We recently connected with Della-Kate Flower and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Della-Kate, thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Starting my horror themed burlesque, drag, and sideshow company was the biggest risk to date for me. Market research and also performance history come into play as well as the question “Would an audience come to a show that has a horror theme outside of October?”

This question was answered in November of 2016 when I produced my first show in Gainesville at a small theater who graciously loaned me a Friday night. I offered slots in the show to burlesque performers locally as well as those I knew had fans in the area. I created a specialty cocktail for the evening. I even had contracts for pay and backstage requirements and a fabulous host who already knew the business.

Turns out that the answer to the question I asked myself was a HUGE “yes”. That show was packed with horror fans who drank all the cocktail and tipped the performers well and screamed and hollered for the show. I was stunned and secretly thrilled. Horror burlesque had its place in Florida and I was ready to make sure it stayed for awhile. My company was born that night, Purple Nightshade Productions, and I have never looked back for the last 5 years.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Della-Kate Flower was born almost 7 years ago in a bar in Gainesville when I was asked to be a sexy clown for a vaudeville style production by a friend of mine, Jenny Castle. She helped me design an outfit, rehearsed with me and helped me pick a name. She and the other staple performer in Gainesville, Sally B. Dash, created a 6 week crash course on burlesque and I was part of it and become hooked from there.

Burlesque is the art of the tease, the idea that sexiness is rebellion and raunchy, funny and fabulous. Through dance, storytelling, and unique costuming, performers sell the idea that sexy can come from so many places and everyone’s idea of sexy is different. That’s part of the reason I enjoy it. Also, being older in starting out, you notice more things about the business side of this form of entertainment and how that plays into creating a show and making sure that both the performers and the audience have a great time and come back.

What I would want both performers, venues, and audience members to take away from me, Della-Kate, and my company, Purple Nightshade Productions, is that while it may be unusual to be here, the feelings you’ll leave with are good ones. Curious ones. Ones that make you laugh and talk about my shows like “Did you see when….” or “OMG…I can’t believe that….” To get people talking and hyped about my shows and my brand is what I hope for.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think what I would want to gently remind non-creatives about is this term: Show Business. Behind the curtains and the glitter (or for me the fake blood and brains) is a business person who knows that not only do our performers and hosts and stage kittens need money and insurance and consistency, but our business needs support and audience participation.

So do we do it for the love and the attention the art receives? 100%. But, we also need to eat, pay bills, have cars that work, buy medicine, etc. I find that some non-creatives forget that art is a luxury, not a right. Taking care of artists will result in bigger and better productions, solid performances, and return shows.

We want what our venue owners, theater managers, and audience members want: a good time for the right price. Please keep this in mind when you book a show or attend one. We want you to have a blast and tell your friends to come back or catch the next one, but we also want this to be a sustainable business for us now and for everyone in the future.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

If I had one mission that drives what I do with Purple Nightshade Productions, it would be “For every person who says no, there are 5 creeps who will say HELL YEAH.”

Horror fans are more prolific than folks realize. They do exist outside of October, lol. We just call that our “recharge month”. (grin). So because of this principle AND me being a horror fan myself, I don’t underestimate how well shows will be received outside of Halloween. It takes cleverness and timing to create a horror themed show in April or August.

So, at the end of every season, I sit down with my co-producer, Kaleb, and we hash out what next season will look like and what we will bring back to the table. What worked? What had hiccups? What fell a little flat?

I always keep in mind those creeps who are saying HELL YEAH in my mind so that we give them more to cheer about in the next year.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.purplenightshadeproductions.com
• Instagram: @purplenightshade2017
• Facebook: @purplenightshade2017
• Twitter: @PurpleNightsha01

Image Credits
Purple DK with Skull: Finely Fine Photography All other photos: Check Meowt Productions