Frankie Tease Blog

While there is no  one  expert about Burlesque,  Jo Weldon aka 'Jo Boobs'  has been a massive contributor as the head mistress of the  New York School of Burlesque  which reigns as the world's most acknowledged, prolific, and prestigious school of this genre since 2003. Jo states on the school's website that  "Classes include movement, history, costuming, makeup, choreography, fitness, theatrical skill building, circus training, and confidence building"  [ http://www.schoolofburlesque.com/ ]. Jo has been an intrinsic member of the Miss Exotic World pageant (annually in Las Vegas), as well as running the New York school. This forerunner has an amazing online handbook and a full in-print burlesque handbook available. You can purchase your print copy online via  Harper Collins  directly, or visit her site for the online edition on the  School of Burlesque website . The book's release date was over a year ago, June of 2010, but this is a book that

I was wondering what every day beauty tip I could write about for the upcoming July fourth holiday weekend, and then I remembered the old argument I have about oils versus talcs. Little did I know with a small amount of research that it would turn up kind of an important fashion decision. Let me explain. When i lived in Pasadena and worked at a horse ranch in the La Canada hills, it was my first time encountering mountain scorching heat. Being around the horse riders I began using talc powder to keep the moister inside of riding boots to a minimum during major heat waves. We are pretty fortunate to be blessed with moderate weather here in the Pacific Northwest, but a few months out of the year it can get pretty hot. If 2011's July fourth is a scorcher, here is a few beauty tips I recommend for anti-chafing. Sometimes people think only the heavy-set has to deal with chafing, but that's not necessarily true. The combination of perspiration and rubbing skin can happen in

There are many types of glitters and there are many uses for glitter. In burlesque it can range from decorating your shoes with glitter, to using body glitter or preparing a glitter dump as a part of your act. If it is going to be flying through the air in any way, you must never use 'craft' glitter. It has sharp shards of metallic substances that can scratch or gash eyes and sensitive skin. It is not designed to be in contact with the body in any way and is used only for things such as wardrobe or props. CRAFT GLITTER Glitter for crafting can range from large flakes to fine dust. Craft glitters are poly coated dyes rather than poly coated (and sealed) cosmetic grade pigments. There are large and small chunk sizes, as well as glue with glitter already embedded in it. I found an amazing selection of craft glitters at 'Columbia Art and Crafts" [1515 East Burnside Street, Portland, OR 97214-1452(503) 232-2216]. GLITTER FOR SPRINKLING When using decor

You have committed yourself to perform, your costume is ready and you are excited to wow your audience. But wait, who is coming to this show? Unless you are hired for a private event, it is your job to inform your fan base of your upcoming performances. Nowadays promoting doesn't just involve passing out handbills, it is a sophisticated combination of posters, handbills, online invites, and calendar listings. The easiest way for you to manage updating your fans could be creating an email list, fan page, or group. Without delving into each and every medium a  little bit of basics you might apply to make everyone happy at your next show. Each place you play, you will get new fans. How will you keep them informed among all the other event choices they have?  First, make it easy for your new fans to follow you. I recommend you create a free blogsite that is easy to remember, something where your fans don't have to sign in to access (such as yahoo groups or facebook fan p

Choosing the right shoes  for your burlesque routine is like shopping for specialty fudge, you kind of have to know what you're doing. This 'how to' is about choosing the right shoes for what you're going to do on stage. Burlesque routines can vary in choreography as much as a good day of weather in Portland. What you're doing in your routine is going to determine the type of shoes you will want to wear. If you are planning to sashe across the floor gracefully, you probably won't want something too tall with a rubber sole.  Ballroom Dance Shoes  - Ballroom dance shoes are made for action. The average shoe has a suede based sole for moving on dance floors, and will run from $30 to $200 depending upon the quality of the manufacturer. A couple sources I recommend are  http://www.danceshoesonline.com  and in Portland:  The Glass Slipper  3106 NE Broadway, as well as  the Letoard  2432 NE Martin Luther Kind Blvd. 503 284-9244. Ballroom dance shoes can be fo

This issue is dedicated to applying pasties to your bosom for performance and modeling. Don't laugh, it's not as simple as it sounds. Basically the type of adhesive you use depends upon your type of skin sensitivity, what you plan to do on stage, and what you have on hand. Read below for all the choices in adhesives before you.Spirit Gum - One thing I've noticed is that at everyone swears by the adhesive they use, I swear by spirit gum. During my performance I do fleshy acrobatics and have had to find something very solid to depend upon. Spirit Gum is made of SD Alcohol 35-A and resin, which is the 'gum' [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_gum ]. This type of adhesive comes in small or large viles and looks just like a 'cement glue' container, with a brush attached to the cap. The level of quality will vary greatly. In Portland you can find this at Hollywood Costumes 635 SE Hawthorne. They also have an ample selection of mustaches which can also be ap

In our travels and costuming, we try to make everything last as long as possible. This includes the longevity of stockings. How do you get the most out of your silk thigh highs, or nylon hose? I mean it's your favorite pair and you just got a run. How will you avoid this? It's all about the temperature. When I had a waitress job way back when, one of the requirements was to wear nylon hose every day. That meant going through a lot of hose. The company recommended we put the freshly bought pair of nylons into the freezer, as a way to preserve them. I didn't understand, but obeyed. Apparently, the freezing temperature of the freezer of your handy household refridgerator is a climate that will moleculary change the stockings, stronger once they are thawed. Leave in package in freezer overnight. Take them out and let them sit at room temperature. Take them out after a couple hours and let them air dry. You wil find a tougher hose than you ever imagined, saving you a ton

Frankie Tease sat down to talk with Matt Adamik about Ohio, New Orleans, photography gear, getting that perfect shot, and shooting burlesque shows. You might be surprised that a guy so quiet had a lot to say.  FT: How long have you been shooting cameras? Matt Adamik:  I've been interested in cameras since I was three, since I could comprehend what they did. FT: Is this an artistic fascination? How would you classify it? Are you a true voyeur of the world? MA:  Techniclly, I'm a gadget freak. I love the mechanisms of cameras like how the shutter works. Especially film cameras, I can sit there and play with broken lenses all day long. FT: Do you fix cameras? MA:  I fix my own gear as much as I can, if I can't fix it for myself I can walk into a shop and tell them what's wrong. FT: So you've been using film for most of your photography career and then recently switched to digital. When did that switch happen? MA:  I started shooting digital in 2006,

How to shape and beautify your eyebrows. Eyebrows are an important stage element. They set the mood, frame your eyes, which are the window to the soul, and they are not only subject to eyebrow pencil. Check out this trick for shaping, and painting your eyebrows before taking to the stage. Keeping a shape that is easy to work with usually means a thick base toward the center of your forhead, and a tapered edge toward the ear end of the eyebrow. Plucking is the most traditional form of shaping, but you can also use wax strips or gel to remove hair and shape the brow. Once you do this a talc or tonic may be applied to ease any red skin. Easier than that, most salons that do hair or nails can accomodate you eyebrow shaping needs. Never do the shaping the day of your performance, as it may take a day or two for the skin to calm down and regularize from being agitated by wax or tweezers. Once you have shaped the eyebrow, it's time to paint it. Most people will reach for the 'e

How to Warm-Up While On Stage   as published by Kelly Dinardo on the Candy Pitch March, 2009. Did 'hair & make-up' go too long before you heard "you're on"? That's ok. You can build a warm up for your own safety into your every performance! If not, you can take 30 seconds to do this right before going on stage. Coming from a major injury to my hamstring, I can tell you that warming up is without question, the most important thing you can do for yourself before performing. I hurt myself on a cold December day during an audition which I didn't have time to warm up for! Because I do acrobatics during every performance, I have now devised a system that will ensure I didn't cool down while waiting to go on stage. Here's How To: Take that f irst 30 seconds  of your routine to breath deeply through your nose, connect with your surroundings on the stage, and warm up!  Think about your four 'major muscle groups'. The Chest, Legs, Back,

How to Clean Patent Leather Accessories You know those scuffs or spills on your patent leather accessories? They're not going to cost you a trip to the cobbler anymore, because your own household item will take them off! I found out from a friend way back when, that nail polish remover will get rid of any scuffs or stains on patent leather, without any damage. It might even make them shine a bit brighter. Start with a soft cloth or cotton pad. Dowse the cloth with a bit of nail polish remover. Wipe. Let it evaporate, then use a dry cloth to buff. You may end up cleaning your accessories in their entirety when you see how sparkly they get with the application of nail polish remover. Now go enjoy your politically correct patent leather products knowing how quick and easy you can clean them. Find out more about the columnist of 'How to Burlesque'  at   www.MissFrankieTease.com Love shoes? Who doesn't!  I personally have had a great time at  Imelda's Des

You might have a great act, but what if no one sees? Here are a few ways to get booked, and booked again as a performer. 1. Be easy to reach once you're contacted. It's not a deal until it's a done deal. It's cool to be professional and answer show planning questions. This means no drama the night of the show. Changes happen and you'll want as much notice from the producer, so be reachable once you've made the commitment.  2. Have requested bio and photo information accessible on your website, or ready to send to the booker or producer. If they don't have the materials to promote you they may go searching and use a photo you have posted online and aren't fond of. Be sure to take control of your destiny by providing this material very quickly after you are booked, so as not to hold up the promotion team who's marketing your performance. 3. Let them know your staging or dressing room requests or requirements without being a diva.  4. Be prepa

How to Burlesque: Fake Eyelashes or 'falsies'- as published by Kelly Dinardo , Aug. 13 2009 In our monthly column How To Burlesque,Miss Frankie Tease brings you tips and advice on a mishmash of burly topics. Today, she dishes on how to apply false eyelashes. Whether you have thick eyelashes or not, applying a false eyelash set can perk up the face for your photo or performance. Lashes come in strips, pre-made from human hair, or individual lash sets, which are great for accenting your already existing lashes.There are also metallic and colored falsies out there. Practice applying the falsies so they look as if they are part of your own lash line. You'll need a tube of lash glue, usually called lash grip. This can also be used to apply body jewels or pasties in a pinch, so it's great to keep on hand. Squeeze some of the glue on to a tissue or small palette. Dip a toothpick into the adhesive and spread liberally onto the fake lash line on the side that will

How to Burlesque: Creating a Persona - as published by Kelly Dinardo ,  Dec. 16, 2010 In our monthly column How To Burlesque,  Miss Frankie Tease ,  brings you tips and advice on a mishmash of burly topics. Today, she dishes on how to create your stage persona.The most important thing about your name, and persona, is that it fits you with ease and the second is that it's catchy and easy to remember. To get started on creating your stage persona, answer a few of my questions below. ~ What is memorable about you at a glance? For example, are you long, tall, short, fat, well endowed up top or bottom? Do you have big round eyes? Do you have a tiny waist? Use what your Momma gave you to be remembered.  ~ What will you do for a party trick? Do you sing or do acrobatics, balancing acts or shimmy tricks. If you can produce the same trick every time, it could be part of your long term act. ~ Write your name out. Do you like how it looks? Imagine signing it 1000 times. Im