From scratch to stage
In other words, what it takes to create a new act.
It can take just a few weeks, many moons or even few years to turn your idea to a stage-ready ensemble. So let me open up a little bit the process behind my upcoming new act.
About three years ago I became with an idea but I quite couldn't get hold of it. I only knew it's going to be blue. So I started to gather all things blue from second hand shops, mainly fabrics. But an idea didn't get ahead and over time other things passed it. However, I never forgot this idea, I let it rest and trusted the process.
On July I was in dance studio and did some improv when it hit me, a blue number with a message! At first it had nothing to do with an original idea, but when I was sparring it with others I saw the link between things. So there it was, a perfect idea with several meanings.
On August I started to look for music and sketching my costume. I was going through dozens of songs and found some alternatives which resonated. I also browsed the internet to find ideas for the costume and tips how to make one.
On October I picked up one song and started to make some imagery exercises. At that point I wasn't sure if the song would be right one, as I'm working on something for burlesque stages, but I kept it for time being. It also came very clear that my skills are not enough for making a costume I had on mind.
On November I contacted a local burlesque enthusiast and a dressmaker student who accepted a challenge and promised to help me with the costume (for compensation, naturally). I got the list of all fabrics and items needed and did some serious shopping. Next I contacted my fellow burlesque artist Suzie Dynamite whos professional skills from theater world I highly respect. I asked for coaching and we first met via zoom. I got some valuable tips and thoughts to work with and it also came clear that my first choice for music is not going to work. The burlesque gods were gracoius and luckily I found new music quickly.
On December I became ill and had to stay home from work. Life can get very boring when there's nothing to do, so dispite my running nose and crazy cough, I started to sew my share of costume's bits and pieces. I also decided that this time I ask help with mixing music, and for that my choice was Pauli Kiuru! And let me tell you, there's a huge difference when job is done by a professional. I will never ever try mixing my music again.
So here I am, waiting for January 2024. That's when magic starts to happen as Kumma Täti Costumier starts to work with main costume and I have face to face meeting with Suzie. If all goes well, I'm having a premier on March for a working title "Deep Blue Thirst". That makes nine months in total to create an act. Nine months of planning, practice, sewing, gluing, meetings, emails, searching, travelling, time spend in dance studios and not to mentions all the money spend in process.
Maybe this helps you to understand why I'm asking a wee fee for my performances. Or why events are selling tickets so that they can pay for their performers. No matter how much I love what I do, nothing is born out of nothing.