So You Think You Want to Be a Burlesque Producer?
You love burlesque. You’ve watched countless performances, maybe even performed yourself. You see other producers running shows and think, I could do that! How hard could it be?
Spoiler alert: Producing burlesque is hard as hell.
It’s also rewarding, thrilling, and—if you do it right—a chance to build something incredible. But before you dive in, here are seven things you need to consider before producing your first burlesque show.
1. Have You Worked Every Position in a Show?
If you haven’t run the tech, checked in guests, wrangled performers, and cleaned a sticky stage floor at 2 AM, you’re not ready to produce.
Great producers understand every job in a show because at some point, you’ll have to step into any role. Your stage kitten might cancel, your host might lose their voice, or your DJ might ghost you (yes, these things happen). If you don’t know how to troubleshoot, your show will crumble.
Tip: Before producing, work every position in a burlesque show—tech, front-of-house, stage management, hosting, and even booking talent. It’ll make you a better leader, and your team will respect you more.
2. Do You Actually Have the Time for This?
Producing is not just the night of the show. It’s weeks (or months) of work. Booking a venue, casting, creating a marketing plan, selling tickets, coordinating rehearsals, making sure costumes don’t fall apart—it’s a full-time job on top of whatever else you’re doing.
If you don’t have strong organizational skills and the ability to multitask under pressure, you’ll burn out fast.
Tip: Be brutally honest about your schedule. If you’re juggling too much, start by co-producing with someone who has experience before taking on a show alone.
3. Do You Have a Backup Plan for Everything?
In burlesque, something will always go wrong. A performer won’t show up. A venue will double-book. A storm will kill your audience turnout.
Good producers expect chaos and have solutions ready.
Your MC cancels? You know who can step in last-minute.
The venue lost your tech sheet? You have a printed backup.
A performer no-shows? You’ve got a plan to adjust the lineup.
Tip: Always have a “shit hits the fan” strategy. Have backup performers, alternative music sources, and a calm attitudewhen everything inevitably goes sideways.
4. Can You Handle People—Even the Difficult Ones?
As a producer, you’re not just booking talent—you’re managing people. And performers can be dramatic, unreliable, or just plain difficult.
You’ll have to handle:
Last-minute cancellations.
Ego clashes between performers.
Entitled audience members demanding VIP treatment.
Venues that forget your contract the night of the show.
If you’re not comfortable setting firm boundaries, enforcing rules, and dealing with drama professionally, producing will eat you alive.
Tip: Strengthen your leadership skills. Be kind, but don’t let people walk all over you. A strong producer commands respect without being an asshole.
5. Do You Understand Marketing & Ticket Sales?
A show doesn’t exist if no one buys tickets. It’s not enough to book great performers—you have to sell the experience.
If you don’t know how to:
Write compelling show descriptions
Create engaging social media content
Run ads and promote effectively
…you won’t last long as a producer.
Tip: Marketing is a non-negotiable skill. Study event promotion, experiment with different ad strategies, and track what sells tickets. If you can’t get butts in seats, your show won’t survive.
6. Do You Have the Budget for This?
Burlesque production isn’t just glitter and tassels—it’s a financial risk.
Costs to consider:
✅ Venue rental (some require a deposit)
✅ Performer pay (yes, PAY YOUR PERFORMERS)
✅ Lighting, sound, and tech
✅ Marketing & promo materials
✅ Costumes, props, and set pieces
If you don’t have a budget, a financial plan, or a way to handle losses, you’re gambling. Even seasoned producers take losses sometimes—it’s part of the business.
Tip: Start small. Sell tickets in advance so you’re not out of pocket. Always have a break-even point in mind.
7. Do You Love It Enough to Do the Hard Work?
Producing burlesque isn’t just about putting on a fun show—it’s about building something, supporting a community, and making an impact.
It’s also:
💀 Exhausting
🤑 Not always profitable
🤯 Incredibly stressful
But if you love it—if you genuinely love burlesque, love producing, and love giving performers a stage—then all the chaos is worth it.
Tip: Know your “why.” If you’re just doing it for clout or because you think it’s easy money, this isn’t for you. If you’re willing to work hard, learn from mistakes, and create something amazing, welcome to the madness.
Final Thoughts
Producing a burlesque show is not for the weak. But if you’re prepared, organized, and love this art form enough to fight for it, it can be one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do.
So, tell me—if you could produce your dream burlesque show, what would the theme be? Drop your ideas in the comments!