BurlyCon

Peer Reviews

Peer Reviews are a priceless opportunity for selected individuals to exhibit their art and receive thoughtful feedback in a supportive and inspiring format.

Every performance is an artistic risk. We expose ourselves to the eyes and opinions of our audience every time we step foot on stage. Through Peer Reviews, BurlyCon endeavors to create a space where those risks can be managed. To that end, we have selected thoughtful and encouraging artists to serve as moderators for these sessions, and a professional stage manager will support each presentation. In addition we have invited a number of artists to serve as Invited Peers. These Peers will sit panel-style and provide expert feedback and critique to our Presenters.

Time permitting, our event Moderators will open the floor to BurlyCon attendees to share their own insights.  All BurlyCon attendees who desire can provide written notes of encouragement, questions, and insights to Presenters.  These notes will be gathered and made available to Presenters at the end of the weekend.

Aspiring Presenters are encouraged to treat submissions to BurlyCon Peer Reviews as they would standard festival submissions. Participants of Peer Reviews will be given 10 minutes to perform, recover, and receive feedback. Acts should be four minutes or fewer. You will not be disqualified from being chosen by submitting a longer act, but we have limited time, and to get the most of your experience we encourage you to adhere to the suggested time limits.

Acts submitted for consideration to do not need to be “performance ready,” but the more prepared you are, the more effective the feedback of our Invited Peers and BurlyCon attendees will be.

Selections will be made by lottery with submitted acts sorted first into specific categories, such as classic burlesque, nerdlesque, and boylesque, with further considerations made for performers of color, assorted experience levels, and manifold body types and gender identities. This will help us ensure a diverse program and see that as much of the wondrous makeup of our Burlesque Community as possible is represented.

Along with the feedback from our panel, you will receive written feedback from the audience (your peers!).

BurlyCon Peer Review

Peer reviews are a signature experience at BurlyCon—a priceless opportunity for performers to receive thoughtful, constructive feedback in a supportive and inspiring environment.

Participants will have 10 minutes total to perform, recover, and receive feedback. We strongly encourage keeping act length to 4 minutes or less to allow ample time for critique. While acts longer than 4 minutes are allowed, please note that additional time for feedback will not be provided.

Peer Reviews are an educational cornerstone of BurlyCon, designed to further the burlesque art form through professional-style performance critique. These sessions are meant to foster growth and creativity, and to encourage artistic excellence while promoting attentive observation and honest, respectful feedback.

We welcome all BurlyCon attendees to join the audience, support the performers, and share thoughtful feedback!

Peer Review applications are closed! Applicants will be notified by September 5.

Event Information

Here’s what you need to know:

  • Friday, November 7, 2025 – 8:00pm-11:00pm
  • Crystal Ballroom A/B/C
  • Wear whatever you feel comfortable in
  • Feel free to come and go during the event, but please remain seated during the performances

Audience Guidelines

As an audience member, you play a vital role in the performers’ educational journey. By offering thoughtful, constructive feedback, you’re not only witnessing their creative vulnerability, you’re actively supporting their growth as artists.

Please join in for BurlyCon Peer Reviews at the convention! 

The following guidelines have been developed to help create a safer space for the learning of all attendees. 

By participating in BurlyCon Peer Reviews you agree to adhere to the following:

What is good feedback:

Constructive, thoughtful feedback helps to develop the performer’s vision.

  • Feedback questions:
    • What worked? (I like)
    • What would you like to see more of? (I wish)
    • I am still wondering…? (I wonder)

Suggestions for specific feedback:

  • Concept 
  • Costume & Makeup 
  • Props
  • Choreo and movement aesthetics
  • Character
  • Music
  • Length

Ensure feedback is actionable

  • Generic feedback is not helpful and can be exclusionary. For example:
    • ‘Needs more polish’ is vague, and “polish” has been used as a fill in for ‘does not want to hire BIPOC’,  who often have less access to resources, supplies, money, rehearsal time/space, etc.

If you observe content in an act that is triggering, offensive or problematic, provide written/verbal feedback as part of the learning experience for the performer.

  • A member of the BurlyCon Peer Review Committee will be present at Peer Reviews to provide support as needed and help ensure that performers receive feedback.
  • Following the event, a member of the BurlyCon Community Team will connect with the performer to check in and discuss the feedback. If appropriate, they may also involve a member of the Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression Team.
  • Because BurlyCon has an education focus, we require that you do not discuss Peer Review acts outside of BurlyCon, offer unsolicited advice or feedback, or follow up with the performer directly unless specifically invited to do so by the performer or the BurlyCon Peer Review COmmittee. This allows performers time and space to process the feedback, reflect on potential changes to their act, and consider any actions they may need to take to repair harm, if harm has occurred.

If you have any questions, please email peerreview@burlycon.org.