Burlesque Survival Kit

Last night, Rockalily performed at Babylon with a few special guests. The event was to raise money for Planned Parenthood Ottawa, and did we ever! It was a success for everyone involved and we couldn't be more thankful to our friends and fans who came to show their support.

Backstage at a burlesque show, we are constantly asking to borrow things from each other; scissors, titty tape, gloves, etc. A few months ago, I took a large makeup bag (A cute little Betsey Johnson that my mom gave me for Christmas, actually) and stuffed it with often overlooked burlesque necessities.

Here is what I keep in my burlesque survival kit, and I must say, if Survivorman Les Stroud had to endure 5 hours as a burlesque performer, he'd be damn proud of my emergency kit.

• safety pins
• bobby pins
• scissors
• a red lipstick
• an extra set of pasties
• an extra set of tassels
• double-sided body tape
• miniature hairspray
• an extra pair of stockings
• eyelash glue (great for stopping a run in stockings, as well as applying eyelashes)
• an extra pair of evening gloves
• a large container of silver craft glitter
• several wetnaps
• a few mini packets of superfine makeup glitter

What would you keep in an emergency kit for a burlesque performance?

KY

I went to a Catholic high school that housed grades 7-12. There was one kid, his name was Matt, who bullied me mercilessly. I don't remember exactly what his torments were - although I wouldn't believe it at the time, they really were inconsequential in the grand scheme of life.

I'm sure it was childish nonsense, like "fat" "slut" and maybe some "yo momma" jokes. All I remember was the pain I felt from being constantly teased and berated by him.

Around Grade 10, however, I figured it out. The way to conquer a bully is not to walk away; It is not to tell an authority figure. What actually shut him up was this: I became a bigger bully.

To every inslut he slung my way, I responded with "Kill yourself." After a few weeks, I had a good chunk of our peers calling him "Kill Yourself". This became his name. By grade 12, not only was he leaving me alone, but he had taken on the nickname "KY".

Being the bigger bully was something I actually came to regret. What if he had killed himself? My delicate feelings and ever-present Catholic guilt would never recover.

I actually learned a lesson from KY. You can only stand up for yourself for so long. When your peers all gang up on you, you just need to roll with it, and take solace in being yourself. Fuck everybody else, because people who matter don't mind and people who mind don't matter.

Thank you, Bernard Baruch.

Local stage performer threatens non-profit community group

In 2006, myself and my friend, Tyler Blanchett, formed an artist collective to be known as Rockalily burlesque. I have been the leader and and creative director of this burlesque troupe ever since. I have never called myself an "owner" and find the term offensive for what is a collective of human beings.


As of December 2011, Chris Seabrook and Shadi Ehsani (known by her stage name, Shade Nyx) have been claiming ownership of Rockalily Burlesque. Up until this point, when Seabrook and Ehsani instigated a dispute, Shade Nyx (Ehsani) was a valued and equal member of Rockalily Burlesque. We were aware that Seabrook (her partner) had applied for trademark and, in an effort to maintain my relationship with Ehsani, Seabrook and I had been discussing the appropriate avenues to transfer his trademark applications to me as early as January 2012.  

According to an unnamed collaborator with Rockalily, Ehsani called them with vague, looming threats because of our upcoming event. Rockalily is headlining this event, and all proceeds are being donated to a non-profit community resource. According to my source, the implication from Ms. Ehsani was that our partner in this event could be facing a lawsuit if they chose not to cancel the event. Our collaborator is a community resource that depends on our support and donations. 

Seabrook and Ehsani illegally applied for Trademark of the Rockalily wordmark and logo. These graphics remain the intellectual property of their creator, Luc Bergeron. I (Veronica M Roy, known by the stage name Helvetica Bold) am the sole licensee of these images.


Furthermore, Seabrook copyrighted my intellecual property. The name Rockalily was created in a brainstorm between myself and Tyler Blanchett. Blanchett respectfully resigned from working with Rockalily, and has agreeably left me as the "owner" of our mutual intellectual property. Copyrights are inherent, and so Rockalily remains my property. Seabrook's copyright, although 
currently recognized by the government, is fraudulent and should I choose to contest it, he would lose his claim to the copyright.

Any third party who contracts Rockalily through me, or one of our other authorized performers, can not be held liable in the case of a lawsuit. Threats from Seabrook and/or Ehsani are merely bully tactics, used to interfere with Rockalily, me, and those we work with. Should they choose to file a lawsuit, I am solely responsible for defending Rockalily. 

The only email Rockalily uses is rockalily.booking@gmail.com. Our only official website is www.rockalilyburlesque.com.

I am being represented by Paul Donovan of Perley-Robertson, Hill and McDougal. http://www.perlaw.ca/en/people/paul-w-donovan


I have disabled and removed existing comments due to harassment.  I do not take unsolicited calls and do not answer emails sent from spam accounts or accounts using fake names. If you have something to say to me, say it like you mean it, and attach your name and character to it.  

Spanakopita

This evening I made spanakopita. A healthy and delicious dinner! I used phyllo dough, chopped spinach, low fat feta, and Leftover garlic sauce from my boyfriend's last shawarma feast.

Yum yum yum!

Mardi Gras

It's pancake day! So I'm having a crepe with butter, cinnamon, sugar, and lemon. Yum!