Burlesque Rocks

Happy New Year! Sure, we are almost into March, but things finally feel like they are on the turn with spring and its new beginnings on the horizon. January typically sees me hibernating and reflecting, as past attempts at new beginnings on New Year’s haven’t worked out. Hibernation is the most important part of January now; November and December are so busy that I need January to recharge. It’s my favourite month because I can hide and everyone just shrugs and says, “It’s January” with understanding. I enjoyed my recharge so much that I almost forgot to get started on this month’s blog.

The dark and stormy skies of February did not help. I’m not gonna lie, I was over the moon when the sun finally peeked through the clouds to say hello. It was a long three weeks of rain and grey skies. Kevin and I were reduced to walking the same muddy path day in and day out. There were a few moments of joy, like when we discovered the world’s biggest puddle with my nieces. Kevin had an extra spring in his step at the weekend when we were finally able to tramp through his favourite wood. I noticed how the landscape of our usual haunts had changed, but there were more new things to discover. It was all familiar, but new.

Which obviously got me to thinking. Towards the end of last year, I was worn out. I’d over-thought Burlesque Rocks to the point of brain freeze. The classes hadn’t really taken shape in a way I would have liked. Back in December I was on the brink of cancelling and shutting down the whole operation because the classes hadn’t grown, I was still struggling with my arch nemesis, social media, and I couldn’t really see a way forward with it because I was exhausted thinking about it alI. I hit pause and took a moment to ask myself:

“What has Burlesque Rocks achieved?”
I used to scold myself at times like this with statements swirling around my brain like:
“I’m a failure. This is wrong. That is wrong. You just have to do better, Flynn!!!”

So what was my answer this time? I wrote a list:
1) Coaching Yvonne to perform her first burlesque routine. Via zoom I helped Yvonne, who lived in Cornwall, debut a solo burlesque act in London. No small feat, and of course, she smashed it.
2) The monthly blog and mailing list – except for one month due to a serious case of procrastination and self doubt I kept up with it. I learnt that procrastination was ok, and instead of continuing down the rabbit hole of self doubt, I wrote about it.
3) I made up some really fun routines and rearranged some old ones. I do enjoy the times a song and the routine go well together, like salt and vinegar crisps.
4) Clan Rocks is strong – I met up with many of the clan in real life and we even went to a wedding together.

It’s not a long list, but it’s a list that brings me pride, especially the last one. When I announced to the Clan Rocks WhatsApp group that I might make this term of classes my last, there was no judgement. Without that pressure, it made me think about what I want to do in a different light. After reflecting on what I had achieved, I had another question: What do I want to prioritise and what can I manage? My old self would answer,
“Fuck, if you quit you’ve got to find something to do! You can’t give up. If you give up, you’re useless!” Thankfully, I thought of something else.

My answer was to plan out this term’s classes, with the salt and vinegar routines I love, alongside the techniques I love to teach like walking and posing, tassel twirling, and playing with props like gloves and a fancy dressing gown. My first three classes back have brought me great joy; my mind is fizzing with ideas again. I realised that Burlesque Rocks is no longer my priority, but it still brings me joy, so maybe the answer isn’t how do I build it into a business? It’s: let’s turn it into an enjoyable event. I’m looking at reducing the classes to three eight-week courses per year, so that I no longer feel shackled by it and I can enjoy teaching again. Turning classes into an adventure, instead of a chore.

What is becoming a priority for me is my writing. I’ve almost finished the memoir I’ve been writing since 2022. Having this blog has helped me to hone my style, and I’d like to do more. The plan is to say yes and enter competitions and see writing challenges, like the classes, as an adventure.

I do miss going on real-life adventures. I have my mini walking adventures with Kevin; we tramp our way through the local countryside (I’m that walker with mud up to my knees, even on a dry sunny day). There’s a plan for a big adventure later in the year, but big adventures require money, and burlesque has never been a moneymaker for me, especially when I tried to make it make money. I have, however, always been an excellent administrator and organiser for other people. For the past couple of years, I’ve been working for a YouTube channel by the name of In Deep Geek (give it a subscribe, we are sooo close to making it to 1 million!), uploading videos, keeping on top of the Patreon list, re-testing thumbnails, scheduling shorts and reels to social media (again, when it’s not for me, I’m good at it). I’ve worked for shipping companies, burlesque & cabaret producers, and there was a stint with a refurbishment company too. Drop me a line if you or someone you know is in need of an administrator.

Now for the ultimate question: how do I make the change without the declaration: “That’s it, I’m scrapping it all and starting again!” and dramatic throwing the toys out of the cot motion followed by arms crossed in a huff?

The rough plan is to change my trading name from Burlesque Rocks to Adventures of EJ Flynn. Under this new name, I am a burlesque instructor, administrator, & writer. Other changes include moving the mailing list to Substack and writing more there. You can guarantee I’ll be writing and sharing the big adventure with you all.
If you’re enjoying my writing and would like to support it, there’s a link to my Ko-fi page below.

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported me thus far and taken the time to read what I’ve written. I hugely appreciate it. There will be more adventures to come: past, present, and future!