It doesn’t matter if you’re producing your first burlesque show or you’re a seasoned performer looking to sell more tickets, one truth remains: a brilliant show can only dazzle if people know about it. Promotion is the not-so-glamorous but totally essential side of burlesque that turns good shows into sold-out successes. In this post, we’re diving deep into how to promote your burlesque events like a pro: boosting your visibility, selling tickets, and building long-term audience loyalty.
Know Your Audience
The first rule of event promotion? Know who you’re promoting to.
Burlesque audiences are wonderfully diverse—ranging from die-hard vintage lovers and cabaret aficionados to casual event-goers looking for a fun night out. Your promotion should reflect the tone, theme, and style of your show. A campy Y2K-themed revue will call for a very different vibe than a sultry noir-style speakeasy show.
Ask yourself:
- Is this a show for burlesque insiders, newcomers, or a mix?
- Is the tone sexy, comedic, political, classic, or experimental?
- What kind of people came to your past shows (if any)? What did they love?
Once you identify your ideal audience, tailor your visuals, captions, hashtags, and language to speak directly to them.
Build Hype on Social Media
Social media is your best friend when it comes to burlesque show promotion. But to really move the needle, it’s not enough to just post a flyer once and call it a day.
Step 1: Start Early
Start teasing the event at least 4-6 weeks out. Drop hints or behind-the-scenes peeks before the official flyer drops. Generate curiosity first, and then deliver.
Step 2: Vary Your Content
People scroll past static flyers every day. Mix up your content with:
- Performer spotlights: bios, photos, rehearsal clips
- Countdown posts: “2 weeks away!” or “Last chance for early bird tickets!”
- Behind-the-scenes footage: costume making, choreography rehearsals
- Audience testimonials: clips from past shows or quote graphics
Step 3: Use Reels and Stories
Short-form video content gets priority in most algorithms. Instagram Reels, Facebook Stories, and TikTok can all boost visibility, especially with hashtags like #burlesque, #cabaretlife, #showgirl, #nightout, or local tags like #nycevents or #atlantalife.
Create a Killer Event Page
Whether you’re selling tickets on Eventbrite, Facebook Events, or a custom site, your event page needs to do three things:
- Clearly explain what the show is
- Make it easy to buy tickets
- Get people excited
Include:
- A compelling show description that tells a story (not just time/place)
- High-quality photos or teaser videos
- A cast list to highlight your talent
- Details like doors/showtime, age restrictions, dress code, and parking
Pro tip: Create urgency with limited VIP tickets, early bird pricing, or a “first 25 guests get a free treat” incentive.
Use Email Marketing
If you have a mailing list, even a small one, you should use it. Email consistently outperforms social media when it comes to converting views to ticket sales.
Use your list to:
- Announce the show
- Share exclusive discount codes
- Remind fans about ticket deadlines
- Offer sneak peeks or behind-the-scenes content
Tools like Mailchimp or Flodesk make it easy to create beautiful, on-brand emails with embedded ticket links.
Partner with Local Businesses & Influencers
Collaborating with local businesses and influencers can help boost your visibility, and it will also create lasting relationships across many different communities and industries.
Local Partners to Consider:
- Vintage or lingerie boutiques – cross-promote events or offer ticket giveaways
- Queer-friendly bars or nightclubs – hang flyers or do pre-show meetups
- Makeup artists, costumers, or hairstylists – tag each other on social media
Work with Micro-Influencers:
You don’t need people with 100k+ followers. Find local creators with an engaged audience, especially those into fashion, nightlife, performance, or LGBTQ+ content. Offer comp tickets in exchange for a post or story shoutout.
Those local micro-influencers are already tapped into your market. Extremely popular influencers might have tons of eyes on their content, but the majority of their audience isn’t likely from your area — which means they’re not going to buy show tickets!
Leverage Local Press and Event Calendars
Many cities have arts and culture websites, blogs, and weekly newsletters that list local events. These are goldmines for new audience discovery, especially folks who wouldn’t otherwise know about burlesque.
Submit your show to:
- Event aggregators like Eventbrite, DoStuff, or Eventful
- Local alt-weeklies (think: The Portland Mercury, the Queen City Nerve)
- Tourism boards or city-specific guides
- Queer or feminist publications
You can also send a press release to local reporters or bloggers who cover nightlife, drag, burlesque, or theater.
Use High-Quality Visuals
The quality of your visuals creates the first impression your audience gets. Make it count.
Invest in:
- A striking flyer design – Have one created by a professional, or look to apps like Canva that help you create your own. Just don’t use AI.
- Professional cast photos or brand photography. Avoid anything too pixelated or blurry.
- Consistent visual branding across all promo materials – color scheme, fonts, and logos
Pro tip: Avoid overloading your flyer with too much text, and choose fonts that are easy to read. Think visual storytelling with a pop of info: title, date, location, ticket link.
Hype Up Your Cast
Your performers aren’t just talent. They’re also invested in getting an audience to show up, and should be promoting, as well. Make it easy for them! Give them the tools to hype the show:
- Shareable flyers with their photo, optimized for socials
- Personalized promo codes or ticket links
- Suggested captions or hashtags
Not only does this make it easier for your cast to help promote, it also helps to ensure that everyone’s promo has consistent branding.
Run a Countdown Strategy
In the 10–14 days before your show, intensify your promo game. Use a countdown approach, ramping up promo the closer you get to the show date. During this time is when you’re likely to sell the majority of tickets, so make sure you’re getting seen and reminding people to buy those tickets!
Two Weeks Out:
- Share audience reviews
- Post throwbacks to past shows
- Promote individual cast spotlights
- Share behind-the-scenes content
One Week Out:
- Run a giveaway for free tickets or merch
- Drop last-minute ticket reminders or “only X seats left”
- Remind your audience that buying advance tickets will save them money!
48 Hours Out:
- Post final reminders
- Re-share every story tag from your performers
- Ask friends and fans to repost or tag friends
Create an Experience Worth Talking About
Word of mouth is still the most powerful promo tool. Want your audience to tell everyone about your show? Make them feel like they have to! When people have an amazing time, they talk. And that’s promotion you can’t buy.
Add unique touches like:
- Custom photo backdrops, a step and repeat, or props for selfies at the show
- VIP seats with exclusive perks
- Burlesque bingo cards, inside jokes, or cheeky themed cocktails
- Interactive elements like costume contests
- Encourage audience members to meet their favorite performers after the show
Review, Reflect, Repeat
After your show, don’t just collapse in a glitter-covered heap (okay, do that first). The glitter crash is very real. Then review:
- What worked and what didn’t?
- What posts got the most engagement?
- Where did your ticket sales come from?
- Which performers drove the most traffic?
Use that data to improve your next round of promo. Better yet, create a promo playbook you can refine show after show. Let your promo game evolve and become better over time.
Final Thoughts!
Promoting a burlesque show doesn’t have to feel overwhelming or awkward. With some planning, creativity, and community, you can turn your event from “one night only” into “the night everyone’s talking about.”
Keep experimenting, stay authentic, and don’t be afraid to sparkle. 💖✨