GO-GO FOR BRAINS

A BLOG DEDICATED TO ALL ASPECTS & ALL WOMEN OF THE GO GO WORLD! ♥ ♥ ♥ Here you will not just find pictures of amazing women, but stories, costuming ideas, tips, advice, videos and anything else I can find relating to the world of go go dancing! Please consider submitting anything you would like to contribute to the page! Check out my Team & my performer pages below!: www.facebook.com/DDRVA www.facebook.com/jezebelrva

[gogoforbrains]

#TravelingPerformerProblem

When the hotel room does not have a mini-fridge for my food! AHHHH!

[gogoforbrains]

The Risk Taker: Carol Doda (Censored)

(Please note that the images of Carol had to be censored due to Tumblr’s new community guidelines. While I do not agree with this censoriship, I do think it’s important that this information about this trailblazing woman needs to be accessible to all despite it. Hopefully this version will not be flagged.) It struck me that not many people had in anyway addressed Carol Doda, who is probably one of the most famous go go dancers/strippers in history! (Disclaimer: Since people seem to be very sensitive about this subject, let it be clear I am not saying that strippers & go go dancers are the same thing by posting this article here. They are not. However, in the 1960s & really up through the 80s there was a much stronger connection between the two & the distinguishing lines more blurred. Let it also be clear that I also do not mean in separating go gos from exotic dancers to be disparaging to one group or the other and respect both groups of women & men equally. As I believe everyone should!) Carol Ann Doda was a go go dancing stripper in San Francisco, California in the 1960s, though her career ended up extending way beyond that era! Carol Doda, sometimes referred to as, “The Queen of Burlesque” dropped out of school at the age of 14 and became a cocktail waitress. She eventually attended the San Francisco Art Institute along with supplementing her income as a cocktail waitress and lounge entertainer at the famous Condor Club. In Doda’s first act there, she would be lowered from the ceiling a top a grand piano go go dancing to “The Swim” Bobby Freeman – The Swim: http://youtu.be/YBEwqQU5s_0

At 23 years old, the publicist for the Condor Club gave Carol a topless bikini monokini to wear during her act. That night Carol bravely went on and danced topless & is noted as being the first woman of this era to do so! Needless to say she was an instant success. Her fame began to become much more far reaching than just The Condor Club. Famous politicians came to see her; she was offered movie roles alongside Jack Nicholson & The Monkees and was even profiled for a book.

Then Carol decided to take things one step further. In a bold move to encourage her success Carol decided to enhance her breasts with silicone injections going from a size 34 to a 44.   Her enhancements were lovingly nicknamed “The Twin 44s” and “The New twin Peaks of San Francisco” by her fans. Then in 1969 she decided, “What the hell!” and became a fully nude dancer, until she was shut down by ABC.  

In 1965 she & the owner of her bar were arrested for lewd conduct & indecent exposure because of the new ABC laws. Carol was a witness in the trials of two other fellow dancers & even ended up performing one of her acts from one of her movies that played at the club to demonstrate that she wanted to show “the humorous side of sex.” Everyone was cleared of the charges brought against them including Doda herself.

Doda continued dancing beyond the age of 45, then toured with a band before retiring in the 80s to open her own lingerie boutique (how fitting). So she was a trail blazer in more ways than one. Her commitment to entertainment lasting as long as it did is a testament to the love she must have had for dancing an entertaining. And I think that’s something we can all identify with.

(Historical plaque documenting Doda's accomplishment at the Condor Club.)

[gogoforbrains]

6 Tips for Contacting Potential New Clients

After receiving a few e-mails and questions regarding how I format my introduction e-mails to potential new clients I figured it would be a good to format a blog post here that could be accessible to anyone who could benefit from it as opposed to just giving out my own templates. First, I think it’s important for anyone reading this to keep in mind that my persepctive on contatcing clients & venues may be different from others. The city in which my team is based, the areas we work in & where my own performance career came into being has a very limited nightlife scene with very little entertainment of the kind we would produce to begin with. So I essentially had to create a door where there wasn’t one.  

I think it’s also important to mention that before you begin contacting venues and clients you DO YOUR RESEARCH. What entertainment companies are currently working in your area & what kinds of gigs are they booking? Do the venues you want to contact already contract with a competitive company? Once you begin cold calling yourself and putting in the work to book your events you’ll appreciate the work others have put in before you. Make sure you respect folks spaces, maintain good work ethics & relationships with other performers in your area, it can be a HUGE help in growing your own business. Reach out! Contact these folks when setting your own rates to make sure you are not undercutting established professionals in your area. All ships rise with the tide!

1. Create an Introductory E-mail: Locate the contact information for the venue/client you are attempting to contact. This first message should be short & direct. Introduce yourself & your company by name, include 1-2 short sentances about what it is you do, describing your brand, etc. If there is a specific event you are inquiring about be sure to mention it in this e-mail (I’ll usually add a link just so there is no confusion). I like to close this e-mail by encouraging the client to check out our presskit, website and social media account to get a better idea of what we do.  In the past I sent a much longer messages to clients with a bio, etc and I quickly learned that people in the nightlife industry are very busy & if some one can’t glance at the e-mail and get a quick sense of why you are contacting them they are less likely to respond. 

2. Now You Play The Waiting Game: In the interim I would suggest going onto social media and liking/adding/following the venue’s/client’s accounts. Like some of their photos, leave a comment or two show them some attention! This may draw them to your account and give you more visibility to the client THEN when you land in their inbox they’ll already have an idea of who you are. 3. You Got A Response! Now What? If the response is a positive one, here is where you can now go in and write a more descriptive e-mail detailing what your plans for the venue/client would be and answering any preliminary questions the client may have had in the response about rates, etc.   If the response is negative you can accept it but move forward in a positive way. Thank the client for their time & response and let them know that should they ever have a need for this kind of entertainment you’d still love to work with them.

4. Crickets .... Okay, so you heard NOTHING, it’s driving you crazy & don’t know where to go next. First, take a deep breath - some folks you will never hear back from. It may not sound like a good habit & certainly does not work all of the time but persistance CAN pay off. We are in the age of social media so some folks are more responsive when contacted by via Facebook or even Instagram. You can use the same text from your Introductory e-mail to send to client’s via Facebook - for Instagram you will want to create an even shorter introduction 1-2 sentances with maybe a link to your presskit or most important social media platform.

5. Show Your Support:  For those of us in communities with smaller nightlife scenes to break into it is really crucial to get out there and interact with the folks who are putting on the events you want to work at & going to them. Call it “networking.” I don’t mean show up at the club and bother the folk’s working there while they are on the job. Just go out, enjoy yourself and get your dance on for fun. If an oppertunity arises to interact with some one working there, all the better but do not force the interaction.  Fun Fact: I got my very first go go dancing gig ever from a club night I used to go out to. My boss was opening a new venue he wanted to have dancers for and saw me bobbing around to 80s music on the floor and asked me to be their first dancer. I worked at this venue for 7 years.

6. Don’t Be Afraid to Follow Up: So it’s been 6 months since you sent that first e-mail and never heard back but you’ve still got your eye on this super-cool venue who has a great show for performers coming up. No harm in e-mailing this client again and reminding them you are there & eager to work together. With following up you should be able to tell by your potential client’s responses  when that ship has sailed and you need to move on to something/someone else. 

(Dollz Entertainment LLC hoop dancer Pixxie for “Moonlight Masquerade 2018)

In Closing ... Don’t give up! Building & creating a space for you & your performers can be daunting, tough and 9/10 filled with more No’s than Yeses. Yes, it will be hard but don’t let this deter you from your unltimate goals. Eventually, if you put in the work, you will find some one to say yes & with each of those oppertunities & experiences your know how & network will expand.

[gogoforbrains]

Packing Light

by: Freya West Travel is a huge part of my performing job. I need to be able to make it to festivals for weekends, to out of town one night performances, and have the flexibility to do so easily. W…

[gogoforbrains]

7 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR FACIAL EXPRESSIONS DURING A PERFORMANCE from the ROCKETTES

1. Relax your jaw and your tongue inside your mouth. 2. Lift your eyebrows a little—like you would when you’re having an interesting conversation with someone. 3. Take in your surroundings with your eyes. Bonus! This will help with things like balance and spotting, too. 4. Breathe in through your nose, and let your breath escape through your mouth, which will be slightly open due to your relaxed jaw. 5. If you’re having fun (you’re dancing after all!), let the shine in your eyes lift the corners of your mouth and smile. 6. Some dance instructors like to choreograph facial expressions like winks or a surprised look into your dance number. If that’s their preference, go for it. It may feel a little over-the-top to you, but trust your choreographer. When used sparingly and in appropriate places, it can really make a dance sparkle. 7. When the emotion comes from inside you, your outward expression will be a natural one. Get your whole face involved, not just your mouth. Let it match the energy of the music and the movement, allowing your enthusiasm for dance shine through. Source

[moderngo-go]

FITTING THE GO-GO ROLE: TIPS, TRICKS & DEALING WITH REJECTION

Hello *new* readers! My name is Jennifer and this is my first article for the Modern Go-Go blog. The first topic I’d like to share my thoughts on is how to deal with rejection. It happens! Some performers will deal with it more often than others and there are lots of reasons why. There are many ‘types’ of GO-GO dancing jobs with various requirements so don’t be upset if you don’t 'fit the role’ every time. Here are some tips on how you can continue to pursue your GO-GO dream even if you encounter some bumps along the road.

#1 BE PREPARED

At auditions, gigs and meetings you should always have the tools you need to do your job correctly or to land one! 

GIGS

Many entertainment companies or venues will ask that you provide your own costume basics. For companies I’ve worked for, I’ve been asked to purchase the following:

*professional nude fishnets (Capezio, Danskin, etc) *knee/thigh high GO-GO boots in black and white (stilettos & Camels) *black booty shorts *push up bra in black, white, nude *thong in black, white, nude *ponytail hair extension *faux eyelashes *sequin bras in various colors

Not having these basics with you at gigs often results in you getting yelled at, being asked to go home and not work that night, being taken off the schedule in the future, fees or termination. I would HATE to lose my gas money because of fees for not bringing my nude fishnets. Designate a rolling duffle bag/luggage/backpack as your 'gig bag’ so you can easily keep all your GO-GO essentials in once place.

There are many other useful things you could bring along to gigs that may not necessarily be required but you’ll be oh-so-happy you brought anyway. Your lesser-prepared performer friends will thank you too!

Here is what I bring to every gig: Costume basics, bobbi pins, safety pins, hair ties, deodorant, Febreeze, shimmer lotion, makeup & brushes, dry shampoo, hand towel, makeup remover wipes, extra socks, business cards, wig cap, tampons, cell phone charger, watch, mini first aid kit, body spray, ear plugs, drivers license, silver and gold accessories, a comfy outfit and shoes to change into or cover up.

For festivals and out-of-town gigs you should bring things like sunscreen, bottled water, other toiletries, camping gear, bug spray, a jacket, rain boots, umbrella, (I could go on and on). There is nothing worse than being unprepared for inclement weather at a festival. 

AUDITIONS/CASTINGS

Carefully read the info provided about the audition/casting. Don’t bother the people running it by asking them questions that they tried to avoid answering because they already provided that info.  That is not how you want to make a first impression is it? Show up to the audition (on time!), looking amazing, SMILING, with everything they asked you to bring. You never know when an awesome opportunity will pop up so already have these things lying around (aka more time to primp before audition): head shot, 2-3 full body shots (front & back), current resume, bio, simple 2-piece GO-GO costume & boots/heels (costume basics). Some times at auditions you will be asked to show off a flashy costume or character but for the most part they want to visualize how you will fit into the production so a flattering, basic costume is often most appropriate.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you should be 'stage ready’ at all times. That means you should be confident with your body, skills and tools at all times. Be ready to rock the stage at a moment’s notice! I was once booked for one of the biggest gigs I’ve ever done the day of the event.

#2 DON’T GET DISCOURAGED

Every GO-GO, even the best GO-GOs you can think of have dealt with rejection before, even from people they ended up working with later on or currently! If you audition for a gig and don’t get picked, don’t immediately say to yourself “OMG they hate me, they think I’m fat, they don’t think I’m pretty, I’m not a good enough dancer, etc” especially if you are not already affiliated with the team/company/production. Realize that when they hire you, they are confident you will be representing yourself, the team/company, promoter and event well. The person telling you that you weren’t picked may not necessarily be the person who decided you were not picked. Often there are people even above them who are the final decision makers. They may have a different vision for or needs from the performers hired based on what else is already part of the production/event as a whole. For instance, the costumes for the event may already be finalized or made, possibly to fit a specific theme. Performers who will wear those costumes well are more likely to be chosen. With the rising popularly of dance music and concerts/festivals where GO-GO dancing is most appropriate, I see a trend in the booking process . At auditions/castings they are not always looking for just pretty girls who can dance. The focus may be on finding performers similar to performers who were already chosen before the audition/casting took place, fit the role of a preference/special request of management/artists involved or theme, performers who are multi-talented, and so many other things. Think of it as auditioning for an acting job. When you are hiring someone to play a specific role, the look and talents of those auditioning will be carefully considered. I have stayed busy for the past few years by being diverse with my talents and look. I can go from Barbie to zombie easily. I can GO-GO dance, hoopdance, fire hoop/eat fire and provide/perform with other props like ostrich feather fans. Now if only I could add stilt walking, pole dancing and aerial acrobatics to that…

If you audition and are told you didn’t get the job it may hurt your ego a little bit but unless you did something really unprofessional or were very unprepared it is worth taking another shot at later down the road! You just might be the perfect fit for their next event/production/booking. Thank them for the opportunity to submit/audition and try again next time. First impressions can make or break you.

#3 BE THE THREE Ps (POLITE, PUNCTUAL, PROFESSIONAL)

Be polite to EVERYONE. Even those you might mistake for 'creepers’ could very well be someone of potentially great importance to you. Nightlife people hang out with other nightlife people. Don’t be surprised if you rub elbows with your next client while grabbing a bottled water from the bar. Do you have you/your company’s business card ready?! However, if someone is harassing you, touching you or making you uncomfortable get security to handle the situation immediately.

Be punctual. The greatest GO-GO disasters I’ve seen were the result of dancers being late.

Be professional. Take your work seriously. Take care of your look. Don’t 'step on people’s toes’. Never pull a no call/no show (probably the most common reason for immediate termination). Be available via e-mail/text. Have your own reliable transportation. Do not cause drama of any kind. Choose your gigs wisely and be the best damn GO-GO you can be!

#4 GRIND HARD

How many gigs did you try to get you/your company today? Did you practice dancing today? Is there a sale at the fabric store?! It is not enough to just look good and perform well. This is a very competitive industry and you want all the fun gigs right? Work hard and separate yourself from 'part-time-just-trying-to-get-through-college-GO-GOs’ so that you get noticed!

<3 jW

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Jennifer Dobrydnia (aka Jen Web) is a Philadelphia based dancer specializing in GO-GO, hoop dance and fire performances. Over the past 6 years she has performed at many of the hottest nightclubs, music festivals, casinos and concert events from DC to upstate NY. Currently a manager and performer at Jewelz Entertainment, Jen explores her love for all things GO-GO while assisting with booking, costume creation, and more.  Jen also writes about her travels and life as a performer on her blog, Modern GO-GO. You can catch Jen performing on many different stages this year as she expands out West to work with some of the largest entertainment companies in the country. 

[gogoforbrains]

Re-sharing this blog post by the talented Jennifer Dobtydnia - who I FINALLY Had to pleasure of meeting and working with this past Halloween after years of online friendship! This advice here in the article she wrote is SO useful & so true! And believe me, this lady knows her stuff! Take note! I know I am!

[divinepossum]

“You’ve got to take that gift that’s tucked away on your back and jump, pull the chord and let your gift open up - because it’s that gift that provides the soar.” Watch this if you are feeling unmotivated to follow your dreams today. Steve Harvey makes one hell of a motivational speech. 

[gogoforbrains]

Here’s an “On the Go Go” tip from me: Next time you buy a new pair of sheets save the plastic zipper packaging. This makes the perfect carrying case for your dancer kit! I keep all my essentials in here so I can just throw it into my dance bag with my boots and go. I have my make-up bag, 2 hair pieces, nude & black fishnets ... all the typical items. Just an idea to help keep all the things together!

[gogoforbrains]

Working for “Exposure”

Can we talk about how perfectly this cartoon from The Oatmeal is summing up a situation many performers have found themselves in?! How many of you have been offered exposure over pay for a performance, gig or your time? How many of you have heard the argument that if you “love your art” you should be willing to present it for free?  Anyone who has been in any kind of performance industry has certainly encountered this once or twice. I would be lying to my readers if I didn’t admit that I’d fallen victim to this promise before - not to mention taken dance gigs for less than my standard guarantee just to be able to dance. One of my dance resolutions this year was to refuse to take gigs that did not meet my pay standards and to never compromise just to dance again. I’d like to share some points this little comic strip made me think more about. 

Know that if something you are creating has involved your time, energy, creativity, money for costuming, make-up, hours of dance practice, classes etc all these things should be considered when putting a price tag on what you are presenting to clients. Don’t be afraid to ask for what it’s worth!

If you feel like something isn’t fair to you it probably isn’t. If it feels like you are being cheated then you may very well be. Consult the “Fair Four” rule if you are unsure!

We all want to be able to do the glittery things that feed our soul. However, taking gigs/bookings for exposure or low pay harms other working professionals in the same industry as you and will make it more difficult for you to secure the guarantee you want in the future. 

No explanation needed. Love your art & put your foot down. Just wanted to share something I have been reflecting on a lot for the upcoming year with all of my readers, hopefully some one else is able to get something positive out of it & get some reinforcement for just saying NO when some one tell you to work for free or exposure! Just don’t do it! Love you all! 

[dancerkayt]

Snapchat that @rockstarmilo received today of the time we were clowns with @jewelzdancers another #tbt with bae @interstellarspacebae and @casie_darko behind us! Thank you random fan! #clowns #edm #jewelzentertainment #meow #gogo #gogoworld #gogodancers #fanpic #fun #ilovemyjob #summer #dancer #ac #borgata #like4like #picoftheday

[gogoforbrains]

All the girls in this photo are rockstars, just saying. 

[gogoforbrains]

Some pictures of my @deviantdollzgogo dancers at a benefit we did for the French Red Cross with members of our local music community. We were able to raise over $2,500 from the event to be donated!  Photos from: JSaulsky Photography

[gogoforbrains]

www.bustle.com

A good friend in my local performance community shared this this morning. I was especially pleased to read it as this was one of several reasons I recently left an online form for go go dancers nationally. I feel like this is especially important to share. Burlesque and go go have different but similar histories and it is important for us to remember that we are all essentially “cut from the same cloth.” We can not praise the trailblazers (like Carol Doda pictured above) of yester-year who were involved in sex work & vilify those working in it now. Just some food for thought worth sharing!

[gogoforbrains]

There may have never been a more accurate meme for go go dancers until now. I had to edit this for reasons. Also, HERE is a link to a false eyelash holder on Amazon, so you can adorably store your used lashes in between gigs! (Things I am adding to my holiday wish list right this moment)

[gogoforbrains]

A Fresh Start

I just erased SO many posts from this blog because I want to re-vamp it & use it to put more good out into the go go community. Expect to see more hand written articles from me (when I have time), more carefully selected and reblogged photos from some of the amazing performers I know, interviews and more helpful articles on navigating the industry and more.  Hope this will be a good resource for everyone as well as a good way for me to share my own experiences in the go go world in a useful way. And don’t forget that you can submit your own photos, etc! 

[gogoforbrains]

19 Pearls of Wisdom from the Burlesque World - Brown Paper Tickets

19 tips on performing in and producing burlesque events from industry veterans.

[gogoforbrains]

Stumbling Toward Mediocrity: Where is the Critique?

by: Lillith Grey Across most artistic disciplines, artists regularly give and receive constructive feedback about their work, and most people who engage in this process say it is an integral part o…

I was re-reading this burlesque community article this morning as I am considering participating in a panel review myself soon in my local performance community (I always find such good articles about performing from this community & Pin Curl Mag). Thinking about critiques/constructive criticism & thought it would be useful to share with others asking for, receiving and giving critique! Hope this helps somebody else!

[gogoforbrains]

This is a really simple way to think about if you are being fairly compensated at a gig or if the amount you are asking for benefits your performance community as a whole. Really happy to see this easy chart so simply tackle a difficult question!