The Public Side
I’m going to write this in two parts because of the length of the entry and because of the nature of it. As the subtitle implies, this is the public accessible entry. Private stuff will follow.

In this entry, I’m dealing with the assessment of the job hunt, loss of income and the finally a reminder about the get together tonight.

( Numbers and frustrations speak volumes )

Last August, I had the pleasure of shooting over a beautiful summer morning with burlesque performers Bonnie Delight and Lola Lee. For almost 2 and a half hours, we worked through different poses and played off each other’s ideas. We were going for the very Victorian Gothic look in this shoot with touches of sexy. These shots are some of the color highlights. The ladies were very creative and melodramatic in their posing in keeping with the theme.





( Color Highlights (8 behind the cut) )

Last August, I had the pleasure of photographing burlesque performers Bonnie Delight and Lola Lee. For almost 2 and a half hours, we worked through different poses and played off each other’s ideas. We were going for the very gothic Victorian look in this shoot with touches of sexy. These are some of the most Victorian images as I retouched and edited them to black and white.




( Vintage (8 behind the cut) )

One of the last shows I caught in February was Devil's Playground. Burlesque is a form of expression and creativity. Some have said that Kitten De Ville is the living legend and the embodiment of burlesque today. She’s a former Miss Exotic World and has appeared in many books and magazines devoted to this style of performance art. With moves that would make most belly dancers envious, Kitten literally vibrated her out of her outer costume.



( ”Shimmy! )

One of the last shows I caught in February was Devil's Playground. This is a more modern and very sexy take on burlesque and many of the beautiful ladies in this show work as models. Burlesque is a form of expression and creativity for them. Diamondback Annie is an amazing sprite of a performer with an energetic; take no prisoners attitude most of the time. This show, she took into a slightly different direction. She became a middle aged, MILF in a convincing fashion.




( ”MILF )

One of the last shows I caught in February was Devil's Playground. This is a more modern and very sexy take on burlesque and many of the beautiful ladies in this show work as models. Burlesque is a form of expression and creativity for them. The first act of the night was a young woman I’d been fortunate to see debut over a year earlier. Cinnamon Britches put on an energetic show and fired up the crowd.



( ”Let )

One of the last shows I caught in February was Devil's Playground. This is a more modern and very sexy take on burlesque and many of the beautiful ladies in this show work as models. Burlesque is a form of expression and creativity for them.

As with the previous Devil's Playground show, before the ladies entertain, they presented another really good local band. Little Mo and the Unholy Four" play a very hot version of Rock-a-billy music that dates back to the 1950's. If you get the chance to hear them perform, it's well worth it.




( One more for good measure )

The Victory Variety Hour put on by the talented Penny Starr Jr. at the historic El Cid Theater in Los Angeles. Each month she picks a theme and in the classic style of burlesque, the entertainers thoroughly shred the subject. February’s theme, “Love Stinks.” So many times in our lives, we love and offer our hearts to others, only to have them ripped out. Jewel of Denial merely takes it one step further.



( Left my heart, in the El Cid (1 behind the cut) )

Art, burlesque and cabaret are a natural mix, so I was pleased in September to attend the opening of the art show titled "Naked!" in Los Angeles. Several friends were either performing burlesque acts or showing their art projects. I managed to catch several of the performances and some of the very eclectic crowd. For general purposes, all these performances will be considered NSFW. To note the hostess was this show was the great Heidi Calvert (Photographer/Artist/Curator).

Act 5 – Satanica
It would be trite to say that this act was hot. I’d never seen Satanica’s fire dance act before. I wish I had. She is another of the legendary cabaret performers in the Los Angeles area and certainly enjoyable to watch. The show, though on occasions very suggestive, was well planned, creatively executed and a perfect way to end the evening for me (I had to leave early).

( NSFW – Slide Show )

or

How to be in three places at once

Tonight is the last soccer practice for the boys this year. It's also going to be very abbreviated (like 15 minutes tops). I need to get out of the house and degauss the magnetic funk on metaphysical hard drives. Tonight the show Masque is being held at the King King in Los Angeles. It’s likely going to be spectacular and is a celebration of Mr Bobbie Burlesque’s birthday. More than a few friends and acquaintance’s (including a number on my friend’s list) will be performing there tonight. Even more importantly, my little voice is telling me I should go and unwind. Yes, I’ll shoot the show, but I plan to try and enjoy the evening even more. I need the break.

If you’re in Hollywood tonight and get the chance, swing by the King King for this show. Doors open at 9pm and the show starts at 10ish.

Show Links and such

I am such a goob. Between work (the one that actually pays the bills) and work (the one involving the kids), I spaced on posting links to the Rainy Day Burlesque show (June) here. I posted them to my photoblog ( desert_vision ) and to several other communities but spaced on here.

( Artists start your sketchpads! )

As noted in so many places, I’m in a serious catch up mode on older photos. This set was put aside because of technical issues. Once I solved the focal distortion issue (creative filtering), I was able to work with these. Without a doubt, I wish I’d come up with the solution much sooner, as Mr. Bobbie Burlesque was a tremendous model.

Bobbie’s based out of the Los Angeles area and has performed and in produced many shows including the recent west coast Burlesque Tour. Here are highlights of the session.



( Bobbie Burlesque [14 Behind the cut] )
( Artist Shots [7 Behind the cut] )

As mentioned before, I’m playing catch up on shows from the past. These were certainly some of the best performances I’d seen.

Victoria Vengeance


(  Victoria Vengeance and the Curtain Call [15 Behind the cut – some nsfw] )

As mentioned before, I’m playing catch up on shows from the past. These were certainly some of the best performances I’d seen.

Charlotte LaBelle Arrange


Charlotte is a versatile performer and a show producer herself

( Charlotte prances and Rev. Wolfe breathes fire! [17 Behind the cut – some nsfw] )

As mentioned before, I’m playing catch up on shows from the past. These were certainly some of the best performances I’d seen.

Akira

Akira is an amazingly lithe and agile dancer whom I’d seen her perform with the late Brian Chic. This was the first time I’d seen her perform solo at a burlesque show.

(  Akira dances and Joe Fox gets locked up [15 Behind the cut – some nsfw] )

As mentioned before, I’m playing catch up on shows from the past. These were certainly some of the best performances I’d seen.


Darcy introduces the magician – Zachary Strange

(  Zachary Strange makes Magic and Kat Bardot Sings [19 Behind the cut – some <s>possibly</s> definately nsfw] )

Just like the abandoned site photos, circumstances made me hold off on editing and posting these photos. In fact, I feel very bad that I didn’t post these images much sooner out of respect to the various performers who graciously allowed me to record their performance.

( Apologies all around )



( Darcy & Lolita open the show [13 Behind the cut – some possibly nsfw] )

I learned last night that a friend in the burlesque community died suddenly. Brian Chic was a noted song writer, musician, comedian and truly unique burlesque performer. Although he dabbled in many performance venues, Brian was regarded as the premier bullwhip artist on the west coast and probably in the United States. Brian could almost casually snake a 9 to 12’ bullwhip out and carefully strip his lovely performance assistant of their costume. He could remove items from their hand and seamlessly entwine their body in the coils with style and grace. In person, Brian was a consummate gentleman. He and I chatted many times after performance we were at, and he was always an easy-going, relaxing force in the venue. More than a few times, we chatted about our mutual roots in the Louisville area.

Brian passed from this world unto the next on Saturday, June 23rd. At present, I haven’t heard what the cause might have been, but his passing is confirmed on his website (www.brianchic.com). Without a doubt, Brian you will be missed.

( Curtain Call [6 behind the cut] )

I finally finished this set. It was difficult deciding which ones to use in the edits, because so many of them came out well. On top of that, Reneà is simply a joy to work with. Conveniently these photos are coming out prior to her starting a series of shows here and then taking to the road with Bobbie Burlesque, Victoria Vengeance, Jewel of Denial and La Cholita for a Burlesque Road Show. This is not to be missed. In the near term she’s performing Friday at the CIA in North Hollywood.



( Mischief Managed [18 behind the cut] )

This has been one of the hardest sets of photos to edit and in some cases enhance. As mentioned conditions at the venue were less than desirable and it cost me some shots. In fact, I will apologize with great sincerity that I couldn’t get any worthwhile pictures of Foxy Moxie, who followed Lux LaCroix. As the crowds eased back from the stage following her performance I did manage to get some great shots of:

Kat Bardot (Cup Cake Act), Vixen Violette, and Lulu Lunaris


( Kat Bardot [NWS] )
( Vixen Violette [NWS] )
( Lulu Lunaris [NWS] )