IT'S SHOWTIME!
IT'S SHOWTIME!
Why David Lee Roth’s “It’s Showtime!” is the anthem of every Velvet Burlesque curtain rise, and what it means backstage and within the audience.
Every single Velvet Burlesque show begins the same way - the clock strikes the hour, and David Lee Roth’s "It’s Showtime!" blasts through the speakers.
It’s loud.
It’s electric.
It’s tradition.
And as that familiar riff kicks in, EVERYBODY knows IT'S SHOWTIME!
For me; months - literal months - of careful planning goes into each and every public, corporate, or private event I produce. There’s always a full whirlwind of shows, productions, projects, workshops, classes, and mentoring spinning at once!
Deadlines loom.
To-do lists lengthen.
Emails flood in.
Late nights roll into early mornings spent working at the PC, with very little downtime in between.
There are rehearsals, logistics, scheduling nightmares, endless emails, phone calls, national and international bookings, train and plane journeys (and the inevitable cancellations!), missing luggage, costuming chaos, marketing marathons for multiple events at the same time, ticket sales, customer service, licence applications, insurance headaches, herding cats, wrangling performers, glitter explosions, and the occasional existential crisis ...
And before you know it - fuelled by caffeine, determination, and sheer bloody-mindedness - the magic happens.
Because when the velvet curtain rises - ready or not - IT'S SHOWTIME!
✨ WHY "IT'S SHOWTIME!"?
I’ve always loved David Lee Roth’s music - the energy, the swagger, the absolute commitment to putting on a show. He's an incredible entertainer!
Being part of the madness of showbiz myself for decades, “It’s Showtime!” didn’t just sound good - it sang straight to my soul.
Every lyric, every guitar riff captures that cocktail of nerves, adrenaline, and sheer bloody determination it takes to walk out onto a stage and say, “Right - let’s give them a night they’ll never forget!”
That track became more than a hype song - it became a promise to myself.
A declaration that no matter what chaos happened in the production process or backstage, no matter how many last-minute disasters or wardrobe malfunctions - when it’s time, we show up.
We deliver.
We shine.
And so now, every time those first notes kick in before a Velvet Burlesque show, it’s a reminder to all of us - performers, crew, and audience alike - that this is it.
This is our moment.
IT'S SHOWTIME!
✨ IT'S MORE THAN JUST A SONG:
Over the years, “It’s Showtime!” has become a secret handshake between everyone who’s ever been part of a Velvet Burlesque production or sat in the audience.
It’s our pre-show battle cry!
It’s the official signal that everything we've all worked so hard for in this career is about to come alive again each time we do this.
And honestly? I still get goosebumps when I hear it - every. single. time.
✨ WHAT IT MEANS BACKSTAGE:
When that song starts, the message is loud and clear:
- It’s time to turn on the show-face
- It’s time to trust the process
- LET'S F*CKING GO!
Performers grab their props and hustle into the wings - each doing final checks of their costumes.
The stage crew get into position. Headsets in place - fingers on switches.
The mic goes live.
I give one last “we’ve got this!” nod from the wings.
One final adrenaline-fuelled exhale before the manic few hours of live theatre madness begins.
And out front?
The audience starts to buzz.
They hear it too, and they know the magic is about to begin.
It’s all worth it when that first cheer erupts from the crowd as the first few bars of music hits them.
HERE WE GO!
✨ WANT TO FEEL THE SHOWTIME MAGIC TOO?!
Experience the full chaos, glamour, and glittery madness LIVE - grab your tickets to our next Velvet Burlesque show now: Visit Our Shows & Events Listings
And when you hear “It’s Showtime!” blaring across the theatre, you’ll know you’re about to witness something absolutely bloody spectacular!
ENJOY!
Boss Lady - Lara Gothique
Founder, Curator, Choreographer, Swamp-Witch, and Slightly Feral Producer of The Velvet Burlesque™
© Lara Gothique - Velvet Burlesque™
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