 |
Carr
continues, “A Velvet Hammer show is like a Fellini movie
— quirky, distinct characters that stick with you. Each
girl comes up with an idea and it will just snowball. Costume,
music, scenery and lighting all bring the vision to fruition.”
While a Velvet Hammer show features mostly solo acts, Carr
says that there are duets and group numbers brewing in the
mix. Perhaps the hardest detail to create is the most important
— the proper stage name.
“As far as names are concerned,” Carr explains,
“each gal chooses a stage name that represents her ‘character.’
For instance, Valentina Violette is a mysterious Moroccan
hypnotist who you could easily imagine sitting in a clandestine,
smoky cafe, sipping a glass of absinthe while reading a companion’s
tea leaves, blah, blah, blah. We have Honey Corday, Ursulina,
Fifi LeBum, Carlotta Bleu, Kitten DeVille....”
Then there is the element of music. While the powerful chassis
displayed by the women on Velvet Hammer have plenty of sizzle,
they also need the right notes to provide the muscle for each
bump and grind. While live music — courtesy of the Tomorrow
Men, featuring members of Royal Crown Revue — remains
an integral part of the Velvet Hammer show experience, it
primarily offers back-up to the salty dialogue of the MC during
his introduction of the gals. Carr explains that there are
practical reason why the girls perform to pre-recorded music,
which they select themselves.
“We don’t work with live music, as fabulous as that
would be. There is too much room for error. I usually collect
all of the music and burn it on one master CD. I like using
recordings because the dancer has more freedom to translate
her song with her act. My only requirement is that the music
is obscure enough. I don’t want anything run-of-the-mill.
I like to keep it vaguely familiar.” |
