My 2025 #TravelingShowgirl Season has already begun and boy ohhh boy is it off to a wonderful start! As we rolled into this new year, I made a resolution to myself as a Burlesquer. Having hit many strides on this here journey in my nearly seven years of performing, I decided to make this year another of hitting goals. Goals that may look significantly different than my colleagues. Yet they're goals I'm sure many have in some ways or another.
These goals are steeped in:
° filling not only spots on my resume with new locations
°more importantly fulfilling my soul.
°Gracing stages and interacting with Producers/Performers that make me feel at ease as an individual.
The first show I had the pleasure of taking part in for the year hit those points perfectly!
I have been itching to make my appearance out in Arizona y'all. And so when I saw that Taryn Garters and her Entice Burlesque Productions was kicking the New Year off with Bare Down Burlesque and was accepting submissions I was like hmmmmm, shall I try? And y'all, she said in so many words, heck yeah I want you out here! And so, I was like totally in there! Then I saw it was being hosted by none other than the iconic Matt Finish. Sooooo I'm like, GOALLL!! This trip was gonna happen come hell or high water.
When I got the offer email, it was right on the heels of a kick-ass Fall with a thriving September and October werk wise. Then fall I did! After a Bootiful Halloween Show night, I later in that night fell and broke my ankle. Thus forcing me to sit the bench for the next 6-8weeks minimum. Welp! There went my ability to shake it, and do at times something a lil strange, to make that change. So it was a bit touch and go there for this Goddess.
Would I make it?
Would I be able to dance?
Would I be able to give it my all?
After being down for over a month leading up to this trip, it meant that budgeting would key. Through my research and calculations it turned out that I could save some money a couple of ways. It apparently costs about twice as much to fly from Denver to Tucson as it does to fly from Denver to Phoenix. And since Phoenix and Tucson are only a mere 2hrs apart by Bus, I looked into Greyhound/Flix tickets for that route. And for like $30 each way I said, heyyyyy why not! Let's do this.
So I flew into Phoenix. Took a Bus to Tucson. Then Taryn Garters was there in the automobile to pick me up! Taryn is the shit y'all!!! Just saying! We can talk about professionalism and Producing till we're blue in the face. But very few actually understand it and operate as if they do. And when I tell you that this human here knows what they're doing, I'm being totally honest.
Or as the kids say....No Cap!
Bare Down was the perfect way for me to pop my AZ cherry and kick off my 2025. Between the spectacular cast, welcoming venue, stellar support crew ( Photography
and video), and hyped as fuck crowd, it's a Production I can most definitely boast and suggest to others.
Another huge help in the travel budget came by way of having lodging provided with another performer for my stay. I had the absolute pleasure and honor of staying in the guest room of Desiré D'Amour. If you've ever had the opportunity to meet this complete icon of a woman, you know just how amazing and welcoming she is. Her and her Hubby and those lil chonky Frenchies are the beezneez fr fr! They made me feel beyond comfortable and right at home for the short time I was there. I'm beyond grateful for them and their hospitality.
Something else that I came away from with this trip was a sense of comfort.
Comfort in knowing that I'm doing what makes me the happiest in this world.
Comfort in my age and what I've experienced in life, good and bad.
Comfort in knowing that there are others that think and feel similar to myself in regard to politics within our performance communities.
Comfort in knowing that I have support in ways that I never knew I had it.
Comfort in being able to knock off goal after goal after goal.
Comfort in the fact that although I don't know what the world may soon bring, but that I have a solid foundation of support in part thanks to my art.
Soooooo here's to many more trips and goals this here 2025 and beyond!
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