Today we’d like to introduce you to Christa Russell-Franks.
Christa, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m from Fort Worth, so being a part of the music/entertainment is something I’ve always done. As a musician, I’ve worked for years peddling songs and stories and experiences through my voice and spoken word at all the usual spots. I’ve had the great honor of being a part of this scene with other incredible talents that have challenged and influenced me all along the way. I’ve watched that way Fort Worth has changed and grown, how the venues we sort of “grew up” in have changed or disappeared altogether. It was in those times, that I began to look for other ways to entertain the growing population of new audiences. Playing music and making albums seemed to get a little lost in the shuffle. I made a few bad business decisions, and felt really lost and defeated. I was looking for a purpose to all the time spent honing and practicing and trying to remain relevant yet stay true to a vision, an art that I was creating. After spending time in the entertainment scene in Dallas, I saw the need for a type of entertainment for the way I felt. I wanted to combine music, humor, slightly inappropriate jokes, and an un-apologizing spirit in a way that appealed to not only my creative need, but a need a felt from the audience. For me, that was creating a burlesque scene in Fort Worth, There weren’t quality shows in Fort Worth that were grounded in the history of the art form, that combined theater and shiny costumes and weirdness in all forms and were able to talk about real subjects, like politics and sex and challenging definitions of equality. It started out on faith, and hoping people would buy tickets. Now, 4 years of shows and jokes and giving back to audience that has been along for the journey have started something that, for me, lets me be my most self, lets me express and laugh and entertain, and above all, be a part of something extraordinary in my town. It’s what I always hoped to be as an artist. I still play music with some incredible artist and find the 2 forms of expression to be exactly what I want to put out in the world!!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has been a fun road! Making an art, finding a way to make that a business, is always a challenge. How do you find a product that is personally satisfying and commercially satisfying? How do you justify gigs or shows that aren’t great experiences but can be great money? It’s a balance I struggle with every day. I want to write only sad songs some times. Will anyone want to listen to that? I don’t know. Part of the creation process is finding out.
With the places that you perform in, the venues that audiences expect great art in, are being replaced by parking lots and swimming pool bars, how so you rise to meet those challenges? Someone once told me “Failure isn’t the opposite of success, its part of it”. It’s stuck with me when things didn’t work and ideas weren’t successful. It was the phrase that I told myself when I worked on new ideas and plans. It’s what makes the struggles worth the effort, even if they fail.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Christa Russell Music & Creme de la Creme Burlesque – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
With both of my avenues of performance, both through my music and burlesque production, it’s always been about a real authentic experience. I want to bring the audience along for the ride. As the only consistent FORT WORTH burlesque production in town, it’s about showing the love to the members of the community that support that art. Each town has a different personality, and with Fort Worth, it’s the same story. We are fiercely proud of homegrown talent here. I wanted to make sure that was always first in any show.
Creme de la Creme Burlesque is Fort Worth based, and the longest running burlesque production company in town. With 12-14 show a year, we are bringing in talent from around the country to an audience that is eager to see, support and experience the highest quality show we can produce. It always comes back to the audience, to the family that shows up every time. We sit in every seat in the audience to make sure the view is good. We master all music to audibly present a great experience, and we make sure our shows are accessible to people by keeping the ticket prices as low as we can.
That type of production mentality has taught me to grow as a musician too. I apply some of the same ideal as a burlesque performer and emcee to the show with instruments and stories of song. It has encompassed all the art that is presented from me, and has made me a better artist on all fronts.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Consistency is key for building an audience. The future hold more Creme de la Creme shows and new venues to hold our shows. With the offering of burlesque classes and workshops, we continue to build and grow and try new things. The same is true with being a musician. Writing new music is happening all the time. We continue to find places that our art is appreciated and featured. It can seem like 2 really separate roads to travel, but they are both moving forward, growing, and finding way to share with audiences the view from our side.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.christarussell.com/ https://www.delacremeburlyq.com/
- Instagram: christar817 cremedelacremeburlyq
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christarussellmusic https://www.facebook.com/delacremeburlyq
Image Credit:
Some photos by Michael Schultze Photography
Some band photos by Art Boone Jr
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
