Your First Burlesque Show: How to Survive

1. Choose the right show

Burlesque is a broad genre. Very broad. Think about it like a film genre. If you decided to see a “romantic comedy” you could be watching anything from a slightly crass Adam Sandler movie to a tear-jerker with that English actor(—you know the one. 

Burlesque is like that. It can be anything from the bawdy to the arty, to comedic, to the glamorous. For an in-depth perspective on what burlesque is, click here. 

Do your research as best you can and try to pick the right show for the right occasion. An underground burlesque show with a performer who humps the floor and shoots the audience with a phallic-shaped water pistol in a symbolic challenge of the patriarchy may not be conducive to a work function…or a first date. Or maybe it is? Hey, everyone’s different. The point is, burlesque is a wildly diverse and eclectic genre. Try to match the show with your taste and the occasion.

2. Arrive on Goldilocks time—not too early, not too late, but just right.

The time to arrive is when the "doors open:". This is show speak for arrival or event start time. 

If you arrive after the show has started, you may make a dramatic and awkward entrance while the show is underway. You also risk being spotted by a sassy MC who will exploit your disruptive late entrance for their own comedic gain. For our venue, this is not strictly the case, but you will need to somehow alert the staff inside to let you in. This can be difficult when the show is underway. 

If you arrive before the doors open, you will be too early to be seated. Luckily, in our venue, this is not a problem, because our guests can easily have a pre-drink in the Potts Point Hotel below us, or at Sweetheart's Rooftop above us. You can even bring your drinks into our show. However, for many venues, this is not the case, and you may have to loiter awkwardly twiddling your thumbs in a place with terrible lighting and no beverages. A date-fate worth than death. 

3. Cheer loudly

Ideally, a burlesque crowd is halfway between the opera and a rock concert. At a burlesque show, the audience may—no, is meant to—clap, whistle and holler. Sitting in silence until finally squeezing out a golf clap is not enough, but throwing tinnies and crowd surfing off the stage is too much. Find that sweet spot in the middle. You want to cheer the show as much as you can, without BECOMING the show. You got this. 

4. Open your mind and enjoy the ride!

Watching such a live performance with a room of strangers is its own kind of unique experience. Burlesque is supposed to be a bit risqué and at least nudge you out of your comfort zone. Expect some form of striptease or display of flesh, and/or adult-themed humour or language, depending on where the show is on the spectrum of Adam Sandler to Hugh Grant (remember point 1).

It's normal that watching someone confidently and expertly remove their clothes and jiggle sans shame could make you feel a little self-conscious or even bring up feelings of insecurity. If this happens, don’t worry. It’s all part of the experience! Just take a breath, take a swig of your drink, squeeze the hand or leg of the person next to you and repeat step 3!

Ultimately, you will have as much fun as you choose to have. Even if you accidentally end up at the phallic-symbolism performance art show, just go with it! 

If you have any more questions about how to survive your first burlesque show, please reach out and touch us anytime. It would be our pleasure to make your first time as special as it ought to be.

If you are ready to pop your burlesque cherry, get tickets here.