EllyRox

Sexy, sassy and a little bit silly, Philly’s favorite shellfish Lobstar Bisque has only been performing ‘officially’ for a little over 2 years. In that short time, she’s participated in G-Philly’s “Woman Crush Wednesday” and performed at Sisters, Tabu, The Adrienne Theatre, Venture Inn, Underground Arts, along with many other venues. She’s the very first Prom Queen of the event “A Very Tabu Prom” and during the day she does SCIENCE!

Don’t think for a second that the unconquerable Lobstar Bisque is just shimmy and sequins, this vixen has a voice too! She appeared in Tabu’s Philadelphia Songbird competition making her way from 16 contestants to the top 7.

We caught up with Ms. Bisque for a little Q&A about her T&A, talent, and being a Queer Burlesque performer in Philadelphia.

PGG: Where did you come up with your performance name?
Lobstar Bisque:Oh man, I went through a LOT of mental calisthenics to come up with a name. I wasn’t sure what I should try to emphasize about myself. I thought about a play on “rubenesque” to highlight being a performer of size, then I thought about something science-ey, then maybe something about my hair color. In the end, my tattoos are the thing that most folks remember about me, so I ran with it!

PGG: When did you start performing “officially” as Lobstar bisque?
LB:My first performance in a burlesque show was with Liberty City Kings Drag & Burlesque at Sisterspace. I was the stage kitten at a burlesque show at a lesbian camping weekend. It was the most supportive environment ever, and I felt so empowered and encouraged! There’s really nothing like traipsing around the woods in lingerie and glitter.

PGG: What pushed performing from idea to reality?
LB:I have always loved showbiz. I was in musicals in high school, I went to college for vocal performance (opera. briefly), and I participated in the Stimulus talent show in Philly where I sang. The stage is really such a magical place for me, where I can live in the moment of connecting with an audience and putting my creativity out there.  I started off in Liberty City Kings Drag & Burlesque, and I really am so grateful for that opportunity. Being part of a troupe was very rewarding for me! There was this great family group that I could turn to for performance questions, and they also became a group of close friends that I love with all of my heart. They really were instrumental in helping me to believe in myself and encouraging me to stick with it when I was getting my bumpy start and I honestly don’t think I could have done it without that support.

PGG: What was the first time you performed like?
LB:Honestly? It was the most nerve-wracking experience ever. I still get some crazy stage fright right before I go on! I get all shaky and start hyperventilating. Luckily, there is usually someone backstage to kick me in the butt, and once I’m on stage the adrenaline kicks in and I give it my all.

PGG: Do you feel the performance and LGBTQ community encourage or discourage you?
LB:It’s always a 50/50 chance that someone will like or dislike a performance. I’ve been performing primarily in the queer community in Philly, but lately, I’ve gotten the opportunity to branch out into other audiences and it has been very rewarding. I think everyone has their opinions about what they find attractive in a performance, but that’s the beauty of burlesque. If you don’t like my act, there are lots of other performers with varied acts and we’re all in the same show! There’s something for everyone!

PGG: Who are some of your inspirations?
LB:I think world-famous Bob is the model of grace and humor, Mae West is my snappy idol, and the ladies of Rubenesque Burlesque, who have been owning the stage for a while now (to name a few). I especially love old 1940s glamor and wit, so all the old-school Hollywood stars really do it for me.

PGG: How much time does it take to come up with a routine and make a costume?
LB: Loaded question. It really depends on the act. I have some dance numbers that have taken days for me to choreograph and rehearse, but the costume is something i picked up and threw a bunch of rhinestones at. Other acts have hours and hours of costume design and very little dance involved. Then you have the big act I’m working on now. I’ve been working on the costume for months and will probably be putting in a solid month of choreography and practice before I’m ready to debut it. Some performers work faster, some work slower, some work on multiple numbers at once, I can only speak for my speed and now: it’s slow.

PGG: Prior to Burlesque did you have any formal background in garment construction/design/ornamentation?
LB:Nope! This has all been quite a learning experience for me. I often get these crazy ideas and then I have to brainstorm how to construct them. I’ve made light-up rocket boobs from tank girl, a bowl-of-soup costume that has a Mary-Poppins-esque number of props come out of it, and some very interesting tear-away bits of clothing. The best resource I’ve found is other performers, they often have positively brilliant ideas for how to construct a particularly tricky bit of costume!

PGG: You’ve performed with many people, did you get star struck by any of them?
LB: I’m always a little star-struck. I tend to get more than a little tongue-tied around the PeekABoo Revue cast, and all of the burlesque producers in Philly. There are some crazy talented folks in this city and it’s hard to act cool around them!

PGG: Do you have any traditional pre-show ritual that you do to calm your nerves or bring luck?
LB: Drinking? Does that count? Mostly I find myself backstage, triple-checking my costume and props, and running my number in my head while holding a rather large whiskey & ginger in my hand. Also, if at least one part of my costume hasn’t broken or been forgotten, I tend to get worried. I have terrible luck and as long as something goes wrong BEFORE I’m on stage, I’m usually safe during my act!

PGG: Who are some of your favorite performers of drag or burlesque?
LB: In all honesty, I admire things about every single performer I’ve seen. It thrills me to see how much each person brings to the table. I absolutely adore Christa D’agger, she’s HILARIOUS. I swoon over Ginger Leigh, Sophie Sucre, Jenni Bomb and Goldi Fox (okay, really the whole PeekABoo crew), I’m a big fan of The Goddess Isis and Bev, I am fiercely fond of my fellow dance classmates Dottie Riot, Amelia MonCoeur and Esther Vermillions, and there is a special place in my heart for Lascivious Jane, Frau Philth, Sinnamon, Milton Hardwood, Oliver Fist, Rough Rydeher, and the whole LiCK glitter family.

PGG: How do you stay motivated to perform?
LB:I’m not sure if it’s motivation, really. The experience of performing brings me so much joy and has given me the opportunity to form such amazing friendships, I wouldn’t ever want to give that up. Sometimes you get tired, yeah, and sometimes you have to really push yourself to get ready and get to that venue when you know you’re only going to get three hours of sleep before work the next day, but it is totally worth it!

PGG: Do you have any upcoming events?
LB: I’ve just finished a really busy run of shows with Drunk Piano at Underground Arts with Jay Davidson, Mama’s House at TABU with Lascivious Jane, and the SpooktASStickle Halloween Cabaret at Silk City with Christa D’agger and the Roddenberries! I’ll be posting all my upcoming shows on my facebook page as I confirm dates.

PGG: Do you have any advice for burlesque performers just starting out?
LB: Go to shows and take classes. Seriously! Going to shows is the BEST way to see what different performers are doing, how different audiences react, and what type of performance style works best with your own personal style! If you’re thinking of joining a troupe, go to those shows! Take all of the classes! Classes help new performers learn the basics, and help established performers reconnect with what gave them the love for performing in the first place. Meet people, talk to them, and be ready to learn. It’s a steep learning curve and it requires a lot of love for the art and a willingness to make mistakes and move on. Nobody is born a perfect burlesque performer, it’s going to take time and commitment, but the rewards are so awesome, I wouldn’t trade it for the world!