and interesting.
* And then it was over *
I ran off stage, ran out to the audience, saw a little of Dr Lucky, and then had to run back for the on-stage champagne toast. Trixie and Monkey performed one more time as I put back on my pink top and had a sip of water. We all were called back onstage one at a time. It felt pretty amazing, the stage was filled with all of us who learned burlesque and practiced routines and sewed costumes and glued pasties for all these weeks, and I loved them all and the audience was cheering, and it was awesome!
I lost my voice for a bit, cheering for everyone and talking over the music. I stayed late after the show talking to people, and maybe I was a little reluctant to let the experience go. But I was tired and hungry and of course eventually I left.
Seriously, some of the best money I have spent, taking the classes and the cost of the costume…but it all has helped me in so many ways!
Now I have another 6 weeks for a new routine, and I’m worried about creating it with out Trixie and the class to help me. Eeep!
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