01/18/2024
It’s that time of year again… performer / performance etiquette time…
The Do’s, Don’ts and please!
1. Be on time! If the call time is 6pm, be there. If it’s later, be there. If you can’t be on time, TELL THE PRODUCER. Don’t just show up late acting like it’s no big deal because it is! If your excuse is something like “I didn’t have a ride, I didn’t know how long it would take for me to get there, I thought it would be ok.” Know that it’s not. You are responsible for being on time, you made the commitment, the producer is not your mom/dad, they shouldn’t have to hound you or wonder where you are. Be respectful of the other show members and responsible for yourself and your actions.
2. Be ready to perform! Do not show up to the venue and have to do your makeup, your hair, press your outfit, do your nails. (Unless otherwise told you could by the producer). Most back stage spaces are not big, sometimes not more than a closet in some cases and there will/might be others who need to touch up their stuff that needs to see the mirror to. Please be mindful of the space, talk to the producer, ask if it’s ok to get ready there, otherwise, be show ready. Meaning just have to put your costume on.
3. Conserve your space! This goes right along with #2. Sometimes back stage is little more than a cubby. The glamorous life is not for us small screen folks…. We don’t get our own individual dressing rooms. We gots to share just like when we were in kindergarten. So please do not put your stuff everywhere, take up minimal space and share with your stage brothers and sisters.
4. Lower your voice! Back stage is literally that, back stage! Please do not be talking loudly or rudely with your back stage buddies. Your audience can likely hear you. More importantly, a microphone might pick up what you are sayin! I’ve seen it happen before peeps, and let me tell you, that was an embarrassing convo for the audience to hear. So be mindful of where you are and how loud you are being. Also, Hot Mics are a REAL THING…. Just because you’re talking “quietly” backstage does not mean that you’re not standing near the next performer whose mic is already attached, on, and ready to go — take conversations elsewhere unless it’s absolutely necessary that it happen in the wings!
5. do not open the backstage/green room door when someone is performing! For one reason, it’s distracting to your audience and for the person on stage. Secondly, it can be loud when you are opening and closing that door, which could interrupt the person on stage. Thirdly, it can be rude to the performer. (There are exceptions and the space your at you will know if it’s ok to do or not)
6. Turn in your music and media on time! Don’t do it the day before the show. It takes time to make up line ups and make sure no one has duplicate music. It really stresses your managers/producers out when they can’t make a lineup till the day before because you haven’t turned in music.
7. Respond to messages/emails/texts! Please for all that is holy, get back to us ASAP. Don’t ignore it. Let us know you got the message. Don’t leave us in limbo.
8. If you cannot make a show, tell us IMMEDIATELY. We need to know so we can find a replacement or decide we don’t need one. Please don’t do this the day before a show. It makes us sick to our stomachs when you do and we don’t sleep well. Trust me. It sucks.
9. Do not damage the venue. This goes for the stage, the back room, the bathroom, the bar, the parking lot. All of the above. The fact I even have to say that is horrible. Just don’t do it.
10. Don’t STEAL! Don’t invite friends who STEAL! You will be uninvited to all future events. No if or ands about it. Your done and banned.
11. Do not make drama! Please. Just don’t. We are adults. We are not your parents. We are not going to allow drama. It ruins it for everyone.
12. Don’t be a DIVA. That’s not tolerated. Don’t talk trash about your fellows. Don’t be mean. Just don’t.
12. Don’t hold up the lineup. If you need something on stage, tell the stage Kitten/Lion well before time and make sure they understand where it goes. That being said, if it’s complicated, YOU put it on stage where you need it. Don’t make the MC wait because you weren’t in costume (please see #2).
13. Do encourage your fellow performers. They are just as nervous and worried as you are. Encourage them!
14. Do share the event with everyone you know. It is important that all performers performing share the event. The more shares and adds to the event page, the better it is for you as a performer, the venue, and the people putting on the show. Everyone wins!
15. Be prepared to shine! You are magical and amazing. Give your audience all that you can. If you do this, then everyone walks away happy and fulfilled.
16. Take a risk! Try something you Haven’t tried before. Share with us something you’ve always wanted to do. Or something that you are super proud of!
17. Have fun! If your having a good time, everyone can see that and enjoys it with you!
18. Bring yourself a care package for after performing. Something to eat if you have sugar drops, your v**e if you do that, gum, comfy slippers, just something that you can do to calm yourself down. We know performing can be hard! Take care of yourself and know your triggers, we won’t necessarily know them.
19. Bring a cover up. Something you can put over your costume before and after you perform. Give some mystic to what your wearing before you go on so the audience is surprised. Wear it so you don’t disturb the other performers with people ohhing and aweeeing over your costume instead of them performing.
20. Be kind to your photographers! What they do is hard work and takes a lot of skill. Editing, altering, or filtering a photographers work in any way can be viewed as offensive. The photographers we work with have packages for editing and can work with you on the exact style you would like with the photos if that is something you’re interested in! So please be cool and use our photographers!
21. Be on the same team! We are a family. A show family. Be the family you always wanted with your show sisters and brothers. We all will take care of each other and hold one another up and accountable. We make each other stronger and amazing!
Love you FAM!!! *kisses*
- Cheri aka LotusKitten / Circus Bitties Ringmaster
