I'm hanging out in my hotel room in Boston right now. I am here for a Pinup Workshop tomorrow in Boston and another one on Sunday in New Haven, CT. One of the Boston Babydolls will be attending the workshop tomorrow and portions will be filmed for the Babydolls' upcoming reality TV show! How exciting!

My hotel is in the South Side area of Boston. My cabbie from the airport explained to me that this is the gay neighborhood. Lots of yuppies now, he said, but it's still very gay. I told him that I'm from San Francisco and that I'd be very comfortable here. From what he was saying, I expected that I'd landed in Boston's version of the Castro, but not so. I went wandering the neighborhood today, and it's a very nice neighborhood. Lots of brownstones, cute restaurants, parks... very residential really. Other than the gay bar next door to the hotel, I didn't see anything that put me in mind of the Castro. Oh well. He also told me it was a dangerous neighborhood, but I think he's wrong on that score as well.

Next week I'll be in San Diego for yet another workshop and to perform in the second Fishnet Follies produced by my friends Mynx d'Meanor and the Reverend Dick! I will be performing a number that I have been wanting to do for oh... about 3 years! Finally! I have some special shoe shopping to do when I get back to San Francisco!

PINUP MODELING WORKSHOP IN A BOOK: 'Plain Jane to Pinup Queen' by Bombshell Betty

http://www.bombshellbetty.net/pinupbook.html



I am so excited that this is finally going to be coming out soon!

Friday the 13th LUCKY Fundraising Party!

Hello all!

To help offset the many costs that go into running our own dance studio, Bombshell Betty's Dance Studio is throwing a fund raising party! Come hang out and enjoy our open bar while dancing all night to great tunes. Burlesque style dress-up and impromptu dance routines encouraged! Tell your friends, family and neighbors!

Bombshell Betty's
715 Bryant St #102 (@ 5th st) SF
Look for the red door!

Friday, June 13
10PM - 4AM (No new admissions after 2AM)

$20 / 21+ only (bring an ID)
Open bar of champagne, wine, beer, and liquor!

Pin-Up tour: LA, San Diego, Vegas, NYC, Boston, Sac, SF

For more info and registration: http://www.bombshellbetty.net/pinup.html

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5/24 Pin-Up Workshop/Photoshoot 12-8PM (North Hollywood)

May 24, Los Angeles, CA: 12:00-8:00pm
Screenland Studios
10501 Burbank Blvd.
in North Hollywood
(818) 508-2288

June 1, San Diego, CA: 12:00-8:00pm
Vernetta's Dance Studio
3927 Utah Street
San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 260-1707

June 14, Sacramento, CA: 12:00-8:00pm
The Fire House 5
2014B 9th Street (9th & T)
Sacramento, CA
(916) 705-2157

June 22, New York, NY: 12:00-8:00pm
Pearl Studios NYC
500 8th Ave # 4
in Manhattan
(212) 904-1850

June 29/July 6, San Francisco, CA:
June 29, 2:00-5:00pm
July 6, 1:00-7:00pm
715 Bryant Street, Suite 102
at 5th Street in San Francisco

July 19, Boston, MA: 12:00-8:00pm
Location TBA

For more info and registration: http://www.bombshellbetty.net/pinup.html

***

There were so many great photos to choose from. I can't wait to see the look on [my husband's] face! Thanks so much for a wonderful experience. It really challenged me to feel good in my own skin, and with all of the help from you and [our stylist], the final product is amazing. Thanks again for putting this together and I wish you all the best in your continued work to bring out the beauty in all of us! Best regards,
- YoLawnda

These are great! And the workshop was a complete blast ... it really exceeded my expectations. It's very hard to create a space and keep that much energy going all afternoon with that many people - but you and [the photographer] did. I had a great time, and I think everyone else did, too. I'm not really sure what suggestions to offer to make it "better" ... seriously, that was one of the most fun things I've done in the last few months. Thanks!
- D.C.

I had a great experience with the workshop as a whole. I learned about my body, and I gained significant confidence in front of the camera. The day of the photoshoot, we had an incredibly fun day. Between you and Mona, our photographer, I felt comfortable and happy, and this translated into a ton of great photographs, a completely new experience for me.
- Trish


Hi Betty,
Wow is all I can say! I can't believe how many pictures we took and how many of them actually turned out great. I usually don't like pictures of myself that much. I still have to sort through and pick my favorites. . . I was really impressed with how they turned out. Your preparation made me feel really comfortable and I had a great time. I really enjoyed the experience and I am so thankful that I came across your website. Thanks again for such a wonderful experience!
- Jessica

BETTY!!! OMIGOODNESS!!! The pictures turned out awesome!!! (You sure you didn't photoshop someone else in there?) Geez! They were so great! You are such an amazing director and photographer! So wonderful! I had a total BLAST!!! This was the most FUN I have had in a very long time! YAY!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
- Brenna

I can't believe how fantastic EVERYONE looks! Your instructions along with [the photographer's] skills were right on. It was such a fun experience, and totally comfortable. Just a bunch of ladies having lots of fun making love to the camera!
- Aurora

For more info and registration: http://www.bombshellbetty.net/pinup.html

I am so excited! I have just finished the preliminary work for hiring people and am accepting applications! It's something I have been talking about and working on for a LONG time. It feels so good to have it launched. YAY!

Home again, home again…

Just flew back from NYC yesterday after a (mostly) wonderful weekend! We ran our first out-of-town Pin-up Workshop, and it went really well! We had so much fun, we are going to offer another one in NYC in June (it's looking like SUnday the 22nd), hopefully coinciding with the Coney Island Mermaid Parade so that we can go to that as well. I have decided to buy a pocket-sized camera to take on the road with me, since all I have right now is my big Canon SLR that I use for the pinup shoots. I wish I had photos from the trip to post here! And I say it was a (mostly) wonderful weekend because we were out of it with food poisoning for a day. Luckily I recovered in time to perform on Friday and teach on Saturday! Randy is still feeling a little sick though.

I performed in my first "real" NYC burlesque show at the Slipper Room on Friday night. It was a blast, and the people were wonderful - the audience, the management and the other performers were all super sweet. I say this is my first "real" show in NY because on my first trip for New Year's Eve last year I performed at a party, but since almost all of the other performers were from San Francisco, I don't think that counts as a NY show. It was also kind of strange, because I didn't know any of the other performers, even though they were from my town. The scene here really is getting bigger and bigger.

The show was much edgier than most San Francisco shows. There was a lot more nudity, and it was a lot more modern. I didn't see any acts that I would say were in the "classic burlesque" style like you see a lot of here and at the big burlesque shows (Tease-o-rama, Exotic World, etc.). I loved it. I felt right at home performing my cornball "Pastie Tricks" routine, which is my new favorite act. Julie Atlas Muz (Ms. E.W. 2006) was MCing the first part of the show, and when I got off stage she said something about my act proving that San Francisco burlesque could be funny. I don't remember exactly what she said, but I take it as a compliment.

Anyway, I spent the morning and afternoon on a plane and then taught a Burlesquercise class this evening, so I'm gonna get off of this computer now and get some rest.

I can't wait to see all my new SGNY friends again in June.

Oh man! I keep forgetting to tell you all when my troupe (the Burlesqueteers) is performing. They are so great. They are such hard working ladies. I love them all!

If you don't want to rely on my for the heads up join their friends on myspace!
http://www.myspace.com/burlesqueteers

We shot our audition video last night ofr EXOTIC WORLD in Las Vegas! YAY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzyWgrmcEsA

If you are in the SF area, they are performing a monthly gig in Oakland now. Come out to the Uptown in Oakland on the third Thursday of every month!

I love my ladies!

It seems sometimes like I work all the time and have no time for anything else, so now I am scheduling in everything I want to do. I am going to be traveling all over the states this year. I am so excited! I have missed getting out and seeing new places, performing, seeing old friends, visiting family.

I have been meaning to make a calendar for my troupe for years. We finally got it finished. Check it out!

http://www.lulu.com/content/1758590

In case I don't see you before then, happy new year!

So much is going on in my world. Lots of classes, pin-up workshops, craft fairs...... I am so busy. It is great to be so busy, I just don't get the time to keep up with all of my SG friends. How are you all doing?