The Burlesque TOP 50 2021 is sponsored by Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend
Home of the legendary Miss Viva Las Vegas burlesque contest
2020 – a year of pandemic-induced pain and uncertainty – gave us the most diverse and dynamic Burlesque TOP 50 in the poll’s 13 year history.
Why? Because the definition of ‘influential’ has shifted and broadened – and what we do OFF stage has become just as important as what we do onstage.
So I invite you to join the thousands of other readers, fans and peers who vote every year and celebrate the people who keep our art form and communities alive – in so many different ways.
Even if you vote every year, please check out the Essential Guide below for everything you need to know – including some important rules.
Vote and share with integrity.
VOTING OPENS: Tuesday 9 November 2021
VOTING CLOSES: Sunday 19 December 2021 (Midnight GMT)
With thanks to our TOP 50 supporters – check ’em out!
VOTING CLOSED – RESULTS IN THE NEW YEAR
BURLESQUE TOP 50: ESSENTIAL GUIDE
Who decides who makes the Burlesque TOP 50 list?
The voters – that’s you – decide the final result of the Burlesque TOP 50. Every year people write asking to be on the list or send statements explaining why I should include them or remove/exclude others. I do not decide the list.
Thousands of voters from around the world decide. It’s an entirely open process and would be impossible to run if censored. It’s a very popular poll run entirely by one individual, and these terms are in place for sensible reasons.
When does Burlesque TOP 50 2021 voting open and when does voting end?
The voting dates have changed slightly this year. Voting opens on Tuesday November 9th. Voting ends midnight GMT on Sunday December 19th to allow more time to process the votes and prepare the results for publication. Reminders will go out about deadline, so don’t panic!
Who can I vote for?
You can vote for anyone – there is
no shortlist. And yes, you can vote for yourself if you choose. You will fill
in a voting form which requires a minimum of five votes and
allows a maximum of ten. Please note: If you enter the same name
more than once, it will count as one vote.
You can vote for performers as individuals, or as a duet, troupe or cast, and you can vote for burlesque legends, too. Inevitably burlesque performers dominate the list each year, but please consider all those who contribute to burlesque and our community – not just performers.
For example, you can also vote for producers, photographers, costumiers, stage managers, teachers, curators, writers, industry journalists, etc.
Also, your vote should be with 2021 in mind, rather than just voting for your all time favourite people. Think about people who have really contributed to burlesque in 2021, a year in which we have all had to adapt and innovate.
How do you ensure that the vote is fair and valid?
Email addresses are collected to
monitor spamming issues and let you know when the results are out. It is also
very easy to detect unnatural spikes and patterns as votes come in. I have eyes
keeping watch on social media, noting anyone who is campaigning for votes or
pressuring people, and people forward me spam emails to make note of.
Everyone is allowed to submit a vote
form, and every year thousands of you do from across the world. It is because
of this high number of votes distributed across the world that the poll remains
sufficiently representative and inclusive.
I want to post about the Burlesque TOP 50 and encourage people to consider voting for me in an appropriate way – how should I go about this?
If people don’t post and share about The Burlesque TOP 50, some of their peers and fans won’t know about it, so of course I encourage you to spread the word and understand that people would like to have their contributions to burlesque in 2021 acknowledged in the list.
What is NOT considered campaigning: Posting a link to the voting form with a comment similar to: “Voting is now open for the Burlesque TOP 50 2021. If you have enjoyed my performance/events/work/contributions to burlesque this year, I hope you will consider nominating me.”
Note that this is polite and doesn’t directly ask for or demand a vote, or list reasons why someone should vote for you. Obviously you can encourage people to follow the rules and considerations above when you post – I appreciate it when people encourage others to vote thoughtfully.
What IS considered campaigning: Frequent/repeated direct requests for votes (you can
still repost the voting link, of course). Spam messaging or emailing asking for
votes. Any use of technology for mass voting or corrupting the result. Offering
incentives for votes. Any attempt to mass organise voters. Basically, anything
that resembles campaigning, pressures people or attempts to corrupt the voting
process.
When will the results be published?
The results are published in a countdown which begins in the New Year. I’ll give people a chance to recover from New Year before I roll out results.
Any other queries can be sent to 21stcenturyburlesque@gmail.com .
