Bang Tidy Blogs!

Sunday 20 January 2013

Fur Coat, Big Knickers

A quick - and impromptu - blog post following an even quicker and equally-impromptu photo shoot yesterday with my friend Craig Shaw from BluPlanet photography.

Like practically everywhere else in the UK this week, we have been blessed with a covering of beautiful white snow. I am lucky enough to live smack bang in middle of some of the loveliest countryside in West Yorkshire, so Craig and I donned hats and gloves (although I took mine off fairly quickly) and took to to the snow-capped Yorkshire countryside.

Here are some out takes from the shoot. I hope you enjoy them.These shots were taken just across the road from my house, after we (rather typically for me!) got the car stuck down a little country lane.

Proof that my hair was styled for the shoot - look at those curls!
Alas, it didn't last long.
Turns out snow and setting lotion are not a great combination.
Copyright BluPlanet Photography. All rights reserved

Not sure what I was trying to channel here - think the cold might've got to my brain.
Copyright BluPlanet Photography. All rights reserved

I am so in love with my powder blue Ostrich Feather Fans from Frou Frou Feathers that whenever I get a chance to be photographed with them, I grab it!
It was at this moment that a small group of walkers appeared on the horizon. As they got closer they looked more and more bemused.
We gave them a little wave. They waved back!
Copyright BluPlanet Photography. All rights reserved

It was VERY cold by this point but we were still having fun, so I ignored my red toes and we pushed on for another ten minutes.
Although I probably won't use this pic for publicity, I do love how Craig captured the real me here.
Big smile and even bigger knickers - that's me!Copyright BluPlanet Photography. All rights reserved

And here are 2 of my favourite images from the final set:

Craig and I haven't worked together in this way before (although he has shot several Bang Tidy Burlesque shows) and we are both still finding our feet. That said, I am really pleased with the results and so grateful to Craig for some fabulous pics. It was worth freezing my tootsies and my tatas for an hour.

It's beautiful out there. I dare you to throw off your woolies and get someone to snap you in the all together in snow. It's chilly but so much fun!

I will be posting a full set of the final images shortly on my Facebook Page HERE. Do head over and give me a little "like".

HBT

Friday 18 January 2013

IF YOU WANT TO GET AHEAD, GET A HAT!

When chatting about all the projects I have happening at the moment (getting ready for Hebden Bridge Burlesque Festival; programming and running Bang Tidy Burlesque; child-rearing; freelance Marketing and PR contracts; general "life" stuff and so on...) someone said to me "ooh! you wear a lot of hats. don't you?" and it got me thinking. Actually, yes. Yes, I do!

A NAKED HEAD IS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY

I am a BIG fan of hats, headpieces and wigs. A naked head is a missed opportunity in my opinion. I often build my burlesque costumes from the head down and I don't have a single act that doesn't have a wig or a hat as an essential part of the costume.

Heidi Bang Tidy as Brenda
Copyright Darkstar Imaging

Brenda the Lollipop Lady wouldn't be complete without her traffic warden hat (and matching hi vis trim) I love that Brenda's hat presents an opportunity for a full on "Timotei moment" hair reveal, with a massive shake of the hair. It's such fun and always gets a great reaction from the audience.

The hat is also a vital part of my pre-performance preparations - somehow as soon as I put the hat on, I feel like Brenda. And yes, I know how poncey that sounds ;)

Heidi Bang Tidy as Gertie
Copyright Fiona's Boots

Gertie the Lion Tamer just HAD to have a top hat. As soon as I walk on stage, I know that the hat and the music places me firmly in a circus in the audiences' mind.

Cheap ebay buys like this top hat can be simply customised/ pimped with some sequin trim. You don't have to spend a fortune on head gear but a little bit of customising can make all the difference.

Marjorie and Maureen - also known as "Marjoreen"
Copyright Darkstar Imaging

When I perform "Morris" with Crystal Tips, we wear matching straw hats and ginger wear wigs to make us more believable as "twins" (!)

Our new act, "Sisters" (which we are debuting at Joe Black's House of Burlesque in Southsea on 1 Feb), features yet more matching ginger wig action.

Heidi Bang Tidy
Backstage as "Budgie"
Copyright Heidi Bang Tidy

I love my Budgie mask (made for me by True Flower Creations) .

I was worried that wearing a mask might inhibit my performance, as I rely so heavily on my facial expressions. However, I found wearing a mask strangely liberating. Budgie is my most naked act - but somehow I feel more "dressed" with the mask on. Which means that I can prance about in a fluffy G-String to the Birdie Song without blushing.

The mask was moulded to my face in Mod Rock, built onto in layers and then decorated with feathers and rhinestones. Hours of work for the True Flower ladies but totally worth the effort in my opinion.

Heidi Bang Tidy as Dolly
Copyright Heidi Bang Tidy

Dolly the loo brush cover wouldn't be complete without her big pink wig. Sometimes it pays to be imaginative with your shopping search. I found this one by searching for drag artiste supplies!

Some things I have discovered during my hear gear love affair.....

THE POUND SHOP IS YOUR FRIEND

When MCing, I like anything and everything on my head. I would LOVE to have a collection of custom-made headdresses and I do treat myself to something special from time to time but I have also discovered that you can do fabulous head gear on a budget.

I have rocked everything from bearskin hats to showgirl headdresses, to rubber spiders and ridiculous hats. I even have a crown made from loo rolls and sparkly tampons made by fellow burlesquer Kinky Crayola. However, I do have a particularly fondness for cheap Christmas decorations.

Heidi Bang Tidy MCing Bang Tidy Burlesque
Copyright Darkstar Imaging

<I found these fabulously sparkly christmas decorations in my local pound shop. Trimmed off the stems, clipped 'em in and bingo! Instant fabulous hair adornment. Other great places to look out for interesting things you can pop on your bonce are garden centres, supermarkets and market stalls.

IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY IT OR MAKE IT

....HIRE IT!

For special one-off events, check out your local professional or amateur theatre - it's fabulous fun riffling through the rails and you can hire things you could probably never afford to own, like the amazing feathered showgirl headdress and backpiece - worth hundreds of pounds, I hired for a fraction of that from West Yorkshire Playhouse Costume Hire.

For Bang Tidy Burlesque's Best Of British show in September 2012, I hired a swiss bearskin hat and military jacket from West Yorkshire Playhouse Costume Hire. Somehow it made the post-jubilee bargain string bikini from Asda look okay!

Heidi Bang Tidy
Copyright: Darkstar Imaging

Heidi Bang Tidy
Copyright StageZero.co.uk

YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR FOR INSPIRATION

On my burlesque travels I have seen some amazing and truly inspired headpieces on the heads of other folks. Here are some of my favourites:

Canadian Burlesque Performer, Velma Candyass
Headpiece by Empress of Squee
Copyright Algaive

<I spent four days with Velma Candyass in Vegas and I don't think I saw her in the same wig twice! In fact, I think she changed her head gear at least twice a day. Velma is famed in her native Montreal for her amazing head dresses. Here she is rocking her Bird of Doom headpiece. Totes amazeballs!

Eliza Delite
Headdress by Eliza Delite
Copyright: Tigz Rice Studios

Eliza Delite created this stunning handmade headdress to reflect the portrayal of the virgin Mary in religious artwork for her award-winning "Like a Prayer" routine. The act saw her crowned as "Best British Female" at the World Burlesque Games 2012. >

Em Brulee
Copyright Fiona's Boots

<Em Brulee's head dresses are to die for! And they are ALL hand crafted by the lady herself. It was Em who first inspired me to try my hand at making my own head gear.

Check out her fantabulous head wear (and her marvellous voice) in this youtube video of Em performing at The Martini Lounge in Liverpool.

Atheria Hart's Ice Temptress
Copyright - BluPlanet Photo

Atheria Hart's Ice Temptress Head dress is probably one of my favourites. I nearly fell off my high heels when she explained she had made it with a couple of headbands, some Christmas icicle decorations, her glue gun and a blow torch! >

And finally.... check out this beauty! British actress, dancer, and singer Jessie Matthews OBE. I suspect this might have been a little more than a few christmas decs glue-gunned onto an alice band, don't you?!

Thanks to Diva Hollywood, who recently shared this belter in her daily inspirational images on Facebook.

Trying on one of Zsa Zsa Lahore's head dresses
(while she was in the loo)
Copyright Sandra Lemons

If this has inspired you to think about making your own head gear, look out for the next blog post in this series where Em Brulee, Atheria Hart and Zsa Zsa Lahore will share some tops tips and insider secrets on how to make your own head dresses......

Until next time - keep your hair on ;)

Heidi Bang Tidy

www.bangtidyburlesque.co.uk

Sunday 6 January 2013

A Proper Bang Tidy 2012 - My Year in Pictures

So, one of my New Year's resolutions was to keep a diary..... but I haven't got a diary and - even if I did have one - I suspect I would lose it!

Instead I am going to keep a blog. That way I can always find it and I might keep up with it.

So...... here we are then. What next?

Oh, I know. Some pics with highlights of 2012. That's as good a start as any......

In April I competed in the annual Varietease Tea Time Tassel Off Competition. What a fabulous night! I was delighted to be awarded "Best Concept" and "Judges Choice" Awards for Brenda - The Stripping Lollipop Lady and came away laden with goodies, including a gorgeous pair of ostrich feather fans from Frou Frou Feathers.

Backstage at The Teatime Tassel Off (L to R) Tottie Spon Sills (winner of Best Performance), Ambellina Dreamer, Vampfire, Foxie La Roque, Me!, Poppy La Pilule, Doc Leroc, Madame Mechant, Oh Carolina, Stella Noir and The Dandy Inferno.

^In May I put those new fans to work when I debuted my new act, Budgie at The Frou Frou Club's Fringe Special as part of Hebden Bridge Arts Festival.

In August Crystal Tips and I debuted our first ever double act as Marjorie and Maureen (also known as Marjoreen!).

You haven't lived until you've let someone pull bunting out of your knickers!

Copyright Ravey Davey, Darkstar Imaging

September saw the first ever Bang Tidy Burlesque show at The Ritz Ballroom in Brighouse. An excuse to get some of my favourite performers on stage with me.

I had so much fun in Brighouse that I did it again the following weekend in Leeds......

This time with Anna Fur Laxis headlining - she is my Burlesque heroine. I was very excited.

October saw me dressed as Jack the Ripper for a one-off group performance with the Whitechapel Wenches.

The Whitechapel Wenches (L to R) Anita Verbruggen, Liberty Belle, Me!, Kinky Crayola, Punky Galore and Polly Tickle backstage at the Frou Frou

November was the launch of Tidy and Tips Cabaret, hosted by Marjorie (Heidi Bang Tidy) and Maureen (Crystal Tips) at Arden Road Social Club in Halifax. What a night! Show-stopping performances from Havana Hurricane, Maisie Martini, Daisy Cutter, Morning Starr and the fabulous Phenomenotes.

December was blolody bonkers!

A second show in Leeds.....

Tricity Vogue took the roof off!

(L) The fabulous Constance Peach and (R) The utterly hilarious Glorian Gray on her giant trampoline

An All-Star Cast! (L to R) Tricity Vogue, Glorian Gray, Ivy Wilde, Crystal Tips, Jeu Jeu le Foille, Titsalina Bumsquash, Trixie Passion, Bambi Helen, Constance Peach, Bambi Sophie, Bambi Poppy, Bambi Poppy and Me!

Copyright Ravey Davey, Darkstar Images.

In December, Bang Tidy Burlesque hit The New Bradford Playhouse for the first time...

Stage Manager Extraordinaire, Trixie Passion

(L) Allegra Noir (R) La Ramskir of Dancers Bizarre

Images by Laurie Cooper-Murray

My final event before Christmas : The first ever Tidy and Tips "What's For Supper?" Club in Elland

Backstage at Tidy and Tips What's For Supper? Club
L to R Sherry Trifle, Trixie Passion, Havana Hurricane, Me!, Crystal Tips, Bruise Violet and Snappy O'Shea
pic by Sherry Trifle

followed soon after by probably the best New Year's Eve I've ever had!