Appearance does matter.
When people are paying money to come and hear you sing, I think you have a responsibility to look the part. When you are in the cabaret spotlight, you are the focus of their attention. There is nothing much else for them to look at.
I begin to pay attention to the way performers present themselves on stage.
Red lipstick looks wonderful in the spotlight. I've never been keen on red for day, but now I go out and purchase a deep dark red lipstick, just for the stage.
I experiment with false eyelashes. They look wonderful when someone else applies them on me. I visit the Napoleon counter, where they will apply the eyelash strips I purchase, at no extra charge. They also do make-up, using individual eyelashes, which give a much more natural and glamorous effect, although I would find them impossible to apply on myself.
I try glueing the eyelash strips on myself at home, with varying results. One night I am going to a Law Society dinner and decide to put on the false eyelashes for an extra-special look. They will not sit straight. I persevere and end up applying black mascara to them and adding a lot of black eyeliner pencil to disguise the adhesive strips. The taxi is waiting and I am still fiddling with my eyelashes. Eventually I have to go. I do feel pretty special, but during the dinner, when I go to the bathroom, I see that I look like a drag queen. I really should have given up, taken them off and done my usual evening makeup. I can't imagine what people were saying about me.
I have a selection of sparkly dresses which get a good reception at Cabaret Live (I've found that one-piece dresses are much better on stage than a top with pants or a skirt, which need to be contantly re-arranged). But I am starting to become aware that my pantihose cut in at the waist, and that the resulting bulges are probably quite very noticeable on stage.
I observe Sidonie, the Cabaret Live hostess. She is not thin, but makes the most of her voluptuous figure. She has no bulges anywhere - just smooth curves. What is her secret? I must investigate for myself.
First, I swap my pantihose for stay-up stockings. One cause of bulges is instantly eliminated.
Then there is "shapewear". I am biased against these garments. As a student I worked in the Corsetry department of a large store, and saw many women struggling to contain their stomachs in heavy girdles. I have always thought it is better to cultivate and use your stomach muscles. Once you give in to control briefs, you've lost the battle. But I'm starting to accept that I need at bit of help in the figure department, when I am under such close scrutiny. I experiment with various girdles. Mostly, I find that they create more bulges than they remove. They are made small and tight, but the fat has to go somewhere, and it spills over the top, creating a spare tyre around my midriff. Also, the fabric can be quite thick and constricting, and I need to be able to breathe. Eventually I find that Nancy Ganz has some good designs. I settle for a really huge pair of pants which come up high enough to meet my strapless bra. Presto! No bulges. I also find an "all-in-one" body suit which is cut very low in the front so you can wear your own bra underneath. It is reasonably comfortable to wear, and has the additional advantage of creating extra cleavage.
These garments take some getting used to, but they make me feel a lot more confident in my dresses. They prove to be a good investment. When you are on stage you need to be focused on your song, not worrying about your body image.
When people are paying money to come and hear you sing, I think you have a responsibility to look the part. When you are in the cabaret spotlight, you are the focus of their attention. There is nothing much else for them to look at.
I begin to pay attention to the way performers present themselves on stage.
Red lipstick looks wonderful in the spotlight. I've never been keen on red for day, but now I go out and purchase a deep dark red lipstick, just for the stage.
I experiment with false eyelashes. They look wonderful when someone else applies them on me. I visit the Napoleon counter, where they will apply the eyelash strips I purchase, at no extra charge. They also do make-up, using individual eyelashes, which give a much more natural and glamorous effect, although I would find them impossible to apply on myself.
I try glueing the eyelash strips on myself at home, with varying results. One night I am going to a Law Society dinner and decide to put on the false eyelashes for an extra-special look. They will not sit straight. I persevere and end up applying black mascara to them and adding a lot of black eyeliner pencil to disguise the adhesive strips. The taxi is waiting and I am still fiddling with my eyelashes. Eventually I have to go. I do feel pretty special, but during the dinner, when I go to the bathroom, I see that I look like a drag queen. I really should have given up, taken them off and done my usual evening makeup. I can't imagine what people were saying about me.
I have a selection of sparkly dresses which get a good reception at Cabaret Live (I've found that one-piece dresses are much better on stage than a top with pants or a skirt, which need to be contantly re-arranged). But I am starting to become aware that my pantihose cut in at the waist, and that the resulting bulges are probably quite very noticeable on stage.
I observe Sidonie, the Cabaret Live hostess. She is not thin, but makes the most of her voluptuous figure. She has no bulges anywhere - just smooth curves. What is her secret? I must investigate for myself.
First, I swap my pantihose for stay-up stockings. One cause of bulges is instantly eliminated.
Then there is "shapewear". I am biased against these garments. As a student I worked in the Corsetry department of a large store, and saw many women struggling to contain their stomachs in heavy girdles. I have always thought it is better to cultivate and use your stomach muscles. Once you give in to control briefs, you've lost the battle. But I'm starting to accept that I need at bit of help in the figure department, when I am under such close scrutiny. I experiment with various girdles. Mostly, I find that they create more bulges than they remove. They are made small and tight, but the fat has to go somewhere, and it spills over the top, creating a spare tyre around my midriff. Also, the fabric can be quite thick and constricting, and I need to be able to breathe. Eventually I find that Nancy Ganz has some good designs. I settle for a really huge pair of pants which come up high enough to meet my strapless bra. Presto! No bulges. I also find an "all-in-one" body suit which is cut very low in the front so you can wear your own bra underneath. It is reasonably comfortable to wear, and has the additional advantage of creating extra cleavage.
These garments take some getting used to, but they make me feel a lot more confident in my dresses. They prove to be a good investment. When you are on stage you need to be focused on your song, not worrying about your body image.
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