The Future of Sassy Classy

I'm performing at the Colorado Burlesque Festival this weekend, and I found what I want for Sassy Classy. Last night I performed at Lannie's Clock Tower Cabaret. The stage was a nice size and it was really lit well. The house has rows and rows of tables so patrons can eat and drink. The venue has a full bar and serves appetizers and desserts. Every patron is supplies with a noisemaker like the ones you get at New Year's parties (that sound like you're winding something up). Patrons can buy wigs, tiaras, boas & gloves to feel more like part of the show. The energy in the space is amazing.

I tried Sassy Classy in a theater because I wanted it to feel like this show and I wanted to capture the theatre-going audience. It's a blessing in disguise that I'm losing the venue (can't get the same sweet rates now). The show will be on hiatus until I can find something closer to my heart's desire.

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Red Snapper's Sassy, Classy Burlesque Revue: June Edition

Red Snapper brings burlesque back to the theater! An evening of classic (and classically twisted) burlesque. Hosted by the dapper Mr. Snapper with performances by Lavendar La Rue, Iona Vibrator, Penny Starr, Jr., Scarlett Letter, Pepe Lee Rue, Holly Go Darkly and Red Snapper with pickup by The Tasseled Squirrel. $15 admission gets you nine incredible performers and you can BYOB! June 20th, 2010, show starts at 9 PM. The Sherry Theater, 11052 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601.

*Remember, theaters don't have vice laws. ;)

Sassy Classy Review

"Red Snapper's Sassy, Classy Burlesque Revue" was covered by Fine Arts LA.  The entire review is very complimentary of the performers and the show, which is wonderful for me as a producer.  I'm very proud of the show and pleased with the talent I've been able to snag during its short life.  (Photo by Holly Go Darkly)

I also got a nice blurb as a performer:

The show’s producer and name-sake, Red Snapper, arrived on stage next, ushering the audience into the second half of the night—the more experienced girls. Snapper was obviously a crowd favorite, more than comfortable strutting around in a pair of garters and stockings, doing a kind of naughty 50’s housewife parody. The supposed female empowerment associated with modern burlesque became more apparent in Snapper’s performance. She possessed a definite control over her own teases, an excited familiarity with her routine that translated into a kind of feminine pride.

The next Sassy Classy is in two months!

Sassy Classy Schedule

Here's the schedule for Red Snapper's Sassy, Classy Burlesque Revue through the end of 2010.  I'll continue posting fliers for the individual shows, but now you can save the dates!  (A big shout-out to my pal Chris Beyond who shot this photo and did the design.  He's amazing!)

My First Facebook Ad

For Sunday's Sassy Classy, I decided to buy a Facebook ad.  In my Clark Kent life, I noticed one of my clients bought a Facebook ad to promote an event.  Always seeking new ways to promote, I asked the client if it was successful.  He said it was very successful because he could target the ad to reach certain people.  I then promptly purchased an ad for my show.

I can't say that the ad necessarily increased attendance at my February show.  Most of the folks who RSVPed were people I already knew from life.  However, it did serve as a reminder that the event was happening for those people.  Next time I'll select keywords for my ad that are a little more diverse because I marketed to the people who would likely be there anyway.  It also got the show name and image out there, so next time I'm likely to have even more people there.

From 2009 to 2010

I've had a great second year as a professional burlesque performer.  Here are some highlights:

• Fifty professional performances.  I got 60 under my belt in 2008, but I also performed in three plays this year, wrote a few short plays and directed a play.  Not too shabby for stage time.
• Joined Striptease Symposium.  As a perpetual dance student and a performer of 28 years, I'm pleased to have the opportunity to help bring out the inner performer from the unsuspecting yet willing.  I helped teach tassel twirling to some ladies in Lancaster this year, some floor work to gals at our holiday party, and look forward to teaching the beginner session in 2010.
• Created less new acts.  This may not seem like a highlight, but it is.  I saved money and refined ideas this year.  Last year I tackled seventeen new acts plus two group numbers, and three of those acts had big props.  This year I tackled nine new acts and revamped an act from 2008 twice to fit different themed shows.  Considerable savings.
• Got my website and Snapper-only blog up!  I know officially own property on the web. :)
• Performed at two festivals - Boston Burlesque Expo and New Orleans Burlesque Festival.
• Did a little travel as a performer in Southern California, dancing in San Diego for Comic-Con the second year in a row, and bringing burlesque to Lancaster.
• Danced at Dr. Sketchy's Las Vegas during Burlesque Hall of Fame reunion weekend and got some totally kickass art from it!  It was wonderful performing as part of the weekend.
• More study.  I took ballet from January to December (and danced in the ballet recital) and tap during the fall.  I took a special workshop with Tigger! when he visited from New York.  I took workshops from legends April March in Boston and Tee Tee Red in New Orleans.  I had a nice sampling of classes in Boston from various performers, and I learned how to shake my ass from Kellita and more fan dance technique from Catherine D'Lish in new Orleans.  It was a great year for study.
• Produced my own show.  In fact, I produced the Los Angeles Burlesque Hall of Fame benefit in May, then put up my for-profit Sassy, Classy Burlesque Revue in October and December.
• Danced as a stripper stripper stripper at a topless joint in North Hollywood and had an absolute blast.

I'm excited about 2010.  I'm beginning my third year as a professional!  Here are some goals:

• Performing in two or three festivals.  I really want to return to New Orleans because that was an absolute blast.  I'd also love to dance in Paris or London (if I get in and can afford to go).  I also hope to hit a festival or two as part of Kubrilesque.
• Sharing my love with the South.  I plan to visit the Dallas area in May to teach and perform.  I'm also hoping to teach in Hot Springs in March (if I can secure a studio) and dance in Memphis that weekend (if I can get a gig).  I'm working on setting both up.
• More dancing as a stripper stripper stripper.  I hope I get to return to Star Garden because that was sooooo fun.  I'm bringing a pole number to the next round.
• More dance class.  If my schedule and finances permit, I'll be back in ballet and tap in February and back in pole class (if even for a single series) in January.  I'm very excited about this.
• Cleaning out my closet.  I think I'm going to drop a couple numbers from my repertoire that are rarely performed and don't meet my growing standards.  I'm also going to set about repairing costumes I'm keeping and improving numbers I already perform.
• More Sassy Classy.  I have six shows scheduled for 2010.  This will permit me the time I need to promote each show.  With only six shows on the calendar as a producer, I will still have the attention units needed to perform in other shows and continue with my other activities.
• Some surprises full of awesomeness.  I don't want to spill the beans too soon, but my artist friend Sebastian and I have something up our sleeves.

2009 has been very good to me.  I appreciate the opportunities and guidance I've been given.  Thanks to you for your part in my journey.

Second Episode of Sassy Classy

I'm posting this a little late.  I've been very busy in the theatre, burlesque, educational and real world lately.  The second episode was Sunday night, and it was a fantastic show.  The line-up was amazing and varied.  I was very satisfied as a producer.

I debuted my new panel skirt number at this show.  It went very well.  There are costume modifications I'll do before I perform it again, but that's the joy of doing burlesque -- learning how to make improvements on a number so it can be even more stellar.

My First Very Own Show - Sort Of

Sunday night was the inaugural installment of Red Snapper's Sassy, Classy Burlesque Revue.  It was my first very own show in a theater - sort of.  That statement requires a little unpacking.  Last fall I produced High Jinks Burlesque in conjunction with Theatre Unleashed as a fundraiser and late-night show to follow Pin-Up Girls.  I brought that show to Monday Night Tease earlier this year.  I've co-produced a couple nights of Peepshow Menagerie.  I also produced a fundraiser for the Burlesque Hall of Fame in May, but I had lots of help at my fingertips to have a huge show.  This night was just mine.

I'm so pleased with the talent I got for the show.  It really was a sassy, classy line-up.  I got the date of the show secured right before I flew to New Orleans, so I didn't have as much promotional time as I would have liked.  However, we had a nice turnout and I think everyone had a good time.

Theaters are very different from bars.  There are plenty of seats in the audience so the patrons don't have to stand the entire night.  There's a backstage so the performers make a formal entrance and don't reveal their costumes to the audience before their performance while trying to get from one place to another.  There's the opportunity for a formal curtain call.  And there's the possibility of nudity without breaking the law.  Sunday night's audience got to see a little more than permitted at a bar.  Who knows what extra peep December's show will hold.

Since I produced the show, I could control the backstage activity.  Specifically, the brilliant photographer John Nelson was backstage before the show to shoot the process -- on film.  He and I did a photo shoot a little more than a week ago in the theater.  The image on this blog is one of the few digital images he shot that day.  If you visit his website, you can see he has an incredible way of capturing the essence of people's personalities.  I'm eager to see what he shot before the show.