At Ties & Tassels Productions, we want everyone to feel included; this leaves no room for acts that mock or appropriate an identity that is not the artist’s own. We do not consider such performances innovative, necessary, pushing the envelope or entertaining. To sum up our performance policy, we'd like to use a quote from an article entitled "How to Create a Feminist Burlesque Space" (Anna, femini
ste.us):
"There is a long history of using racist stereotypes in burlesque themes and costumes and music. This means, if you’re not of Chinese ancestry, don’t do a “China Doll” number. If you’re not Native American, don’t do a “woo woo woo woo woo coyboys and Indians” number. If you’re not Latina/West Indian, don’t do a “Carmen Miranda”/”island girl” number. And, finally, if you’re not Black, don’t do a “primitive/savage” number, or an “Aunt Jemima” number, or a “ghetto princess” number. You can’t defend this by calling it “classic” or an “update on a classic.” At best, it’s culturally appropriative, at worst, it’s incredibly racist, no matter that you’re “not a racist” or “didn’t mean it that way.” Don’t take advantage of the fact that most burlesque audiences (in New York, anyway) are white (and apathetic/ignorant about racism) to perform your racist act. It’s fu**ed up, it’s not funny, and it’s lazy artistry. As a community of performers, we can and must do better than this." In addition to taking shots at Race, Ethnicity, Religion and Class, performances that make a mockery out of any part of the LGBTQAI community (Le***an, gay/genderqueer, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, questioning/queer, ally/asexual, intersex) as well as acts that depict mental/physical disabilities, will not be tolerated. Ties & Tassels is a Q***r production and exists because we embrace variety. Our policy is such that our good time does not come at someone else's expense. It's why we pay our performers, and encourage our audiences to buy drinks and give tips. We're being explicit about what kind of acts we will not book because we're being intentional about creating a safe space for both our performers and our audience members. Ties & Tassels Productions is committed to providing a fun, safe environment for our performers, staff and audience members. We do not tolerate harassment of any kind. Any boundaries drawn by T&T staff and performers must be respected. Performers are not to be touched without their prior consent. Performers are not required to give anyone their professional contact information or engage in conversation unless they desire to do so. No performers or T&T staff may be photographed or videotaped by anyone outside of T&T’s approved artists without their permission. Any disrespect of the boundaries outlined above or any boundaries established by T&T staff and/or performers will result in being asked to leave the venue and possible refusal of admission for future events.
