Red Velvet Burlesque Show Washington DC Burlesque & Cabaret Show DC - Washington, District of Columbia

LaTrina Lee

Despite numerous bad reviews that I read, I tried to give this show the benefit of the doubt, which turned out to be a huge mistake. It was poorly organized. The videos and pictures posted on the website makes it look extremely glamorous and inviting. The address listed on the website is not the same address where the actual show takes place. I was very excited about attending the show on my birthday (8/23) but was notified a few days prior that this particular show was cancelled due to lower than expected ticket sales. My boyfriend went ahead and rescheduled for the following day. On the way to show, the directions led us to an alley. We finally found a parking deck and still had difficulty finding the place. Upon our arrival to Town Tavern where the show was held, we were informed that it would be starting late. The start time was supposed to be 6:00 pm. We waited for almost 15 minutes before we were allowed to go upstairs. In the meantime, we received our wristbands and my boyfriend purchased our two drink minimum tickets per person ($10 each) that was a requirement upon entry. It was literally less than 10 people who were in attendance, including myself and my boyfriend. There were only 3 dancers who each performed twice. Their performances were okay, but I was definitely expecting more based on what I saw on the website. The show should reflect what is posted online and it needs to be done tastefully. The host of the show, Alicia, also performed and came around begging for us to give her ones while she danced. The DJ was playing the songs for each performance from his phone. My boyfriend paid extra for preferred seating and a souvenir photo add on with the performers that we were unable to get because they rushed us out after the show ended as the next one was starting soon. It was just a mess and did not meet our expectations. I am so glad that I spent my time elsewhere on my birthday. Please read this review and do not book! It is not worth your time or money!

Maria Horowytz

Me and my girlfriends attended this burlesque show last Saturday as a bachelorette party celebration and we're very happy that we did. We purchased a hot seat with a bride to be was brought up for some extra special attention by the performer during the performance. This was an amazing Burlesque variety show and we had a blast

Laura Bell

Shocked at the difference between what you see on their social feeds and what reality is. Dive bar venue (sounds like they just rent a space in random bars across the city), two drink minimum up front to enter and can only order bottom shelf liquor and cheap beer. They have got themselves a pretty good racket going by charging so much and not doing anything to make the experience match the cost. Please spend your money somewhere else.

Jacinda Li

It is such a pleasure to work with this group as a performing artist. This is a very unique burlesque show in Washington DC. The producers are wonderful and professional. I greatly appreciate their interest in including diverse art forms from other cultures represented (I perform Middle Eastern (belly dance) and Polynesian Daces in the shows). The guests are always lovely, respectful, engaged, and fun! It’s also wonderful to meet lots of different, talented performers around town who join the cast each week. We all have a lot of fun at the shows and I highly recommend them to anyone who wants to join us at the shows, whether as a performer or as a guest!

Celes Smith

I implore you PLEASE do not waste your money! BEWARE OF ADDED COSTS It is a scam and not at all as it is advertise. First we were told to be there an hour early to get preferred seating (that id already paid for) when we arrived they were disorganized and clearly not prepared and didn’t seem to know what to do with is. I had to go to the other side of the restaurant to use the bathroom because the performers were getting dressed in a make shift dressing room in a hall way in front of the bathroom. I was told I needed cash for the 2 drink minimum only to have my credit card charged for my food and drinks without even being asked.

The microphone was wired and because of where we were seated as the MC moved around the wire would be hanging over our head smacking is in the head and at one point the wire almost knocked over my drink.The food was TERRIBLE and the drinks were poorly made.

The performers were very talented however this wasn’t a burlesque its more of a strip show in a restaurant. I spent $130 for myself and my gf to attend $100 on food and drinks ($65 per person 2 drink minimum per person +20% gratuity included on all bills) and it was a TOTAL and complete waste. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE save yourselves from the scam and spend your money elsewhere I wish id known prior to wasting my time and hard earned money on this scam of a ‘burlesque show’.

Dawn Cirelli “Mar”

I paid 600 dollars for a "vip" table and was seated in a corner of a restaurant and watched 3 women strip for tips in front of the bar.
This is not a burlesque show, it's a scam.
They contacted me a few days prior to advise me that there was an address change to the event. The location was café citron in Washington DC. I am still trying to figure out where I was last night. It felt like the twilight zone. We were in town for my friends bachelorette party and this was a total embarrassment. The host of the show was rude to some of the guests at the show and seemed very, very off. They came around to all the tables asking for money and at one point made two women feel terrible as they were called out for not having cash on them. I'm going to contact my card company and dispute this charge. What a joke. Do not book this. It is misleading and I will be there following up with the bbb on this as well. Does not even deserve a 1 star rating.

Kelsey H

Terrible show, this is a scam! I encourage you to take note of the warnings from the other reviewers who also had poor experiences, my experience was the exact same as theirs. This is not a burlesque show by any means, this is a traveling group of performers who did no burlesque at all, there were only three performers and they walked around singing and collecting tips from people (after you paid an outrageous amount to be there), no performances - just singing and walking around shaking their hips. Then there were two men who were doing magic mike type performances and pulling women from the crowd, clearly making them uncomfortable, as these men bent them over and grinded on them. The show got moved at the last minute to a different venue which was not a performance space at all. They started 15 minutes late and ended 5 minutes early, honestly, our group wasn't upset about that as we were ready to get out of there. Please do not waste your money paying for tickets to go to this unorganized event that is so far from an actual burlesque show.

Jeff Johnson

Well, they see ya coming and take ya money. The August DC show was an utter disaster. The promoter was 20 minutes late, 1 of the 2 performers walked in while the first person was dancing. Audience members were not informed it was expected to cash tip the dancers. You don’t tip real burlesque acts. The drag Queen host was the only professional person there. The odd sushi bar was horribly understaffed, did not adhere to their own drank special prices. The host had to give her car keys to the promoters assistant to go to her car to get money so they could make change. Also, this was a DIY Burlesque show. Audience members such as a birthday girl or bachelorette were brought forth to poorly shake what their momma didn’t give them for cash tips. And we soon find out the ultimate goal for this sad act was so the promoter and his assistant could strip. Sadly they have not been cast in Magic Mike 2 or 3. The venue was over sold, there were not enough seats and the front door was left open, so the AC units could not keep up with the temperature coming in from outside. Needless to say a quick phone call to my credit card company to dispute the charges. Because clearly they did not produce what they advertised. I would give 0 stars if I could.