Yeah another click baity title but this was actually a term overheard in the dressing room last week. I hate the term bitch used to put down another (can we quit with the female hating!) but I thought it was a little apt for today’s blog post. The topic is really how to only compete with yourself and not with the performer next door to you in the dressing room.
Burlesque like any work is competitive even though we strive for it to not be so. Tongue in cheek polls such as the ‘Top 50 Burlesque’ has turned somewhat in a popularity contest for some and yet so many talented people are left off of it. Its about who has time to vote for who to be honest I feel. I saw some performers exclaiming they didnt even see the announcement for this year’s poll opening. I narrowly managed to get my nominations in for those who drove the scene forward these last 12 months. But like so many statuses were put up last year, so many people will undoubtedly be surprised by the results. Not entirely sure why. It is meant to be a bit of fun and I rather like the poll. Yes I have been placed a few times but so often I have my eyes opened to new emerging talents I had yet seen. Somehow however people get ‘put out’ by such polls and feel overlooked or unjust with their placement or lack there of. Thus the feeling of competitiveness creeps in.
You, yes YOU need to stop comparing yourself to the other performers you come across. You really need to work on pushing yourself. Any good business mentor will tell you to get yourself a business plan: where you want to be in X amount of time and how you plan to achieve it. Be that long term or short term goals. USE THAT TO COMPETE AGAINST. Not the showgirl to the left or the boylesquer to your right. You dont need to check their social media its all carefully engineered anyway. So what if they are performing everywhere. They got their CV in first or their act fits that show more.
With this year drawing to a close, look back on what you want to improve and how you want to improve going forward. Set up your Burlesque Business Plan. Write it down, work towards those goals and stop thinking you arent doing as well as XYZ performer. They are chasing their own goals. Not every one of us is destined to be a headliner or internationally paid to perform as there really isnt enough spaces for that. Sometimes we are lucky to obtain the dizzy heights of Dita or Immodesty but as long as you push forward yourself, no matter how small those goals are, you are competing and winning.
Winning against yourself is more rewarding and better for your soul than beating the person next to you on the bill. Be your own champion.
Burlesque Business Plan Tips
Where do you want to be/do or what goal?
- Apply for 3 more shows a month.
- Get your cv updated.
- Book in a fresh new promo shoot.
- Edit your latest act video.
- Read up on tax deductible items.
- Book some 1-on-1 training.
- Perform in another county or city.
- Finish that costume.
- Attend 2 shows a month.
- Start your blog.
