Red Snapper

Full Reveal - Flower Pluck

Happy Boxing Day! I hope your Christmas was as awesome as possible. I know life is very different in a pandemic year.

For many years, I headlined the Nearly Naked Nutcracker in Dallas. Mr. Snapper and I performed the Pas De Deux most years, and I alternated between doing Snow Queen and Waltz of the Flowers.

As I discuss in the video, I don't feel like the reveal was ever fully realized. I think this number should be retired at this point. Also, these fans are ridiculously light compared to my boa fans.

Tub Tales 12.14.20

Shot on my iPad under dim light with no makeup. :) What would you like to see in 2021?

Tub Tales 11.07.20

Sorry for the delay! I thought it was uploaded but it wasn't! Oof! 

Sometimes I get ridiculous

Happy December!

Time seems to operate differently in a pandemic world. It’s been strange.

I may perform my Crustacean Manifestation for a virtual show early next year. It won’t be a live show, but it should be a good show if it happens. I’ll keep you posted.

It looks like I don’t have a November Tub Tales, even though I recorded one and thought I posted the same day. I have to look into that. (I’m on my iPad at the moment.) If it’s gone forever somehow, I’ll see what kind of extra nonsense I can drum up this month for you.

Knee is still recovering but I’m dancing a few days a week to condition for stage. I have to ice it right after ballet, but it’s not as bad as it was months ago.

I hope you are well. :)

Behind the Scenes: The Tribute Bra and Panel Skirt

At long last, the bra is finished. Well, kind of. I have to replace the hooks on the straps because they keep sliding out of place. It doesn't really hold things in place as well as I expected, but that's fine.

I've been slowly losing some weight to the point that my COVID panel skirt belt now slips over my hips. I'm going to have to take it in a little bit. Can't complain about that part.

I'm having a little bit of a showgirl retreat over the holiday weekend. Between fancy meals and watching television, I'm doing a little bit of showgirl training every day. Wednesday was on-demand technique classes. Yesterday was ballet. Today is more on-demand technique, yoga, and a panty-making class. Saturday will be hair education, and Sunday will be makeup.

While venues aren't open yet, I want to be at my best when they are. :)

Happy Spanksgiving Encore

Hello friends!

This seems like the perfect time to share this ridiculousness again. Fun alternative to a yule log, especially if you're spending the holiday at home.

I hope you're safe and happy. I appreciate you. :)

Topless Vlog #89

I'm cleaning out my costume closet... slowly. It's very healthy and freeing to get rid of things, especially when they haven't really been touched in years. :)

Finding the newer normal

Photo by James Cano from Texas Burlesque Festival in 2017.

I keep talking about the curious times in which we live. My favorite local venue has been shut down for the better part of six months. My last performance there was February 29th. I've done one online show plus recorded content for you, my patrons. I'm still trying to figure out how the show will go on in the broadest sense.

I created the award-winning number in the photo for big stages. Will the big stages be here when I finally create the dinosaur act? Will I need to plan for performing outside in front of parked cars for social distancing? Or do I need to scale it down for an intimate experience? Are there going to be burlesque festivals as I once knew?

As Mr. Snapper and I are working on the early stages of finding what we want from our future owned home, we're definitely considering performance from home. There is much work to be done for my current home studio to accommodate shooting the entire body, and there isn't much space to work with feather fans or panel skirts.

The newer normal probably looks like streaming burlesque. It probably means keeping the photography lights assembled and rearranging my current studio so my dwarf lemon tree isn't in the corner and the remains of what I moved from my Los Angeles sewing table are unpacked. It means less static framing and performing to the lens.

It also looks a little like bagpipes. I picked up the practice chanter I got years ago so I can learn to play, because I think a stripper playing bagpipes is hilarious. I haven't shared that on social media. Gotta keep some secrets for just you guys.

I hope you stay safe and healthy. More shenanigans soon!

Full Reveal - You Rock My World

I tell you a little bit about this act in the beginning of the video. I haven't put it in front of a live audience in over a year, maybe two years. I love the costume, I love the song, I love the choreography. (I did forget to pull off the headband and release my hair a little more during the act. Oops!)

That said, I'm thinking of retiring it or rebuilding it. There are two major costume issues I would have to resolve: the girdle and the shoes. The girdle has always limited my stride, which makes it tough to really dance the act. The shoes are a good color fit, but they're uncomfortable and difficult for dancing. That's why I didn't put them back on after the stockings came off.

Any thoughts?

Topless Vlog #88

One more post to finish out the month! Celebrate those freedoms but be considerate. :)

Behind the Scenes: Shoot Day

This shoot day was bananas. I had to get a multi-hour booking because of the pandemic. Hair and makeup artist was late. It was raining. The side door of the studio wasn't working so we had to haul everything to a different door in the drizzle. I didn't want to get charged extra for leaving late. There's also a camera in the room so they can check in on what's happening, so I'm sure someone saw my butthole while I was doing costume changes.

I'll probably do the next shoot day differently. I'll book hair and makeup early in the day and shoot elsewhere, then come home and shoot the video portion of the day. I enjoy creating content, but I am not a fan of having too many obstacles to my intentions!

Tub Tales 10.23.20

The shoot day was short yet long, so I'm a little tired here. More importantly, I had a bubble bar left in my bathroom to add fun to my yammering!

Full Reveal - Redpool

This month has been crazy, all leading up to a day of shooting. I'll explain why in another post.

I created this Redpool act in 2016 and performed it once at Peepshow Menagerie the night before I flew to Dallas to do a different show and research before moving. The act didn't really land, the costume was packed up and it's been waiting for inspiration for a new evolution.

Thanks to the pandemic, I was inspired to get a little silly and do something I can't do on a stage in front of a live audience, which is play with editing. Mr. Snapper actually did the shooting and editing of this nonsense, which is how we closed out our shoot day on Friday.

It's almost Halloween, so I thought I should give you a little cosplay shenanigans. I think that a live Redpool performance could be very improvised, involve lots of audience play, and would have to take place after the pandemic.

Oh yeah, I slapped my ass at one point and it reddened. I'm not much of an ass slapper, so I don't have the stamina for much of that.

Changing in front of an audience.

Photo by La Photographie, fans by Evie Lovelle.

I've been mostly naked in front of audiences since December 2007. We're closing in on 13 years of stripping entertainment. That's quite a haul. (Don't worry, I'm not done yet.)

The pandemic has given me plenty of time to reflect on my changing body. My metabolism has changed in 13 years and I'm close to the finish line on major hormonal shifts.

Early in my burlesque career, I could perform at 11:30pm, head to a midnight breakfast, wake up early and perform (different kind of performance) well at a day job. Last year I significantly reduced my weeknight performances so I could function better at the job that paid the most bills, and I prefer to get to bed before midnight. I also skip out on the late-night eating after shows because I don't want heartburn overnight.

I was a perky C-cup when I started in burlesque, bordering on D. Tight, healthy breasts, even if they were a bit wall-eyed. Over 13 years, they boomed up to an F. As I change my eating habits for mid-life, they've started to slide back to a D. I may land back at a C in the coming months, but I no longer have the dense breast tissue to keep them perky.

People in normal jobs don't necessarily think about perkiness because they aren't going topless. They don't bare it all, or most of it.

I don't know that my future holds implants. I suspect my body would react very badly to them. Given the choice between buying a house and financing some tits, I'm going with house.

I haven't found a gray hair on my head yet, but the smile lines are coming in by my eyes.

The fun part of all of this is that my long-time friends and fans are along for the ride, seeing this showgirl age ridiculously (not gracefully because I'm pretty awkward). 

You may see more net bras on stage in the future, if we get back to stages at some point. I'm going to need something to hold my tits up, and Mr. Snapper doesn't fit into the costumes with me.

Topless Vlog #87

I have some thoughts, and I'd like for you to consider them. I'm sharing with all of my patrons and beyond because this stuff is important. I'm all about freedoms.

Full Reveal - Shadow Play

Sometimes you get short videos, sometimes you get long videos. This is a long one for you. We're finally testing out some shadow puppets and stripping. We've had the projector for some years, but we didn't have the time or space to experiment. Enjoy.

Tub Tales 09.27.20

Creation and sustaining creative energy are challenging during the pandemic. I have some thoughts (and a hella pink bath bomb).

Behind the Scenes: Panel Skirt

This is my pandemic costume project to become even more skilled at making my own costumes. It was supposed to be really simple, but I enjoy making things extra (as the kids say). I'm beading and rhinestoning, of course.

I hope to finish the bra construction this week when the elastic arrives. It's probably going to get its own bit of embellishment. I haven't decided if I'm going to beat like crazy or go gentle with it.

And, I'm happy to say I made it through go-go class yesterday! Sure, I had a brace on my knee but I did it without needing to ice afterwards. I'm still healing but this was huge. :)

Topless Vlog #86

I thought I did this before the haircut, but it was after. :) I really like the idea of a feathery dinosaur. Part of it is the Godzillas that have been done really well, and part of it is my own love of frou-frou dinos.

Topless Vlog #85

I had this one in the hopper and forgot about it! I have a couple others I shot right before my haircut. I'll get those up soon. (I'm trying to make space for an update on my computer!)

Very Classic Burlesque

While there are no large shows happening in my neck of the woods right now, I did find this gem on my computer. This is the award-winning act, so it may just give you a much-needed smile.

Hiya, squirt!

Photo by Mr. Snapper, makeup and hair by Vivienne Vermuth, fixings thanks to an anonymous firefighter.

How is it already September??? It's still hot as hell in Dallas, at least to me. I get sweaty when it's 75 degrees. (Maybe I'm burning off that lockdown weight.)

I'm making lovely progress on my lockdown panel skirt and triangle bra. I'm in the middle of hand beading the skirt yoke and I ordered some discount rhinestones for more embellishments. I honestly have no idea what to wear over it yet. Maybe I just work on performing only in the panel shirt and bra.

Still recovering in the knee-borhood (wocka wocka). I'm also still trying to think through more dinosaur things. Would you rather see a feathered dino or scaly dino?

Full Reveal - Improv Thoughts

With my knee healing, I can't really take dance classes or do much moving around. I thought this might be a fun opportunity to show you how I costume for an improv show. It's a little long but the sound is fantastic.

Tub Tales 08.29.20

I got a haircut! It's not a COVID cut, even though I got it cut during the pandemic. I had it done three or four weeks ago. No one on social media has seen it yet. In fact, the only ones that have seen it have been Mr. Snapper, our neighbors, my co-workers, and you.

Three tabs for recovery time

My knee injury requires a lot of rest, ice, compression and elevation since it's an overuse injury of sorts. This means I have to find stimulation where I can since I'm off from my regular workout program and dance classes.

The three tabs from my browser tell the story.

First, I'm reading more about my condition so I can heal smartly. It's been enlightening, and I like to think I'll be back on my feet and ready for stages as soon as stages are open.

Second, I'm working on a special costume for you. (I think it will be complete for a full reveal performance in October.) The panel skirt needs snaps attached on one side, and now I'm working on the fancy bra.

Third, I'm taking ballet from my favorite teacher virtually. Well, I'm working on my port de bras (arm movement) and light balance, no pliés. I'm working in short chunks and working with the virtual library so I don't interrupt the virtual class with my breaks.

I hate setbacks but I'm making the most of it so I'm in better condition than I was before the injury.

Behind the Scenes - COVID Costuming

At the top of America's lockdown, I ordered some chiffon online to try a new way of making panel skirts. I may have mentioned in videos that the fabric (mint green) I received didn't quite match up with the color I ordered (aqua). I knew I was gambling by ordering fabric from an untested seller on Amazon. Fine.

I had hopes of getting fabric from the store to make the belt/yoke for the panel skirt. I don' really want to go to stores and face disappointment, especially when my attempts to order online for curbside pickup at JoAnn Fabrics went so poorly. (Fabric listed as being in stock apparently wasn't, or they just didn't want to cut it.) The big fabric store that appealed to me during a scouting trip before moving to Dallas has closed indefinitely and their website is gone, and my favorite Los Angeles store that once had mail order has been permanently closed because of the pandemic.

So, I pulled the skirt off a dress I made back in 2013 that I haven't been able to resell. I wore the dress once or twice. The fabric isn't the best quality, but it'll work for this project. I have to finish the hooks on the belt and put snaps on the skirt panels before I begin embellishing.

I'm also relearning how to make awesome triangle bras, often called tribute bras because you can find them in so many photos of burlesque dancers from back in the day. I want to get the bra well under way before I embellish the skirt, in hopes I can make a complete set.

This is the project that has my attention at the moment. I want to create a new act during this pandemic to entertain you, and I think it will be fun to do it with a completely new costume.

Obtaining fabric is a challenge, so fingers crossed that the scraps of what I have will work.

This was a great way to spend my anniversary weekend after I managed to develop runner's knee (IT band variety) and had to bag on all of my dance classes. Did I mention I just got a ballet barre to make training at home easier?

I'll be okay, but I'm trying to let my knee heal and the best way to do it is rest-ice-compression-elevation. Ugh. Great time to work on a new costume though.

Flexing those muscles

Makeup and hair by LaDonna Stein, photo by Jill Rasco Photography.

I love these fans. I really love them. I assembled them myself last year with boas I paid for the previous year. I dyed the boas on the top. (I also made the costume.)

I can't practice with these fans in my home studio because the ceiling is too low. My living room has a higher ceiling but I don't have the empty space to work without knocking something over. The studio space I rent locally will only book in four-hour blocks during the pandemic, and my arms get tired after an hour of work. If I want to mess around with fans in my apartment, I have to use my smaller fans. I'm looking forward to having a stage for these again, whenever that is.

In the meantime, I'm keeping my mind and body fueled with online dance classes. I can now take ballet from my favorite Los Angeles school virtually, and I take weekly go-go dancing classes from an Orange County friend online.

I have plans to go through all of my fabric supplies and give away the things I don't need for my own costumes. In the past few years, sewing commissions have taken more time than it's actually worth for me. I may consider making corsets for people from time to time, but I don't need so much fabric on hand for that. I'm still working on the dinosaur and the panel skirt and triangle bra for my pandemic creations.

I hope you're staying healthy!

Topless Vlog #84

Wow. I've recorded 84 of these things. I've been booted off of YouTube and DailyMotion during that time, and I've been through a few computers. Crazy.

Enjoy! 

Tub Tales 07.26.20

Funny story. I thought this had already posted. I awoke at 3am in a panic that it hadn't. Seems I was right.

I shot this video the same day as my full reveal, having pulled off my pasties a few hours before hopping in the tub. My nipples are still sore today. I'm guessing it was the friction against the inside of the pasties.

If you don't know, we attach pasties with adhesive inside of the pastie cone. The plan is to just get adhesive on the edge of the areola but not the cherry of the nipple. The cherry may rub against the inside of the pastie. Pretty sure that's what happened.

Full Reveal - You Really Got Me

While I work on new costumes and ponder new acts, I have to keep my mind sharp and body active. I've been taking go-go dancing classes online from Miss Magnolia of Atomic Ballroom in Irvine. (I'm also taking ballet from my former teacher in Los Angeles.)

Obviously, topless go-go dancing puts a smile on my face. I hope it does the same for you. Plus, you get to see my fancy new go-go shorts in action!