We were lucky to catch up with Janie Slash recently and have shared our conversation below.

Janie, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I learned the art of sideshow partly from self research and an amazing mentor. I met my mentor at a show that I was performing burlesque at back in 2013. I saw her performing dangerous sideshow feats and I was impressed by her skill and stage presence. I fell in love with the art of sideshow that very night and new that I had to become a sideshow performer. I started my burlesque troupe Deadly Sins Burlesque and Sideshow and had booked her for the very first show to come out and perform sideshow. I remember asking her if she would teach me how to walk on glass someday and she looked at me and told me that we could do it right then and there. She poured the glass out on a rug with burlap on it and showed me the blood spots where accidents had happened and proceeded to show me the appropriate way to walk on glass. From that night on I was hooked. The first sideshow prop I built was a bed of nails. I still have it, the bed was huge with these 6 inch long twisted spikes. There is actually a mural of me painted on the side of Wits End laying on it. I wasn’t sure how to build one so I did lots of research and created what I thought would work best. It was not the most portable bed but it got the job done. I was lucky enough that the same sideshow performer that I had first seen perform took me on as her mentor and taught me how to blockhead and do one of my favorite acts to date mental floss. We had fun coming up with variations of different act and performed as a sideshow duo for a period of time. Over the years I have learned new acts such as machete ladder and would some day love to learn how to sword swallow, which I would need to find someone to teach me to do. The most important part about sideshow is learning the safe way to perform the stunts. They are all very real and dangerous and there is a chance that you can get hurt if something is not done properly. You want to make sure you have a good mentor to learn from. You can’t rush the learning process you have to take your time.

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

I am a burlesque and sideshow performer based in Dallas, TX. I produce a monthly burlesque show at Wits End in Deep called Deadly Sins Burlesque and Sideshow. It is a variety show that has burlesque, sideshow and a touch of vaudeville. You never know what to expect because each show is so different and varies from month to month. I love all things horror and am a huge nerd and love to incorporate those elements in to my routines. In addition to burlesque and sideshow I am also a stiltwalker, tarot card reader and hula hooper. I have hosted Burlesque Bingo at various bars throughout the DFW metroplex. I am actress and model. My most recent projects include movies called Strix and Dr Gift and I have been published in Retro Lovely Magazine and featured on the Sourpuss Website. The project that I am most proud of at the moment is the Paranormal YouTube channel that I have with my friend and fellow burlesque performer Matilda Crow called Ghost Babes. We have put a lot of time, money and love into Ghost Babes. It is us with our camera man Jon going to various haunted locations in Texas and doing investigations. It is a passion project that I hope becomes full time someday.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the fact that I get to create something that people enjoy. I love entertaining people and bringing them joy. Performing is a passion for me and if I can share that with others and have them find happiness in it and forget their worries for just a little bit that means the world to me.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I want to see the projects that I work on succeed. I would love for Ghost Babes to be picked up by a major network and reach a larger audience. I would love for Deadly Sins Burlesque and Sideshow to draw a huge crowd every month. I love being able to create and put out a product that I am proud of to present to others and hopefully encourage others to do the same.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @janieslash
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JanieSlash
• Twitter: janieslash
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWGGgJKn09CfYxPlT9VPHyA

Image Credits
Joseph Hernandez, Nikki Arnold, Luella Lynne