YouTube - Queen of Burlesque 2017 Raquel Reed

Yes, I’m marking this as Safe for Work because this is a video of an artist on stage.

I tried to do a little reading about the history of burlesque and kept getting too distracted. I’ve gone to a few live shows so far and I found them far more interesting than the few times that I’ve gone to strip clubs. Part of the reason, I think, is the crowd. I know, I know that I should probably try more classy strip clubs, but those that I have gone to have been full of unhappy men with a great deal of anger just under the surface. Yes, I’m a mind reader. To each their own, I believe, but I don’t like feeling like I’m in danger whenever I get up to go the bathroom and I see lots of eyes following me as I walk. Ugh.

On the other hand, I’ve met some really nice folks at the burlesque shows where people tend to be laughing and entertained. The women on stage, some of whom have more body-positive confidence in their little finger than I do in my whole being, take the artform and history as seriously as a student in a magic school who has a destiny to duel Lord Voldemort himself.

Below is a video of the great Raquel Reed at the 9th Annual New Orleans Burlesque Festival. Enjoy!