250621 Butt Hole Cabaret (2)

Butthole Cabaret: Energy, Intuition & Unexpected Connection

This was my second time photographing Butthole Cabaret, the weekly show run by Jack Beeby at The Butterfly Club. The lineup changes every week, so you never really know what you’re walking into - and that’s part of the fun.

That night featured two performers I hadn’t worked with before: Florence Fable, a burlesque artist I’d been admiring online, and Peter Beacker, a bold, high-energy performer who doesn’t fit into any easy category, and likes it that way.

I try to do a bit of research before each show, but Butthole is a space where people experiment, so it’s always a surprise. Florence and I had mutual friends, and it felt inevitable we’d eventually meet. She was relaxed, open, and clearly in love with performing. We connected easily, even in the chaos of a busy office-as-makeshift dressing room.

Peter completely surprised me. Their online presence didn’t prepare me for the power of their live performance; full of joy, energy, and playfulness. They lit up the stage and had the audience fully engaged. After the show, they and their partner Nathaniel were warm and enthusiastic about the project, and invited me to photograph more of their work.

Technically, I was experimenting with custom settings again. The lighting in the venue shifts constantly, from bright on stage to near-darkness in the audience. I tried set up a quick-switch mode with higher ISO for audience shots. It helped, but there’s still room to improve.

It was one of those nights that reminded me what I love about this work; capturing energy, building trust, and being part of something live and unpredictable.

Reflection

• What worked: Connecting with both performers led to a fun, collaborative shoot. Their openness brought out honest, energetic images.

• What didn’t: Lighting changes still caught me off guard, even with custom profiles set up.

• What’s next: Keep refining technical workflows and focus on building strong rapport quickly - because trust makes all the difference.