Venue Information
- Address: 1721 W Division Street, Chicago, IL 60622 (2nd Floor above Mama Delia in Wicker Park. The door has a woman’s face on it).
- Dressing Room: Behind the curtain in the back (south end). It is a small room; come hair/makeup-ready and keep your bags/suitcases as small as possible. You may also have to store your bag/suitcase in the coat check area right outside the door if there isn’t room.
- Hospitality: 50% food/drink discount. Please be sure to tip out the bar/staff at the end of the night.
- Payment: I will pay you directly via the platform you’ve included, no later than the Wednesday after your performance.
- Audience (more details in the nightly section):
- Early show (8pm) – Date Night, Celebrations, Events, 30-55
- Late show (10pm) – Industry, Young Professionals, Events, Celebrations, 25-40
- Plus Ones: We do not offer plus ones for performers. However, tables MAY be available for performers to reserve for guests.
- If interested, please book on Open Table – https://www.opentable.com/r/bordel-chicago and select EXPERIENCES. (first option) or contact Nicole in advance at nicole@bonhommegroup.com (second option).
- DO NOT wait until the last minute to book a plus one for your show
- If cost is an issue, please let me know.
Performer Information
Tech
- There will be a link to a form in your booking email to fill out your tech and payment information. This form is due NO LATER THAN TWO WEEKS BEFORE YOUR PERFORMANCE DATE. If your form is not received by that time, you risk being recast. I am not willing to make exceptions unless previously discussed.
Pre-Show
- If you need to make changes or need to cancel, please let me know IMMEDIATELY.
- Promoting the show on your social media channels does help spread the word about the show. The week of your show, you will receive an email with the cast for the evening of your show and a link to social media assets (FB and IG).
- Please do not submit acts with large or complicated setups/props. We do not have much room at the venue or backstage. We also do not have the ability to set up or change lighting.
- All music should be submitted as a HIGH-quality MP3. Please check your files using YouTube to MP3 Converter or Serato DJ Lite (see the Music Submission Guide for more information).
Day of the Show
- Please arrive at the venue ON TIME (7:30 pm for 8 pm Thursday, both shows Friday, and both shows Saturday; 9:30 pm for 10 pm Thursday). Parking can sometimes be a challenge, so give yourself extra time. You can also use Spothero as a way to reserve a spot.
- Immediately check in with the show host when you arrive at the venue.
- Please come ready with hair/makeup, and do not bring acts with big costumes/props. Be mindful that you share a SMALL dressing room with at least 3 others. Do not “explode” everywhere.
- If there isn’t room, you may also have to store your bag or suitcase in the coat check area right outside the door.
- Feel free to walk around before the show and in between sets to build excitement for the show. However, be respectful of the audience. Do not solicit tips/drinks/etc.
- Please wear proper curtain call and walk around attire: Proper curtain call attire includes pasties/g string, your costume or other stage attire (anything you would typically wear during a burlesque show). This is also proper walk around attire before, in between and after sets.
- Feel free to tell the host about any titles, awards, or unique things about you. We want the audience to know that they are watching the BEST of the BEST.
- Do not invite people at the bar to enter the seating area, as those seats are ticketed. However, it is possible to make a reservation on-site or ask the manager if there is an open table (not guaranteed).
- Please kitten for each other (use the yellow bucket).
- Help the host with the Dollar Daddy process and counting tips between sets and after the show.
- Don’t offer free drinks/shots to the audience (unless you are paying for them).
- Be mindful of your drinking. Drinks can and will sneak up on you at Bordel. You will be asked to leave if you are too intoxicated, and your payment will be forfeited.
- Please do not put any food/drink on top of the sound system in the dressing room.
After the Show
- Ensure you get all your items back at the end of the night. Neither the venue nor I will be responsible for lost items.
- Make sure you tip out the bar staff (and DJ if desired) and pay for any outstanding bills at the night’s end.
- Please be discreet about looking for bills that may have fallen behind and in between spaces.
- Clean the dressing room before and after the show (including pastie tape and food).
- You are in one of the best speakeasies in the city. Have fun!
Evening Breakdowns
Thursday: New, Now, Next
New, Now, Next is a continuation of Bordel, providing a platform for the next generation of performers and of my personal desire to give back to a space that helped shape my performance style. Each show (8 pm and 10 pm) will have 1 NNN performer, 2 anchor performers, and a host. Performers will be selected to perform in EITHER the 8 pm or the 10 pm show and acts will need to be pre-approved.
Thursday audiences tend to be slightly more reserved but are ready and willing to have a memorable night out once warmed up! Bring upbeat, entertaining acts – excessive floor/chair work will not play well here. If you are not sure, don’t do it. All acts should be between 4 and 7 minutes long and should be crowd-pleasing (think well-known songs from the 70s on).
Timing of the evening
- 7:20 PM – Host Call Time
- 7:30 PM – Performer Call Time
- 7:45 – Money Honey Begins
- 8:00 – Show Begins
- BREAK
- 9:45 – Money Honey Begins
- 10:00 – Show Begins
Friday: Feral Friday
Feral Friday is the night when we all let our hair down and get a little wild. You never know what will happen at a Feral Friday, and we want this to be a very sexy, fun evening for everyone. This is the night that most people think about when they think about Bordel. We’re talking lap dances, using the pole, fire, drag, and who knows what! This is the night when everyone pulls out their phones to have a WILD time. Bring upbeat, entertaining acts – excessive floor/chair work will not play well here. If you are not sure, don’t do it. All acts should be between 4 and 7 minutes long and should be crowd-pleasing (think well-known songs from the 70s on).
Timing of the evening
- 7:20 PM – Host Call Time
- 7:30 PM – Performer Call Time
- 7:45 – Money Honey Begins
- 8:00 – Show Begins
- BREAK
- 9:45 – Money Honey Begins
- 10:00 – Show Begins
Saturday: Celebration Saturday
Celebration Saturday is when you and all your friends come out to party. Think long nights, big parties, lots of photos, and a fun, fun night for everyone. We tend to have larger parties on this night, so consider ways to engage the entire room at once. Bring upbeat, entertaining acts – excessive floor/chair work will not play well here. If you are not sure, don’t do it. All acts should be between 4 and 7 minutes long and should be crowd-pleasing (think well-known songs from the 70s on).
Timing of the evening
- 7:20 PM – Host Call Time
- 7:30 PM – Performer Call Time
- 7:45 – Money Honey Begins
- 8:00 – Show Begins
- BREAK
- 9:45 – Money Honey Begins
- 10:00 – Show Begins
Payment and Tipping
- Please ensure you have sent me your W9 and preferred digital payment platform when you submit your tech. You will be paid on Wednesday after your performance at the latest. At the end of the year if you have made more than $600 (pre tips), you will receive a 1099.
- Tips are NOT REQUIRED, but the audience tends to WANT to tip (it adds to the experience). Do not hard-press or beg the audience for tips at any time. Ask, and if they say no or look uncomfortable, move on. If the audience wants to hand you money at the show’s end or put it in a g-string/garter/etc, that’s fine.
- ALL performers are expected to help with the Dollar Daddy process and to help count singles between sets and after the show.
- Tips are pooled/split between the performers and the host, with everyone tipped out at night’s end.
- Thank the audience for attending. If you are uncomfortable, that’s ok. It takes practice. Start with something simple like “Thank you for coming out! We hope you had a good night. See you again soon!” If they want to tip at that point, they can.
Troubleshooting
For any issues, please see the host or manager. LET SOMEONE KNOW IMMEDIATELY IF THERE IS A PROBLEM.
Contact Information
Shimmy LaRoux: larouxbooking@gmail.com – (773) 263-6004
Nicole (Bordel GM) nicole@bonhommegroup.com – (219) 308-6196
THANK YOU!!
Thank you for performing at Bordel! It’s an honor to be able to share the space and stage with you. PLEASE let me know if there are any issues, concerns, or ways I can make this a wonderful experience for you. I am ALWAYS open to feedback.
See you on stage!