#ask flo

[catspores]

What is your favorite flower?

probably sunflowers :)

[florenceofalabia]

Hey flo! I've admired burlesque for a couple of years and recalled that at one point you mentioned that there's a way to check and see if a name is taken or not. I'm slowly transitioning into wanting to do this myself and have a few ideas/leads but I don't want to accidentally try trademarking myself with a name already in use?!

There’s the Burlesquepedia. Not *everyone* is on it, but it’s a good start. Also google your name idea, and do a facebook search for it. Most burlesque business is done through facebook and most performers have a facebook page for their stage name. If a name is being used, it’ll probably come up in a facebook search. A lot of times you’ll find a name is in use by a drag queen, which means technically it might not be in play in the burlesque scene, but then again there’s a lot of overlap. Type your name idea as all one word and add .com after it and see if there’s a result (and this is a good time to proactively snag the URL.)

Also, do searches for similar names. For example, in burlesque there’s a Kitten LaRue AND a Kitty LaRue. It gets confusing. Search for various spellings a la Caitlin Caitlyn Katelynn etc. And I’d also say don’t use a super unorthodox spelling of a name, or future fans will have a hard time finding you. 

I like that you’re keeping this in mind before you get started. It’s hard to build a career when you have to keep changing your name every few months because people keep pointing out that somebody has already  been using it for years.

This post is dedicated to that random performer who tried to call herself Florence of A’Labia last year before getting shut down by the community without me even having to do anything and then fading away into obscurity. Do your homework and we can avoid this mess!

[thegirlfromoverthepond]

Hey there, just wanted to say you have a great taste in music:) *cheers*

Thank you !!! I’m usually laughed at because of my musical choices :)

thanks a lot , really :)

[thegirlfromoverthepond]

Hope you have/had a great day !

thank you :)

it was .. okay :) which is not too bad, all things considered :)

Hope you had a very good day - and thanks for asking :)

[thegirlfromoverthepond]

yeahthatstherealme asked me this: When you get this you must say five things publicly that you like about yourself and send it to ten of your favourite followers (non negotiable) :*

I'm curious - not in a bad, stalker way. I love learning things, from science to music, anything really

my hair. even though I spend my life complaining about my curly hair, I wouldn't change them for the world.

Friendship. The ones given, and the ones people deem me worh of.

my voice. I like the sound it makes, whether i talk, laugh, sing or shout.

I make a damn good coffee.

[thebvbmaid]

Hi :) I post a lot of youtubers (mostly Dan and Phil) and I also have an mtrench blog. That one is westaythefxcktogether.

omg thank you, ur blogs are perf!! followed both :)

[thebvbmaid]

your blog is so amazing your awesome :)

[florenceofalabia]

What resources would you recommend to a couple gals trying to start up a local troupe (one with a particular emphasis on body acceptance)?

I guess just start small and spend years making it bigger. The internet is your best friend. Depending on where you’re at, there’s a burlesque forum that attempts to connect people interested in doing it. Get involved in the local arts scene. Put ads on Craigslist. Make friends. Find people with diverse talents. Come to terms with the fact that your first shows will have poor attendance and be okay with that because it’s fun. Make friends. I said that twice because that’s a huge part of it. Establish relationships with performers, venue owners, enthusiastic audience members. A friend of a friend of a friend might be perfect for the show, and everyone in that daisy chain of people is going to be your word-of-mouth advertising base.

Burlesque is pretty good on body acceptance by nature. Performers and spectators have come to expect that there aren’t any restrictions on what a burlesque body is, though it isn’t necessarily a guarantee. You might have to force people to get used to this idea if they’re new to it, but defend your performers to the death and let them see you do it and know you have their backs.

I guess these aren’t so much concrete resources as just general advice because for the most part, all my resources have been other dancers who I’ve made friends with (and I’m making more wonderful friends all the time!) and the internet. I mean, even just using the burlesque tag on tumblr is helpful sometimes.