Jo Weldon

In a recent post, I described how many burlesque performers collaborate very closely with designers, and named corsetier Garo Sparo as one of our favorite collaborators. Happily, Garo consented to an interview and allowed me the honor of taking some photos in his studio while he fit me for the “Parade of Muses” in his Sparkle and Cinch Fashion Show coming up on February 6.

I wanted to go on the Sex Workers’ Art Show Tour this year, as I did last year, but I withdrew my application because I also wanted to stay and work on the new space for the School of Burlesque. It was a tough choice because SWAS means more than a lot to me, but I’ve been getting lots of calls and messages from the road that make me feel almost like I’m in two places at once. Love is good stuff. I can’t be there now so I’m really putting myself into this blog post to establish my undying affection and solidarity for my peeps on the road.

When I was a stripper at the Cheetah III, we had a calendar on the wall that listed all the upcoming conventions so we’d know which nights the club needed extra dancers. Our favorite convention was “The Chicken Pluckers,” a huge gathering of those in the poultry game (and ironically, I detest chicken), whose members, if one were to judge by their behavior, were not audited on their expense accounts.