Miss Mina Murray

Dear Constant Reader,

Here ’tis Friday again. Here’s your tip!

When gluing rhinestones, put your fabric on a silicone mat or piece of parchment paper.

Gluing rhinestones is a bit like baking. You don’t them to stick. I mean, you do, but you only want them to stick to the surface you’re decorating. Not to your work surface. Not to the layer of fabric underneath. Putting either parchment paper or a silicone mat under the piece you are decorating will prevent glue soaking through and sticking to…

Dear Constant Reader,

It’s Friday again! Here’s your tip!

Naps are nice.

I don’t know about you, but at heart I am an old lady who would like nothing better than a good book, a cup of tea, some cats, and an early bedtime. However, I have chosen to be a showgirl and some of those shows start pretty dang late.

To stay perky and focused, the answer might not be more coffee, but, if you can swing it, a nap. The key is to get enough sleep that you are feeling refreshed, but not so much that you’re…

Dear Constant Reader,

This past weekend I was unexpectedly able to attend two shows at the second annual Boston Fringe Festival, held, of course, in Somerville.

The first was Our Lord and Savior, a play written, directed, and featuring the multitalented Alana Corrigan. I think it shows how much respect I have for Lani that I voluntarily, nay, eagerly, came to a production that started at 10pm.

Our story is set at a Bible study group in Minnesota with five teens overseen by an overwhelmed youth…

Dear Constant Reader,

There isn’t going to be a Friday Tip this week. Maybe next week. I’m not particularly in the mood to share my skills and wisdom with the world. This has nothing to do with you, Dear Readers. In fact, I appreciate all of you, very much. However, things are just a bit much for me right now.

There may be something like a tip about priorities and self-care in there, but I leave that as an exercise to the reader.

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday!

Remember last week when I talked about being an ambassador for burlesque? This is related.

Support your local community —  not just your burlesque community.

If there’s a cause that’s important to you, one way to support it is in your burlesque guise. Donate tickets or a gift certificate to a raffle. Share the proceeds of a show. Teach a free class. Volunteer in person, perhaps as a troupe. It shows the rest of the world we’re more than their preconceived notions and puts…

Dear Constant Reader,

After too long a pause, I have returned to the volume 2 of my costume book, tentatively titled “The Next Level”, in which I explore the  creation of shimmy belts and panels skirts and some related garments. I’ve handed out the panels skirt section to some folks for feedback, which I hope will give me some motivation to continue.

The other thing that’s motivating me is that I am basically out of copies of my previous two books and I want to roll the next printings into the Kickstarter…

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! I hope you are going to have a lovely weekend!

Here’s your tip:

You may not have signed on for this, but you are an ambassador of burlesque.

As a burlesque performer, whomever you meet is a potential audience member, producer, or performer. They may have preconceived opinions of burlesque or no idea what it is. Be a good ambassador and show how wonderful the art and its practitioners are.

I’ve heard too much about members of the burlesque “community” being really…

Dear Constant Reader,

Here’s another one of these books I was sure I had reviewed long ago…

Honey: The Life and Loves of Lenny’s Shady Lady by Honey Bruce with Dana Benenson, 1976.

I first read this book as a teenager* when I was obsessed with Lenny Bruce and didn’t know the first thing about burlesque. Reading it again now from the perspective of a performer and historian brought new details into focus.

As with so many of our Legends, Honey Bruce (née Harriet Jolliff) began her performance career as a…

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! Here’s your tip!

Be prepared for holidays, movie releases, and other occasions that want themed shows. Check your calendar now and plan ahead so opportunities don’t catch you unprepared.

These writings and other creative projects are supported by my 19 Patrons. Thank you so much! To become a Patron, go to my Patreon page.

Dear Constant Reader,

Happy Friday! 

I’m trying something new. Inspired by some terrific burlesque instructors, like Bebe Bardeaux and Jo Weldon, I’ve decided to offer a monthly on-line workshop series. These are going to be mostly lecture classes, on topics like burlesque history and costuming. At least at first, because that’s what I’ve got ready to go. I’m working on some new classes and I’m open to suggestions. Our other faculty members may join the line-up too.

We’re going to kick it off with Getting…