#VOTESAILOR for Mayor of Seattle Burlesque

I am honored to have been nominated for Mayor of Seattle Burlesque. Not sure what the hell that means? Let me tell you a little bit about it.

Three years ago, Miss Kitty Baby, who is a geneous and kind-hearted supporter of burlesque community and history, put together a fundraiser for the Burlesque Hall of Fame Legend's Challenge. Her idea, The Seattle Burlesque Games, was a fun, community-oriented "atheletic" competition in which performers created weird and unusual 2-minute numbers in pursuit of medals and glory over their fellow performers. I won "Most Consistent Assel Twirl" last year, besting two-time champion Lady Drew Blood. Other categories include things like "Best Interpretive Fan Dance Without Fans" or "Most Dramatic Glove Removal." As an additional fundraising component, Kitty invented the Mayor's race in which candidates collected direct donations from patrons, and whomever collected the most money won the title of Mayor of Seattle Burlesque for the year.

While in actuality, becoming the Mayor of Seattle Burlesque would mean that I get to wear a cool sash and represent my community wherever I go, the position also comes with a continued commitment to fundraising for the Burlesque Hall of Fame, and specifically the Legend's Fund, which supports travel expenses to bring Burlesque Legends from all over the country to the Burlesque Hall of Fame every June.

My fellow mayoral candidates are Cherry Tart and The Shanghai Pearl. Together, we have decided that we would like to raise $5,000 in the Mayor's Race this year. ($1,300 more than last year!) Voting for any of us helps us reach that goal, but if you place your money in my coffers, here's what I can promise you I will do if I am elected Mayor of Seattle Burlesque:

A Cocktail in Every Hand. I recognize that our ability to continue performing our fringe artform in this community comes from bar sales at our venues. If we make them money, we keep spaces to perform alive and thriving, which means that we get to continue to traditions our Legends have set out for us. If I am elected Mayor, not only will I personally support or venues by buying drinks at any show I produce or attend, but I will also use my position to increase visibility for shows in town, and share tools with other producers to build lasting relationships with venues. #acocktailineveryhand #nodrinkleftbehind

Share a Drink with a Legend. Burlesque is unique because we honor the history and stories of the women (and men) who tread the boards before us. We make our Legends visible, and that is truly incredible in a world where older women are forgotten about and devalued. I am committed to helping these women tell their stories. If I am elected Mayor of Seattle Burlesque, I will interview Legends whenever I can, share a drink with them, and podcast it for the benefit of the worldwide burlesque community, and the world at large. While it may seem that my entire platform is based on the consumption of alcohol, it is actually based on the notion that sharing a beverage with someone -- no matter what kind -- is a tool for creating connections. Connections with our venues. Connections with our audiences. Connections with our Legends. By sharing coffee, tea, or Tanqueray with these women, and recording our conversation, I hope to help those connections grow. #drinkwithalegend 

If you want to support my bid for Mayor because you believe in the value of community, convivality, and connection (and because you want to see me wear a cool-ass sash), please donate as you see fit. Every donation helps our Legends -- even if they aren't for me. So please, click below and #votesailor for Mayor of Seattle Burlesque! (You can also buy your tickets to the 2015 Seattle Burlesque Games via the same link!)

#VOTESAILOR