We had the good fortune of connecting with Vita DeVoid and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vita, other than deciding to work for yourself, what else do you think played a pivotal role in your story?
Learning how to set healthy boundaries with others. People tend to develop parasocial relationships with artists and entertainers, and it can lead to unhealthy expectations of us. Folks can feel entitled to your time and private life beyond what they pay for with a ticket purchase to a show, and it can become obsessive. This can become tricky to navigate for us, because we do rely on their patronage to survive, so we have to create a dynamic with these folks that can still make them feel appreciated and still allow us to keep ourselves safe and our private lives private.

Especially true of an industry like ours – burlesque is seen as sex work by society, and there seems to be this concept that we must be available and accommodating beyond the stage craft in a romantic way for people. I take my joy from making others happy, from making others laugh, so I try to shift gears with folks and keep things lighthearted and vague and funny when I meet audience members and develop surface friendships with them.

Keeping a positive dynamic with people, keeping interactions healthy and fun, and making sure not to get too personal with others is probably the best thing we can do to make sure we retain the right attention and support from our patrons.

Without our fans, we are nothing – but keeping a little space for ourselves is important too.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I tend to be a black sheep in the burlesque world, as tacky and cliche as that sounds. We all want to be different and unique, right? Though I don’t want to sound like a pick-me. I blend a lot of circus sideshow into what I bring to the stage – balloon swallowing (yes, balloon swallowing), spark grinding, fire eating, comedy, vaudeville – it’s all in there. I can’t be serious on stage ever. I have to make it silly and funny. What I’m most proud of is that I’ve developed a kinship with audience members on embracing our weirdness full throttle. Dedicate yourself to your weird. Never hide your feathers – you’ll never find your flock. You want to build a bond with these people, it’s very important for an audience to see themselves reflected in you.
How I got to where I am today is a ton of sacrifice and endless dedication to the craft. You have to tunnel your vision into the one thing you want the most, and learn every form of the ‘biz that will help you attain your goals. It wasn’t easy to get to where I am, full time as a performing artist – quite the opposite and it took years of dedicating myself to what I wanted.
I’ve learned that you have to focus on your own happiness. You are allowed to be greedy with yourself. Don’t let people shit on your dreams or hold you back from what you want to be.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A week here in Los Angeles isn’t even close to enough time to do everything! There’s something for everyone here. A flavor for every craving. I’d say let’s go visit my favorite place on earth, this gorgeous Mausoleum that looks like a palace inside – it’s serene and beautiful and I photograph it all the time. Then lunch at a place called Weho Bistro – their servers are precious and their dishes are amazing. Great wine selection. Then I’d take them to Santa Monica Pier and eat our weight in corn dogs and cotton candy, take silly photos and have dinner at the English pub near it.- Ye Olde King’s Head. It’s my favorite spot.
Night time, probably bring them down to Madame Siam in Hollywood and a nightcap at Boardner’s.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Ash Briscoe, a wonderful creative director and artist involved with Phantasm Events, and supporter of trans rights fundraising.

Her email is fauxbiasforge@gmail.com

Website: www.phantasmevents.com

Instagram: @vitadevoid

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgJw9PQ0r0hLUqLbVoS4nKA

Image Credits
JhotoFoto and self shot

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.