Over on the Mr. Snapper & Mr. Buddy Facebook page we have an album called "Inspirado", dedicated to the entertainers who inspire Phillip Kelly and I in our neo-vaudevillian madness. Since his birthday was yesterday, Teller of Penn & Teller was digitally enshrined with the following quote:
"To compose a new tune in magic, you don’t just write the notes, you build the piano."This is true for all the lively arts, not just magic!
- Teller
One of the defining aspects of an "amateur" (or a hack) is the use of off-the-shelf costumes and props. In the world of burlesque, there is general disdain for unembellished Leg Avenue costumes and leaving the tags in store-bought lingerie. The fact is, there is no such thing as a "turn-key" entertainer package. You can't just buy a bunch of fancy looking stuff and expect to be taken serously; you have to put a little blood, sweat, and tears into your gear. If you use off-the-shelf costume pieces or props, you have to give it a tweak, add some rhinestones -- something. You have to customize it for your purposes.
The lively arts are truly bespoke. Performers spend considerable time custom-making their gear with one goal in mind: Entertaining an audience.
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