Because of this, I think that all of the systems of recognition we have in our sparkly community are wonderful: the competitions, the titles, the Burlesque Top 50 \u2026 we need them. They help bring us together, inspire us to grow, and can remind us that people DO care about what we do, and DO pay attention to our hard work. And that acknowledgement can give you the push you need to keep moving forward and continue wading through the tough life that comes with being an artist.<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re included in these systems, it can mean more gigs, more recognition, more of your name in big letters on posters and marquees. And those are wonderful, seemingly glamorous perks to doing what we do. But they\u2019re not why we do it.<\/p>\n

Alternately, when you\u2019re not included in those systems, it is easy to feel broken, forgotten, and a little lost. And it\u2019s also easy to start believing that if you *were* included, you wouldn\u2019t feel that way and things would be better. But let me assure you: as an artist, you pretty much always feel broken\/forgotten\/lost, no matter what.\u00a0Those feelings just get bigger when you\u2019re feeling small.<\/p>\n

That said, those systems are not everything, and they are not the reason why we do what we do. It is the art that is everything.<\/p>\n

At 35, after 11 years in the BQ world, I\u2019m finally in a place where I don\u2019t need anyone else to tell me that I am a real artist or a good performer. I know I am. I am always truly grateful when I hear it (because broken\/forgotten\/lost) but that\u2019s not why I do what I do. I do it because I love it, because the art is everything to me, I am everything when I do it, and I want to create. Acknowledgment will come and go throughout my weird artist\u2019s life, but the art is forever.<\/p>\n

I have failed over and over again in my career due to my own faults and bullshit, far outweighing the number of times I have actually \u201csucceeded\u201d. But because I\u2019ve failed so much, I know without any doubt why I do what I do, outside of our systems of acknowledgment\u2013and that is very powerful. That is something inside me that I will have for the rest of my life. And I am endlessly grateful for it.<\/p>\n

I guess my overall message is this: burlesquers out there \u2026 even if it feels like no one knows who you are or what you\u2019re doing, keep making art. Keep learning and growing, keep being driven by your passion for this bizarre, sparkly, naked form of expression that we adore. Do it because it fills you with light and truth, do it because you love it. It will always be hard, but that\u2019s ok. If being a stripper was easy, everybody would fuckin do it. And not everybody can. But if you do it because you love it, you will make art that you love\u2013and that it is a reward that will fill your hussy\/artist\u2019s soul forever. And who knows? Maybe our systems of acknowledgment will reward you for it, and that would be amazing! If it happens, revel in it. And don\u2019t be afraid to seek out those systems and pursue their rewards; they are good things. But always remember that they are not why you do what you do. You do it because you love it.<\/p>\n

The end.<\/p>\n