Vulnerability

Posted on by cherrylush.com.au

(Note:this blog has been sitting in my drafts folder for a few months now. Oddly I was feeling too vulnerable to publish it…)

I have been thinking a lot about vulnerability lately. Both as a part of myself and as an aspect of my performances.

Last year I went to Canberra to be a Judge at Kitten of the Year along side Holly J’aDoll and Lauren LaRouge. It was really a wonderful experience with lots of great performances, and special for me as many years ago Kitten of the Year was the very first show I performed in. Before the show we got to interview each contestant, which was a great way of seeing some of their personality shine through. 

I was moved by a lot of responses to our questions. How the Miss Kitka’s course has changed their lives and made them more confident. I can personally vouch that the course is truly empowering. 

Each contestant has to study a performer from the past, and devise a tribute performance. If the performer is alive they are supposed to also contact the performer and get permission. Some of the contestants from this year and previous years have formed friendships with these performers- something that is wonderful to hear about and keeps the links to our history alive. 

One contestant- Sugar Starr – did a tribute to: “the Bearded Lady” She explained to us that the central aspect of her performance was about vulnerability.

 Image

Vulnerability, can be seen as something quite scary. The dictionary defines it as: capable of or susceptible to being wounded or hurt, as by a weapon.

Wow, capable of being hurt… I am a person who shows my vulnerability. It has always been the case. I think it is part of what makes me a good performer. If I feel something you see it on my face, it is there for the world to see and judge. I cry easily. I get hurt easily.Image

I’ve struggled with this all my life, for to show emotion and vulnerability, leaves one open to the cruel, those looking to bolster their own ego or those looking to take advantage of it. So over the years I have learnt to protect some of my vulnerability with some armour. Just enough to fight off those who will take advantage, but still leave me open to the great things that can come from showing my vulnerability. It’s really important to me, to not let those people change who I essentially am. I’d rather be hurt occasionally, when the alternative is to shut myself off from my emotions.

Brené Brown puts it into words far more eloquent:

“You can’t numb those hard feelings without numbing the other affects, our emotions. You cannot selectively numb. So when we numb those, we numb joy, we numb gratitude, we numb happiness. And then we are miserable, and we are looking for purpose and meaning, and then we feel vulnerable, so then we have a couple of beers and a banana nut muffin. And it becomes this dangerous cycle. But there’s another way, and I’ll leave you with this. This is what I have found: to let ourselves be seen, deeply seen, vulnerably seen; to love with our whole hearts, even though there’s no guarantee — and that’s really hard, and I can tell you as a parent, that’s excruciatingly difficult — to practice gratitude and joy in those moments of terror, when we’re wondering, “Can I love you this much? Can I believe in this this passionately? Can I be this fierce about this?” just to be able to stop and, instead of catastrophizing what might happen, to say, “I’m just so grateful, because to feel this vulnerable means I’m alive.” And the last, which I think is probably the most important, is to believe that we’re enough. Because when we work from a place, I believe, that says, “I’m enough,” then we stop screaming and start listening, we’re kinder and gentler to the people around us, and we’re kinder and gentler to ourselves.”

I’ll leave you with this great TED talk. Listen to it- it is worth it:

http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html

2012 It’s a wrap!

Posted on by cherrylush.com.au

Every now and then I like to put on a nice dress, some makeup even and go out by myself. Usually I will get myself some dinner and sometimes go to a movie, or walk down King St in Newtown at night perusing book shops. It is great.

Last night I did that. I enjoyed a meal and the 1st cider I have had in months. And I thought about the year that has gone. The more I thought the more amazed I felt. I’ve done a lot in 2012 both personally and in performances.

Personally, I’ve travelled & I’ve had a lot of fun. I’ve had my heart trammelled a bit and I have broken someone else’s heart…  I’ve made discoveries about what I will accept from others and how I expect to be treated (as well as thinking about how I should treat others) I’ve seen a dear friend recover from a serious accident. I’ve seen my friends have more babies and watched my Neice and Nephew grow taller, smarter and more amazing.  Most of all I’ve made the huge scary decision to leave a very safe public service job in 2013 by taking voluntary redundancy and pursue a new career. I am not 100% sure still what I will be doing but I am pretty sure I won’t be an Environmental Manager anymore! J

In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility. 
Eleanor Roosevelt 

As a performer, I started on New Years day throwing and squirting drunken  enthusiastic  music lovers  with “beer” whilst horribly sick with the flu at Field Day and ended it at Gallery Burlesque in Dec  by turning from Hagrid into a dragon whilst nursing nasty injuries from a bicycle accident only a few days earlier.  Luckily the bruises were easily disguised and the make do silver bandages covered the wounds.  The show must always go on!

In between some of the highlights include, my very first classic act at Miss Burlesque NSW, Anything Goes Cabaret at  Adelaide Fringe, Boom Boom Broads at Mardi Gras festival. Going to BHOF in Vegas, performing in San Francisco and Coney Island New York.  Meeting World Famous Bob, Dita Von Teese and meeting Dirty Martini again (and having an in-depth discussion of skirts not being able to handle our arses, and getting personal tips on tassel twirling!), and so many other incredible people!!!  Winning 2 Bustie awards at the 1st Australian Burlesque awards (and being nominated for 3 more!).  MCing for the first time at a fundraiser in Canberra. Not to mention performing at several Gallery Burlesque, and 34B nights (including GBs 4th Bday and the honour of performing at the very last 34B). Being painted by the amazing Wendy Sharpe and performing  at the opening of her Burlesque themed exhibition.  Letting out my inner Elvira over Halloween  at Night of the Living Dead and Cabaret Mystique, and having lots of fun with it and Judging at Kitten of the Year in Canberra (which is where Cherry first performed!)…

Whew…That’s not even everything!  All that a full-time job and lots of family and friends to see. It’s no wonder I get tired :)

So what is 2013 going to bring? I am never sure where I am going but I have a few ideas! I want to work on a few creative projects (sorry all secrets!), which I will have time for in the 2nd half of the year and will culminate in 2014. I will be studying at TAFE. More travel and some personal goals! Maybe a tour?  Of course performing at my favourite shows and some new shows I’ve heard whispers of.

 Life is like a bowl of Cherries my dears! There may be pips to spit out now and again but boy does it taste good.

2013 is going to be amazing, see you then!

XC

Just go and swim

Posted on by cherrylush.com.au

Today I took my first swimming class since I was a child.

As an Australian where swimming is almost a religion, I was always sad that I couldn’t really swim. I can do basic breaststroke and backstroke but the infamous Aussie Crawl (Freestyle) was always too hard. 

Like most kids here I went to lessons at school, but 20 kids in a class was not enough. I really needed one-on-one attention to get me past that fear of putting my head in the water.  Too many ocean dunkings and a near drowning had left me with a fear of putting my head under the water. 

As I got older I swam less and less, until my lack of confidence and dislike for how I looked in a swimsuit stopped me from going in. I went years without a dip in the ocean! Living in a place with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and a public swimming pool only ever less than a km away, this was utter madness. 

One day I was at the beach for a picnic. I had recently started to come to terms with my body and the smell of the ocean was heady… The sound of the waves lapping made it irresistible and despite not having a swimsuit on me I went in, in shorts and a t-shirt and it was DIVINE!!!

Since then I try not to go too long without a dip in the ocean. Which brings me back to today’s lesson. It was a workshop full of people who to me were fit and could swim well. But I didn’t let that daunt me and in I went. It took a couple of goes before I relaxed but I loved it. I loved being able to see the seaweed and the little fish swimming below me. Such utter peace and calm. 
ImagePanorama of Clovelly Beach by Dave Tozer

This summer beach swims will become a regular thing as well as more lessons, till I get to the stage where I will be able to proudly say that I am a swimmer! 

Is there something you have always wanted to do but always thought you couldn’t? If so go and do it. Ask someone for help if you need to, but like I did- just go and swim! :)

XC

October Gigs

Posted on by cherrylush.com.au

So I’ve taken a little break. Much needed time to work on me. Lots of contemplation and exercise and hanging out with friends. I will tell you all about it very soon but first I know you want to know what is coming up!

This Sunday 21st Oct is Gallery Burlesque’s 4th Birthday show! Gallery Burlesque is one of the first shows I went to and I first performed there almost 3 years ago. So I plan to party that night. It may involve  a German Beer maid,  beer, vodka and perhaps a bit of polka. You are definitely going to want to see this! It is a jam-packed line up with some of my favourite performers! So exciting :)

https://www.facebook.com/events/270005426441343/

Then it is the Halloween season!!!

Some of you may know that I have always worshipped Elvira.
Well this year I will become THE NEXT ELVIRA!

You can see this at:
Night of the Stripping Dead https://www.facebook.com/events/412398222146787/?fref=ts

This is going to be one gory blood bath of an event. Dress up and be prepared to be horrified in a really good way! :)

Then on Saturday Night out at Windsor is a Variety Night to end all others Cabaret Mystique

http://www.brabazonbelladonna.com/cabaretmystique.htm

Cabaret , Magic, Burlesque and a touch of Comedy! :)

Finally one for the artists on Tuesday 30th Oct- the eve of All Hallows Eve- I will be performing and modelling at Dr Sketchy’s with the gorgeous Lady Medusa.  https://www.facebook.com/events/326702474093701/

Bring lots of pencils there will be lots of curves to sketch!

XC

August Gigs

Posted on by cherrylush.com.au

The fun never stops with this Lush lady!
First up this month is one of my favourite gigs: 34B World Burlesque Olympics

https://www.facebook.com/events/401615589901485/

Next up is a my first appearance at Mr Falcons Presents. This bar has cocktails to die for. I had a lovely warm cider with a shot of Zubrowka vodka. Yum. Someone buy me one on sunday!

https://www.facebook.comevents/103753133106497/

 

Last but certainly not least is a very special event. A fundraiser for a special little girl.  Allies Angels : https://www.facebook.com/events/345202922222139/

One-year-old Allie Matthews is still far too young to appreciate the glamour of burlesque dance and vintage-style fashion. However Allie and her family are the inspiration for a special, glittering event that will be held in Canberra by Miss Kitka’s House of Burlesque and The Darling Sisters on 18 August at the Canberra Irish Club.

Baby Allie was born with biliary atresia: a rare disease that destroys the bile ducts in the liver. Since her birth, Allie’s parents have found themselves constantly travelling between their home in Canberra and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in Sydney, usually at the drop of a hat, for Allie’s tests and treatment. She has been waiting for liver transplant since December last year.‘Caring for little Allie has meant that her parents have put their lives on hold,’ says Canberra’s burlesque dance teacher, Miss Kitka. ‘It has been a serious day-to-day struggle, emotionally and financially.’Allie’s Angels is a collaborative fundraising initiative by Canberra burlesque school Miss Kitka’s House of Burlesque, and The Darling Sisters, owners of the Gold Creek fashion boutique Darling Central.

I will be MCing and if you donate lots of money perhaps even do a performance! :)
XC

USA & Burlesque Hall of Fame trip

Posted on by cherrylush.com.au

Oh my. I’ve been meaning to tell you about my USA trip but I have only just recovered. In brief it was all, Boobs, Bums & Booze.

I’ll try. But this is the edited version what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas… :)

LA

My trip started in LA and after a long flight preceded by little sleep due to a gig the previous night, I hit LA exhausted. A cat nap and I was ready to go out and hit my first burlesque show!

It was a pleasure to finally meet Mercury Troy and Mae Lust who I knew from facebookland. Mae was performing at Victory Variety Hour and I was placed in the hot seat and given a lap dance by the cute as a button Squirrel. Such a delight. Jessame Thunder was on fire with a 70s inspired number which made my heart rate go up. But my heart was stolen by the one and only Hedo Luxe. Such a character and costume. I won’t describe his act as it would ruin the surprise but he comes onstage to a wow, and it just gets better and better…

The next day Mercury and Mae took me shopping to the LA Fashion District. A combination of jet lag and excitement had me completely overwhelmed! It was amazing. So much fabric and trimming and so cheap! Despite it being a holiday weekend much was open, but I vowed to return!

On Monday I decided to play tourist for a day and did a tour of LA. To me it is a place of wealth and despair… One area abundant in riches and a few miles away dozens of homeless people.

That evening I joined up with the Diamond Dahlia, Strawberry Siren  and then Alyssa Kitt flew in and we went to Monday Night Tease. It was wonderful to see Alyssa and hear all about her tour and to see many of the performers I had enjoyed seeing at VVH. One addition was Russell Bruner  . He and did a marvelous routine to 2 ladies with his lovely ladies and then he did a solo- the very number that won him King of Boylesque later that week. Such a lovely charming man as well, he had many a heart a fluttering that week

The next day the 4 of us set out shopping firstly in Hollywood then returning to the Fashion District. Many a pretty thing was bought!

Then I took the intrepid step of hiring a mini-van to drive us and our luggage to Santa Ana. The hire company would not hire us a GPS though!!! &^*&%^%)!!!! so we had to rely on maps as our phones GPS would not work. I did it ! even with LA’s notorious traffic jams (6-8 lane highways getting traffic jams!! that is 6-8 lanes each way too!!!) and getting a little lost. Totally crazy.

On Wed Alyssa, DD and I made a pilgrimage to Wal-Mart! :D Oh the fun. So many cheap things in such a huge building. I stocked up on makeup, allergy medication and other tidbits. The difference in prices made me really question how the retailers in Australia justify the prices. A Loreal lipstick that costs $18 in Aus for $5? moisturizer that costs me $34 in Aus here cost $18. It really makes no sense, even with our smaller market and expensive rents. I think retailers will really have to take on the wholesalers if they want to survive.

That night we got all dressed up in our new Betty Page dresses to celebrate Alyssa’s birthday and to see Dita Von Tease’s Strip Strip Hooray! I was curious to see Dita live as I had never enjoyed videos of her performances. AND best of all I got to see the absolutely fabulous Dirty Martini!!!

I went in with lowish expectations of Dita and have to admit to being pleasantly surprised. I was not a fan of her last act but her cowboy act was a lot of fun. The costumes and production values were of a level I’ve never seen before. It was also one of the most diverse shows I have ever seen. So much so that it must have been planned that way. It is really a credit to Dita that she puts on a show of that caliber. I can’t say I am a fan, preferring her photos, but it was a worthwhile trip.

After the show Dirty came up to us and after hellos and hugs gave us wrist bands for the after party. It was wonderful to meet most of the performers from the show, talk to Dirty (mostly about clothes!) and even Dita. Yes I must admit to getting a little celebrity struck. When she walked into the room all eyes were on her.

Bleary eyed we woke up ready to head to Las Vegas! Our chauffeur arrived and miraculously packed all our suitcases into the van and we were off! Doc from Dr Sketchy’s Byron was surrounded with some of the Eastern seaboards loveliest performers: The Strawberry Siren, Bella de Jac, Alyssa Kitt, the Diamond Dahlia and I. Lucky man. He teased us with pictures of baby animals and Alyssa dared him into mean game of Rock Paper Scissors. I mostly enjoyed the view, the Desert landscape can be beautiful in its desolation.

A highlight of the trip was a stop at Peggy Sue’s Diner- saur Park.

We arrived in Vegas and scattered off to our rooms to get ready for the first night of BHOF.

All glammed up we headed to the first show of the weekend- Movers Shakers and Innovators. Our own Briana Bluebell was performing which made the night extra exciting. I finally also got to meet the lovely Vava Vunderbust and April O’Peel, two performers I had seen only on You Tube but admired. I sat amongst them with their Canadian contingent and almost went deaf from their enthusiastic whoops and hollers, especially when a Canadian was onstage :)

The rest of the weekend was an absolute blur. There was shopping, eating and drinking as usual, and so much burlesque!

Friday nights show was The 55th Annual Burlesque Reunion Showcase. It was amazing to see so many legends get up on stage and the next day I got to meet some of them in person, including the riotous Camille 2000. I hope I am so fabulous at that age!

Saturday night was the big night where our own Imogen Kelly was competing for Miss Exotic World, 2012 Queen of Burlesque. It was a fabulous night full of amazing performances.  So many great performances. When it was finally time for the Queen to be announced we all held our breath and then I almost fell over when Imogen’s name was called out! It was so exciting to be there all us Aussies were so proud of Imogen. I gave Imogen the little koala I had put swarovski crystals all over and we celebrated to the early hours.

My final day in Vegas was taken up mostly by the pool party. You have never seen a more colourful, glamourous pool party! SO much fun and not to be missed. The last show Icons and All Stars had a dream lineup, including our own Mark Winmill (Captain Kidd) farewell performance as King of Burlesque. It was a wonderfully enjoyful weekend.

San Francisco

If you’re going to San Francisco they say to wear some flowers?? Well we were bright enough when we arrived at the Vegas airport, but 3 hours of delays and a flight and we arrived bedraggled and tired. We checked into the lovely San Remo guesthouse, and napped. I spent a lot of this holiday grabbing a nap where I could!…

We all got ready in the confines of our cute but tiny rooms to head to Hubba Hubba to perform. It was my first international performance! :) Jim who runs it had been super friendly from the moment I wrote to him asking to perform and it was exciting to be there. It was a lot of fun, but I discovered that the bar staff free pour spirits!!! So I was a little less steady than usual but made up with it by being even more outrageous ;)

When the bar closed we all headed off to another bar. Who proceeded to give us free drinks… All night! Heading home as the sun rose I was glad I had already been to San Fran before! We all slept off monstrous hangovers and a few of us headed out to the touristy (but I like it) Fisherman’s Wharf area for needed foods. In and Out burger was a godsend! I met up with an old friend for dinner and drinks that night and headed back for more sleep.

On Wed Bella and I made our way to Guiardellis for some chocolate then headed to Haigh St for some shopping! San Francisco is so beautiful that a tram ride was a delight.

That night we all got ready to perform at Red Hots at the El Rio bar. I had met Dottie on Facebook and had got to know her in Vegas. She had also been super welcoming and the night was a blast. Fabulous crowd and a lot of free drinks came my way… Do you see a theme forming here? Hmmm Yes that night I went to the airport drunk, not having eaten. And could find NO food places open!!! I ended up begging one of the shops that was closing to buy some food and then something strange happened- I found a bag of Cherries. Beautiful sweet California cherries someone must have left behind. It seemed providential! :)

So with a belly full of Cherries and booze I headed to NYC on the Red eye…

I arrived in New York and headed straight for my accommodation to sleep off the over night flight.

It was soon time to get ready for The Peel New York City! I went for a walk along the boardwalk before the show and took in some of Coney Island. It is a mad little world!

The show was too much fun. Lauren La Rouge and Holly Ja’ Doll  held the Peel away from home, and having performed at the very first Peel it was an honour to be there. Joined by fellow Sydney Sider Ember Flame, it had the fun of the Peel with the quirk of Coney Island.

The New York ladies were lovely and RayVelenz was a hoot.

We all went onstage at the end in our Peel T-shirts and poured wine over ourselves in a giant bath! :)

That night I went with some of the audience members to one of Brooklyn bars. It is a fab place really, lots of great places to go.

The next day after a little sight-seeing and shopping I met up with Holly Lauren and Ember. We found a bar that served 5 shots for $10. Then a tiki bar, with a vintage photo booth. Once again the bar tenders free poured and taking a liking to us all we had way too many drinks.

As you can imagine the 20 hour flight home the next day was not much fun.

But now my liver had recovered I can’t wait to go again! But can someone please shout me a first class ticket next time ;)

XC

Going to America!

Posted on by cherrylush.com.au

Well as some of you may know I am heading the the USA for a couple of weeks! This Sat! I can’t believe it. Who wants to drive me to the airport ;)

First stop I will be a few days in LA and will finish be seeing Strip Strip Hooray. It will be great to make up my own mind about the hype that is Dita.

Mostly I am looking forward to seeing my favourite performer Dirty Martini perform again! Eeeeee!

Then I am really excited to go to the Burlesque Hall of Fame, especially to see the legends perform! I have a feeling I will not be getting much sleep and will undoubtably punish my liver. Over 25 Aussies are going to BHOF AND TWO will be performing, both Sydneysiders! Our own Queen of Burlesque Imogen Kelly competing in the MISS EXOTIC WORLD 2012, REIGNING QUEEN OF BURLESQUE  and Briana Bluebell in the Movers, Shakers and Innovators.  Las Vegas doesn’t know what is about to hit them!

After LA myself, Alyssa Kitt, The Diamond Dahlia and Bella De Jac will be heading to San Francisco. One of my favourite cities! I am looking forward to heading back to the Ghiradelli Square for some free chocolate samples- and stock up on one of my fav chocolates (and the only American Chocolate I like), eat some seafood chowder on the wharf, shopping and much much more.
Image

AND i will be making my international debut at none other than San Francisco’s famous Hubba Hubba Revue! Monday the 4th June at Uptown Nightclub in Oakland. I hear it is a mini Aussie Invasion also featuring Alyssa Kitt, Bella de Jac and The Diamond Dahlia. I am not sure what San Fran has done to deserve such gorgeous ladies but they are in for a treat! Jim Sweeney you better prepare your crowd well ;)

Then a couple of days later I at Red Hots Burlesque run by the lovely supportive gorgeous Dottie Lux. I received such a warm response when I first enquired about performing for her that I am excited just to meet her!

THEN I will be performing in none other than the Peel in NYC!!! Yes one of the shows I started at (I performed at the very first Peel) is on at Coney Island- Burlesque at the Beach. It is on the 7th June. My excitement levels are at near explosion point even typing all of this!

SO if you are anywhere near San Francisco or Coney Island you will have to get to one or all of these shows. Trust me. Book your flights etc NOW! :) If you mention my blog I promise to give you a big hug :D

Whew. So I promise to try to keep you up to date as the trip progresses. Well you can at least catch my drunken ramblings that are sure to be made on my FB fan page here: https://www.facebook.com/mscherrylush Better like me if you want to hear it all!

My last few days in Sydney are jam packed as well. Wed night I will be the door bitch with the mostest at The Peel – I love NY. So many lovely newcomers to the scene will be performing- and this is on of the places I started so you might just see the next Cherry Lush.  Well who am I kidding there will never be another Cherry Lush… ;) Oh by the way I hear The Peel has a new website that features lil ol me! http://thepeel.net.au/ Check it out.

Then on Friday night I will be performing at the one and only Pretty Peepers Cabaret.  https://www.facebook.com/events/162752463851663/ As they say this is a untraditional cabaret so you never know what you are going to get. All I can promise is that I may make you wet. No not that way!!! Well maybe… :)

Yes a lot of !!! are in this post- but if you can’t tell I’m a bit excited :D

See you my lovelies! XOX