BurlyCon

FAQ

General Questions

Registration Questions
What is BurlyCon?

BurlyCon is an annual community-oriented professional growth and educational organization for burlesque performers, producers, fans, and aficionados. Our aim is to further the current development and historical knowledge of this unique American art form, especially in light of burlesque’s resurgence worldwide. BurlyCon is committed to providing an affordable opportunity for performers of all levels to learn, grow, and develop their skills. Back to top

How is BurlyCon different from other burlesque events like Exotic World Weekend and New York Burlesque Festival?

BurlyCon is focused on community-building, education, and social events. It is the world’s only burlesque educational convention! Back to top

What will attendees get out of the weekend?

BurlyCon weekend is packed with thought-provoking, skill-building and transformative educational and community-building opportunities. A “newbie” track of introductory classes and workshops supports the budding burlesquer.  A “seasoned” track of challenging panels and workshops will deepen and enhance skills for performers who have several years of experience already under their shimmy belts. With additional offerings for documentarians, techies, producers, fans, and fan dancers, BurlyCon offers something for everyone who loves the burlesque community. Back to top

What happens at night after classes?

Thurs: Keynote and Welcoming Ceremony

Fri: Peer Review

Sat: Class Photo, BIPOC Photo Shoot, and Cosmic Disco Dance Party

Sun: Closing Ceremony

Back to top

What classes/workshops are offered?

The convention curriculum is updated each year. Topics include costuming, performance skills, history, photography, business, and ethics. Examples of previous workshops are “Building Persona,” “Melodrama: Pushing Conceptual Edges,” “Old School Walks & Struts,” “The Boudoir of Ideas,” “Ethics, Copyright, Propriety & Imitation,” “Exoticism, Racism, and Cultural Appropriation,” “Getting Booked,” “Quick Release Costuming,” “Photographing Live Burlesque Shows,” “Burlesque 1860-1900,” and “Hair & Makeup for the Burlesque Stage.” Back to top

How do I sign-up for the classes?

You don’t need to sign-up! Just check out the class schedule and plan your weekend accordingly. Some classes are repeated during the weekend. We do our best to schedule each class in a room that will hold all those who wish to attend. However, classes do fill up despite our best efforts. Back to top

What’s the difference between a panel, a caucus, and a meet n’ greet?

Panels: At BurlyCon, a panel is a moderated discussion amongst invited members of the community. Each panel has a moderator and series of panelists who discuss ideas relevant to a chosen topic or issue. If there is time, panels may or may not include an attendee question and answer session.

Caucuses: At BurlyCon, a caucus is a casual gathering of members of the community who personally identify within a specific group. Each caucus has a moderator who may structure the time as they see fit, while also allowing time for attendees to network and meet each other. These spaces are for those who identify as a member of the caucus group, not spaces for allies or onlookers.

Meet N’ Greets: At BurlyCon, Meet n’ Greets are a great way to meet folks you might share a common interest with. Network, make connections, or hang out with your new future-best-friend in a causal, unstructured setting.

Back to top

Who’s putting the Convention on?

BurlyCon is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The Co-Executive Directors are Iva Handfull and Aurora BoobRealis. The Board of Directors is Gigi Holliday (President), Jo “Boobs” Weldon (Director Emertius), Red Delicious (Treasurer), Golden Mystique (Secretary), Roula Roulette (Director of Administration), Alotta Bouteé (Director of Equtiy and Inclusion) Miss Indigo Blue, Baby Doe, Jen Gapay, Ophelia Flame, and Sandy Beaches (Director of Development). The event is organized by a volunteer steering committee, with members from all across the world. Back to top

Location? Where will it be held?

The entire convention will be held at our host hotel, Hilton Airport and Convention Center in SeaTac. Like the name implies, it’s right by the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and the Light Rail station. The hotel has room service, an onsite restaurant, café, an outdoor hot tub and pool, and great rates for us.  All attendees are encouraged to stay at our host hotel, as all weekend events will be at the hotel. Back to top

How can I get involved?
  • Register to attend and reserve your hotel room!  Discounts for early registration!
  • Sell your wares at the vending fair!
  • Volunteer!!!
  • Help get someone to Seattle! Donate frequent flyer miles to help support someone attending this amazing community event!
  • Donate goods or money to this vital community educational event!

Back to top

What is BurlyCon’s COVID-19 policy?

Protecting Our Community
While the CDC and Washington State Department of Health have lifted all COVID protocols, we strongly encourage all attendees to be vaccinated and boosted if possible. Our convention has many community members who are immunocompromised or have underlying conditions; and we must do all we can to protect them.

What COVID protocols and protections will be in place at the convention?

  • Attendees are encouraged to be vaccinated and boosted, if possible.
  • Attendees are encouraged to wear masks around the convention when possible.
  • BurlyCon will have COVID tests, masks and hand sanitizer available at the convention.

What if I’m sick before arriving or during BurlyCon?

  • Please stay home or stay in your room.
  • If you are an attendee, BurlyCon would appreciate an email to help@burlycon.org to let us know you are sick and where you are currently.
  • If you are a presenter, email prog@burlycon.org to alert our liaisons that you are sick.
  • If you are a vendor, email vend@burlycon.org to let our vendor team know you are sick.
  • If you are a volunteer, email vol@burlycon.org to let our volunteer team know you are sick.

Do I have to wear a mask?
At this time, here’s what to expect:

  • BurlyCon encourages all attendees to wear a mask throughout the convention, unless removing it is required for the classwork; or you are expressly directed to remove it by the instructor.
  • If you choose to wear a mask, the mask should cover your mouth and nose, unless under one of the following circumstances:
    • You are actively eating or drinking.
    • When seeking to communicate with a person who is deaf or hard of hearing, for which the mouth needs to be visible and a clear face covering is not available.
    • When alone in a private, enclosed space (i.e. your hotel room).
    • When a person is experiencing significant trouble breathing, is unconscious or incapacitated, or is receiving medical services.

Back to top

What time is hotel check-in?

Check in time is 3pm the day you arrive and the front desk at the hotel is 24/7. Back to top

Do we get microwaves or coffee-makers in our room?
  • All rooms have a refrigerator and coffeemakers that come with the room. You will need to request a microwave for your room if you need one. There is not enough for each room so ask to share with a neighbor or friend if they get one.
  • When using the microwave, please make sure you plug in a different wall and outlet than the refrigerator. If it is plugged into the same wall outlet as the fridge, it could blow the circuit breaker and cause the electricity to go out for the whole hallway. 

Back to top

How do I change my stage name?

If you are registered, then you can create an account in the system to edit your own information on your own!

  • Make sure you have set up your account – link in your confirmation email.  Check your spam folder too!
  • Login
  • Click View Details next to your registration
  • Edit the fields you would like to update
  • Click Save

Back to top

Can’t attend, but have a registration? Did you sell your ticket?  How does the buyer get registered?

CHANGE AND CANCELLATION POLICY

All payments to BurlyCon are NON-Refundable. Passes are transferable, and you may sell your pass to another person. You must make those arrangements yourself. Most folks wanting to do this use Twitter and/or Facebook to vend their tickets. Once you have a buyer for your ticket, use the following process to change that ticket over to the new person.

  • Send REG@BurlyCon.org an email with the following info:
  • Your registration name and email
  • Your buyer’s name and email
  • Your buyer will receive an email requesting with a coupon code.  This code will be available for the buyer until 11/1/2024 and it  will be for $25, which covers the transfer fee.  You do not need to collect the transfer fee!  Your buyer pays the transfer fee directly to BurlyCon.

Once complete, your registration will be canceled and the buyer will have a valid registration.

Back to top

Why is there a $25 transfer fee?

BurlyCon has calculated the volunteer hours necessary to change a registration and have determined that this is quite a drain on our volunteers.  Therefore, we are charging $25 per transfer.  We realize that this is an additional headache for you, but is actually under the cost of what the transfer process actually involves on our end. Back to top

Do you have payment plans available? How do I sign up for one?
  1. Register for BurlyCon using the registration listed as Payment Plan Registration.
  2. During registration, pay a deposit of $100, and provide us with all the info for your registration badge, which you will receive when you sign in at the desk at BurlyCon. Be sure to provide a valid email address that you check on a regular basis.
  3. You will be automatically charged the remaining 2 payments.
  4. By signing up for the payment plan you agree to make your first payment upon registration and agree to TWO additional automatic payments for the balance within approximately 30 days and 60 days of sign-up. MARK YOUR CALENDAR
  5. Once your balance is paid in full, you’ll be considered fully registered!

Be sure to pay on time! If you miss a payment or do not pay in full by the end of your payment plan period, you’ll be bumped to the next current price plan.  This means you’ll owe an additional balance, so don’t miss your chance at savings.

This payment plan offer is NONREFUNDABLE. In other words, if you change your mind, you forfeit your payments, but they can be declared as donations for your taxes.

The Fine Print:

  • This payment plan is offered as a courtesy to participants.
  • After an invoice deadline has passed, any unpaid persons are put on a FLAG list. These persons must now pay an increased balance (up to the next *current* price level) to honor their registration commitment and obtain a weekend pass, or forfeit their payment as a donation to our 501-C organization, which is tax-deductible.
  • Once payment in full has been received, Registration updates the buyer’s record to “paid in full” status, ensuring a BurlyCon badge is available at conference registration.

Back to top

What time can I pick up my badge at the registration desk? What are your customer service desk hours?

Registration Hours:

Thursday: 11:30am to 7:00pm

Friday & Saturday: 8:00am to 6:00pm

Sunday: Closed (Sunday-only passes will be mailed to registrants OR available for pick up at Ops)

Customer service desk hours are Thursday 7a-11p, Friday-Saturday 7a-1a, and Sunday 7a-2p , or you may contact Lou Velvet at lou@burlycon.org or customerservice@burlycon.org

Back to top

I’m attending the 2024 in-person BurlyCon convention. How do I add on the 2024 Virtual BurlyCon for a discount?

Please use the online pre-purchase form to purchase for $175. Access the pre-recorded content starting 11/7/2024 at 1pm PST and ending 12/31/2024 at 5pm PST. There is a special price for participants who are already registered for the in-person BurlyCon convention and you may add it onto your in-person registration. Back to top

How do I purchase the 2024 BurlyCon class photo or 2024 BurlyCon BIPOC photo?

Please use the online pre-purchase form to pay for your photos when you register for the convention. Back to top