So, how do I start a burlesque troupe? Well we asked the Austin burlesque community for advice, and received some really thoughtful answers to pass along to you budding entrepreneurs out there. This is a three part series, so stay tuned!

The first criteria you may need is an obsessive sort of masochism that lends itself to good organization and the ability to lead others well. Luckily, that’s a trait that most burlesque dancers have the potential for. If you can fret over the number of sequins in your burlesque outfit, the complexities of running an entire troupe of dancers probably won’t seem nearly as challenging.

 So, you’re determined to start your own burlesque troupe. Congratulations. You’ve already taken the first step in deciding that you’re committed to putting some effort toward an amazing goal. It won’t be easy, but you won’t have to do it alone, either. The true strength of a troupe is the ability to share the burdens of holding it together. The reward is being able to share all the glory, too. Well, let’s get you started, then. Here’s a formula for starting a troupe, including everything from marketing, to gigs, to keeping everything professional.

Ground Floor – Know Who You Are, and Polish Technique
A great burlesque troupe starts with a vision. Either alone, or with the fine ladies you plan to form your troupe with, develop your identities fully before you ever think of booking a gig. Plan character stories, design complementary burlesque outfits, and find a unifying theme for your troupe. While each character should be unique, having a theme that’s already nailed down will help with things like segueing between acts and maintaining a clear marketing presence.

Next, check your technique. Is everyone on the same level, or do you have a mixed bag with some headliners and some stage virgins? Invest in some burlesque dance classes to assess your level, and decide what the standards will be for your troupe. Will you allow anyone to dance under your troupe name, or will you have a process for determining when someone is ready to take the stage as a full member of your team?

Delia Dread (founder of Black Widow Burlesque; currently a solo performer) has helpful tips on handling new recruits, “Have a time line of when you’re going to get back to the ladies and stick to it. Get back to every girl, whether email or phone and let them know whether they made it or not. The worst part about trying out for something is to never even hear anything at all back.”

Learn from the Pros
It’s great to have a vision, but do you know how the backstage details work? Even seasoned dancers who have stage experience could learn a thing or two by working with an established troupe. If there’s already a thriving burlesque scene in your town, you can begin by offering to act as a stage assistant for a few shows, or even see if your fledgling troupe would be welcome to perform as an opening act. Learn everything you can about what works…and doesn’t. Make it clear that you’re not competition, but another way to help raise awareness of a thrilling style of entertainment.

 Networking is a key part of working with other troupes. With shared billing at a venue comes shared marketing opportunities, and other dancers can serve as wonderful resources in vouching for a new troupe when it’s time to look for a place to host your show.

Ruby Joule of The Jigglewatts has this advice, “I'd say one of the most important things is to do your homework. Know the market before you enter it. That means knowing who the other players in town are, what their style is, if they book regularly at a certain venue, and what their NAMES are! (please, no more Rubys ;-) Putting on a fabulous show is only part of having a successful troupe. Having good business sense and professional courtesy is very important too.”

Delia Dread adds, "Check out live burlesque shows. Know what kind of burlesque you want to perform:vintage,modern,fetish, or a mix of it all. Don't be afraid to ask for opinions and critiques. Also, don't feel intimidated by others. Be inspired by the veterans. Take notes from them, but never "steal" any routines from performers.”

Next Up, the Small Business Association, your Products and a lot more...

- Rouge Dubonnet

One important aspect of a burlesque performance is eye contact from the stage. I’m sure that every performer works quite a bit on this little piece of the puzzle. My guess is that many audience members don’t consciously think about it, but their mood changes depending on the amount of eye contact. I’m always looking at the facial expressions and eyes to see how well I’m responding to the show. And I’ll be honest, I usually think they’re looking at me. You are, right?

The best burlesque performers have great eye contact and they make you feel as though you’re the only one in the room. Now I don’t want our many burlesque friends to feel like I’m picking favorites. We love all of you! But I think a few honorable mentions are in order. These are more like observations that I’ve had from many different shows.

Coco Lectric from the Jigglewatts Burlesque Revue in Austin always makes me think that she’s looking right at me throughout the performance. And that smile! She’s always smiling and looking right at me. At least I think she is, but I’m sure that everyone in the audience has the same feeling. That skill, that connection with the audience, is performance gold and Coco Lectric has it. Is it learned or just innate? I’m not sure.

And then there is the lovely
Sailor Cherry from Black Widow Burlesque. Her eye contact is something altogether different. The first show I saw with her was one that we worked together on at the Alamo Drafthouse. Since then I’ve seen her another 4 times or so. She has a different approach to eye contact and I’m not sure how much she has developed it or if it just comes naturally to her, but it’s stuck with me and makes many of her burlesque performances memorable. She doesn’t seem to smile so much, but rather maintains a sultry gaze. Then when she wants to get a response from the crowd and kind of make them earn the next move, she looks out, raises her eyebrow and does a little series of nods with her head, as if to say, “You want me to keep going? Well let me hear it, ladies and gentlemen!” It’s such a great move.

I’m pretty sure that I have no idea how hard it is to put together a burlesque number. The choreography, managing a carefully timed costume removal, and all the while interacting with the audience; it’s a talent. Eye contact is just another part of the performance that adds so much, and for me just makes a number that much better. So for all you rising stars on the burlesque stage, don’t forget just how powerful eye contact can be with your waiting audience. It won’t go unnoticed.

- Patrick

It’s been awhile since I’ve reviewed anything in our shop, but it’s time to mention a new favorite that just arrived. Our new sequined booty shorts are such a nice throwback to vintage lingerie and a classic burlesque style. I immediately thought of the 1920s, flapper girls and other retro looks when we first got these in the shop. Not that those bold and courageous gals would have worn something so skimpy back then. Those were still much more conservative times. But these hot little shorts are updated and contemporary with that old fashioned lingerie look. Let’s take a closer look...

Read the whole article in the Study

Like all performance artists, burlesque girls create and maintain a few types of characters that they can bring out for shows. As varied as the performers themselves, these characters are more of a theme or an identity, like an alter ego this performer has created. Of course this isn't a hard and fast rule, but if you're starting out in burlesque, a character approach might be something for you to try. 

Whenever I go out to a burlesque show, I like to think of the characters in each performance as an alter ego of the performer and each burlesque outfit just seems to fit with the personality of the performer. So how can you develop your alter ego and create a look that is just right for you? Here are a couple of tips to get you started. 

Choose your burlesque character 
To get started, think about a character that you would like to build upon. This is not really about copying a person or character exactly, but more about developing who you will be on the stage. You're only limited by your imagination and really the sky’s the limit. A character idea may be something specific like a take on a legendary star, or more broad like a 1920s movie starlet, or even just a classic burlesque performer who specializes in fan dances. Other popular characters are things like the armed services girl from the 1940s or, especially appropriate in Austin, the cute cowgirl.

Develop your theme
Whatever your character, you will put a lot of thought into the overall theme. The outfit and look are of course important, but that's just one part of it. At this point you'll need to think about various dance numbers, appropriate music, stage lighting, the mood, and props. Think about the first moment that you'll step out onto that stage with a full house. What is the impression that you want to make with your new alter ego?

Put together a wardrobe that can be easily modified through DIY ingenuity
So you have your character figured out and have started picking out ideas and music and even have a look in mind. It's time to start working on outfit ideas. Most people aren't made of money, so here's where it pays to be thrifty and crafty. If you're good at sewing and alterations, you'll have a real advantage. You did listen to your mom when she tried to teach you to sew, didn’t you? Buy a few key outfit pieces to get started. These will be the main part of a look or two. Lingerie and corsets are the quintessential burlesque outfit foundations, but they’re just the tip of the iceberg. If you’re good at sewing, you can add accents and trim, or remove things from garments that just don't work for you. Get crafty. And think about thrift stores for some basic shift dresses or tops that can easily be altered. Spend your money on cute new lingerie and underwear, as well as high quality, versatile hosiery that you can wear with many different outfits.

Share your look and get some feedback before you debut your outfit
A burlesque troupe really is like a second family and each performer benefits tremendously from members’ encouragement and feedback. Ok, so you haven’t started your troupe yet! But you still have friends and family that you love and trust right? Once you’ve put together your alter ego’s burlesque outfit, ask a few close friends for some honest feedback. Arrange a private preview party with your closest girlfriends. Make it a fun event, where they can share what they like and don't like about your outfits, and can help you refine the looks. 

Add pieces that can be mixed and matched for variety
If you've invested the time and money into developing your new character, you'll want to get as much mileage out of it without the routines and costumes getting too stale. Many performers will spend a lot of time between shows picking new music and choreographing a new routine for their characters. As time goes on and you can afford it, consider adding an occasional bigger ticket item into your burlesque outfit lineup. A smart gal knows how to pick things that can be mixed and matched into many different variations and ideas. Don't forget to keep an eye open for costume additions or possible alterations. Accessories are a great and affordable way to keep things fresh. Hosiery has almost limitless possibilities, and it's cheap. And again thrift stores and discount stores have tons of stuff that can be worked over into something new. Now what about those sewing skills? Time to give mom a call. 

-Beth

Burlesque, Austin, and live entertainment all go hand in hand. So, you’ve been to your first burlesque show in Austin and you find yourself drawn to the show like a moth to the flame. Good! It’s working. But how can you get the most out of future shows? What are the boundaries between you and the performers? And what can you do to help participate in this community? 

Have fun and enjoy the fantasy
Without an enthusiastic and noisy crowd, there would be no show. So grab a drink and loosen up. Be a part of the crowd and let the performers know that you like the numbers. They listen and it does make a difference in the show if you hoot and holler. The artform of burlesque is so much about the fantasy, and the more you let yourself embrace the fantasy of each act and become drawn into the performance, the better your burlesque experience will be.

As you’re watching the performance, think about this; You’re watching a 2-3 minute piece that this artist has spent dozens of hours putting together the music, choreography and costume for. And they have the confidence to show it all in front of an audience of strangers. That takes guts, ladies and gentlemen, and these girls (and guys!) will take all the enthusiasm you can give them.

Be Respectful
The various venues for burlesque in Austin are pretty small and intimate which makes for fun shows. The performers are accessible. Every show that I go to, I’ll see the performers mingling with the crowd before, after and sometimes during the show. So considering that these are some sexy gals in often skimpy outfits, a little bit of classiness is called for on our part, the viewing audience. All of the burlesque girls that I’ve met are very sociable and love to talk about the show. But they probably don’t want to be touched by some random stranger. Elsa with Redlight Burlesque here in Austin puts it this way, "It's not a strip club, so no touching. If you want to take a photo with us afterwards, don't be creepy about it." And if the venue requests that you let their hired photographer shoot the photos and videos, leave your camera in your pocket. Costume pieces that are accidentally flung off the stage into the audience should be returned. In short, be nice and respect the talent.

Participate
As I said before; No Crowd, No Show. Burlesque troupes need your participation and a full house to keep the show alive. Keep going to shows and by all means take in a variety of different groups and performers. There are several great Austin Burlesque troupes that consistently put on great shows. 

And as we all know, the key to any kind of success is advertising. The community can surely use your help in promoting upcoming shows and events. Share what you can online and drag your friends down to the next show. You’ll only have to drag them once and then they’ll be hooked!

-Patrick