BurlyQ-what? Is that like a chargrilled chick for dinner?
No. It’s the hip way of saying, “Burlesque." And if you haven’t looked around, BurlyQ is making a big comeback in a lot of areas.
Since I am in Cleveland, Ohio, I will write about what I know. We have a very small BurlyQ scene with about a handful or two of performers. I just jumped into the Cleveland BurlyQ scene about 2 months ago. With both dancing feet, mind you! I have dreams of making it big one day, though not as a dancer. You’ll see…we’ll get to that at another blog.
Anyways, what I found from the Cleveland scene is there is not a whole lot of talent AND from that small group comes a lot of negativity. Cleveland is starting to have a lot of gossip, backstabbing, (hey, that’s show biz, right?) and two-faced, competitive girls up here. There are girls who do not pay their dancers for a show. There are girls who do the same routines every show for the last five shows. There are girls who only pop out of the woodwork, do a number, then leave with no interaction with the audience. There are a lot of negative things that will destroy the Cleveland Burlesque scene if things aren’t changed soon.
Yes, I am mostly speaking to the performers of the Cleveland, Ohio Burlesque scene. The rest of you don’t really care, I know. You just want to see boobies!
I am posting this because it’s important to know that something with staying power must have determination, a positive attitude, goals, planning, and sheer strength of will to overcome all odds and continue doing what they love to do! I honestly don’t see that in Cleveland at the moment. I see nail clawing, hissing, biting, and general cat fighting amongst the entertainers that transfers up to the stage.
I am challenging the dancers of Cleveland. Yes, me, a nobody, challenging YOU, the current and even wannabe Burlesque dancers of Cleveland, Ohio, to BE a better dancer, performer, AND person! How? You have to be willing to change. Which sucks, because no one wants to change, no one likes to change, unless it’s a costume! *bah dum chink*
But this is what needs to happen for Cleveland to stay, grow, and be successful:
Follow through with your words. You word is your bond and it should be kept that way. If you are organizing a show, you told xyz dancer to be there and she will get paid x amount of $…Do it. Don’t be a flake.
Drop your ego at the door. You might think your all that, but until you prove yourself off the stage, you aren’t. Be humble, but confident. There is a fine line and you should walk it.
Treat other performers and audience members, to their face AND behind their backs, nicely. If you don’t have anything nice to say, shut your pretty little lips. Pretty easy, huh? That should go for every person you meet! When you put out the positive energy around you to other people, they will see it, feel it, and like it!
Challenge your dancing and make something new. Every show. Yes, every show unless your are on tour! We are in a one horse BurlyQ town. People will see you perform the same routine and get bored, then never come back.
ENTERTAIN your audience! Get them involved. Bring them into your world on the stage. Open up, look up, make eye contact, smile, wink, dance, perform, thrill!! On and off the stage.
I honestly started writing this blog with no intention of addressing how I feel about the Burlesque scene in Cleveland. But you know, I’m glad I did. I hope someone reads it and wants to learn from it. It’s tough, but everything that’s worth it in the end, is very hard.
…that’s what she said!
Indeed.
I'm from Garfield heights and it's so hard living in this area when the city does not care about certain parts of there suburb.