The Tacky Tassel Club
The Inspiration
“…just cheap and tacky performances with lots of tassels, swinging that can’t be unseen…” Sue K, 2025
“…It was not what we expected. It was not burlesque as I thought. It was a strip show where women came on, danced, then stripped…” Georgina, 2023
What is The Tacky Tassel Club?
The Tacky Tassel Club takes what is expected from burlesque and turns it on its head.
When we say we were born from a bad review, of course we were sad about what Sue said. But we also know that all reviews are valid and can be an opportunity to grow, so we went back to the drawing board. We thought: why is “tacky” bad? Why did Sue choose that word? Dolly Parton spent a lot of money to look cheap, so why shouldn't we?
Now, let’s be honest: we knew why Georgina had left her feedback. That mystery was solved when we were lucky enough to hear her at the show, while she was being forcibly removed from the venue for sneaking a bottle of vodka into the toilets, calling performers various profanities and being very angry that the show was taking place in a local queer space. As she left, she hissed, “…and they didn’t even say it was in a bar for the gays!”
Which made us wonder: had she missed the “we are a safe space” message plastered all over our flyers and website? Her description of the show was perfect.
We digress...
We figured that they both had simply expected something different, so we created The Tacky Tassel Club.
Unlike traditional burlesque shows, where the focus can often be on elaborate costumes and polished aesthetics, The Tacky Tassel Club encourages performers to take risks, experiment and create acts they may previously have been told they “shouldn’t” do. A shop-bought Halloween costume, no rhinestones, or committing the ultimate burlesque sin…performing without shoes, all have a place on our stage, because the talent should always shine brighter than the costume.
The club creates a welcoming entry point for audiences who may never have experienced burlesque before, while still offering something fresh for avid fans. By combining established performers with emerging artists, we create a supportive space where new talent can develop, experiment and have the opportunity to shine.
Most importantly, The Tacky Tassel Club is built around community. Since we created it, we have been welcomed with open arms and have grown into a worldwide collective of performers and supporters.
Audiences are not just spectators; they help shape the future of the club through suggestions for themes and ideas. It’s a constantly evolving celebration of creativity, connection and a shared love of a little bit of beautiful nonsense.
We’ve also used the club to raise money for causes close to our hearts, including Alzheimer’s Scotland, as well as donating proceeds to more personal causes, such as supporting a fellow collective member who was fundraising for top surgery.
At The Tacky Tassel Club, the rule is simple: bring your personality, bring your passion, and leave the judgement at the door.
Where Have We Been Before?
The Tacky Tassel Club has been performed in a variety of venues across Scotland, from the decadent, custom-built cabaret venue 18 Candelriggs, formerly Wild Cabaret, to the DIY punk venue Ice Box Music and Arts Centre, and our home legendary queer venue The Riding Room and Polo Lounge.
The show’s flexibility allows us to adapt it to different spaces, audiences and themes. We have created themed nights to appeal to a broad audience of burlesque fans, comedy lovers, cabaret enthusiasts and anyone looking for a fun, inclusive and memorable night out.
We also had a two-week run at the Edinburgh Fringe as part of the Scottish Comedy Festival at The Beehive which was very successful.
The show welcomes both first-time attendees and seasoned fans, focusing on personality, humour and talent rather than expectations of perfection.
At previous events, we have attracted a large international audience, demonstrating the show’s ability to connect with visitors from a wide range of backgrounds.
Outside of Fringe, we often theme our shows and invite audiences to suggest ideas for future nights. We also ask our performers what they would like to explore, allowing the show to constantly evolve and giving artists the opportunity to create something new. Their input is what makes us a collective rather than just a show.
Fun fact: We also performed in a covid safe drive in made in a car park, in the back lorry, in the pouring rain, in Scotland, in winter, during the pandemic… to be honest, it wasn’t the first time, we’re very adaptable!
The Infamous T-Shirts
When we launched our logo and merchandise, we had a huge influx of performers wanting T-shirts, totes and badges. We do our best to provide merchandise to every performer who completes at least three shows with us, as well as for special occasions.
At Fringe, the merchandise became a fantastic form of advertising. We saw a noticeable increase in performers and audience members asking about the designs and wanting to buy them. They became a really visible part of our marketing, with performers and audiences effectively becoming walking adverts for the club.
The designs were created by Fat Robot Illustration, and we’ve also tried to listen to our audience and take on board what they would like to see from the merchandise.
We would love the opportunity to sell The Tacky Tassel Club merchandise at Fringe, both as an additional income stream and as a way of continuing to build the club’s identity and community.
“…just cheap and tacky performances with lots of tassels, swinging that can’t be unseen…” Sue K, 2025
“…It was not what we expected. It was not burlesque as I thought. It was a strip show where women came on, danced, then stripped…” Georgina, 2023
What is The Tacky Tassel Club?
The Tacky Tassel Club takes what is expected from burlesque and turns it on its head.
When we say we were born from a bad review, of course we were sad about what Sue said. But we also know that all reviews are valid and can be an opportunity to grow, so we went back to the drawing board. We thought: why is “tacky” bad? Why did Sue choose that word? Dolly Parton spent a lot of money to look cheap, so why shouldn't we?
Now, let’s be honest: we knew why Georgina had left her feedback. That mystery was solved when we were lucky enough to hear her at the show, while she was being forcibly removed from the venue for sneaking a bottle of vodka into the toilets, calling performers various profanities and being very angry that the show was taking place in a local queer space. As she left, she hissed, “…and they didn’t even say it was in a bar for the gays!”
Which made us wonder: had she missed the “we are a safe space” message plastered all over our flyers and website? Her description of the show was perfect.
We digress...
We figured that they both had simply expected something different, so we created The Tacky Tassel Club.
Unlike traditional burlesque shows, where the focus can often be on elaborate costumes and polished aesthetics, The Tacky Tassel Club encourages performers to take risks, experiment and create acts they may previously have been told they “shouldn’t” do. A shop-bought Halloween costume, no rhinestones, or committing the ultimate burlesque sin…performing without shoes, all have a place on our stage, because the talent should always shine brighter than the costume.
The club creates a welcoming entry point for audiences who may never have experienced burlesque before, while still offering something fresh for avid fans. By combining established performers with emerging artists, we create a supportive space where new talent can develop, experiment and have the opportunity to shine.
Most importantly, The Tacky Tassel Club is built around community. Since we created it, we have been welcomed with open arms and have grown into a worldwide collective of performers and supporters.
Audiences are not just spectators; they help shape the future of the club through suggestions for themes and ideas. It’s a constantly evolving celebration of creativity, connection and a shared love of a little bit of beautiful nonsense.
We’ve also used the club to raise money for causes close to our hearts, including Alzheimer’s Scotland, as well as donating proceeds to more personal causes, such as supporting a fellow collective member who was fundraising for top surgery.
At The Tacky Tassel Club, the rule is simple: bring your personality, bring your passion, and leave the judgement at the door.
Where Have We Been Before?
The Tacky Tassel Club has been performed in a variety of venues across Scotland, from the decadent, custom-built cabaret venue 18 Candelriggs, formerly Wild Cabaret, to the DIY punk venue Ice Box Music and Arts Centre, and our home legendary queer venue The Riding Room and Polo Lounge.
The show’s flexibility allows us to adapt it to different spaces, audiences and themes. We have created themed nights to appeal to a broad audience of burlesque fans, comedy lovers, cabaret enthusiasts and anyone looking for a fun, inclusive and memorable night out.
We also had a two-week run at the Edinburgh Fringe as part of the Scottish Comedy Festival at The Beehive which was very successful.
The show welcomes both first-time attendees and seasoned fans, focusing on personality, humour and talent rather than expectations of perfection.
At previous events, we have attracted a large international audience, demonstrating the show’s ability to connect with visitors from a wide range of backgrounds.
Outside of Fringe, we often theme our shows and invite audiences to suggest ideas for future nights. We also ask our performers what they would like to explore, allowing the show to constantly evolve and giving artists the opportunity to create something new. Their input is what makes us a collective rather than just a show.
Fun fact: We also performed in a covid safe drive in made in a car park, in the back lorry, in the pouring rain, in Scotland, in winter, during the pandemic… to be honest, it wasn’t the first time, we’re very adaptable!
The Infamous T-Shirts
When we launched our logo and merchandise, we had a huge influx of performers wanting T-shirts, totes and badges. We do our best to provide merchandise to every performer who completes at least three shows with us, as well as for special occasions.
At Fringe, the merchandise became a fantastic form of advertising. We saw a noticeable increase in performers and audience members asking about the designs and wanting to buy them. They became a really visible part of our marketing, with performers and audiences effectively becoming walking adverts for the club.
The designs were created by Fat Robot Illustration, and we’ve also tried to listen to our audience and take on board what they would like to see from the merchandise.
We would love the opportunity to sell The Tacky Tassel Club merchandise at Fringe, both as an additional income stream and as a way of continuing to build the club’s identity and community.
