The naughty naughties...New Years Eve!

I often find New Years Eve to be a bit of a let down. None of my friends are doing the same thing, even the pubs have a cover charge and the taxi queues go on forever.

Not this year! I decided that I would prefer to work this year and it was a very smart move indeed!

First show: Chaz Royal & Lady Luck New Years Eve Ball

I was booked for the early show and so I found myself on the train up to London fairly early. Classy as ever, doing my make-up in the carriage and painting my nails. Running a little late, I spotted a couple looking like they'd fit right in at a retro night so I asked the girl if she was performing and it turned out she was going to be one of the maids for the night!

It's a shame I can't remember their names as they were very sweet and walked with me most of the way before ducking off to get something to eat before the show.

When I arrived the dressing room was slowly warming up with activity. Hair curlers heating, costumes hung on rails, suitcases forming traffic islands in the middle of the room.

Could I have kicked myself though! I brought my camera but left my memory card at home. Hmmm. So I missed an opportunity to get a picture of VJ Spankie in her hilarious Aussie outfit. Amongst the glitter and glamour, V.J. was proudly wearing her thongs (flip-flops), cork hat and shorts holding Toadie the toad. God bless her. I was gutted I couldn't see her act but the audience were loving it.

Violet Crumble was also present, who I haven't seen since Glitter Room I think. Along with Dolly Rose and lots of new faces.

Beeby Rose, the beauty from Amsterdam was headlining and as she was on last in each act I just managed to catch her acts. Just beautiful. I also managed to catch some of Lambchop Magoo's act to a tune from Sesame Street. Bizarre, funny and cute, I loved it.

So the best bit of all of it was that before the show was due to start I got a text from a friend and talented photographer Samara Deen. Some of her photo's are in my photo gallery. Anyway, it seemed Miss Samara was without plans for the evening! She and her boyfriend arrived in time to see me perform and became my unofficial roadies for the night. So all of a sudden I was having a little party!

The act went very well by the way. This was the La belle Femme en Rouge that I mentioned in my post on Burlesk. The one that needed changing. It went so very well that Samara said she almost cried. Well crying is not my aim but as long as I'm having an effect hey!

And all this despite a near disaster roughly 10 minutes before I was due to go on. Every time I perform I check every piece of costume before I pack it in my bag, to ensure there is no damage that needs repairing. Somehow the clasp that holds a string of beads onto my g-string had come completely free of the knickers in between checking it at home and pulling the costume out of my bag at the gig! Being a clever clogs I had a roll of red thread and a needle, and after a minor moment of panic, I got to work sewing the costume together, threw on the rest of my outfit and just made it in time to hear my intro. Phew!

Perhaps the fear of god is what made the act work so spectacularly then. A bit of panic never did anyone harm before a show.

Second show: Nymphs & Satyrs Masked Ball

Brought to you by the same fabulous crew that run Die Freche Muse, I came home again to the beautiful, secret Dalston location that hosts the right sort of parties for Bright Young Things of the 21st century. With everyone in masks I was terribly confused though. I didn't realise that I knew the man on the door until he started speaking!

I deposited Samara and partner in the main hall to enjoy themselves while I checked out the new dressing room which had been moved to the room off the landing where I met Dolly Blowup who had been maiding at the previous gig, getting ready for her act. And yes, it goes off with a bang!

Millicent Binks was about too but flitted off shortly after her performance, but not before we'd had a brief chat. Gosh that girl is naughty but she does put a smile on my face every time we speak. They are not my tales to tell though so don't even ask!

The performance went just as well the second time and I got some really lovely pictures. Nick von Fiction took a load with beautiful vivid colours and none other than Johnny Crabb the pianist from Twin & Tonic caught the picture above. It really gives off the essence of the performance.

So, the rest of the night. There was a huge roaring fire on one side of the room and on the other was a table laid in what I imagined a tribute to those demi-gods. The countdown was almost an aside to the rest of the night. But it was wonderful to be with such a good friend.

I kept meaning to leave but I kept, well, not. After dancing and drinking, Samara and her boyfriend left at the civilised hour of about 2:30-3 and Dolly and I kept finding song after song kept us on the dance floor. After a sudden realisation that we were ravenously hungry, The Baron treated us to a peach and blueberry pudding of some kind (I can't remember) and cups of tea 'backstage'. Even though I'm sure it physically pained him to serve anything so boringly non-alcoholic. Which was very gallant don't you agree?

After a turn around the dance floor with The Baron (the man has far too much energy, it's just not right!), I finally took my things and headed for the station. Just too exhausted to stay for the after party! Trundling in at some time after 8am I realised...that may have been the most successfully fun New Years Eve in about 4 years!

Happy New Year all. I look forward to being a distraction for many more to come.
x Bella de Jac

Bacchus by any other name Pt. 2

Oops!

Forgot to write part two didn't I!

Well, considering the aforementioned London traffic hell I was lucky to arrive at Nick Von Fiction's place with enough time to down a half glass of red wine before we jumped in a cab to the venue.

We had been planning on trying out some vintage style photographs in Die Freche Muse venue for a while. Unfortunately my issues with the traffic left us limited time but with the time we had Nick worked wonders. He'll try to tell you otherwise but he really is a bit of a clever clogs with his lighting.

I managed one costume change before the doors opened for Die Freche Muse and some of the results of our shoot should be up on the website before long.

Throughout the shoot one of the other burlesque performers for the evening, Laurie Hagen was waiting downstairs. Laurie has one of those incredibly expressive 1920s faces and as I saw later in the night her act was just gorgeous. I think in the picture of me I've included at the start of this post I've got the giggles over whatever is happening in the corner where the girls were sitting.

Once the doors had opened I took my things upstairs to the dressing room where the house cat was on hand to inspect all our things. At one point as Laurie and I were getting ready he had us in stitches as he crawled under a sheet and was just swiping with one paw at Laurie's feet. Once he realised we were no longer playing he decided to throw himself at the 30 cm space between us which resulted in us both squealing like little girls and him nearly clearing the bed.

Often at these events a lot of the night is spent upstairs or backstage if you will, chatting with other performers and friends of the promoters. I had the opportunity to chat with Millicent Binks who looks almost exactly like a china doll, so delicate! And briefly met Sumi Sumatra although I unfortunately didn't get to see her act.

I did discover that we had the same pants on however and I wonder if the audience thought there had been a bit of costume sharing going on backstage.

As ever with Die Freche Muse, I didn't get back home until after sun up. The Baron von Sanderson was late to this party though as he'd been filming for Come Dine With Me. I'm dying to know when his episode airs!

You might have noticed the title of this blog, Bacchus by any other name. A tribute really to a man who reminds me ever so much of a cross between Bacchus, or Dionysus in other mythology, and a very naughty little boy. Although I suppose Bacchus was just a very naughty little boy really.

Whether he's taking everyone over to the bar for another champagne or swooping a lovely lass up for a dance, he is ever the otherworldly host. So Baron, well done for another wonderful Freche Muse!

Well that's enough writing for tonight. BW is tugging at the sleeve of my dressing gown to come watch a film before bed. Sometimes he reminds me quite a lot of a cat. If you've ever owned one you'll know how much they like to get in between you and the computer screen with a 'What is this strange thing you're giving far too much attention to? Here, let me remedy that' kind of look as they plonk themselves on the keyboard.

Night all...x Bella