It's a New Dawn, It's a New Day...

...and I'm feelin gooooooood!


Omg. Where to start!?
I've been slackin big time on the interweb, my bad yo, but if you follow me on Twitter or hang with me on Facebook you're pretty much up-to-date! This place here, that you're reading, is only to indulge and vent and ramble on and on about myself...

So rewind a bit! Holy cow, I haven't been here since June 16th. Almost 2 months. Shit. This will probably be a short post because I'm overwhelmed by what to share ha! I'm so dumb.

I'm gonna do a long story short vomit of a recap, brace yourselves:
JUNE 24th, I had my second show at Full Cup in Staten Island: Fly Me to the Moon. Amazing. Nick Williams singing and hosting while a keyboardist & drummer accompanied. The live music changed the entire feel of the show. I fell in love. It was more of a classic night with some twists. My costume/performance of "Temptation" was all fucked up because I decided to wear my red gloves for some pop of color but what I failed to pay attention to is that I have tassels on those gloves and huge sequins on my dress so my intended-to-be-sexy hand running down the chest move was faltered. Friends are not good critics "no one could tell" totally lying because I didn't hide it too well, but I also know it felt worse than it looked. THEN, my stupid bra got hooked onto my fishnet body suit, yet another piece I've never worn with this costume but decided too. At the end I was laughing and (without control) yelled "IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE THIS WAY" hahahah The cast was so wonderful. I was honored to host newbies & vets alike. I also, once again, had a number of Jersey friends representing. So cool. The show ran much smoother when it came to raffle prizes too.AND I ALMOST FORGOT I SANG!!! Finally. it was such a relief. "Tina Tassels and her Two Hand Band" is something I'm hoping to expand on. My two hand band obviously implies that I lack a real band but instead I snap! hahah But there was no greater joy than asking an entire audience to help me out. Bringing a room of strangers together like that is a truly powerful, and in my opinion, important moment in any show. I have faith everyone loved it as much as I did.

JULY was actually super busy and exciting. Some of that fizzled for now but hopefully will will boil up again...will explain. July 9th, I co-producer/hosted the first show at the grand opening night of Paris Cabaret & Burlesque in Red Hook with my girl Kiki Valentine. Remember her? Yeah, I know!! Was so stoked to be working along side her. It was a hugely successful night and had, mid-week, been asked to plan another one for the coming Saturday. We had another wonderful show except in my opinion it was too rushed to be able to spread the word enough. Aside from all this, we have some really beautiful photos from both nights by Eric Kun. Check Night #2 out here.  Unfortunately the owners are still trying to figure things out so to my knowledge there are no shows scheduled with Kiki and I. Majoy bummer but it's such  beautiful venue that I am honored have hosted/performed there. Also on the weekend of July 16th, I was part of a fundraiser show that a friend of a friend was organizing. She is a playwright and producer and asked me to be part of it and I couldn't resist! We had a great turn out and all proceeds of the door & silent auctions went to help fund Ampersand: A Romeo & Juliet Story go check it out at the Fringe Festival in NYC! For this, in trying my best to keep with the theme I went to the funeral of Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo (naturally) and calmly removed my funeral garb to Des'ree's "Kissing You" from the soundtrack. I love that song. It's ridic. While rehearsing it I started to cry because I was so committed but to play with the audience I did more smirks than intended! I would love to have a copy of this performance if anyone out in the world has one!! The following Monday, I kittened at Macao Trading Co. for Calamity Chang's Drunken Dragon Nights. Sizzling hot show in a beautiful venue with classic acts. I loved it and hope to do it again. Although what I could do without was a grown man meowing at me all night. Listen buddy, take your button down embroidered shirt and thinning hair somewhere else. *puke* I also got to intro Calamity which is HUGE for me. I look up to her so much (not physically ha!) that it was cool to say a few words and get the crowd ready for her. WERK! THEN, after a much needed break from life with my old friends in Atlantic City, Sunday the 24th I had my Kitty Nights Debut!!! What an honor to work with Fem Appeal. Since the second I met her I fell in love much to what everyone said I'd do! Kitty Nights usually has an audience of entertainers which makes it exciting to sorta kick back with your peers and enjoy each other without the outside world interfering. Selfish? No doubt. *wink*

So after those 2 months I MOVED!!! I'm so excited to call Bay Ridge my new neighborhood. My apt is amazing and huge and cheaper. (Found on craigslist, 1 roommate, Jersey girl, woot woot!)  I've finally created a nice area for costumes and craft materials. and I have enough floor space to rehearse pretty much any act I can dream up, my room is THAT big. I feel like a born again virgin. The change has brought nothing but good vibes in every part of my life. I am feeling much freer than I have in the past few months. Change of location, roommates, streets, air is exactly what my mental, physical, and emotional health needed. Exhale.

I have a couple of exciting things coming up this month, so far I know I will be kittening yet again for Dangerous Curves Ahead. I LOVE this group of super gorgeous, hilarious, sweet, talented women. I am honored they're having me on board again! And that is THIS Saturday, August 10 at Superfine in Dumbo, Brooklyn - come hang! By the way, isn't that the weirdest picture ever? HA!

Friday, the 26th I will be back at Drive Thru Burlesque! Again, I love Lefty & Sizzle. They are incredibly kind and great cheerleaders. I don't know what act to do. I really need to work on my jellyfish BUT I also wanna revisit "Sometimes I Get a Good Feeling". I've been having good ideas how to make it way better. We'll see how it goes once I start rehearsing it though.

Wow. I think I'm done.
A couple scary things have happened in my family in the past 5 days. 2 car accidents, 1 is really bad and I'm currently waiting for updates. Superstition says these things happen in 3s...so I sit here patiently.

Welcome back -if you've been here before- and thanks again for reading. I promise I'll try to update more. I realize that I should write when I feel like writing doesn't matter what is or isn't going on. It's therapeutic. Just so everyone knows I've been steady working at Sephora. I'm slowly transitioning into makeup artistry which is really exciting...it doesn't really pay the bills but the babysitting does. Once I'm back on my feet I will feel much more confident looking into more production work - where I should be!

Hope to see most of you soon & at a show too!

Ciao for now,
TT

Check yo' Self!

Hey you guyssss!

So. After my sad, anxiety filled couple of weeks of worry I've sat myself back up and taken the reigns. Bills are being paid, cell phones are NOT being downsized, and I've got lots of fun things coming to help ease my mind! I always joke that I am a list maker, whose list says "make a list". If I'm organized I feel better and more confident. I'm sure everyone is like this but I can admit the toll it takes on me when things are all out of sorts!

First off - not sure if I shared this before (and please don't say: go back and read your last post - get a life! haha) but I had the absolute honor of working with photographer Mark Mann. He's shooting a couple different projects with a graflex camera so we only took 8 SHOTS on film! Cannot wait to see the jpegs after he scans 'em but this is a snapshot from my phone of the screen LOL ghe-tto! I was so nervous and sorta embarrassed - not sure why - but my face says it all haha amazing! Check out his page & his accomplishments.

Recently I got to perform at Nurse Bettie's in the LES. I love that bar, you should definitely check it out! My girl Calamity Chang hosts a show there every Thursday and decided to have a NY School of Burlesque Class of 2011 show! It was SO great to be back with most of the gang from my first ever show. I see them pretty often but we haven't all performed together in awhile.  I was nervous up until I got there. I realized the stage was about a foot bigger than I remembered but it's a whopping 4x5foot space HA! I did a new act, that sadly is really short but I love it's simplicity and slowness and short black gloves! I regret not wearing smaller bottoms (I wore high-waisted retro style ones). Because the act is so short I need more of a wow factor when the super long zipper is coming down. It's seriously like 2 feet long, my favorite part of the dress!

Also just a quick update: I've been performing bare legged more than with tights! Totally wild. Feelin great.

I'm pretty pumped thinking that I'm banking some regular acts. I love my jungle girl "Temptation" act & the newest "Go Slow" one. I'm hoping to make this jellyfish one really count too. Maybe the first song I use won't be the one but right now I'm feeling it!

Ok so I have some shows coming up, mark your calendars:

JUNE
Friday, June 24th: Fly Me to the Moon
This is my second production in Staten Island but this time the host (and my co-producer) Nick Williams, is also singing us through the oldies with a pianist and *fingers crossed* some drums! I'm excited to announce the lineup because we have some newbies, intermediates, & vets alike: Vada James, Lula Rouge D'Amour, Coco Masala, Evelyn Vinyl, Kita St.Cyr & I of course will be gracing the Full Cup stage.
$10, 9pm doors, Raffle prizes!

Wednesday, June 29: The Pink Room presents: Mulholland Drive Burlesque & Franny's FLICKS
I'll be working the door - come check one of the most successful new shows NYC has to offer!
Double feature for only $15, 8pm

JULY
Saturday, July 2nd: CupCakeGoth & Marinara Stardust present a Night of Art & Burlesque
Come check out great local artists with art on display, a burlesque show with DJ Powerchild spinning jams, and dancers providing a free spanking booth for attendees! A beautiful night of art, sexy ladies, and fun!!!
9pm
**Finally debuting a jellyfish act. I dreamed it would be my first act ever back in December but the thought was overwhelming and I felt too much pressure so now we'll see what happens! :)

Saturday, July 16th: WAITING FOR CONFIRMATION ON A SPECIAL EVENT FUNDRAISER AT A SUPER COOL LOCATION - Please stand by!

Sunday, July 24th: KITTY NIGHTS!!
MAKING MY DEBUT at this show & venue. I absolutely love Fem Appeal and I GUARANTEE that you will too after you watch her perform and get to chat with her. Incredible.
9pm $5

Friday, July 29th: Drive Thru Burlesque
I am so excited. I haven't been there in awhile - one of the first places that let me work the door then perform. Brought to you by Lefty Lucy (Miss Coney Island 2011) & Sizzle Dizzle. They couldn't be the sweeter to new girls in town!


Alright, laundry is done. I have to paint my nails and get to sleep asap! I had a long day - great day spent outside - but long as hell ma dudes!

Thanks for tuning in! Hope to catch you at a show!

Ciao for now,
TT

PS: In a couple of weeks, I'm heading back to my hometown for a weekend celebration called Patriotic Day. Complete with picnic, booze, and most likely skinny dipping. CANNOT WAIT!

PPS: I've been offered a complimentary corset from a company I shop from pretty often. HOW CRAZY!? Once all is finalized I will share - I am incredibly flattered. Opening that email was amazing!