I am admin and member of some groups on Facebook, which means that I get to see a lot of posts about burlesque in particular. One topic that is coming up more and more is the idea of age and in particular being ‘too old’ for burlesque. I mean seriously: too old. Before I scream bull sh*t on that I should really get my head round why people feel they are not the right age for burlesque.
We are conditioned to think it’s for the youngsters!
I am not old. I am not. Old is not a thing for me. I am also aware I have been in burlesque over a decade so I am ‘old’ in terms of burlesque years. The world around us is obsessed with youth. How many adverts sell us wrinkle reduction creams, show bikini models who clearly left school last week and dont even get me started on the magazines who insist on calling out ladies who try to keep themselves ‘fresh’ with botox/plastic surgery like they should just be happy with themselves whilst the same magazine rips them apart for it.
We are as a society bombarded with young being the desirable. Everywhere we go. Sure there are campaigns that use older models but they are often for stereotypical older products like pads for bladder problems or funeral care blah blah friggin blah.
So you see my darlings, we are brain washed into thinking that at some magically dull moment in our ageing process we stop being desirable and become pee dripping funeral lusters waiting for death so we can regret living. Nope nope nope.
Burlesque was founded by women we largely regard as legends on all manners of the word and these ladies are still driving it forward. They trail blazed. They fought and won for us. I could bore you with the obvious that they are bad asses, they have experience of life to help us but you know that. Every year we celebrate them at BHOF (tell me you know what BHOF is). No one says hey they are too old to be there. No one. We all whoop, cheer and obsess over their sass. They arent a novelty act. They are a legit part of the entertainment at one the biggest events in the burlesque calendar.
Every year we live on this revolving planet, we grow in experience. Not all are amazing. Some are us puking our tequila shots up, some are crying till snot pours from our nose over lovers who werent really that great in bed, and sometimes we ‘find ourselves’ and go get life by the labia/balls/ears. Some people simply get through the year and hope the next is better. Each day, week, month that passes we live, we interact and learn a little. Be it how to parallel park, make a purse, do our tax return or samba. If we really think about it we know something this year we didnt last year. That cant be discounted. That cant be thrown by the way side.
Dont let them think it’s your age!
Age is a concern to promoters with narrow minds or for clients who dont get art or the very basics of burlyQ. Age doesnt make the performer, it helps create us. Young (over 18 please) or older its the performance that matters, the experience you bring. Dita isnt 21 and yet she sells out shows. I am not 19 and headline. Dirty Martini is not 20 and goes around the world performing. Jo Boobs/Wheldon of Burlesque Handbook fame openly celebrated her big birthday and hasnt stopped performing or partying!
Promoters who wont book you because of your age arent promoters that should be in burlesque. If their line up is based on an age bracket, they are missing out. MISSING OUT.
As you grow in age, you dont be come less in performance. Each year, you become more. Your footprint in the world, in peoples’ lives grows. Therefore you gain. A good burlesque performer brings something to a performance. You can bring all of you or some of you or even none of you but you bring something: life, experience, a fart.
Dont write yourself off because you feel your age prevents you. There will always be someone who leads you to believe your age is a factor in them not booking you. Hey the world needs a douchbag to hate otherwise we wont be able to know a good un when we see them. Be the leader you are seeking in burlesque. Be the role model that is lacking. Call out twats who use your age against you. Apply for shows. Dont sit there and think you wont get booked. Apply apply and keep apply. Work and hone your craft. Apply yourself. Apply.
Age is not just a number in burlesque. Its irrelevant. It shouldnt be there. Dont let others use it as an excuse. The only number you need to care about is how much you are getting paid.
