Thank you for applying to be part of the third annual Great Boston Burlesque Exposition! No matter how much hard work we do, no matter how many vendors or teachers or audience members show up, it's the performers that are the heart and soul of this event and we're grateful you want to be part of it. The application has a few new questions on it this year. Since this event is in part about building the international burlesque community, we've asked if you are contributing volunteer efforts to the event, whether you are staying at the hotel, and if you'll be attending the conference. We want to encourage everyone to participate as fully as possible in all of the elements of the weekend and not just the shows.

All those chosen to perform receive:

  • A special goody bag with gifts from our sponsors and vendors
  • Admission to the opening night party on Friday, April 10 and the cocktail party on Sunday, April 12
  • Discounted registration to the conference portion of the event
  • Free admission to the Vintage Fashion Fair and special exhibits
  • A copy of Make Some Noise, the official soundtrack to the Great Boston Burlesque Exposition.
Please read everything carefully so that there are no surprises. If you come across something unclear, drop us a note about it. Unfortunately, we're expecting more applicants than we have performance slots, so we won't be able to take everyone. We have three different performance opportunities. Here's some more information so you can pick the one that's right for you:

Saturday, April 11, is The Main Event, our burlesque competition at which we distribute the annual Howard Awards. The Howards are our Judge's Choice Awards, named in honor of the famous Old Howard Theater, Boston's home of Burlesque for almost 100 years. We are only accepting 25 (group and individual) performances this year.

Sunday, April 12, is The Newcomers' Showcase featuring the rising stars of burlesque. If you have competed at one of the other major burlesque events, you do not qualify as a "newcomer".

Sunday, April 12 (immediately following The Newcomers' Showcase) is The Sideshow Ball, where the acts that accompanied classic burlesque - sword swallowing, knife throwing, hula hooping, juggling, tumbling, comedy, and more - get their chance to shine!

Please make sure your entry is received prior to the cut-off date (not mailed by the cut-off date). A late or incomplete application guarantees we won't accept you. All applications must be received by February 1, 2009.

Boston Burlesque Exposition
Attn: APPLICATION 2009
P.O. Box 271
N. Quincy, MA 02171

IMPORTANT DATES:

  • Application must be received (not postmarked) by: February 1, 2009
  • Note: There are a limited number of performance slots available. Submitting an application does not guarantee you a performance slot.
  • Applicants notified of acceptance: February 14, 2009
  • Show Dates: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, April 10-12, 2009
We look forward to receiving your application and meeting each and every one of you in Boston in April!

How to Apply:

There are two ways to apply for The Great Boston Burlesque Expositon.

1) Download the PDF version of the application, print it out, and return it to us.

You'll need a PDF compatible reader (like Adobe Reader, which is free) to view and print the PDF document. Once you've printed it out, please fill it out and return it to us with a $25 application fee. Make checks payable to "Burlesque Expositions".

2) Apply on-line

First, pay your $25 application fee through PayPal using any major credit card. You don't need a PayPal account to use PayPal, just a credit card or checking account.

Second, head over to our on-line application page. It's that easy!