Burlesque fashion enthusiast Frankie Lynn believes that every performer should have one special dress in their wardrobe which makes them stand out from the crowd when meeting their audience after the show. Here she speaks to other artists about whether or not they agree…

Over the many different discussions either face-to-face, on forums or just general musings of performers that I’ve overheard, it appears to be the general consensus that to mingle with the audience after a show is of great benefit.

I happen to agree with this sentiment, but regardless of opinions on whether one should mingle or not, what about the appearance of the performer that has decided to stay and mingle? What sort of impression are you trying to portray outside of the safety of the stage? How do you want to be perceived by others?

There is no right or wrong answer – style is always about the individual and personal preference, but there are some important things to consider.

I am sure that many of you have had a variety of experiences on how you feel after a show. Maybe there was an occasion where you thought you would tone it down and go with a semi-casual look in the hope that you come across as accessible and approachable, only to feel scruffy and lack lustre. Maybe even a little awkward as there were far more glamorous creatures in the crowd. Or perhaps you have experienced the opposite. You have gone with the mindset of ‘dress to impress’, donned your best frock to give the impression that you are equally as well turned out off the stage as on, only to feel like a dogs dinner. Everyone is relatively casual and you are there looking like something that’s fallen off last year’s Christmas tree!

Then there is the ‘Swooning Dress’; that rare and elusive dress that fills you with ‘body confidence’ as soon as you slip it on. You feel sexy and stylish wearing this dress. You believe that it absolutely encapsulates your sense of personal style and would even argue that it is an extension of your ‘inner Goddess’. How important a role does this kind of dress play when it comes to after show mingling?

An observation I have recently made is that every business takes a great deal of care in their branding. Whether it’s the logo, the tagline they use, the layout of their website and so on. This then led me to thinking that, if people are able to form an opinion of another person within seconds of seeing them, then naturally most people would like to be able to have some sort of control of how they might visually influence that first opinion. Think of it as personal ‘image branding’.

For example, I know that as an individual there are certain character traits that I would like to emphasize so that people understand my personal style such as my interest in the macabre, my rather odd sense of humour and so on. So when it comes to my personal styling off the stage I try to bring out these little nuances through what I am wearing. Sometimes that will be a rather eccentric corsage, or a piece of jewellery that is particularly quirky and most often…my shoes. They’re nuts!

In essences, I am creating for myself a sort of ‘working wardrobe’ of outfits that I would choose to wear off the stage that I feel enhance my own personal ‘image branding’. This is just what works for me.

To get even more of an insight into performers perceptions of ‘dressing up’, I asked two well-known UK performers how they felt about the subject and how important it is to ‘Dress Up’ off the stage.

Here are their responses;

Vicky Butterfly – Part Burlesque Starlet, part innovative Performance Artiste, Part Music Hall Vaudevillian and all Dreamer

In one sentence, how would you describe your personal fashion style?
I suppose I dress like I went wild in the attic of an old country house… Maybe with elements of vaudeville style and fetish fashion. And also a bit like a kid going to a party in the 1920s.

What are your preferences in attire for before and after a show?
Same as every day really. Maybe less complicated as I like things that are easy to put on and take off when I’m a bit tired. But if I’m planning on having a drink, maybe something a bit fun.

How important do you think it is to dress up after a show and mingle with the audience?
I don’t know. I like seeing the audience, as after about a thousand performances it can blur a little as I’m always me, and it’s usually pretty dark out there. By itself, that would be a bit samey. So I like hearing accents, seeing how people are dressed. But I don’t think it’s imperative to dress up or mingle: after all, we dress up as part of our jobs!  The fact that I do dress up off-stage is a personal thing – I’ve always been like that, and it doesn’t take me any longer to do.

What impression are you trying to give people with your choice of ensemble for after a show?
No impression at all: I wear clothes that make me feel happy and that’s it. People can think what they like. I think I’d actually prefer to dress more ‘normal’ offstage in some ways: for me it would enhance the power of the transformation onstage, maybe make it a bit more magical. But I’m afraid it’s just how I am…

How do you feel about those who prefer to keep it casual and not dress up after a show?
As I said… it should be personal preference: and it can make the power of transformation onstage a more magical one! People have always been fascinated by that: part of the Art Nouveau appeal of Loie Fuller was that she was so plain and dowdy offstage, but transformed into an electric nymph on… it was the transformation that made her the emblem of the era!

Anna Fur Laxis – ‘She’s killed sixteen men and she *will* kill again’

In one sentence, how would you describe your personal fashion style?
Lady-who-lunches meets slutty teen.

What are your preferences in attire for before and after a show?
Depending on how I’m getting to a show (flight/long drive etc) I prefer to arrive looking “smart/casual”. That might mean disco pants or a pretty day dress. Afterwards, I prefer full-on glamour!

 How important do you think it is to dress up after a show and mingle with the audience?
I think it’s very important and I try to do this whenever possible.

What impression are you trying to give people with your choice of ensemble for after a show?
The way I view it, this job is very much about selling a lifestyle, and part of that is being seen dressed appropriately.

Two very different responses from two very different performers both held in very high regard. Interesting nonetheless to hear the views of both of these individuals.

I guess the answer for yourself depends on how important that ‘image impression’ is to you when mingling with others after a show. Do you prefer to remain a mystical creature that transforms from one thing to another? Or do you like to make a clear and distinct impression to all your viewers as much as you can? There is no right or wrong answer, but it is quite a fun experiment trying to establish what you like to ‘Swoon’ around in the most.