The first word I coud
think in my mind to describe this American tour is “extraordinarily INTENSE”.
A big vortex of
emotions exploded in me in those 12 days tour, which included also a lot of
bacon hamburger (in the last months I changed my eating habits, becoming
vegetarian, but I wanted to grant me an exception to this rule!)! A big luggage of experience for a little
Italian blonde, born in the warm Sicily but living in a lonely place in the
Northern Italy.
Even planning my tour
was very exciting, a daily mail exchange between producers, friend and
locations, my stages in North Carolina, Richmond, Baltimore and, last but not
the least, New York City. My departure was on December, 4, and my coming back
in Italy on December, 15.
First day. December,
4: “the arrival”
I arrived at Charlotte airport and there was
my friend Gay Golter, alias “Stache” waiting for me. After a warm hug, we went
to our hotel, only few minutes far, and after we left luggage, we rushed up to
buy the little objects we needed to perform our Duet the next day at the Expo
of The Great Southern Exposure. It was an act about Christmas we tested
separately for a couple of months, but that was the time to test it together
for the first time. We spent all the evening doing that, with only few breaks
to eat (my first bacon burger) and to sleep, and our duet seemed to work so
good!
Second day. December,
5: “the Duet”
Waking up at 8:30 am after an almost sleepless
night because of the jet lag and the stress. Breakfast in hotel and again
try-outs before the official debut as a duet! At 5 pm we feel ready for our
exhibition: last retouches on costumes, makeup and ahead to the location. But
before, we had a necessary leg in a very popular fast food in Charlotte, for
our dinner with my second bacon burger! The place for the exhibition was
fulfilled of people: the festival organizer, Deana Pendragon, made a really
good job! Many people and incredible artists alternated on stage. I saw a
beautiful redheaded girl, Blaze, sponsor of the event, really fabulous. Deana
was so nice and took the attention of the attendance from the beginning! Many
burlesque and cabaret act alterned on the stage of the “Upstage”. Me and Stache
finally go to the stage, the attendance laughs and enjoys all during the show
and we were very satisfied of our performance! Shortly afterwards, I fairly
collapsed on the couch of my dressing room and I slept like an angel despite
the normal backstage chaos!
Third day. December, 6:
“The competition”
My waking up at 8.30
am was the beginning of a day that would have been a great day. I felt excited
and powerful, and after my usual breakfast with cappuccino and toast with marmalade,
I had a relaxing and regenerating bath, my first relaxing moment since the
beginning of my American adventure: a million bubbles of flavorful bubble-bath
made me literally disappear in the bath tub. I love crumby bubble-bath, and the
musical background I chose was the entire CD with my act’s music, which I
perfectly know. I know also the exact order of the songs and there are also
bump and shimmy which make me feel very cheerful! After my long relaxing bath,
I concentrated on the tryouts of my act “Bad Girl”. I stayed in my room till
16: I want everything to be perfect, to be sure about my steps, and I think
about the words that my friend Milena said me about “how to throw my damned
cap” and I smile.
Gay knocks at my door
to remember me that in less than an hour the tryouts begin, and so we go to the
fabulous “The Visulite Theatre”. We make our tryouts as solo. Just finished, we
had dinner (my third bacon burger), and so running to the hotel for a shower
and make up, and on 8:30 pm, in perfect time, the doors were opened to the
attendance! The show started very well. The first performer was the very good
“David Equality Bishop”. I was the sixth to perform, and so I could enjoy the
first three shows. So, it’s my time and
the attendance is warm like only American people can be (I love American
attendance): they make you feel always loved and appreciated. My routine is
good, without big mistakes, I enjoy a lot and I’m happy. I change my costumes
quickly (the dressing room is not so big and only three performer could change
costumes at the same time). I run on the theatre to enjoy other shows, we are
really a lot of artists. Thirty-three shows! It’s marvelous seeing artists from
every corner of USA, Canada, Europe, performing comic, innovative, double,
group and enjoying acts. I love seeing all this kind of acts in the same event,
I adore the variety of stage costumes. I have been impressed by an airplane on
stage for Amelia Bare heart and by a fabulous Alien costume by Miss Theresa and
by a lot of other ones. So, the moment of winners’ declaration finally arrives.
I’m very agitated, I’ve seen many incredible acts and I understand that winning
a prize wouldn’t be so easy, but I’m satisfied of my act and of the big
experience. Whatever would be the result, I felt however fulfilled and happy. I
never feel in competition with other performers, but only with myself: if I win
or lose, in my mind is like winning or losing against myself and not against
others. In fact I live contest very well, because for me is like a holyday! The
organizers begin to prize the various categories, and just before the election
of the queen and the princess there’s the adjudgement of the special crown of
Big Mamma’s Production to the artist who better represented the spirit of the
festival, satisfying jury, attendance and organization. From the attendance
someone screamed “From Italy, from Italy”, but I’m confused and I don’t
understand. At the end I hear saying MISS SATINE! Wow, that’s my name! What a
beautiful sensation, a mix of unbelief and happyness; I run to keep the crown,
the congratulations by Deana and the acclamation of the attendance, I’m so
happy! I’ve reached my goal, my act convinced American people and I’m moved
about it and a tear goes down on my cheek. At the ned, we winners of all the
categories are all aligned for the ritual photos, and the queen is Tora Torrid,
with an emotional act, a fan dance with melancholic glances and vibrations. The
king is Pretty boy Rock with a really . The
king is Pretty boy Rock with his really brilliant and enjoying act Napoleone
Bonaparte and France, absolutely fabulous! My friend Stache didn’t win his
fifth crown, buti t was a good experience for him, too.
Back in hotel with
Stache, we pledge my victory and soon afterwards I went sleeping, so tireb but
happy and I couldn’t stop seeing my beautiful crown!
Fouth day. December, 7:
“Big Christmas Show in Richmond”
After the usual waking
up and breakfast, we made the check out, and with my crown always on my head I
decided to live my princess day: everyone asked me what I won and congratulated
with me.
We left Charlotte to
go to Richmond. After 5 hours in car and a stop to have lunch (my fourth bacon
burger), we arrive in my hotel. I had just the time for a shower and to dress
to the big Christmas event organized since three years ago by Deanna Danger in
the fabulous The Byrd Teathre. I wanted both enjoying the event and meeting and
thanking in person Minnie Tonka, who helped me in organizing my days in New
York. Me and Jay (Stache) said goodbye. I spent great days with him. He has
been an incredible mate of adventure, a good friend and a good person. Jay left me in front of theatre’s doors, where
Scarlet was waiting for me. I knew Scarlet the day before in Charlotte. She won
the prize Best Variety Souther Exposure with her act as a majorette. The event
and the acts are really beautiful: the theatre was magic and full of people. After
the show I went to Minnie Tonka to hug and congratulate with her. I adored her
and Darlinda just Darlinda, “The Schlep Sisters”, so enjoying. After the event,
me and Scarlet say goodbye, little cold but so happy. She brought me in my
hotel, where a hot bath and a soft bed were waiting form me.
Fifth day, December 8:
“my debut in Richmond”
That morning I woke up without having
breakfast: I was anxiously waiting for my new adventure mates, my friend Kat De
Lac and the group of the other clamorous girls Kristen Minsky and Reggie Bügmüncher
whom I knew that day. I’m so happy to hug again Kat, I really care about her
and I’m really excited to begin a new adventure together. The girls are
fabulous, nice and homely. We felt well with each other immediately. Four
different girls, but in syntony. That night we would perform in a pub in
Richmond, and the following evening we would change State. The car was awash
with luggage and we really had to organize to stay in four in that car! After
the big effort, and having abundantly gone the right time for breakfast and
lunch, with our stomach grouching, we went to an oriental restaurant were
unfortunately they didn’t cook hamburger (I have an unlimited passion for
American hamburger. Nothing compares to them!); so, I had to content with a
delicious chicken and vegetables’ soup. We went in the place which would host
us that night, but not before going in a place nearby to drink a couple of
cocktails. Our dressing room is really big and we have all the area we needed. The
owner informed us that no nudity is allowed by Richmond’s laws, and that only
in theatre is allowed to undress: so, we would end our show in bra and culottes
(even thong was forbidden). I went in panic for a while, because underwear of
one of my costumes was a thong, and I had not a substitutive underwear! Luckily,
Kat lent me a piece of her costume, and so the show was saved! The attendance
is not so numerous, but really warm, and with my surprise, I saw herein Deanna
Danger, whom I warmly greeted. Reggie presented the show and performed in acts
as a fakir, with words, nails and flames; she’s fantastic and mad. Kristen
danced tip tap with her delicious and elegant moves, and she remembered me
Marilyn Monroe. Me and Kat acted with our burlesque shows. After that fantastic
evening, we all went to a friend of Kat’s home, who hosted us for that night. We
literary choked on couch after a drink all together.
Sixth day, December 9: “Baltimore “
After a night spent on couch with the
luscious Kristen and a couple of cats, we had a shower and we started a new
adventure to the next destination, Baltimore, were Miss Maria Bella was waiting
for us to divide the stage with all of us. Of course, first obliged stop in a
fast food for our breakfast/lunch/dinner, and so for my fifth bacon burger. The
street was pretty trafficked and we arrived to our destination in a couple of
hours. The owner, a really kind man, was waiting for us. The stage is so
comfortable and big enough. After a little time, also arrived Maria Bella, whom
I remember I have seen at the big Christmas Gala in Richmond, performing her
particular act “Edward scissor-hand”. She’s a very nice girl with Italian
ancestry; we felt very comfortable from the first moment, and I would have
spent that night in her home. The show was very good, and at the end we hug and
say goodbye with Kat and the other 2 girls: they had to go away for the
following leg of their tour. Me, instead, would stop in Baltimore in Maria
Bella’s home, because the next day I had to take the bus to New York City, the
long, last leg of my American tour. Maria had two really nice dogs which
feasted me like they knew me from a long time. I had a fast shower and I ran in
the soft big bed Maria offered me for that night!
Seventh day, December 10: “Debut in New
York”
We woke up at 8 o’clock, we made up and then we went to have breakfast in a nice place with strange pictures. Just a cappuccino and a croissant, and so I ran to the Mega Bus. Me and Maria promised each other to see again soon, and I have the sensation to know here since always! On the bus I tried to sleep a bit, but my mind is overran by all the marvellous remembrances about the fantastic past days in America. I knew incredible artists, been on super stages, I won a beautiful crown and I ate tasty bacon burger and tons of chips!!
New York greeted me with a sky full of snow and it was so cold, but even with snow, NY never loses its marvelous charm. My dear friend Sophie was waiting for me, and we joyfully hugged each other, so happy to see us again. She’s the twin sister of the delicious performer Laura Desirè. We took a taxi to Brooklyn, that is home! The apartment was beautiful and big, with six girls living. Sophie borrowed me her place, really comfortable, and surprised me preparing a really tasty pasta with tomatoes. After we have been narrated each other about our lives, I relaxed for an hour before my debut in New York at “Shaken & Stirred”. The event went ok and the place was very nice, even if the stage was not so big, and so I couldn’t do some acrobatic moves in my show. Many performers advised me that stages in New York are little for exhibitions. The event organized by Dottie Dinamo was dedicated to a local artist which celebrated her birthday, the really nice Legs Malone!
Eighth day, December 11: “Standing ovation”
That soft bed made me desire to spent
there all day, but my desire to go around the city was stronger! After
breakfast, me and Sophie went around the city. The air was really cold for a
girl like me. While we was going to enter in a place for our lunch/dinner, we
was stopped by a couple of journalists who made us some questions about our
job, for a very famous American magazine. After this brief interruption, we
could sit in front of my sixth tasty bacon burger!! On evening, we went to the
Slipper Room, that Sophie told me to be one of the most important places in NY
for Burlesque, and we both were excited about the idea of the event. We found
the fabulous Bradford Scobie greeting us. He was the camaleontic showman who
would have hosted the event. That night would have been five performers. The
Slipper Room is definitely delicious, with a big stage, even if the dressing
room was so little, and so it was really difficult with our luggage. The event
begun, the attendance was really numerous and warm, and my new Christmas act
was appreciated by them, but my second act, “Bad Girl”, impressed so much New
York people, that they all stand up to celebrate me. I almost didn’t notice
that because of my euphoria, but when Sophie told me: “Standing ovation,
Silvia, standing ovation!”, I realized what had just happened and I moved,
crying like a child. My first standing ovation, what a joy and a honor. That
was the biggest prize for me, knowing to be arrived to an attendance so expert
for Burlesque is the biggest satisfaction for every artist, a marvelous
sensation, even if I had difficulty to believe that had really happened to me. I’m
a really determined woman and I want to do everything at the best to arrive to
my attendance, but I’m really critic with myself, too. I think I often
depreciate my own commitment and my qualities. This chance has healed old
injuries and made me the desire to do even better. If you work hard, if you
always believe in what you are doing, if you never give up in front of a defeat
or a hurdle, results and satisfaction will arrive, sooner or later. Never stop
to believe in our own dreams! Arrived home I choked like an angel in Morpheus’
arms.
Ninth day, December 12: “Crasy Show”
After the fabulous night just ended, I
prepared for a like a queen breakfast, with cappuccino, toasted slices with marmalade
and other delicious things. As it’s already happening by nine days, I had two
only fixed meals: breakfast and a combined meal of lunch and dinner, usually
made with an insane but delicious bacon burger and the unfailing chips! Even
that day I didn’t miss my usual appointment, my seventh bacon burger, the best
I tasted in my whole American tour. Sophie just told me that it would be
shocking, but it really overcame all my expectations: it was enormous and
tasty. Luckily my long walking, the cold, the daily stretching exercised and
the acts helped me to digest all the calories I accumulated. Ok! Make up and
teasing hair and again to the Slipper Room for my last night in New York. We
were ten artists on the stage and the event was divided in two parts: the first
part, in which I acted, was glamour, sexy and classic; the second one was
firmly broadminded, provocative and wonderfully sexy, but enjoying at the same
time, with the exhibitions by the fabulous Tigger, Harvest Moon, Stormy
Leather, Deity Delgado, Darlinda Just Darlinda. I really enjoyed myself! I
ended my tour at the best I could; sharing the stage with these important
artists thrilled me so much. I also did the GoGo Girl, a new experience for me,
not practiced in Italy, because maybe it could be misunderstood, instead it was
enjoying and I also earned many dollars!
Tenth day, December 13: “Manifestation and Hoboken, to Carlo’s, the cake boss”
Waking up with a luggage of experience
like that, made me feel richer. This had to be my only free day in which I
could do everything I wanted. After breakfast me and Sophie went in Hoboken, to
Carlo’s: we wanted to know the famous Buddy, the cakes’ boss. Forty-five
minutes by train and we were in the most famous bakery in America. Delicious place
and delicious sweeties. We knew Buddy’s brother in law and all the other
relatives. I felt emotioned like a child in front of a carrousel! After our
tour in Hoboken we came back in New York and we were in the middle of a pacific
manifestation about a big trouble affecting America: thousands of people of any
nationality, any color and age, rich and poor, all allied for a right cause,
rebelling against the violent repression that often white policemen use with
afro American communities. We were in the middle of this enormous parade and we
felt happy to manifest with these people to support a right cause, and we felt
a part of American history. After the long parade, we had a little bit of relax
in a massage centre, we went in Times Square and to Madame Tussauds waxwork
museum. Soon afterwards we went to delight our palate in an Italian restaurant
in Little Italy. It was a very intense and gratifying day.
Eleventh day, December 14: “My departure”
In the morning I stayed comfortably in
bed, letting me coddle by Marcello, the beautiful Sophie’s cat. So, breakfast,
relaxing bath and then I made my luggage for the last time. I wonder why at the
departure everything fits in, while at the coming back it seems impossible to
close?! My fabulous and intense experience was almost finished, and after an
emotional hug with my beloved Sophie, I ran to the airport, destination Milan!
Twelfth day, December 15: “Coming back home”
Perfect landing, I slept only a couple of hours, I’m really tired, but so happy I’m back home. I really desire to see my children Asia, Alessio and Andrea. Alby was at the airport waiting for me with a shining smile. At home I found my mother who substituted me in my absence and fed my children with many delicious dishes. She cared about me, too, preparing a fantastic lunch for me. After opening my luggage and distributed the various gifts, I took my crown and, as I promised to my children before going in America, I put it on top of our Christmas tree!! A really especial decoration.
Happy 2015 to everyone, full of happyness, love and satisfactions!!!
Happy New Year!!!!
Miss Satine
