Miss Judy Luck!
LDS: How did you come up with your stage name? Did you always go by Judy Luck?
JL: No, Judy Luck was something made up right when I decided to start performing in the Burlesque world. Choosing a unique name is never easy, but like most performer/model’s I chose to create my name based on people who inspire me. Those two people were Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra. Judy was someone I can relate to in many ways and despite her struggles learning choreography, she was an amazing singer, dancer and actress. Frank was also a triple threat, and of course amazingly handsome, my total dream guy for sure. “Luck” came from “Luck Be a Lady.”
LDS: That's how you came up with that name. Good name. So how did you get started in performing burlesque?
JL: Back in the day when MySpace was popular ha-ha, I was like most teenagers and spent too many hours looking up random users. I stumbled across many pin-up models, and then found Burlesque performers through them. I added almost everyone who looked interesting, one of which was Mr. Bobbie Burlesque. One day he posted a casting for an audition for background dancers. In the end I was picked with Lulu Lunaris to help assist him in an upcoming act. I knew nothing of this world, and my first performance did not go as well as I had hoped. But Bobbie saw something in me, and suggested I perform on my own. With his help I had an act, costume, and a show booked in no time. After my first solo I was hooked.
LDS: Which burlesque performers would you say are your influence?
JL: Past Performers- Rose La Rose and Zorita.
Current Performers- Victoria Vengeance and Orchid Mei
LDS: How long have you been modeling?
JL: About 6 years but when I was a kid it was hard to get me away from any camera.
LDS: Ha ha! Sounds like my kids. How long have you been performing burlesque?
JL: Also 6 years. I was only 17 years old and it was incredibly frustrating not being allowed to perform at so many shows. I could only perform at 18 & up shows, and there were not many of those. When I was 21 I threw myself a Birthday Burlesque show with performers I had met and loved when I first started, which gave me the ability to jump back into the scene and have people remember me again.
LDS: Wow, that is a young start. Do you make up routines or do you just wing it?
JL: This varies. Dance has always been a huge part of my life. I was trained in ballet and jazz, a member of dance team in high school, and my senior year became Dance Production President. I was always choreographing something, so now its second nature to me. In my acts I tend to choreograph at least half and leave some time to shimmy and shake, as well as leave time just in case there’s a wardrobe malfunction that I need to fix.
LDS: Speaking of wardrobe, where do you get your costumes?
JL: Something that I don’t think many audience members realize is that Burlesque performers make everything they are performing in. It’s our own ideas and construction you are seeing. Due to the fact that I can only do basic sewing, I have used the help of fellow performers and corset makers to execute my ideas. I do however rhinestone all my costumes, my snow queen act for example has over 900 rhinestones as of now.
LDS: Really, that many? That's amazing. What's your favorite part of performing?
JL: The audience, they can really make or break a show. If they are into what you’re doing, you get more excited. I feed off their energy.
LDS: I bet it's pretty electrifying. Tell me about your first performance.
JL: My first actual performance was about Bobbie not me, but I can say I was not used to being on such a small stage with the audience so close to me, and I missed a few steps. My first solo performance was at the Whiskey A Go Go. Bobbie and I decided to shorten the song and choreograph the entire act, because I was not quite comfortable improvising yet. The act went smooth, I had friends there supporting me, and I was on such a high when it was over.
LDS: That's cool that your friends were there. What's the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened while you were performing?
JL: Nothing embarrassing has happened to me because I’ve worked around whatever the problem was. But I have had my corset get stuck, a pastie fall off, slipped on fake money (no one noticed), and the weirdest of all… I had to cough in the middle of an act so I turned my back to the audience. I was so worried the people on the side would see and think I was about to be sick, but that’s when shaking your bootie is good for distracting.
LDS: Have you had any creepy fans?
JL: The question is who hasn’t? I notice many people are too shy to approach me after a performance or an event, but the ones who do tend to talk for a very LONG time. I get plenty of emails asking for used items of mine, but that’s a fetish and I find fetishes interesting not creepy.
LDS: What do you prefer, modeling or performing?
JL: Performing.
LDS: Why?
JL: Maybe it’s only child syndrome, but I can’t live without being on a stage for a certain amount of time. I just love the lights, the audience, and those few minutes when everyone is watching what you’re doing. It’s also over in a short amount of time. Modeling can be very draining with shoots being hours long and holding various poses, but my biggest problem … lack of food on shoots! I may be skinny but I eat, people!
LDS: Ah, a girl after my own heart. Ha ha! How do you keep in shape?
JL: Dance classes and eating well. I love to cook, and know what is going into my food. I cut out many processed foods and try not to eat out if I can help it.
LDS: In what other ways do you perform?
JL: Growing up, I played dress up with all my grandmas jewelry (she had tons), clothing, hats, etc. My favorite thing to play with though was a pair of uli ulis. I later found out she was a hula dancer with a troupe. Recently that has formed an even stronger bond between us, because last year I joined a band called The Hula Girls as a go-go type hula dancer. With elements of Rockabilly and Surf music, every show is always great to attend or be a part of, and I feel lucky to be amongst such wonderful people.
LDS: That sounds like fun. I gotta check out that band. What about hobbies? What do you do in your spare time?
JL: What spare time? If I do have any it is spent working on costumes or thinking of future acts. Beyond that…cooking, reading (biographies and history are my favorite); going to support my friends bands, and just spending quality time with the people I love.
LDS: Do you go to college?
JL: I sure do.
LDS: What's your major?
JL: Anthropology, with a minor in Dance.
LDS: What's your day job?
JL: I actually just got a new job. I am a dance stylist/assistant in a dance photography studio.
LDS: Oh, cool. What's your dream job?
JL: To work with Orangutans, travel the world and inform people what is really going on in our rainforests and how they can help.
LDS: That's very interesting. Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?
JL: I am a romantic so I will probably be married, still performing Burlesque when I can, and traveling to some exotic destination at least once a year.
LDS: Who does your hair & makeup for your performances?
JL: Me Me Me! And it takes hours!
LDS: Yeah, I bet. But you do a good job. Is there any advice that you can give to gals who want to get into performing burlesque?
JL: Go to shows, see what performers are doing. Take notes on costumes, acts, props, everything! Be as original as you can, because no one wants to hear “yeah that was good but I saw someone else do it better.” I love attending shows, I am amazed by all the talent I see and learn from others every day.
LDS: What about advice for aspiring pin up models?
JL: Practice poses, facial expressions, etc. in the mirror. Learn what your good at and what your style is. Pack snacks for shoots!
LDS: Packing snacks for anything longer than an hour is a must! Ha ha! Ok, be honest. Do you secretly listen to disco?
JL: Haha my Mom could answer this one for me! I HATE disco! Have you seen Detroit Rock City? Yeah… I’m like all those boys. I despise it in a big way! I used to shut it off in the car all the time, if it was playing at a wedding or party, I would go sit down.
LDS: I don't blame you. Ever imagine yourself booting someone in the forehead like the Santa Claus did to Ralphie in the movie A Christmas Story?
JL: All the time! Usually to give them a reality check. Living in LA my entire life, I see plenty of people who have this sense of entitlement or performers who get big headed when they have no right to.
LDS: Ho, ho, HO! Ha ha! Be honest again. Did you ever have a crush on a member in a boy band?
JL: Um totally! My walls were lined with NSYNC posters.
LDS: Which boy in the band?
JL: I loved Justin and his bleached curly hair.
LDS: Do you have any midget fans?
JL: Not that I know of, but I wish I did! There are some minis at Lucha Va Voom that I love!!!
That's awesome! Thank you so much, Miss Judy, for allowing me to interview you.
If you're interesting in seeing Judy Luck in her next performance, she'll be performing at the Sweethearts of Rock show, this Saturday, February 12th at The Airliner in Los Angeles. The Hula Girls will also be performing on March 5th at The Galaxy Theater. For info for these and future shows, please fan her on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/JudyLuckFanPage . A special thanks to Markus Alias for the live performance photographs.
