Getting Started
Before jumping into a burleque career, it is of vital importance to research. Learn about burlesque's roots and how the art-form has evolved into what it is today. There are plenty of fantastic resources online, Ministry of Burlesque and Wikipedia are good starting places. If you're feeling generous, invest in some books...
Burlesque and the New Bump-n-grind - Michelle Baldwin
The Happy Stripper: Pleasures and Politics of the New Burlesque - Jackie Wilson
Pretty Things: The Last Golden Generation of American Burlesque Queens - Liz Goldwyn
New Burlesque - Katharina Bosse (Author), Cecile Camart (Editor)
Horrible Prettiness: Burlesque and American Culture (Cultural Studies of the United States) - Robert Clyde Allen
Burlesque: Legendary Stars of the Stage - Jane Briggeman
or DVDs...
Best of Burlesque
Hollywood Burlesque/Peek-a-Boo
The Night They Raided Minksy's
Gypsy
Bettie Page: Varietease/Teaserama
It is also very important to see as many performances as possible. Showreels and videos on YouTube are, again, a good place to start, but by no means as useful as seeing live stage shows. Watching live performances enables you to get a much better idea of the atmospheric capacities of burlesque. It also gives you a better standpoint from which to gauge the audience's reaction to the performances.
Don't be afraid to travel. Many of the UK's best burlesque events take place in major cities! Lists of up-coming burlesque events can be found on my blog Shake it, Doll
Getting Inspired
Burlesque can, within reason, be performed to any music you care to lay your hands on. It may be easiest to begin your adventures into the world of burlesque by choosing something classic, or a neo-revival of a 20th century musical styling. Using un-expected music requires a lot of stage presence and character for it to be carried off successfully.
Costumes are available all over the place. Perhaps begin by customising items you already have with sequins and fringing from a haberdashery shop. Search on eBay, in charity shops and in cheap high-street stores for unusual and cheap costume pieces. Begin your career on a budget and upgrade your costumes as you get more work.
Getting Stage Time
Approach promoters of burlesque events and ask if they would be so kind as to offer you a performance slot for you the debut your burlesque persona and/or try out new acts. It may help to send some promotional images (preferably of yourself in costume) or video footage with your email/application. As a promoter myself, I am much more willing to book someone I have previewed via videofootage, than a performer I have no knowledge of. Even grainy mobile phone footage is better than none.
Take Some Classes
The Ministry of Burlesque run some fantastic burlesque workshops, and there are many others taking place around the country. If the MOB workshops are too far away for you to get to, get in touch with performers in your area and ask if they know of any taking place more locally.
It may seem like a lot of money to invest to start with, but honestly, taking burlesque classes will eventually pay for themselves. Performers who have trained under their peers ooze professionalism – and this is of vital importance if you intend to break into this competitive industry. I receive emails weekly from people asking how they can become burlesque performers!
On the other hand, you can always try out one of these wonderful burlesque DVDs:
Learn the Art of Burlesque with Keda Breeze
Ministry of Burlesque: Burlesque for Beginners
This should answer all the basics, but do leave a comment here if you have any additional queries.
<3 xox