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Tuesday Tease: Our Guide to Burlycon 2013!

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WEB-burlycon2013That’s right! Get excited! Burlycon, the only “community-oriented professional growth and educational convention for Burlesque performers, fans, and aficionados” is returning to Seattle’s Doubletree Inn this Thursday, November 7 to Sunday, November 10.

Burlycon is not your standard burlesque convention in that it has no public showcases or burlesque shows. Burlycon is produced by the burlesque community, for the burlesque community. It’s where you go to get your routines peer-reviewed by some of the top talents in the burlesque world, to learn some new moves that’ll spice up your act or tips on how to beef up your stage costumes. It’s also where you go to learn how to properly manage your finances as a burlesque performer, how to use online marketing to promote your shows and tips on how to get booked.

I’ll also be in the house, teaching a class on Saturday, November 9 at 5:15pm in Cascade 13 on how to most effectively ticket your burlesque event using Brown Paper Tickets or similar ticketing platforms. Also, Brown Paper Tickets will be hosting a delicious Mediterranean dinner courtesy of Mr. Gyros on Friday, November 8 from 6pm to 8pm in the Hospitality Suite, as well as handing out some neato gift bags. If you’re headed to Burlycon this year, I hope you’ll attend either of these events and come up and say hi. I love meeting burly friends from around the country and Burlycon often feels like one big family reunion!

There’s also tons to do besides learn. Thursday night will be the Birds of a Feather Caucuses in Cascade 10-13. This is your chance to mingle, network, and chat with others in your community whoburlycon2009_donspiro_02 share common backgrounds. Attendees are encouraged to attend the caucuses you identify with based on your region, your relationship status (single, married, parents or poly), your community (performers of size, LGBTQI, performers with disabilities or performers of color) or you hobbies. The caucuses will be followed by a meet and greet social in the Hospitality Suite so you can start connecting with new and old friends and get your weekend started out right!

On Friday at 11am to noon, the Keynote Addresses will be held in the Ballroom. Guest of Honor and living legend, Wild Cherry will be speaking along with Miss Exotic World 2002, Kitten DeVille and “Reigning King of Burlesque 2013” Ray Gunn. That night, after a day full of classes and peer reviews, it’ll be time to unwind and get down at the Burlyprom! Dance Party in the Ballroom at 10:30pm. Join your fellow BurlyCon classmates in your fanciest prom-inspired outfits, bring a corsage for your date(s), bust a move on the dance floor, vote for Prom King and Queen and don’t forget to pose for your Prom Photo!

Saturday, November 9 brings another full day of classes and peer reviews and that night will be the Pajama Party and Movie Night in Evergreen 3-4. The feature film for the evening is the 1969 cult classic sci-fi flick Zeta One, featuring sexy young women being abducted from Earth, clad in fabulous fetish outfits, and then brainwashed into serving the space alien Zeta, all while secret agents and blonde bombshells investigate! Snuggle up to your burlesque BFFs, snack on freshly popped popcorn, and make catty remarks at the screen.

288744-250If you’re coming into Seattle from out of town, Saturday night could also be a great night to escape the hotel for at least one night and check out our amazing local burlesque scene. While most of the local performers will be at Burlycon and there’s very little going on in Seattle proper, there is one show happening on Vashon Island that’s well worth the ferry ride: Burlesco Notturno ECCENTRICO!

Burlesco Notturno is a “Vashon-style” eccentric mix of classic, camp and gender-bending burlesque sexiness, with a pair of bowling ball juggling Siamese twins, a bit of samba heat and much, much more. The show will feature two principal dancers from Sinner Saint Burlesque: ‘The Modern Sexual Intellectual’ Jesse Belle-Jones and the comedic melodrama-inspired Lady Tatas.  Joining them are world-wide favorites The Bellini Twins with their inspired idiocy, along with samba superstar Molly Shannon and acro-duo Catching Mischief. Cabaret band The Love Markets will also fill the space with the sound of Weimar Berlin, featuring songs old and new springing from that era of decadent, gorgeous, absurd freedom. Burlesco Notturno ECCENTRICO is hosted as ever by the infamous Mme X (played by Janet McAlpin) and her Lawyer (played by the infamous David Godsey).

There’s no better way to appreciate the beauty of the Pacific Northwest than to take a ferry ride across the Puget Sound. Especially when a world-class burlesque show in a funky little island artist community like Vashon awaits you at the end of your journey.

Finally, on Sunday, the whole shebang draws to a close. There will be some classes from 9am to noon and from 2:30pm to 4pm, then the Closing Ceremony in the Ballroom. The Closing Ritual is a last chance to celebrate the connections made at BurlyCon before everyone parts ways. Blessed by The Bishop of Burlesque, Burlycon attendees will gather as a community to give thanks for new friends, old friends, and the change within themselves. Come and share your hopes, achievements, and significant moments experienced over the weekend and say goodbye to all the great friends you’ve made over this incredible weekend.