Audition Tips Part 5...Playing Nice

Hi everyone!

Pixie O'Kneel here with the final installment of my audition tips.

We've all heard horror stories about divas. While every lady has a "Diva Card" in her pocket, it is best not to play that card. Being nice will get you a lot farther than being a Diva will.

~Be nice to the other auditionees in all aspects of the audition process.

~Chat but don't gossip. If you get the reputation of a gossip, you might just find yourself sitting in the corner by yourself.

~Thumper's Daddy was right when he said, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.". This little mantra can really come in handy.



~Be willing to lend a helping hand. Help others with zippers, props, loan hair pins, etc. It will come back to you in the end.

~Be respectful of others and their "process". Everyone has a "process" they go through in order to prepare themselves for an audition. Some chatter like crazy, others would rather not chat and want to be left alone in order to mentally prepare themselves. And then there are those who are a combination of the two. Scope everyone out and figure out who falls into what category and go from there.

~Make introductions. Introduce yourself to the "newbies" and people you don't know. If you see some one you've seen perform at an audition, introduce yourself and tell her you saw her last show. It is a big boost to be recognized. It is also helpful to new performers to be able to make a connection. Who knows, you might make a new friend.

~Be humble. When you're given a compliment regarding your audition piece, your costume, or even your handbag, a heartfelt "thank you" is always appreciated. People will know you're genuinely grateful for their compliments.

Remember this: If you're nice to everyone, including the producers, you'll get asked back. People will say, "Oh yeah, I remember her. She was sweet and really nice, let's ask her back." And we all want to be asked back, right?





Talk to you again soon!

Audition Tips Part 4...Gettin' It All Together

Hey everyone, Pixie here.

I don't know how many of you know this but, I studied and performed belly dance for 10 years before I got into burlesque. I still perform as a solo performer and in the group Nasheeda Amani (aka Balady Barmaids) in the DFW area occasionally. In those 10 years, I've danced on lots of venues; a restaurant, numerous outdoor festivals, staged shows and I have even had the pleasure of performing at the Carousel Lounge in Austin.

With all that dancing there was lots of running around, different dressing rooms (or lack of), multiple costume changes and the list gets longer from here. I learned a valuable lesson from my first belly dance teacher, have a gig bag and a check list.

Gig bag? A gig bag is just that, the bag you take to your gigs. I have one certain bag I take everywhere I perform, whether it's belly dance or burlesque. It is an ugly tapestry suitcase Mr. O'Kneel found at a garage sale. I try to put everything I will need for the night in that one bag. It is so much easier than schlepping 14 different cases and tote bags around, especially if you don't have a chaperone, friend, or significant other to lend a hand.



A checklist is an invaluable tool. I don't know about you, but I get SO nervous before an audition or performance and if I didn't have that list, I'd forget everything. You can make a list, save it on your computer and just print a copy every time you're getting ready to dance. Then all you have to do is check everything off as you pack it. This way you will not have to turn around and go back to the house or make an impromptu trip to the drugstore because you realize 5 miles down the road you've forgotten something (been there, done that!).



Talk to you again soon!

Gifts & Garters Vendor Preview

Hey everyone! Pixie O'Kneel here.

Just wanted to give you a taste of what's to come at Gifts & Garters.

You already know that we're having some of the HOTTEST performers from DFW, Austin, AND New Orleans, but did you know we will also offer some of the best SHOPPING to be had?

Miss Shoshana has searched high and low to find some of the best vendors around.

Here's a little preview of the fabulous vendors that will be setting up their wares at Extreme Excuses Cafe on December 5th:

Addicted Handmade Hooligans


Evening Eclipse



You better start saving your pennies, I know I'll be saving mine.

Talk to you again soon!

Audition Tips Part 3...Closed Auditions

Hi Everyone!

Pixie O'Kneel here.

This time around, I want to talk about "closed auditions".

A closed audition means the auditions are closed to the public.

Keep in mind that it can be very nerve-wracking to other "auditionees" to have people they don't know at the audition, especially when auditioning for a Burlesque show. Seasoned performers may feel like they are giving a free show and debutantes could be just plain freaked out.

While everyone needs support, when you're auditioning at a closed audition, you're going to have to leave your friends at home. You can call and celebrate or commiserate when it's over.

Talk to y'all again soon!

Audition Tips Part 2...Time Is of The Essence

Hey y'all!

Pixie O'Kneel here with Part 2 of my tips for auditions.

Another important tip is to be on time, and I'm sure this tip could be considered the biggest tip of all.

Tardiness shows a lack of respect for others and their time. It also shows that you are not reliable.

Get your directions, gas up your car, make sure you have all of your bits (costume, music, etc.) before you go. I would also suggest you have contact info on the people running the auditions just in case there is an emergency.

Allow for an extra 15-20 minutes of drive time because you never know what kind of hot mess traffic is going to be, especially in Dallas!

Hope this helps!

Talk to y'all again soon.

Meet The Producers Part 2

photo credit:

Hi Everyone!

Pixie O'Kneel here.

I am one of the co-producers of Bewitching Burlesque and I also usually act as Stage Manager.

As co-producer, I help Glam'Amour with a lot of the pre-production activities, such as selecting the venue for the show, selecting performers who audition for the show, helping the vendors, and lots of other stuff that goes into planning an event.

As Stage Manager, it is my job to make sure the show runs smoothly and on time. I also direct the Panty Wranglers, and the Emcee. The Panty Wranglers and I set up and tear down the props for the performers and make sure the correct costume bits go to the correct performers.

I also made my burlesque debut at one of our shows and I will be performing again at Mid Summer Masquerade on August 8th. I am very excited about it!

Talk to y'all again soon!

What's In A Name?

Hi Everyone!

Pixie O'Kneel here!

There are many jobs at a Burlesque show that don't involve taking off any clothes.

One I like to think is the coolest is what we at Bewitching Burlesque call the Panty Wrangler. There are lots of names for this job, "Pick Up Artist", "Stage Maid", and "Stage Kitten", just to name a few. The names vary region to region.

The Panty Wrangler is the person who goes behind the performers and picks up all of the stuff they leave behind. They are also part of the show, eye candy so to speak. In some shows, the P.W. even might have a bit part with the Emcee or if she (or he) has another talent like singing, juggling, or comedy they could also be asked to give the audience a peep of their hidden talent.

The job of the P.W. is not as easy as some may think it would be. A good P.W. knows that she is part of the show and needs to make picking up discarded clothing look as fun and sexy as possible. She will be required get made up and dressed up, keep her cool, not get anyone's costume bits mixed up, help the Stage Manager set up and tear down props, help to make the show run on time....All while smiling and acting like she is having the time of her life.

Some performers get their start in Burlesque as Panty Wranglers. Miss Bunny Bailey was the Panty Wrangler at our April Bewitching Burlesque show. You can see Bunny pulling panty duty at the Atomic Frolic show on July 18th, and she will be gracing the stage as a performer at Mid Summer Masquerade on August 8th.

So, you just never know, you maybe picking up stockings in one show and leaving yours behind in the next.

Talk to you again soon!

Meet The Judges Part 3

Introducing, Jesse from The Edge!

Hey Kitty Kats my name is Jessie….creative communications operative by day/burgeoning bombastic burlesque babe by night.

I am purrrrfectly delighted to be included in the Bewitching Burlesque Review, it will give me a chance to practice total and utter fabulosity. I am crazy madly in love with the DFW burlesque scene and it is an honor to be invited to join the judging for this event.

As a card carrying member of the Brill Babe Brigade I am a passionate proponent of promoting all that is pretty. To borrow from Ms. Angelou “I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass”…so ladies put on those stilettos and rock it

One Month Away!

Bewitching Burlesque Revue's Mid Summer Masquerade is one month from today! It's time to start thinking about your costume if you haven't already. We have gathered some fabulous judges to help us determine the winners.

And don't forget to buy your tickets in advance!

Get Your Costumes Ready

Just what do we mean by "Dress to Excess" at our Mid Summer Masquerade? We know our community loves to dress to the nines when they are just going out for the grocery's (you never know who you'll run in to, right?) so we want you all to pull out the stops and do what you've wanted to do and Dress to Excess!

Our costume pageant is more than just a costume *contest* it's a DARE- to give yourself permission to go as crazy as you want to and dip in to your creative well as deep as it goes.


(We only ask that you cover any areas that would be covered by a string bikini. Gotta stay on the right side of the line with the law.)


Our judges have four different categories to hand out the awards.


Most Glamorous: Female/Feminine- doesn't mean you are female- just that you define curves, grace and are dressed to Excess in glamorous, sensual beauty.


Most Debonair: Male/Masculine- does not mean that you are male, just in a masculine costume and dressed to Excess with your "my macho" and yes, you can be macho in a skirt- we've seen it...and drooled about it.


Most Outrageous: creative, comedic, crazy or just... odd... we love the odd....


Most Bewitching: The judges favorite costume of the evening. The crowed title of the evening.


Do you have to dress in a costume to attend the event? No! We welcome voyeurs too! What's the point of dressing to excess, if there's no one to appreciate it! Got questions? Just drop us a line at Bewitchingburlesque at gmail dot com.


Come on out... we double dog dare you too!




Read all about one of our fabulous judges, Rocio, here.

Glam'Amour in Pin Curl Magazine

Get your fill of producer-performer and all around fantastic lady, Glam'Amour in this month's issue of Pin Curl Magazine.

In her feature, she dishes on what it's like to produce, breaking into the Dallas burlesque scene and what we can expect next.

Prizes...Yeah, We Got 'Em!

Hi Everyone!

Pixie O'Kneel here.

Glam'Amour and I had a shopping adventure this morning. We picked up the crown and scepter for the "Most Bewitching" prize in the costume pageant at our Mid Summer Masquerade on August 8th.

I can't wait to see all of the fab costumes I know we are going to see and boy-howdy, I don't envy our judges one bit!

Have a great weekend, and I'll talk to y'all soon!