Bike_Burlesquer

Hello! This is Lady Josephine. I am a professional Burlesque performer, avid commuter and touring cyclist, and volunteer mechanic. I am creating a Burlesque act that marries my love of artistic and comedic striptease with my love for cycling. I need to find a bicycle company that would be willing to sponsor me with a vintage/classic bicycle that I can use onstage. In return I would advertise their brand with a sexy and artistic act that I will take on tour across North America. Can any one advise me on a brand that would be interested in attaching themselves to me as an icon? A brand that has a pin-up/classic image? Something aimed at the young, hip cyclist? The rockabillies, etc? Many thanks! Bisou, Josephine

khatfull

In over three years on BikeForums this has to be the most unique post I've come across.

ColonelJLloyd 

Please post pics. The kind of bike I'd recommend would depend on the nature of the act and I'd like to make an informed recommendation.

khatfull

If my Googling skills are any good at all...*NSFW* https://josephinepresents.com/Welcome.html

photogravity

Methinks we should put her in touch with Richard Sachs. Surely he'd be interested in taking the staid image of his product and infusing some fun into the brand!

And, yeah, pictures like Justin said... That'll help us with an informed recommendation... Your website doesn't have enough material for us to go on at the moment.

gaucho777 

This thread is worthless without pictures!

ColonelJLloyd 

According to your opinoin.

JunkYardBike

You'd probably have better luck asking in the FG/SS forum - or perhaps be murdered there (figuratively). Every opportunity has its inherent risks. Or seek out a fixed gear specific dealer. BF's C&V forum hip? No so much.

Italuminium

From my limited experience with burlesque acts (hey, my mom maybe reading this!), I recommend a cherry red metallic bike with a nice brooks leather saddle. If you're into acrobatics take a fixed gear.

photogravity

Speak for yourself JunkYardBike! Are you saying I don't seem hip? I met a bunch of the guys from here on Saturday and I think we are DAMNED hip!

JunkYardBike

With notable exceptions, including you. I do apologize for my oversight!

photogravity

Brand recommendation please? What are you thinking Italuminium?

photogravity

Apology accepted...

JunkYardBike

On second thought, the forum is populated by creepy old men. Are we the target market?

Bike_Burlesquer

Oh there are plenty of picture, my friends. Admin deleted and (you got it!) josephinepresents.com
And, now that you've see me mostly naked, can you please help me with my problem?
I'd like the act to have a vintage feel. And, I think something like a cruiser will be easier to do my bicycle acrobatics on than an itsybitsy fixie.

Bike_Burlesquer

Creepy old men are not my target market. As much as I adore them, I Burlesque mostly for a female crowd or for couples, or whoever enjoys the art form. I should have mentioned, the bike will be on an indoor training stand so that it is stationary while I ride, and balance and... undress.
So... Brand suggestions?

P_M

Without being able to look (at work), can I ask what era and region is your performance based on? I think I get what you're going for.

If it was '60s mod, I'd go Raleigh or another of the British bikes.

But if you're talking rockabilly, I would go for something 40s or 50s from a US maker like Schwinn. There are some other classic inspired models from current manufacturers who might be of interest too, but if authenticity is what you want this is the place.

JunkYardBike

Why do you need a sponsor? Benefit of mutual marketing?

I'd think cruiser culture is more closely aligned with Harley's and dive bar strippers. The urban fixed gear culture seems more in line with your branding.

Now, if you perform french burlesque, there are a contingent of French randonneur bike enthusiasts on the forum who dig shiny chrome racks, leather bar tape, curvy fenders and natural fiber handlebar bags.

Italuminium

Old Schwinn's, like this black panther? Also, I wouldn't rely on a training stand... They're really not made for that sort of stuff, and don't look too good. Make sure to lock the fork!

rhm

Well, I don't know anything about marketing &c.

The problem with vintage, cruisers, etc. is that you're going to run into an inherent conservatism that will steer away from anything risque or satirical, or shall we say satyrical, especially if they perceive their own (potential) customers being lampooned. Another problem is that a lot of those vintagy bikes are from department store companies. I can't imagine a partnership with Walmart, for example, is in the cards.

That said, one company that seems to cater to customers who want something with a vintage feel is Electra.

ColonelJLloyd 

Uh huh

P_M

I respectfully disagree. Done right an old cruiser is more in line with Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochrane, and '50s diner on rollerskates culture.

Modern fixed gear culture conjures up images of skinny pants and MGMT.

MrEss

I agree with this, though of course urban fixed-gear and single-speed bikes are not usually rockabilly-stylish. So, that's a bit of a bind.

https://www.straycatbicycles.com/ is a small design-only cycle concern that I would guess is also interested in burlesque performance. You might give them a jingle.

photogravity

Peter Weigle (https://www.flickr.com/photos/49353569@N00/) would probably be up for something like that if Sachs (https://www.richardsachs.com/) isn't. Look at all the playful bikes Weigle's built over time. His rando's are venerable machines.

lotek 

Josephine,

I don't think this is the correct forum for your post as we don't have very many manufacturers here.
I'd suggest possibly writing to some of the smaller companies with a more 'liberal' bent and attitude,
somehow I just don't see Trek sponsoring this kind of event.