“If your party is anything like it was last year, I’ll be dancing on top of a bar with sunglasses on watching the sun rise over the desert with no pants on.”

That would be one of the best compliments I’ve ever gotten. Courtesy of dear, dear friend Jewel of Denial.

It’s in reference to a rather legendary room party I have come to host every year at the annual Burlesque Hall of Fame Pageant in Las Vegas. I’m part of the production team; it’s my favorite weekend of the entire year and it is NEXT WEEKEND!!

Burlesque Hall of Fame pageant on the Travel Channel!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eBxnWrtYmg]

GREAT feature about the Burlesque Hall of Fame pageant, the annual pageant in Las Vegas that I’m heavily involved in the production of.

Featuring main bud Luke Littell with color commentary; and also best galpal Joyce in the front of the crowd shot at 3:42. The intro lasts 1:15, then the BHOF part starts.

Pageant: behind the scenes

I am in Vegas for the annual pageant. I’ve been on the production staff for six(?) years.

What exactly do I do? A little bit of everything. I can’t even really say all of what I do, because some of it is confidential. (Really– I’m not being dramatic.) But what I can say is that I take care of a lot of little things that are critical for success, and that I’m listed in the program as “key production assistance.”

I’m here a week early, and after 24 hours in town some of what I’ve done is:

  • talked down a key performer who was about to quit
  • helped author a key letter that will be read by hundreds
  • wrote obituaries for Bettie Page and some other legends who have died in the past year
  • worked on program layout and design, and fixed some graphics
  • rushed program to the printer to get first proof before an already-late deadline
  • found a crapload of volunteers and stagehands to fill positions
  • made some key updates to the online event invitation
  • kept at least three people from killing each other

Being awesome is kind of a full-time job at this thing. But I love this crazy event SO MUCH and couldn’t ever not be a part of it…