My number one costuming tip as a burlesque performer of 15 + years....

💸 A little performer tip that can save you a lot of stress…

When you’re starting out, try not to spend more on a costume than you’ll earn from the gig.

It’s so tempting to want the sparkliest rhinestones, custom pieces and all the extras (trust me, we’ve all been there!).

But building your costume collection is a marathon, not a sprint.

✨ Perform.
Get paid.
Reinvest some of that income into upgrading your act.

I read a great interview with the legendary Amber Ray very early on in my burlesque career (it probably would have been in 21st Century Burlesque - back when it was a magazine style website!). If I can ever find it I will put it in the comments.

But Amber’s advice was to constantly reinvest back into your acts and their costumes as you perform them. I really remember one of her super memorable purple costumes, which is extravagently rhinestoned and beaded. But she showed early photos where the costume was a little simpler - and each time she performed she would spend some of her fee back into the costume and make it a little more sparkly and intricate each time.

I think this is such good advice, because it focuses on you reinvesting in yourself as an artist and investing in acts that you are performing frequently. It’s also taking out the expectation that everything has to be perfect and finished the first time you hit the stage. That approach often isn’t financially viable for newer artists.

I am very fond of saying that basic maths is don’t spend more than you earn.

And while a costume can be a good investment (and I”m sure seasoned performers have a really clear budget for a new costume and are clear on its return on its initialy outlay), often it’s just not affordable.

It’s also worth remembering that not every outfit needs thousands of rhinestones. Not every outfit needs thousands of dollars spent.

Ultimately it is your talent and stage presence are what audiences remember most. The costume is there to support the performance, not define it.

But if you like a sparkly vibe, you can take some of the pressure off yourself financially and reinvest some money back into your outfit each time you perform.

It might take time, but you’ll end up with higher-quality costumes, better accessories and a wardrobe that has paid for itself. Most importantly you won’t drain your bank account and you should'n’t be going into debt to service a costume that doesn’t match your income levels.

Grace Cherry

Owner, Miss Kitty’s Meow