A little sparkle-map for the Aotearoa burlesque community.
Burlesque Name registry
New zealand
The New Zealand burlesque scene has grown, glittered and expanded over the years. With more performers, producers, MCs and creative beings stepping into the spotlight, it becomes easier for stage names and brands to accidentally overlap.
This registry exists to help.
It is a public record of burlesque stage names currently in use in Aotearoa / New Zealand, along with contact details and first-use dates where available.
It is here to support new performers choosing a name, producers looking for artists, media wanting to find the right person, and community members wanting to avoid unintentional double-ups.
Think of it as a sparkly roll call, not a legal shield.
The registry helps the NZ burlesque community:
• Check whether a stage name is already being used
• See when a name or persona first came into use
• Find performer contact details
• Support clearer communication between performers, producers and media
• Reduce accidental name clashes in our growing scene
What the registry does
This registry does not provide trademark protection, legal ownership, copyright protection or exclusive rights to a name.
It is a community resource, not a legal document.
If you need legal protection for your stage name, brand, business name or creative identity, please seek proper legal or trademark advice.
Sequins are powerful, but they do not replace intellectual property law.
What the registry does not do
You will need either:
• A valid website
• A performer page
• A Facebook business page
• Another public-facing platform that shows the name is currently in use.
This helps prevent people from “holding” or “reserving” names for future possibilities. The registry is for names already out in the world doing their little shimmy.
Step 1: Submit your details
Complete the Google Form below with your stage name, contact details and first-use information.
Step 2: Registry update
Crystal Mischief will review the submission and add eligible names to the public-facing registry spreadsheet.
The spreadsheet is read-only so the community can view it, but not edit it directly. This helps keep the registry tidy, accurate and protected from accidental spreadsheet chaos.
This is a community-maintained resource, so updates may not be instant. Please give the glitter gremlins a moment to do their work.
Who can register?
If you are dipping your toes, heels, fans or full dramatic cape into the burlesque world as a performer, producer or MC, please check name registries outside New Zealand too.
Burlesque is gloriously international, and many performers travel, teach, compete or work online. A name that looks available here may already be well established overseas.
Before you commit to a stage name, check:
• The Australian burlesque name database click here. This is no longer maintained
• The American and worldwide burlesque name database
• The UK burlesque name database
• Google and social media platforms
• Event listings, festival line-ups and performer directories
A good name should feel like yours, but it should also give you enough space to build a clear creative identity without accidentally stepping on someone else’s glitter train.
Advice for new performers
How to add your name
Stage Name Registry
Q: My name is incorrect in the registry. Can you fix it?
A: Yes. If your name, contact details, email, website or first-use date need updating, please submit the correction through the Google Form or email crystal@sfab.co.nz.
The public spreadsheet is read-only, so changes need to be made by Crystal.
Q: I have two stage names. Do I need two entries?
A: Yes. If you perform under two separate stage names, each name should have its own entry. Each persona may have its own history, contact details, first-use date and creative identity.
Q: What does “first-use date” mean?
Your first-use date is the date you first performed under that name, or the date that persona came into being.
This belongs to your history. No one else gets to decide when your sparkle started.
Q: I do not have a website. What should I enter?
A: The website field is not mandatory, so the form should still save without it. However, you do need some kind of public-facing proof that the name is active, such as a performer page or social media presence.
Q: I am having trouble with the Google Sheet. What do I do?
A: No worries. If the spreadsheet is being a tiny chaos goblin, email crystal@sfab.co.nz and Crystal they will help. Add your name to the registry
Use the form below to submit your details.
Please check the existing registry first, then complete the form as clearly as you can.
Q: I want to update my details. Do I need to resubmit everything?
A: Please submit the updated details through the form and include enough information for Crystal to identify the existing entry.
That might include your stage name, previous contact details, and what needs to be changed