Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruby Spencer
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I celebrated my 30th birthday by booking a pinup photoshoot with Vavoom Studios. Heather, Vavoom’s owner, had encouraged me to enter an upcoming pinup contest in the city and introduced me to several other ladies she had worked with. I entered that contest and Ruby was born! I loved the vintage community and quickly realized I had found my people. Several years later and many pinup contests later, a close friend encouraged me to try burlesque lessons – insisting I would like it. I took a few classes and realized that burlesque would allow me to live my 1940s technicolor dreams in real life – I was hooked! I love burlesque and pinup for the ability to let my creativity come to life and I love the way people react to my performances and appearances. I will celebrate my 8th year since my first solo burlesque performance this year.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The burlesque community is small but also big at the same time. It can be easy to feel pressure to adapt your performance style to fit into as many booking opportunities as possible. When I started, I told myself I would only create things that made me happy and excited. I have felt the frustration of feeling left out of gigs I really wanted to do because my performance style didn’t fit what that gig needed. However, reminding myself of my focus and working to do my best in my performance area is what keeps me putting out acts I really love. I have also had a full-time day job during my entire burlesque career, and it can be hard to find the time and energy to dedicate space to your creative crafts. Sometimes I get down on myself for not being as available as I would like to be. It is difficult to make a living only performing burlesque, and I have to step back and remind myself that all things come in time and the financial freedom my day job affords me is worth the “fomo” feelings.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a pinup model, burlesque performer, and producer. I work with photographers and organizations to produce vintage pinup-inspired artwork. I also make appearances and emcee at events. My burlesque performance style is heavily influenced by Hollywood starlets of the 1940s and 50s since as Jane Russell, Rita Hayworth, and Betty Grable. I am inspired by famous burlesque performers from the past – Lili St. Cry, Gypsy Rose Lee, Sally Rand, and Tempest Storm. My style is Old Hollywood and glamorous with intricate costumes and feathery props. My goal is always to evoke the feeling of the mid-century classic showgirls from Vegas.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I think there is always a bit of luck – good and bad – in any creative career. I think I was lucky when I started that not many performers in my area were performing strictly classic burlesque. It was good luck because it allowed me to quickly identify myself in the community, but also unlucky because I didn’t feel like many shows were looking for that at the time. I was VERY lucky to meet my Live & Lucky band leader, Kevin Gawthrop, through teaching swing dance. Because of our connection and mutual love of burlesque and live jazz, we have been able to produce a live band burlesque show just outside Chicago since 2018.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rubyspencer.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rubyspencerchi/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rubyspencerpinup/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6XSuuyFmH6u73_60GCazGA
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@rubyspencerpinup
Image Credits
Heather Stumpf – Vavoom Studios
Corporate Vampire – Alejandra Guerrero
Mike White Photography
Tim Hunter Photography