Red Snapper

233 puppets later.

Big thanks to Ben Britt and Viva Dallas Burlesque for the video and the playground.

So many acts come out of ridiculous ideas. This one was born a decade ago for a Monday Night Tease show. This is the fourth version of the top with the third version of the sleeves, second version of the turban, second version of the collar.

We perform this act so we can include the audience in the act. You can see some of the folks with puppets in the frame.

I've submitted this act for one festival...

You could say I'm a fan of fans.

Har de har har

Photo by Madison Hurley Photography.

I have three sets of feather fans, and two of those sets match each other. (You can see the primary pair of the matched sets above. I made a second set when I was in the James Franco Bukowski film that will eventually release.) Sadly, I don't get booked for fan dancing more frequently.

Of course, that isn't stopping me from setting my sights on a fourth set of feather fans. I'm working on getting the supplies to make myself a huge...

Why I do yoga almost daily.

Photo by Naked Lens from the Star Wars May the Fourth show earlier this month.

This act is ridiculous. It's a tribute to Drop Dead Gorgeous. I enter and proclaim my love for someone special. That's when I wheel in a carbonite Han Solo (filled with bean bag stuffing) and proceed to dance with him.

I peel him off the slab, roll down the stage with him, and finish it out with some comedic ...

Oh no! My left boob exploded!

Photo by Naked Lens.

Yep. My left boob was the one Han shot first. I still have my loaded "pew pew pew" finger fun inside the right glove. 

I blended the blue zircon stones (as used on the right pastie and Borat panties) with black rhinestones (shrapnel) and green stones (Greedo blood). It took a lot of nerd research to create the right (actually, left) pastie.

I had so much fun debuting my Greedo act to "Living Thing" by ELO last Saturday. Of course, I had to adjust my moves ...

The truth of "beauty"

Queen Snapper photo shoot on Sunday. This gem was captured by Madison Hurley.

Here's the truth. I think we all know by now that I'm pretty rough and tumble. I keep my nails trimmed to a smart length. I have bad reactions to gel nail polish and regular polish smudges or chips within a day. I now wear fake nails in photo shoots where my nails matter. Mr. Snapper selected some "stab a bitch" stiletto nails for this shoot.

The nails look great. You'll see them in another post later. The prob...

Tub Tales 04.29.18

FINALLY back in the tub. Good lord!

I've been off Vimeo for a bit because they've started charging for storage. I had so many videos that I couldn't upload more without paying. So, I paid.

I'm thinking about resuming my topless vlog but charging viewers over there for access. Somehow I managed 2,167 followers over there. Insane!

But the tub tales are just for you.

Password: WTF bath bomb

Seriously, this bath bomb was the worst! I found out later that it's supposed to be...

Winners and Losers.

My hockey season has come to an end.

The Kings barely made the playoffs and lost in the first round. The Stars didn't even make the playoffs.

On the bright side, I won a free overnight trip to Los Angeles for the last regular season game. Thanks to a contest by the Dallas Stars, I got to see the Kings play on home ice. I also picked up this sweet Tyler Toffoli jersey. There was no time for shows or shoots while I was there.

I've been gig-free for April, which is a blessing. I have ...

Sure was cold in Alaska

I came home with a virus so it's taken me a while to post since my trip to Anchorage.

This was shot in downtown Anchorage. I think it was 20 degrees F outside and had just started snowing. I couldn't ditch the undies because I didn't have a long skirt for the walk to and from the hotel.

I loved being in Alaska. Yeah, it was cold and snowy. I got to entertain an audience who really loved what I did. 

I went dogsledding. This is my fucking boss faux fur coat that I made like a c...

Burlesqueland X

I'm not in Los Angeles for Burlesqueland but I've been the poster girl since the beginning.

Chris Beyond was going to "secretly" work me into the poster. The secret was that he was getting Becca Whitaker to draw me.

As of fifteen minutes ago, the secret is out. I am delighted and surprised.

Anyone want an orange?

Here's another fun one from my shoot with Madison Hurley in November.

This is my second Poison Ivy costume. I had to rework the first one and I wound up doing all of this.

I have to sort out what to wear under my Bespin (Cloud City) Leia costume. It can't be Slave Leia. I can't wrap my brain around what would be entertaining and very... Leia. It's for a Star Wars-themed show so it really has to be clever.

Any bright ideas?

Moving forward, leaving things behind

I almost called the post "leafing things behind," but I remembered how much I hate that the team is called Toronto Maple Leafs instead of Toronto Maple Leaves. It bothers me every time the Kings play them. Leafs suck!

Photo by Madison Hurley last fall in the great outdoors.

A couple weeks ago I said goodbye to the Southwest Burlesque Showcase as the festival closed. That's two festivals I've done closing shop within two months of each other. So honored to join them for the last one. I pe...

Real life takes over sometimes.

Photo by Jeff Fuller Freeman in Hot Springs from last fall. We shot this in the decaying apartment above an office. Creepy space but it goes well with the robe and boots.

My January has been too full of real life stuff. One dog got jumped at the dog park and had to get stitches. The other dog is getting half his jaw removed in days. Little dental repairs for me plus commissions and side hustles mean a very busy month. (I can handle all of it but it's been a bit of an interruption.)

My Qu...

Waiting for the ball to drop.

This is an early photo from Madison Hurley Photography. We shot this in June 2014 the morning after a show and hours before I flew back to Los Angeles. I always think I look best with a cheesy grin.

2017 has been rough on many people, self included. It's easy to lose sight of the positive gains when the negative bullshit clings so tightly to our attention.

Things don't change overnight. Well, not really. (I could barely sleep when I won Queen of the last Great Southern Exposure. Of cours...

So, I entered an erotica contest.

That's right. Red Snapper is a writer as an additional side hustle.

I now have a published writing sample of erotica writing, which opens more doors for me as a writer.

If you're into reading this sort of thing, I warn you that it is not safe for work. It's part of a contest (and my entry was published a few days before the end of voting), so your hearts on my story can help me win. The prize is a $500 gift card for their website. (I have my eyes on a giant foam bean bag for living room ...

Know what would be hilarious?

I mentioned this in my last Tub Tales. I thought it would be hilarious to win the crown with a comedic number.

So I won. I am Queen of the Final Southern Burlesque Exposure. I had the highest scores. Kerri N. Fuego was also crowned. (Kerri flew home with the crown and trophy. My Queen crown and trophy are being mailed. Expect a ridiculous photo shoot and/or video when I get my stuff.)

I also brought home Funniest and Most Glamorous trophies. They go up on the wall later today.

You ...

Flurries

Here's another one from my shoot with La Photographie in late October.

I encountered my first snow flurries as a Dallas resident today. I realized how I've acclimated to the weather in the nine months I've been here. Strange.

I'm also amid a flurry of activity. I performed at Tuesday Tease in Dallas this week. Tonight I'm dancing at Glitterbomb in Denton. (It's supposed to get down to 28 degrees so I'm really glad I'm stripping out of a fancy outfit and crawling into leopard pajamas in m...

Because I have these great boots

Photo by Jeff Fuller-Freeman. Shot in an attic in downtown Hot Springs.

I love these boots. They're a beautiful turquoise. You can't really tell in the photo.

I really am working to be a bit more Texan. I lived in California so long that I feel like I'll always be an Angeleno.

Butt I try to be Texan.

Scratching the itchy monkey

I grew up in Hot Springs, Arkansas. This mural was painted by Kenneth Stern at the historic Arlington Hotel in 1977-78. This is in the band shell, and the inscription reads, "For Gloria M. who should have stayed."

Last weekend Madison Hurley made my dreams come true and shot me in the hotel. The Arlington has a new owner who promises to preserve elements of the hotel. I fear for the extinction of the monkey mural.

I'm going to be honest. I wanted to shoot in something very skimpy. The pr...

Nature girl in the Natural State

Shot by Madison Hurley Photography yesterday.

Yes, shot yesterday. Some of these photographers have a fast turnaround time! She's a dream to work with because she sets up quickly and has a great eye.

Arkansas is the Natural State. Funnily, you aren't supposed to be naked in the great outdoors there. Whatever. I'm a troublemaker.

I had an amazing weekend shooting and performing in Arkansas. I can't wait to share more with you.

Tub Tales 11.20.17

I have so much to say this week. 

In my blah blah blah, I mention my dog's grill and how he has a tumor. I appreciate the support you give me as an artist. If you're into homemade throw pillows with a derpy dog appliqué on them and want to help out, you can visit here.

Link: https://vimeo.com/243882129 

Password: flan...

Putting the fartsy in artsy fartsy

La Photographie really snapped a cool-ass photo. The world doesn't get to see this one for a little while.

What you don't see are Madison Hurley Fuentes and Mr. Snapper each holding up a fan in the perfect position.

People don't always see the work that goes into one moment captured in the lens. I just had to sit there and look artsy.

I have to look artsy (not fartsy) a few times this week. I'm heading up to Hot Springs, Arkansas on Friday. I have a shoot with Jeff Fuller-Freeman o...

Red Snapper's Tub Tales 11.01.17

Here we go!

https://vimeo.com/241316302

I have a few things to say from the new tub. Mostly, I appreciate your support.

password: honeysuckle

Thanks to your support...

I have this fantastic image from La Photographie of Nashville. My patrons helped make this photoshoot happen. :)

I decided to shoot with my blue feather fans because I don't have any amazing photos with them. I'm a fan dancer and I need to show that to the world. Maybe I'll get more bookings as a fan dancer if I have photos with my fans, yeah?

Of course I'm all teeth. We know that about me by now.

I'll have an exclusive photo from this set in a few weeks that I'm saving for you. :)...

What have I gotten myself into?

I'm fine. October has been insanely busy.

First, I finished up a Tardis corset and panel skirt for a client. I don't typically do things at the last minute, but the corset zipper shipped to my old address. The zipper never arrived so I had to find a late replacement. 

Then, I had an insane weekend of travel. I attended a wedding on a Friday night about a week and a half ago. (I made the bride's dress and I was her first burlesque instructor.) I caught my first flight on the way to T...

Hoarding.

It's been a damn busy September for me. 

This is a backstage photo just for you guys from my Tulsa improvised burlesque gig. I felt cocky and naked and a little bit like my exodus from Los Angeles is starting to pay off. I didn't have the same freedom to play in Los Angeles.

I sometimes wonder if I should get rid of old costumes I haven't worn in a while. Moving twice in seven months will do that. Maybe I should lighten my load a little. Creative types often have a hard time getting...

Improvised burlesque makes me look so classy

Photo by Hershel Self at Poppy Pie's Burlesque Roulette in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the end of August.

This was the gig I did on moving weekend. Tulsa is 4-5 hours away from Dallas. Not a far drive but not a quickie when there are plenty of other things on the agenda.

I can be honest with you guys. I knew I was doing an improvisational burlesque show. I listened over the potential songs at least twice each and knew a lot of them. I had no idea we were improvising with a live band. (The band wa...

Tub Tales 08.23.17

https://vimeo.com/231018020 

Warning: I'm very much a raw Snapper in this one. No makeup, no decorative hair flowers. It's just me and the bubbles.

Password: last bath here (all those words & spaces)

Yass!

This shot comes from Jeff Fuller-Freeman from my last trip to Hot Springs last year. We have plans to collaborate again when I head back to town. We focused on getting my butt lit just right then cracked "Yass!" jokes about it.

August is slipping away from me! I was gearing up for GLCC, celebrated my 24th wedding anniversary (we married young), and co-hosted a local show. We're moving to a bigger place this weekend AND I have a gig in Tulsa, and then the month is up.

It wasn't bad planni...

You win some, and then there are others.

I flew home from the Golden Legend Champion Challenge last night with no crown. In fact, I flew home early so I could get back to my pups and Mr. Snapper.

The acts that won the actual competition were amazing.

Now that I can share, I'll tell you that I refined the act where I went from a showgirl to a shrimp (crawdad, whatever crustacean you prefer). It's elegant comedy that fits into a lot of show themes: classic, under the sea, Mardi Gras, food, animals. I'm incredibly proud of the num...

Beware bad advice, my friends.

This is another photo from the BHOF Photo Safari a few years back. This was the last of three locations so we were allowed to shed some clothes.

Burlesque and pin-up modeling go hand-in-hand. They're both part of the retro revival movement, and many burlesque numbers are link pin-up poses brought to life.

One of my first experiences with pin-up photography was with a photographer who felt the only way to get good photos was for the model to be hella uncomfortable in the photo. Instead of...