Letter to the Community
Hello wonderful, sparkly humans of the world,
So much has happened for us as individuals, and us as BurlyCon, and we want to share all our news with you. Just like many others, 2023 was filled with exciting moments and accomplishments, as well as huge challenges and disappointments. We continue to learn from both.
If you’ve been following along, at the 2022 BurlyCon we announced that we wouldn’t be producing a convention in 2023, so that we could focus on restructuring and rebuilding BurlyCon with an anti-ractist and anti-oppressive lens. We have come to realize Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Policy writing is not just a single-year project.
When we made our initial plans, we focused on the urgency we felt to make BurlyCon better as an organization more equitable, more sustainable, weaving anti-racism and anti-oppression practices through every inch. Unfortunately in our urgency, we did not make reasonable accommodations for ourselves as humans. BurlyCon, the organization, is composed of a diverse group of people with differing abilities. BurlyCon is mainly a volunteer-run organization with only the Directors of the different departments receiving stipends as well as the Executive Director. We deeply want to change that and make BurlyCon an organization that can pay more of its staff. But that’s getting ahead of ourselves.
Currently, our SOP build/review process looks much like a “renovation on a budget”. In 2023, we renovated a bathroom and some funky wiring. In 2024, our goal is to write, review, and implement policies and procedures that directly affect the convention; our 2nd year of a multi-year renovation.
As we look critically at ourselves, we must also recognize BurlyCon has committed to a change that many companies haven’t even begun to implement. From the outside, BurlyCon may look and feel like a professional organization, but on the inside we are a group of Burlesque industry professionals sharing our free time (or lack thereof) and our expertise to build a burlesque educational and social convention every year. It is extremely rewarding, but it can also be exhausting. In 2023, many team members experienced major burnout and needed a break to prioritize their lives over BurlyCon. As a result, a chunk of the year was spent rebuilding the team and introducing new team members to their departments’ responsibilities.
Here’s what we did in 2023.
In June, the BurlyCon Burlesque Hall of Fame (BHoF) Finishing School hosted three BHoF titleholder classes, three Burlesque Legend classes/interviews, and the Legends Panel at the weekender in Las Vegas, Nevada. This effort was led by our Human Resources Director Catalina Mystique,Programming Director Betsy Bottom Dollar, and Executive Director Iva Handfull.
In July, the BurlyBoard added two new Board Members, Roula Roulette and burlesque Legend Viva La Fever. Roula’s nonprofit board and corporate knowledge, and Viva’s knowledge of union politics and business add expertise and support to help our Board succeed.
BurlyCon applied for four grants in 2023 thanks to our Development Team, Director of Development Ronda Bordeaux and Grant Researcher Temera Titty. We were awarded one grant for $25K from the ArtsFund Community Accelerator Grant program. We were declined two other grants and have one more grant we are waiting for an answer on.
BurlyCon’s Global Relations team is building the Marinka Program, a global stripper cultural exchange program that aims to finance and support the travel of professional performers from different territories around the world to the annual Burlycon Convention, searching for the development of new human values based on the principles of peace, culture and education.
In the midst of that, we also hosted our first large fundraiser event. It started as an in-person fundraiser auction then pivoted out of necessity to a virtual event with great success, raising $10,000. In December, Mercury Stardust – Trans Handy Ma’am, TikTok star, and previous burlesque performer – included BurlyCon in her annual birthday fundraising event, raising another $1,500 to help us kick off 2024. Thank you to Executive Assistant Terri Belle Angel for making that connection, Virtual Liaison Doctor Vu for building a site dedicated to this fundraiser, and Angora Borealis and Lou Velvet for being our customer service reps. Earlier in 2023, we also hosted our first pet photo fundraiser, built by Shy Twilight, which was a learning experience and one we will consider continuing in the future.
In terms of our internal processes, we are focused on creating, reviewing, and updating documentation to include anti-racist, anti-oppressive (ARAO) practices as well as ensure diversity, equity and inclusion. In 2023, our ARAO team worked together to review available processes and policies and provided detailed, thoughtful feedback and suggested changes. In 2024, the ARAO Team will also collaborate in process-writing, and then provide review and feedback alongside the BurlyBoard.
The following policies and procedures are written and will go through the SOP review process with ARAO and the Board: Human Resources, Translation, BHoF Finishing School, Hospitality, Peer Reviews, Group Photos, Bylaws, Grant Research, and Technology.
Here are some highlights as to the changes BurlyCon has already made to current processes.
The Presenter Application for 2024 will be split into two parts, so it is not as daunting of a task to apply to present. Presenters who are accepted in Part 1 will move onto Part 2, where they will be asked for detailed class information. In the spirit of transparency, BurlyCon will provide information on what we are looking for in presenters and their classes, as well as what is not acceptable. Thank you to Betsy Bottom Dollar and the ARAO team for making such impactful changes to this process.
Director of Revenue, Irish Lashes, implemented major changes to our pass pricing. Convention passes will be one price through September 30, removing the tiered price approach throughout the year. Attendees may either purchase convention passes in full or make monthly payments from the time of purchase through September. BurlyCon will also offer 1, 2, and 3-day passes for attendees who cannot stay through the weekend. Additionally, when you purchase your convention pass, you will have the opportunity to purchase a 2nd pass that supports BurlyCon’s Scholarship program.
BurlyCon will invite two Legends of Honor instead of just one, giving more opportunities to connect and learn from the legends, as well as allowing BurlyCon more opportunities to film interviews to preserve their legacies.
We have a proposed new schedule outline which offers a ton of wonderful ways for folks to connect on Thursday. This allows time for attendees to meet, find people with similar interests and then have the entire weekend to become best friends. Class curriculum will be concentrated on Friday and Saturday. Sunday will highlight repeat awesome classes you didn’t get a chance at the first two days, and our closing ceremony.
The Hospitality Suite and the BurlyBar will move to the first floor, down from the third floor for accessibility purposes. Thank you to Jacqueline Boxx for reviving this idea. BurlyCon has tried this in the past and it hasn’t worked due to noise complaints and the consumable items leaving the room. This year the hotel rooms surrounding the Hospitality Suites will be booked with BurlyCon attendees, preferably those who can sleep through anything. BurlyCon will work with attendees to ensure everything you can consume in Hospitality and the BurlyBar stays there.
BurlyCon added a new Accessibility Liaison role, which our Volunteer Coordinator Cheeky Diamondz has moved into. This Liaison role’s focus is accessibility throughout the convention, including managing a group of volunteers who are ready to help attendees with accessibility needs throughout the weekend. Our host hotel has also agreed to save more first floor rooms for BurlyCon attendees with accessibility needs. Cheeky Diamondz and Red Delicious will lead that effort.
Here are our goals that we haven’t been able to fulfill yet.
The Restorative Justice program stalled in 2023. We have since hired a Director of Community, Sgt. Die Wies who will project manage our restorative justice work so we can get it moving again in 2024.
The Virtual BurlyCon program stalled in 2023, , but the Virtual team is reviving Virtual offerings in 2024.
The Legends Archive program also stalled. In 2024, the Virtual Team will work to get this important program back on track so we can share these exciting legend interviews with all of you.
This is where we need your help!
We still have many open positions to be filled to build a successful convention. If you have available time to share your talents, BurlyCon needs YOU. We have some stipend positions available that require more of a time commitment and come with more responsibilities. We also have many volunteer opportunities, both throughout the year (virtual work) and in-person at the convention. These volunteer roles include a pass to either the in-person or virtual convention. Have a look at some of the wonderful opportunities and join our awesome team today!
Link to BurlyCon Opportunities: https://forms.gle/G5b1xZU8zY48x9oS9
We hope you are as excited as we are to see what the future holds and sincerely hope you will join us at BurlyCon in person or online in November 2024.