Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 27

Thread: Dear Burlesque Girl,

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Joined
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    154
    Thanks
    295
    Thanked 215 Times in 86 Posts

    Default Dear Burlesque Girl,

    I really enjoy going to see Burlesque dancers perform and appreciate thir dramatic stage performances and artistic ways of expression through dance. I fully respect what they do and how they support women's empowerment across all types of size/shape, ethnicity, gender identity, etc.

    That being said, I get a little offended when burlesque dancers try to identify with strippers and/or sex workers. I know there are women who do both (I'm not talking about you). And definitely we have a bunch in common (we take our clothes off!) and I understand the modern strip club/stripper was derived from burlesque...BUT we are very different, especially in some fundamental ways.

    I'm not speaking for all strippers (but this is my experience as a career stripper). Stripping is a job in which we rely to survive. We don't just perform on stage and take our clothes off, many of us perform contact lap dances where there are varying level of sexual contact (and often its 2-way contact). Many of us have been in situations where we have been, at least, asked to compromise our boundaries and morals...for what?...money to live, of course. And a good number of us have compromised those boundaries and morals more than once. Some of us our prostitutes. For many of us stripping is not a choice. We hide our profession from family and friends. We often try to emulate the male's perception of the female to increase our chances to make money.

    I feel as though many burlesque dancers who self proclaimedly identify w/ strippers and sex workers don't understand what we do or what we have to go through on a daily basis. I mean, I would never claim to identify w/ a street walker, because I don't know the first thing about their lives and struggles even though we have some things in common. My club also gets a lot of new strippers who are/were burlesque dancers. They show up in somewhat outlandish outfits and perform like they are at a burlesque show. Sometimes they don't even take their tops off. After a week or two of not understanding that we make our money from lap dances, so they make no money, they quit. I'm not posting this to bash burlesque dancers in any way, it's just something that bothers me. Am I the only one?


  2. #2
    Featured Member We had a rabbit like you's Avatar
    Joined
    Apr 2016
    Location
    In a dive near you
    Posts
    1,039
    Thanks
    1,191
    Thanked 2,946 Times in 850 Posts
    My Mood
    Daring

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    I'm also bothered by the artsy fartsy upper middle class yuppy hipster college douches who come in to slum it with us or "express" themselves on stage etc my job isn't a damn joke it's how I've been supporting myself and kids for years.
    I've done business with men who think I'm as silly as I look; by the time they figure out I'm not, I've done got the money and gone -Dolly Parton

    a motherfukin hustler kamikaze//I used to bus tables but now I sell my body


  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Joined
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    154
    Thanks
    295
    Thanked 215 Times in 86 Posts

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    Quote Originally Posted by We had a rabbit like you View Post
    I'm also bothered by the artsy fartsy upper middle class yuppy hipster college douches who come in to slum it with us or "express" themselves on stage etc my job isn't a damn joke it's how I've been supporting myself and kids for years.
    Lol, and I was trying to be nice! So true.

  4. #4
    God/dess tempest666's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Hamburg, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    10,607
    Thanks
    2,705
    Thanked 13,685 Times in 4,414 Posts
    Blog Entries
    5
    My Mood
    In Love

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    Burlesque dancers are just sanctimonious wannabes that failed as strippers. Add pole dancers that are trying to distance themselves from the sex industry to that list.
    Last edited by tempest666; 03-18-2017 at 01:17 PM.
    "Fake tits are like Kevlar. They don't guarantee your chances of survival but they sure as hell improve it."
    Tempest


  5. #5
    Veteran Member Adrienne7's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2015
    Posts
    377
    Thanks
    435
    Thanked 807 Times in 253 Posts

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    I haven't seen this in my club yet, but I would be at least confused. That said, there is a club here in Portland that sort of blurs the lines on purpose. It's basically a strip club but lap dances are expensive air dances, and there are themed/costume stage sets sometimes but not all of the time. I think it's a fun shift from the average clubs around here.

    I think burlesque is its own unique thing and something I am not interested in: I don't like acting out elaborate stories or themes. I am not much of an actress except for acting sexy and into it on stage. If I had to sing and be all Broadway dramatic with my dance and costume, well... I just don't. My folks once found out I was stripping and said, why don't you do burlesque, it's much more classy. Clueless...

  6. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Adrienne7 For This Useful Post:


  7. #6
    God/dess DonaDiabla's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2013
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    3,820
    Thanks
    5,361
    Thanked 7,701 Times in 2,730 Posts
    My Mood
    Cheeky

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    Actually, Cede, I am pretty happy that you created this thread. I have this one burlesque dancer friend and she did identify as stripper until she actually became one. She thought that stripping was about self-expression and taking back your sexuality. She thought if she wore tons of sequin and glitter that guys would just tip her. She got hired at one strip club and cry about her experience until she left 6 months later. So, she went back to doing just burlesque and pole dancing. So, not everyone can make it as stripper and I believe that burlesque dancers should not classify themselves as strippers. They are more like erotic theatre performers instead of strippers.

    Quote Originally Posted by cede View Post
    I really enjoy going to see Burlesque dancers perform and appreciate thir dramatic stage performances and artistic ways of expression through dance. I fully respect what they do and how they support women's empowerment across all types of size/shape, ethnicity, gender identity, etc.

    That being said, I get a little offended when burlesque dancers try to identify with strippers and/or sex workers. I know there are women who do both (I'm not talking about you). And definitely we have a bunch in common (we take our clothes off!) and I understand the modern strip club/stripper was derived from burlesque...BUT we are very different, especially in some fundamental ways.

    I'm not speaking for all strippers (but this is my experience as a career stripper). Stripping is a job in which we rely to survive. We don't just perform on stage and take our clothes off, many of us perform contact lap dances where there are varying level of sexual contact (and often its 2-way contact). Many of us have been in situations where we have been, at least, asked to compromise our boundaries and morals...for what?...money to live, of course. And a good number of us have compromised those boundaries and morals more than once. Some of us our prostitutes. For many of us stripping is not a choice. We hide our profession from family and friends. We often try to emulate the male's perception of the female to increase our chances to make money.

    I feel as though many burlesque dancers who self proclaimedly identify w/ strippers and sex workers don't understand what we do or what we have to go through on a daily basis. I mean, I would never claim to identify w/ a street walker, because I don't know the first thing about their lives and struggles even though we have some things in common. My club also gets a lot of new strippers who are/were burlesque dancers. They show up in somewhat outlandish outfits and perform like they are at a burlesque show. Sometimes they don't even take their tops off. After a week or two of not understanding that we make our money from lap dances, so they make no money, they quit. I'm not posting this to bash burlesque dancers in any way, it's just something that bothers me. Am I the only one?
    Last edited by DonaDiabla; 04-15-2017 at 05:51 AM.
    Wolves may lurk in every guise / Now as then, 'tis simple truth / Sweetest tongue has sharpest tooth.

  8. The Following 9 Users Say Thank You to DonaDiabla For This Useful Post:


  9. #7
    Member dark_rose's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2014
    Posts
    22
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 13 Times in 6 Posts

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    I took burlesque classes once from our local burlesque troupe. It wasn't my thing because it's more like slapstick comedy and acting instead of something sexy. It was hilarious too because all the other chicks were embarrassed to take their tops off and here I was busting out my tits like it was nothing

  10. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to dark_rose For This Useful Post:


  11. #8
    Senior Member
    Joined
    Jul 2015
    Location
    ny
    Posts
    78
    Thanks
    200
    Thanked 116 Times in 41 Posts
    My Mood
    Yeehaw

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    yeah as I understand it the only commonality is we both have to comfortable in a room full of people with our tits out. Although in most burlesque spaces, it's reasonable to assume that people won't make rude comments about you or your body while you perform. Plus burlesquers aren't incentivized to let audience members rub their hands all over them. Legit I've felt more violated on stage than in rooms because you can't react as quickly or aggressively when someone shoves their hand in your crotch while you're wiggling on your hands and knees in front of the whole club.

  12. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to juliette_ For This Useful Post:


  13. #9
    God/dess Vyanka's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Cash-Stack-istan Island
    Posts
    14,704
    Thanks
    6,564
    Thanked 11,625 Times in 3,697 Posts
    My Mood
    Angelic

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    This is what they think. Something out of a musical or a music video.....



    We're not a musical.
    Last edited by Vyanka; 03-19-2017 at 01:24 PM.

  14. The Following 7 Users Say Thank You to Vyanka For This Useful Post:


  15. #10
    Veteran Member gummygirl's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Candyland
    Posts
    221
    Thanks
    628
    Thanked 229 Times in 102 Posts
    My Mood
    Daring
    I may not be smart enough to do everything, but I am dumb enough to try anything. ~Geoff Johns

  16. #11
    Senior Member
    Joined
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    154
    Thanks
    295
    Thanked 215 Times in 86 Posts

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    Quote Originally Posted by Vyanka View Post
    This is what they think. Something out of a musical or a music video.....



    We're not a musical.
    That is some funny shit!!! So true!

  17. The Following User Says Thank You to cede For This Useful Post:


  18. #12
    Veteran Member
    Joined
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Montreal
    Posts
    665
    Thanks
    4,041
    Thanked 1,444 Times in 520 Posts

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    Quote Originally Posted by tempest666 View Post
    Burlesque dancers are just sanctimonious wannabes that failed as strippers. Add pole dancers that are trying to distance themselves from the sex industry to that list.
    Made one cry at work just last week. She said there was a customer looking for a plus sized stripper. Bitch I weigh 125lbs and am average height. Just because you weigh 90lbs... I looked at her like, pardon me and she was like, did I just say something bad and I laughed in her face. Later, in the change room she insists we "discuss" what she said to me, I was like I don't know you, do I look like I need your help making money? did I ask you to tell me how I should market my body? This is not a sisterhood, this is a job, I'm not your friend and I never will be but I hope this "discussion" you're insisting we have makes you feel better. She was like, No, I wanted to talk to you to make YOU feel better... and I laughed in her face until she started to cry. GO HOME STUPID THEATRE KID, this is where the big girls come to make money.


  19. #13
    Moderator Optimist's Avatar
    Joined
    Feb 2004
    Location
    House of Aion
    Posts
    8,074
    Thanks
    7,881
    Thanked 5,705 Times in 2,127 Posts
    My Mood
    In Love

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    Quote Originally Posted by We had a rabbit like you View Post
    I'm also bothered by the artsy fartsy upper middle class yuppy hipster college douches who come in to slum it with us or "express" themselves on stage etc my job isn't a damn joke it's how I've been supporting myself and kids for years.
    Quote Originally Posted by cede View Post
    Lol, and I was trying to be nice! So true.
    OK y'all made me laugh my ass off with that! That's how I felt but didn't want to be insensitive and say it, as well! I'm not mad at them. There are definitely overlaps but sadly, the days of being paid to dance and not having to interact or lap dance with the guys are sooo over.
    “What a caterpillar calls the end of the world we call a butterfly.” - ECKHART TOLLE

  20. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Optimist For This Useful Post:


  21. #14
    Moderator Optimist's Avatar
    Joined
    Feb 2004
    Location
    House of Aion
    Posts
    8,074
    Thanks
    7,881
    Thanked 5,705 Times in 2,127 Posts
    My Mood
    In Love

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    Quote Originally Posted by Vyanka View Post
    This is what they think. Something out of a musical or a music video.....



    We're not a musical.
    Oooo, that was fun! These people failed to notice that that scene is set back in the 80s and 90s and that's the last time you could dance and get paid that way. I wish they still tipped that way for stage. I haven't climbed a pole and done all that mishegas in so long because they don't rain on you for it in most places. Old school burlesque had ladies working from a fat salary with a band and props. So these ladies are...pretty misguided.
    “What a caterpillar calls the end of the world we call a butterfly.” - ECKHART TOLLE

  22. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Optimist For This Useful Post:


  23. #15
    God/dess Vyanka's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Cash-Stack-istan Island
    Posts
    14,704
    Thanks
    6,564
    Thanked 11,625 Times in 3,697 Posts
    My Mood
    Angelic

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    Quote Originally Posted by Optimist View Post
    Oooo, that was fun! These people failed to notice that that scene is set back in the 80s and 90s and that's the last time you could dance and get paid that way. I wish they still tipped that way for stage. I haven't climbed a pole and done all that mishegas in so long because they don't rain on you for it in most places. Old school burlesque had ladies working from a fat salary with a band and props. So these ladies are...pretty misguided.
    I wish I had a time machine. I'd be singing that song every time, doing the Carlton dance and snapping my fingers. "That's the way you want it"...
    Last edited by Vyanka; 03-30-2017 at 11:02 AM.

  24. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Vyanka For This Useful Post:


  25. #16
    Member LucyDanger's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2013
    Location
    California
    Posts
    25
    Thanks
    42
    Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts
    My Mood
    Psychedelic

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    Hahahaha, holy shit, girls actually act like this? Jeez louise...

    I came from a burlesque background, but the stuff I do is not the vaudeville, sideshow comedy type stuff (I think it's weird); it's more in line with fetish performing than anything else. Having been a stripper for a few years now, I feel like it's enhanced my burlesque performances, and vice-versa -- I get more tips in either setting, and have had a lot of club customers compliment my stage show and buy dances. It's a win-win. A lot of burlesque performers in my hometown either primarly work as strippers or used to (same for the "queerlesque" community in my hometown; I also perform as a drag king and a lot of the performers from that arena have worked in clubs also). Environment has a lot to do with it, though, and I realize that my experience isn't, er, "normal" from what I'm reading here! I'd probably die if someone came into work talking all big about being a burlesque performer and then not hacking it in the club (or crying -- oh goddddd). Like, bitch, shhh, you're embarrassing yourself.

    I also knew what stripping was before I went into it. I didn't picture it as some sort of movie scene or something from a tv show. Knowing the reality and not walking into it with rose-colored glasses on was probably helpful, haha.
    "What's the point of having a rapier wit if I can't use it to stab people?" -- Jeph Jacques

  26. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to LucyDanger For This Useful Post:


  27. #17
    Veteran Member persianprincess's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2016
    Posts
    703
    Thanks
    605
    Thanked 1,411 Times in 536 Posts
    My Mood
    Breezy

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    Yeh I think it's been discussed before but it irks me when hipsters come to strip in the club for two weeks and then write a TELL ALL article on their life as a stripper - are you fucking kidding me, go open a cupcake store and stfu.

  28. The Following 12 Users Say Thank You to persianprincess For This Useful Post:


  29. #18
    Veteran Member
    Joined
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Montreal
    Posts
    665
    Thanks
    4,041
    Thanked 1,444 Times in 520 Posts

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    Bumping this!!! Last night a burlesque girl in the club told me she only strips to pay for her burlesque career which costs her tons of money but it's her passion so it's worth it.... then she was like the style of dance is really cheesy in the stripclub, this is a girl who snaps her fingers on stage and does a lot of pointing at her genitals...which is pretty cheesy to me...

    So, I'm like, why do you feel it's cheesy? She's like cause it's all about appealing to men!!! This woman truly believes that burlesque is this pure art form that has nothing to do with money and men when it clearly is the predecessor of stripping as it exists today! There's nothing crazier to me than taking your hard earned stripper money and spending it on elaborate costumes to entertain a bunch of hipsters who aren't even going to pay you for the pleasure as some kind of self actualisation. Boggles my mind.

  30. The Following 10 Users Say Thank You to vanessa_mtl For This Useful Post:


  31. #19
    Featured Member Girl Anachronism's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    1,194
    Thanks
    230
    Thanked 2,637 Times in 851 Posts

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    oh god yes they are annoying. take your feathers and go.. why can't people just let us have this one thing? you don't see me walking into Velvet Vixenz Burlesque Studio with my clear pleasers and lycra g-strings twerking around like i'm better than everyone else. there's a time and a place for certain things..

  32. The Following 9 Users Say Thank You to Girl Anachronism For This Useful Post:


  33. #20
    God/dess Sam38g's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Miami
    Posts
    5,067
    Thanks
    6,589
    Thanked 26,854 Times in 4,529 Posts

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    I watched an documentary on Burlesque & they had several older ladies who did it in the 50s & 60s. One was straight up honest.. Club's paid shit but they all fucked the guys for money. She laughed a those who wanted jewelry & she only did CEOs & ask for stocks & bond. Which those investments gave her a very nice retirement.

    Artsy Fartsy from what I can see a bunch of not so attractive performers pretending like they are sexy. Not really being sexy which is an art form strippers do very well. Deluding themselves into thinking that men respect them & not the stripper. Men just want to see some tits, ass & try to get as much from you as you allow for their money.

    Men have not changed, ever.

  34. The Following 9 Users Say Thank You to Sam38g For This Useful Post:


  35. #21
    God/dess SnuffleUffleGrass's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2009
    Location
    HearstCastle, Rosebud
    Posts
    8,848
    Thanks
    22,676
    Thanked 17,513 Times in 6,696 Posts
    My Mood
    Angelic

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    I live in the Midwest & Know people who blow Money on biker gear...rodeo gear & other dumb hobbies. I don't see the point of dumping $$$ into burlesque but whatever makes her happy. As a salesperson I'd never talk someone out of spending money. Lol

  36. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to SnuffleUffleGrass For This Useful Post:


  37. #22
    God/dess tempest666's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Hamburg, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    10,607
    Thanks
    2,705
    Thanked 13,685 Times in 4,414 Posts
    Blog Entries
    5
    My Mood
    In Love

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    Dear Burlesque Girl,
    Go fuck yourself and shove your sanctimonious attitude up your ass. You keep your self respect and dignity, I'll take the money. We'll see whose rent gets paid.
    "Fake tits are like Kevlar. They don't guarantee your chances of survival but they sure as hell improve it."
    Tempest

  38. The Following 7 Users Say Thank You to tempest666 For This Useful Post:


  39. #23
    Featured Member trustfundkiller's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2016
    Location
    South Florida
    Posts
    1,563
    Thanks
    4,333
    Thanked 5,110 Times in 1,280 Posts
    My Mood
    Sad

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    I've never encountered girls who wanted to strip as a means of "artistic expression" in any of the clubs I've worked in, but from the reading I've done around here these types seem to be alive and well. Whatever makes you happy. If giving a theatrical performance on stage, keeping your top on, and leaving the club with $30 every night is that, to each their own. Meanwhile I'm going to stick to shaking my ass, shoving my tits in people's faces during dances, and doing all of the other "classless" stripper stuff, because that's what pays my bills

  40. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to trustfundkiller For This Useful Post:


  41. #24
    God/dess Sam38g's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Miami
    Posts
    5,067
    Thanks
    6,589
    Thanked 26,854 Times in 4,529 Posts

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    Actually, male strip clubs are more like the burlesque shows of the past. They put on a show with plenty of sex appeal, comedy and such. Each show must be different & have a costume. There is a set dance routine too. They still hustle the crowd for tips & do table dances.

    The female version & what it has morphed into is about sex expression and PRETENDING to be sexy. It is about self as sexy & desired but protected and no pressure to be those things. It is about you having fun play acting on the stage. It is theater but not about turning men on, which true burlesque used to be about.

    Porn was not prevalent, nudie mags didn't even start till the late 50s. Seeing girls naked or topless was enough for every man. There was no computers, DVD, VHS and such. Many places you couldn't buy a topless mag due to the laws in that area. Men surely didnt want to be seen in their hometown buying a nude magazine. He would be labeled a pervert.
    Burlesque shows were the only place they could get a glimpsy of a nipple, hint of the ass & such. Now porn & tits are everywhere so the don't view them as something special as much anymore.

    Which is why I say they want to get up there & pretend, has nothing to do with men but they own need of adventure in a safe place.

  42. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Sam38g For This Useful Post:


  43. #25
    Member
    Joined
    Jul 2014
    Posts
    33
    Thanks
    11
    Thanked 35 Times in 9 Posts

    Default Re: Dear Burlesque Girl,

    this thread is cracking me up! So true! Burlesque is very different from stripping for sure

  44. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to kawaiidoll For This Useful Post:


Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Couples (Boy/Girl & Girl/Girl) Hustles?
    By SexxxieLexie in forum Camming Connection
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 10-23-2013, 08:23 PM
  2. Dear X
    By SundayMorning in forum Member Boards
    Replies: 137
    Last Post: 05-23-2008, 01:27 PM
  3. Dear... Everyone?
    By BohemianSiren in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 05-15-2008, 04:44 PM
  4. Dear Everyone
    By RoseWhite in forum Customer Conversation
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 11-05-2006, 10:26 AM
  5. Girl on Girl on Girl Burlesque--Austin, July 17th
    By Susan Wayward in forum Stripping (was Stripping General)
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 07-16-2004, 11:54 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •