Bitsy Brûlée: How to Stay Inspired and Let Your Cat Be Your Muse

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In this week’s Tails and Tassels, Gemma chats with the multi-talented Bitsy Brûlée, an actor and burlesque artist known for her undeniable love for her very special cat, Screamy. ✨🐾 

Bitsy shares how she got started in the world of burlesque, her inspirations behind her art in theater and film, and the special role her cat plays in her life. From funny behind-the-scenes stories to heartfelt moments, this episode is a celebration of creativity, resilience, and the deep bonds we share with our feline friends.

A heartfelt note: This episode was recorded before Screamy crossed the rainbow bridge on January 2nd. We’re honored to celebrate her memory through Bitsy’s beautiful stories. 🌈💖

📖 Resources & Links:

• Bitsy's music video: Watch
• Read her Interview with Authority Magazine: 5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career in Broadway, Theater or Live Performance Arts

🐾 Connect with Bitsy:

• Follow Bitsy on Instagram: @ebays_
• Bitsy's Website: Bitsy Brûlée

💌  Connect with Us:

• Follow us on Instagram: @tailsandtasselspod
• Follow Catbaret on Instagram: @catbareshow
• Email: TailsandTasselsPod@gmail.com

⭐ Subscribe & Review: Follow Tails and Tassels on your favorite podcast app and it would mean the world to us if you left a review!

Transcript

Gemma Smith (00:07.022)
Kitty cats, welcome back to Tails and Tassels, the show where you pounce into the lives of burlesque and nightlife performers, their craft, their cats, and how the two worlds collide. I'm your host, Gemma Smith, and I host the Cat baret New York City's cat-themed variety show. Today's guest is the multi-talented actor and burlesque artist Elizabeth Bays AKA Bitsy Brulee 

Gemma Smith (00:33.228)
I had such a fun time chatting with Bitsy learning about her creative journey and how her cat inspires her work. She's a devoted cat mom who brings her love for her feline muse into her art. And along the way, she shares some powerful advice for fellow artists and performers on staying inspired, pushing through creative blocks and how to keep the passion alive. You're definitely gonna walk away from this episode with a renewed sense of motivation. 

Gemma Smith (01:02.036)
and some amazing insights on how to keep going as an artist when it feels really tough. Can't wait for you to hear it. Okay, let's dive into the chat. 

Gemma Smith (01:17.998)
Thank you so much for being here, Bitsy 

 Bitsy Brulee  (01:20.638)
Thank you for having me, Gemma. Screamy and I are very excited to be here. 

Gemma Smith (01:24.718)
Screamy is very relaxed and looks very happy. 

 Bitsy Brulee  (01:28.698)
Yes, she's, well, she's turning 19 this year. Oh, wow. I got her when she was 13. I'm just like diving into her. 

Gemma Smith (01:42.498)
We can dive in, yeah, since she's with you. It would be silly of us to... 
to not acknowledge her and hear a little bit about her story. yeah, tell me how Screamy came into your life. 

Bitsy Brulee 
Well, so I got her when she was 13. And she's not exactly a rescue kitty cat. She's always been in a home, but she's been passed around. She was born in Hawaii. She's actually purebred Tonkinese. And she could have been a show cat, except she was born with a head tilt, which means she's like, She's partially deaf. She's almost completely deaf. So she was raised in Hawaii and then the family had a baby and it was just too difficult. So she got passed over to my very good friend, Rebecca, who's a very talented actress in the city. And Rebecca had her when she was in grad school for several years. And then Rebecca's boyfriend took her and then the boyfriend had her for seven years and then got engaged to someone who was allergic to cats. And then she went back to Rebecca. 

And Rebecca kept getting gigs out of town, so she asked me to cat sitter. And I have a confession. I've never, before Screamy, I was never a cat person. I was more of a dog person because I just wanted, I would say, love me kitty cats. And you know, they have to warm up to you and, except Screamy. Screamy's kind of, kind of dog like, well, I think because she's deaf, she has to be more tactile and she's so chill. So anyway, fast forward. 

I meet Screamy and I fall in love with her within a week and I end up cat sitting her for three months. And then another couple was cat sitting her before me. And Rebecca was like, I just can't give her the attention that she needs. So I'm looking for a home. And she was like, well, maybe you two can decide. And I was like, no, she's been with me for three months. I pull close friend card. And on my birthday, she gave me her little birth certificate. 

And she's a December baby too. We're both Sagittarius. 

Gemma Smith
How long have you had Screamy then?

Bitsy Brulee 
I've had Screamy, I think five years, six years. Wow. Yeah, that's a long time. She has kidney disease, but I give her fluids every day, but she's, she's still very, very active and she's so chill. That's why I can take her to parades and put her in my short films. And she's just very snuggly. And, and because I have her. 

I mean, I've fallen in love with cats, but I think because I smell like a cat, more cats will approach me now, you know? And you know, she's still a kitty. She's, she's still feline, but yes, that's my screamy and her Christian name is Penny. So she came as Penny and I thought she was named after Penny Lane. And then I renamed her Screamy cause she screams so loud. But then I found out actually she was named after a character in an opera. 

Gemma Smith (04:32.62)
What opera do you know? 

Bitsy Brulee 
I don't know off the top of my head, but my friend Rebecca told me, was like, wow. Now I feel bad that I changed her name because it is, maybe they named her that because she sings, you know, she's, she's always screaming, but she's, she's screaming. 

Gemma Smith
So you changed her name to screamy or that's her nickname because she's a super vocal cat, I'm guessing. Nice. Yes. Does she vocalize for specific things or just as you know, some cats get older, sometimes they do vocalize more. 

Bitsy Brulee  (05:00.43)
for attention and she's she's very smart. The other day I was recording a voiceover audition. So I unplugged her water fountain. I guess it was an hour later and she was screaming at me. was like, what's going on? She was by the water fountain, just, you know, screaming her little, her little baby head off. And I was like, I'm so sorry. put the camera on her cause she's the sweetest. She's beautiful. She's really beautiful. Thank you. She used to do this thing at midnight where she'd walk around in circles and go, I always thought she was seeing spirits. apparently that was something she did when she was a little kitten to get chicken because she only eats chicken. She doesn't like fish. Okay. I'm such a crazy cat mom. You're in the right place. You're in the right place. We're here for it. Yeah. So that's how I got my screamer baby. 

Gemma Smith
And for our podcast listeners, there's a portrait of Screamy on the wall behind Bitsy. I made during the pandemic. 

Bitsy Brulee  (05:59.5)
My friend, who's a very talented stop motion animator artist and also visual artist, there was this contest called a pet anxiety awareness for thunder, you know, thunder jackets. Yeah. For like, usually dogs wear them when it's like, yeah, thundering or fireworks. Yes. So my friend Warren and I had this idea. So we did like a little short film. It's, it's very silly. His stop animation is great where I'm like an actress and I'm, I'm starving and I can't feed her. And then it goes into a stop motion animation sequence where he animates Screamy and she's singing and he this was because she's very good on set but you know having her do specific things so he made these and had them as the but it really looks very realistic. it's a cardboard it looks like a cardboard cutout of Screamy and it's even a little tail and it looks life-size. Yes it is it might even be bigger than her at this point she's so small. 

Gemma Smith (06:58.51)
You are the perfect person for this podcast because you do have a lot of art that you've created inspired by Screamy. So can you share a little bit about your background and journey as an artist? And you can include your theater background as well as burlesque.

Bitsy Brulee
Yes. So I moved to New York, gosh, over a decade ago, I think. And I felt a little lost. And I found the William Esper Acting Studio. And I did a summer program there. And I fell in love with the studio and the technique. I studied at the two year program there and initially I wanted to do musical theater and I still love musical theater, but I found my way more into sort of straight theater. But then I booked Angelina Ballerina the musical when I got out of school. So I did a national tour of that, just children's musical theater. And I got representation and I was feeling very frustrated because I wasn't 

Everybody was like, you have a great look, you have such a period piece look, blah, blah, blah, blah. But I wasn't, I was, I was booking, I did book some indie theater work, which I loved, I absolutely loved. But of course that doesn't pay the bills. At the Here Art Center, I did the Tower with Anti-Matter Theater Collective. It told the story of the Donner Party, which if anybody who's listening to the Donner Party is about. They were traveling to... 

rushed for gold, but they got lost and then they ended up starving to death and there's rumors that they resorted to cannibalism. There's been a lot of different adaptations and things of that nature and it was like immersive theater piece. So that was really cool. Then I got, I feel like my art in Screamy and Burlesque really came manifested after I got sober. So I've been sober for eight years. think it'll be nine in February, knock on wood. My mother had Alzheimer's and she ended up passing away three years ago. I wanted to be able to show up for my family and my mom. And then in sobriety, I swear this all circles back to screaming, I found burlesque, which was wild. And then also in sobriety, I kind of found my voice in the sense that I was tired of waiting around for anybody to give me permission. 

And I think a lot of it has to do with burlesque because I look at my acts at least as one woman shows and I usually try to tell a story in the piece. When I first started, I wanted every piece to have, I have a reason to take every piece of clothing off and not necessarily to seduce or tantalize and stuff. Sometimes like, my God, mosquitoes are coming near me. Let me like flot off my shirt, you know? 

Now it's a little looser, more loosey-goosey with it. I think through burlesque, I found more agency to say, hey, you know what? I'm going to create my own stuff. So this past year, I felt really grateful because I haven't burlesque too much. I've been acting a lot. And I was in the Off-Broadway revival of Simpatico at the Chain Theater. That's amazing. Congrats. Thank you. It's a Sam Shepard piece. And then I did the New York premiere of a John Patrick Shanley short play, Banshee. 

When I started creating my own short films, that's when Screamy came into my life. And I actually met her at my friend Rebecca's way before I cat-tap, like two months before. And I was kind of infatuated with her because I'd never met a kitty who was so friendly to me before. I also didn't know she was partially deaf at the time. And she... 
was very, very loud. And I think one of the reasons she's really loud is because she can't hear how loud she is. And she spooned with me all night. And it was the first time a cat had ever cuddled with me. And it inspired me to write a short film where I talk about meeting this beautiful lady. And the whole time you think I'm talking about a woman. And then you find out it's screaming at the end. And that's where the music video that you saw is from. It's at the very end. And that's why I just. 

Spoiler about the short film, but you find that the big twist is it's it's a kitty cat 

Gemma Smith
Well, thank you so much for sharing your journey. Everyone's journey is so different and that's what I've really enjoyed about interviewing folks on the podcast learning about Different artists stories and what led them to burlesque, but there's so many other facets of their artistry in addition to that And I really appreciate you sharing about the fact that like you have more agency and creating a solo piece as a storyteller. Some other performers have also felt that that's something that drew them to burlesque, whether it's like aging out of getting parts, things happening where you're feeling like, want to be empowered. So it sounds like you have a lot of cat inspired or cat themed art. So tell me a little more about the music video, because I'd love to share that in the show notes. 

Bitsy Brulee
It's part of this short film, because I've watched the music video. I love it. Everything about it's you and two other performers, and you're wearing cute cat ears. It's very bright. think there's like a pink background. It's very, I would say, poppy and very stylized. Would you share a little bit about that? Sure. I just want to piggyback. I forgot in my journey. 

with the agency, giving myself agency. It's so funny because I really do feel we learned in, I love studying at William Esper Studio. I had a lot of opportunities in South Carolina where I'm originally from and those teachers are great and at Esper Studio they always talked about work, gets work. And I really think when you make your own stuff, that's when the opportunities that you audition for start to come. I did my biggest project to date which is inspired by my mom. 

I'm going to do a quick plug for the short film because knock on wood, it's in the film festival circuit next year. I've applied to all the big festivals. so my mom used to have a confabulation. She's a witch. And a lot of people living with Alzheimer's, they'll have delusions. And she had a recurring confabulation, delusion. She was a witch. And in the movie, you don't know if she's a witch or if it's Alzheimer's. And it was it was like my biggest film to date, like a budget of twenty thousand dollars. I had to raise money. 

We a casting director, the director, Kristen Buckles, was amazing. One of my best friends wrote it, who's a very talented actor, comic Austin Jennings Boykin. I got to act opposite Catherine Grote, and all these amazing things were happening, but I was, the audition season was like dry in the winter. I like, you know what, I'm going to make my own work. But as soon as I started doing that, and then once I shot it, all these opportunities came out. And it wasn't necessarily from that project, but I don't know if it's just the energy. 

putting that out in the universe, know, kind of declaring, you know, I'm not, like I said, not going to sit around and wait and I'm just going to start creating my stuff. Anyway, yeah, that's, that's artist actor, but cat related themed stuff. The music video. Yeah. I really wanted for the music video. actually, went to a film festival. Then another little short that I did was in, and a guy had made a really hilarious music video. 

about sitting a lot or something. It was very funny. And I was like, I want to make a music video. And I sing. I haven't sung, I guess, professionally a lot in the past couple of years. And I said, you know, I should have like a voice demo. And I said, gosh, I can't write music. But maybe I'll hire my friend. And I said, I want a love song for Screamy. And so my friend David Zayas Jr., who's just amazing, he's so yes and. 

He's just a wonderful collaborator and director and friend. I said, I want to do a music video with my cat. And he was like, okay. And he's done pinup shoots with us before. the two actresses who were in the short film, told them and they were game. I actually commissioned my friend to write it. And then I recorded it at a studio. I'd never recorded a song professionally. So that was cool. I was like, Hey, I'll have my own demo, a vocal demo. can send people and it's within like good within my range. 

Gemma Smith (15:15.468)
And you sound fantastic. 
Like you sound, it's beautiful. love it. 

Bitsy Brulee
Yes. thank you so much. Yeah. I learned a lot recording it too, cause I didn't realize, I feel like maybe this is ignorant, but I didn't realize that when they do recording, I was like, don't do auto tune or anything. They're like, we wouldn't do auto tune. said, well, the sound sounds different. goes, the person who's recording it said, well that's because you record it twice and you put the voice layers on top of one another.

Gemma Smith
 I wouldn't have known that. 

Bitsy Brulee(15:43.796)
Yeah, they do that in Motown, like all the records. they it's they're stacking it on top of one another. that's so interesting. I think if there's anybody who is like an audio engineer or something, if I if I if that's incorrect, please let me know. But I've learned a lot doing that. then Barbie had come out the year that I did the music video. So I kind of wanted to Josie and the Pussycats like Spice Girls Barbie kind of aesthetic. And then I built a cat tree for it. 

Gemma Smith
Well, looks, it looks gorgeous. I can see that inspiration, Barbie and Josie and the Pussycats. And I wanted to go back to something you said that really resonates with me about like when you start creating your own work, because you're sitting around and feeling like, okay, nothing's happening. I'm also an actor and I'm an agent. And sometimes I hopefully get auditions and maybe book something, but I feel the exact same way as you because... 

Gemma Smith (16:38.27)
Once I start saying, I'm going to create my own thing, I become so excited about my projects. And I feel like there's this positive energy and momentum that you just need to get you going and something about being open, more open to more opportunities or seeing them more. So I really like that you mentioned that for any of our creatives out there listening, creating your own work. 

Bitsy Brulee
Yeah. It's so important. you just never do. Look, living in New York is so freaking hard, just in general, as a human being. 

Living anywhere is hard, but particularly in New York and it's expensive and chances are a lot of people are juggling different day jobs and I feel like when you have something that you're excited about it makes that stuff go faster and This is dramatic, but a reason to live not a reason to live but a reason to live in New York City, know for sure It's to live here and you like you want to feel like you're here for a reason. 

Gemma Smith
And speaking to your burlesque, I know you have lots of different types of burlusk acts. Do you have any cat themed or cat adjacent burlusk acts? 

Bitsy Brulee
actually don't. was realizing I have an idea for I'm part of Hotsy Totsy that in your burlusk troupe. They always have a Disney show and they have a Disney show. So I'm going to pitch to them. Is it Madame? Is it Bonafil from Aristocats? She's the older lady who's doesn't have a husband and she's going to leave her fortune to her cats. And then the butler wants to like steal the cats, kidnap the cats. I kind of want to, I don't know what song I would do it to, but I would have, cause she loves her cats more than anything. But I actually don't have a cat theme act. I never said how I discovered burlesque actually, like how I came into it. Yeah. So I, after year of sobriety, I decided to treat myself to go on an artist retreat. 

with Elaine Aldafer, she's the casting director at Playwrights Horizon. And she used to have this trip where you go to Costa Rica and it's an artist retreat, there's a guest teacher. The guest teacher that year was Sam Pinkleton, who's an amazing director, choreographer. He directed Omeri on Broadway. oh I wanna see that so bad. It's theater history, I highly recommend it. I saw it off Broadway and I saw it on Broadway. I rushed for it on Broadway. And I woke up at 5.30 and it's so worth it. Okay. 

I think they extended it, so hopefully I'll be They did through January and knock them with it, they extended it longer. It's amazing. He was a guest teacher there and we had to bring Genesis projects. everybody, it could be anything. It could be creating a deck of tarot cards that you did the art for. It could be a one woman show. It could be a novel. And I came in with a character idea, a mermaid type character, but I didn't know what I wanted to do with it. And we're walking. 

There's a little stand with hats. And I said, oh, should I get that hat? And Sam said to me, I could see you wearing that topless on a tortoise because there was like a tortoise statue. And said, I've always wanted to do burlesque. And he said, well, why don't you do that for your Genesis project? And I said, oh, OK. And so I did. stripped like a year into sobriety. I stripped in the jungle with all these people on the retreat. And then when I came back to New York, I went to the New York School of Burlesque and took a class with Joe Boobs. then it kind of went on from there. I

Gemma Smith (20:02.286)
It sounds like it was really transformative for you. And I just wanted to touch on, thank you for sharing about your sobriety. I know a lot of artists as well that have moved forward in their art on their journey. And I wanted to mention how I think special it is that you use things in your life that you're going through, whether it's your love for your cat or to honor your mom with your art. 

Gemma Smith (20:28.076)
Is there anything else regarding your art, whether it's cat themed or just something special to you that you'd like to share to any other creatives that might be listening?

Bitsy Brulee
 If you have an idea, listen to it. And it doesn't matter how weird it is. I think I read Deirdre O'Connell. There was some meme up and she was accepting a Tony Award and talking about the weird art. You never know where it's going to lead you. 

I really think you have to listen. know it's cliche, but be your authentic self. Listen to that authenticity. It doesn't matter how weird it is. I think the weirder the better. And also, who cares if you fail? Failing is part of it. I think you're going to fail nine times out of 10. And also, success is defined by you. These are all very cliche statements, but as I've gotten older, I've kind of relearned them. 

embrace the meaning of them more, if that makes sense. Also, be kind. Really, I should have led with be kind because you just don't know. You don't know, not that you should be kind for networking reasons, but networking really is about relationships, right? And that's what I love about burlesque. I've gravitated towards it so once I started because in the first year I was performing at all these shows and it was just recommendations or people met me and they saw an act and they liked it and 

I feel like in the acting world, a lot of times you have, not only do you have to like knock on the door, you have to bang on it, you know, obviously do it in a professional manner, but, know, you really have to, and burlesque isn't easy, but it's, it's not as tangible. think also I'm to be fair. I'm not pursuing burlesque as a pay my bills job. I think, you know, there are some people out there and I have so much respect that, know, that's. 

their main source of income, they're hustling 24 seven and I really respect it. I've kept burlesque more as not, it's not a hobby because I do take it seriously and professionally, but more enjoyable like the show I'm producing in December. Now I don't suggest this as a producer. You want to break even and make money, but I know I'm not going to make money on the show. I'm paying out of pocket my performers. I have a little like. 

leopard fanny pack where I keep my stripper money and like all the tips I get, just put cash and then I pay all my performers in cash like the night of. I'm like, here's your money. Just because it's too stressful to worry about being able to do it if ticket sales and you know. Also, I mean, I'm still trying to figure this out. Finding a. dual income or dual career where you can support. I actually, was reading about you, you're an animal advocate, like that's your day job? 

Gemma Smith
Yeah, so by day I, and I've worked there eight years. I went through a divorce in my early thirties. I was doing lots of things, pursuing acting. Then I said, I need a job. I need health insurance. And I got an administrative job at the ASPCA kitten nursery. And then I got a promotion about a year later and I've been a manager there since, but I, I work four days a week. 

Gemma Smith (23:34.528)
I asked them a couple years ago, I can do all my work in four days, can I just change my schedule? And that's the only way I have time to do other projects because you're right, it's really tricky when you have a day job and creative projects. Yeah, that's how I manage it. 

Bitsy Brulee
Well, that's so cool because it's such a, I would call you a good deed doer in your day job. You're making an impact. I think about that a lot too when I get consumed with the... 

my God, woe is me, how old am I? I found out, and this is exciting. I booked my first co-star on a TV show this year. That's a big win. Thank you. And for those listening, a co-star, means you have like one, actually, it used to mean you only have a couple lines, but nowadays, I think just because of sag and money and budgets, it could mean you could have two or three scenes. But in this co-star, and yeah, they just pay less. In this co-star, had like, 

two or three lines and I had to go do ADR on it the other day and one of my lines was cut. At least I know I'm not cut, like I'm grateful for that. I was little What's the show? FBI. I had a friend also on FBI who was on this podcast. that's crazy! just a couple lines as well. It's a great set. was a wonderful, well actually it was on set two days, but I saw one of my lines was cut. It's good to know because I'm not cut from the episode, but I was a little bummed. I was talking to an actor friend, I was like gosh. 

Is it going to be another like 10 years before I get a job on television? You know, because for those listening, mean, acting, obviously I've done, I have actually been on television before, but not in Discovery ID stuff. I've those too. Yeah, I've done, but I've done a lot of short films and indie films and stuff. you know, when it's like, my line was cut and I was kind of getting in the swamp, so to speak. And then I thought about it, was like, you know what? 

Elizabeth, maybe look up New York Cares and why don't you do some community service and why don't you go to an AA meeting and like think about how lucky you are that you get to pursue this and think about like how lucky you are to know that you weren't cut and that you know that it truly is a privilege to be able to do what you do that I think it's important I guess another advice is it can be really hard and it is disappointing and it does suck a lot of the times but 

how you talk to yourself and how you frame the narrative for yourself is really important because that will make or break you from your day-to-day life, just like your soul, you know? 

Gemma Smith
Yes, this all I completely understand and agree with, and I really like going back to what you said about being kind. I think that's important just for, not only for like making new friends, meeting new collaborators, people you could work with in the future. 

But also, if you're kind to others and putting good energy out there, it's only going to hopefully come back or spread. If you're in a dressing room and everyone's like, maybe someone's in a bad mood. And that's OK, we're human. But if you're being kind, and you might kind of turn their mood around, and it only helps the show. 

Bitsy Brulee (26:50.378)
It's so true and to be open to artistic opportunities, just as like you said, as a human being and you want to be a kind person. But yeah, just as I'm getting older too, like I said, getting the attention off myself with like community service and just what kind of impact you're leaving in the world and. 

I don't want to get political and stuff, but you know, things that are out of our control. 

Gemma Smith
I know. I joined the Bushwick Mutual Aid when the election results came out and I said, okay, I need to just try to think what can I do? I can do a lot more to help. So I'm with you on that. I've done New York Cares. I never stuck with it. I would just go to one thing. 

Bitsy Brulee
I know. I haven't either. mean, I always get, like, there'll be a month or two out of the year where I'm like, okay, I need to do this. But at least I do it a month or two out of the year, you know? 

Gemma Smith (27:41.56)
Bitsy, you've shared so many great nuggets, advice for creatives, those that are in the business now, those that are pursuing it. I find really helpful positive mindset shifts. But now I wanna learn a little bit more about beautiful angelic Screamy. I hear that you take Screamy to like parades and events with you and you dress up. I've seen some very cute pictures. Can you share a little bit about that? 

Bitsy Brulee (28:07.886)
Yes. So Screamy, she's very chill, as you can see. She's always been very, very, she loves people. And I think just in her older age, I'd been to the Easter parade once before the pandemic, but I'd wanted to go again after the pandemic. And then the year that my mother died, my sister came to the city for some reason, I think just to check on me. And I was like, can we dress up and go to the parade? And she said, yeah. And he's like, should I bring Screamy? And she's like, sure, why not? 

So I brought Screamy and it was like she was a celebrity gem. It was like no one had ever seen a cat before. Cause they, I mean, I'll take her to the Halloween dog parade and sometimes someone will bring a cat. But for the Easter parade, people generally don't. And I, I was stopped so many times to get pictures with her. She ended up in the New York daily news time out in New York. 

They're Getty images of her. It's just wild. It was wild. was like, I've gotten more press off of bringing my cat to the parade. Not press, but you know. Yeah, that's press. That's exciting. It was very exciting. 2022. And then I decided to take her to the Tompkins Square dog park parade. I didn't know if cats were allowed, so was a little nervous. Well, for the first year at the Easter parade, she was like a little bunny. It's so funny because... 

A lot of times people at the parades ask me if I drug her and I go, I would not, I mean, I'm a stage mom, but I would not drug my cat to take her to a parade. That's terrible. She's not drugged. She's just, she's super chill. You know, I think also because she's deaf, she's not as overstimulated and she really loves people. Also high up off the ground, because I will take her out of her bag and hold her like a baby and stuff, but I also have a... 

She has three different kinds of bags. So I always carry a bag so she can go in her bag and be in her comfort area. Yeah. The first Halloween parade I dressed, I have a slimer act. so this costume, it's really cool. It's neon green. Yes. My friend Warren Cito, he made it. And so I dressed up a slimer. My partner dressed up as a ghost buster and then screamy was the marshmallow man. 

or a dog dressed up as a marshmallow man. And then the next Easter parade, she was a bee. I made her bag look like a beehive and she was a little bee and she has this little window and she can peek out. I was a flower or like flowers. I decorated, of course, with flowers and I had a sunflower hat. And then my partner was a beekeeper. He really didn't, he didn't like that hat. 

Bitsy Brulee (30:54.471)
But he wore it. He was a great sport. And he actually hates parades, but he's a very good sport to go screaming at me. And then, and we were Lord of the Rings, the novel. She was Gollum Schmiegel. And if you see her, she has very Gollum Schmiegel eyes. I can see it. Yes. And I was Gandalf and I had like a beard. And that was crazy. We ended up on The Today Show's Instagram, they reposted something, which was wild. It's funny because people go crazy. I can see how it can be addicting to Google yourself. Like I get a little monster with it. I have to check myself. I'm like, where is she? Did she make it in press? Total stage mom. Yes. Last Easter parade, were jackalopes. And then this Halloween parade, we didn't make it in that much press because... 

Mom got a little overzealous. The past couple of parades, it's been really cold out. So I've gotten little hand warmers to put in her bag. And this parade, it started off really cold, but it got really hot. And so she was panting and it looked like silently screaming. And I was so nervous. I was like, did I just kill my elderly cat by like taking her? But so I immediately took her out the bag. She was fine, but we went home. 

We were waiting for the parade to start, but just for those listening, no, I don't drag my cat. If she doesn't like to be there, I will take her home because her health is the most important thing. We were Jaws this year. She was, I was the shark. My boyfriend was Brody and she was Quint. And I made her bag look like the orca. People didn't get that one as much though.

Gemma Smith
It's very creative, just this. Even if I had a whole podcast episode just interviewing you about taking Screamy to parades. It's so creative because you're coming up with like themed costumes for three people. 

Bitsy Brulee
It's really it's it brings me so much joy. And sometimes I'm like all this time and money, I'm like, you know what? I don't care. It brings me so much joy. I read also a meme. I spent too much time with social media, but it was a famous writer. who was it? Something about for the artist, creating is praying. 

And that really stuck with me and I think it's really true. I always say going to the theater is like going to church for me. I consider burlesque theater. I think, you know, any theater space. That's beautiful. I like that because like we are the also we are the authors of our own life and like hearing you say like, okay, yeah, it's a lot of money and time to make these costumes. So this is what brings me joy and this is my life. And like we get to express ourselves and do whatever we want in our lives. And 

Gemma Smith (33:32.302)
I'm turning 40 next year. I'm really struggling with like, as you mentioned earlier, sometimes you think, I'm this age or whatever. But the older I get, the more I'm like, well, I get to create my life to be whatever I want it to look like. And what brings me joy, it doesn't have to look like what people expect a 40 year old's life looks like. So well, also 40 is the new. 

Gemma Smith (33:56.654)
30 and age is just, mean, could, I could shout a bajillion cliches at you, but also, I mean, I would, I would not have thought you're 40. It's so weird too about aging in general as a, as, as a society and also as a woman and as a woman in the industry. Cause like, remember growing up and seeing, you know, there's, there's all those articles out about like the golden girls. They were actually in there the same age as, and just like that, those women now and like it's night and day, but 

Gemma Smith (34:25.614)
It is so interesting because I was during the pandemic, my partner and I, watched a bunch of 80s horror films that I hadn't seen. what we're I think we're watching Poltergeist and the mom and that is supposed to be like 33. And she looks to me, she looks like she's like in her late 40s. No offense to the actress. If you're listening to Tails and Castles. Exactly. But she she does. But I just think it's. 

Gemma Smith (34:54.55)
different, you know, because our generation, we we wear sunscreen like taking care of yourself and I think also 

Gemma Smith (35:04.024)
There are all these expectations that are put into place, but by who and by when and how. mean, living nowadays is so different than it was even 10 years ago with social media, I think. I'm so glad I didn't grow up with social, like Instagram when I was in high school and stuff. We had Live Journal. had OK, I think I had that like in college, MySpace. But yeah, it's hard. But yeah, I did. 

Gemma Smith (35:31.81)
And also there's just so many stories I've read. Well, Colascola, for instance, I mean, they've been internet famous for a very long time, like in their 20s, very niche, I guess, but they've been famous. they created this play because they weren't getting cast. They also had the connections, the means, and they had, they were in search party and stuff. But I think that's just an example of someone who is like, I want to create my own. 

Gemma Smith (36:00.654)
specific art. Also, mean, so many, so many different people I've read, they just by doing, creating what they love and what's authentic to them and what brings them joy, it led to other opportunities because I don't mean to interrupt you either, but as I'm getting older to like that, lol, that I had in October, was like, should I just be a real estate agent? You know, not like that's easy, you know, but I was like, it's so I have to be very careful with the. 

Gemma Smith (36:29.612)
going very global and black and white and being like, well, I need to build my life and make sure X, Y, and Z is checked off. Yeah, it doesn't have to be black and white. There can be like a gray area and it doesn't mean you like failed or whatever. And I wanted to note, I forgot to say this earlier, I loved what you said about failing. I mean, that's how you grow. You have to make mistakes. Things have to go wrong. Like failing's okay, it's great because you're going to learn and grow from it and move on to the next thing. 

Gemma Smith (37:00.854)
I could tell you so many horror stories. Once I was called into New York Theater Workshop, which is one of my dream theaters, and I was so nervous that I messed up and I apologized. And that's like, know, a big like, no, no, like never apologize. And I messed up again. I apologized again. And then I tripped like two or three times outside. 

Gemma Smith (37:25.758)
going out and I was so embarrassed. I was so embarrassed. Like other failing, I was once in a dance call for, I think it was the national tour of Elf and I had no business being in this dance call. I'm not a dancer with a capital D. I can move. I mean, I guess compared to your normal average Joe, they might call me a dancer, but I'm like, you know, I'd be like an advanced beginner at steps, dance studio, you know, maybe singer who moves. Yeah, like 

Gemma Smith (37:55.704)
I can pick up combinations, you know, but not Broadway dancer. And it was, I almost cut myself. I almost bowed out. Like I almost was going to be like, I don't think this is right for me. But instead I stuck it through until they cut me. Cause I was like, and I just kind of laughed at myself. God, there are just so many horror, not horror stories, but you know, embarrassing. 

Gemma Smith (38:19.254)
stories. It's almost like exposure because if you can get through that and you like, okay, that was humiliating or I failed or that was embarrassing. You like exposed yourself to that feeling and you know you got through it. And like if the next thing happens, you can get through it again. I'm so I'm so grateful to get to know you. I like doing this podcast because I get to know people more and their stories. And I just love connecting with people and hearing everyone's inspiration and creative process and tying it into their cats. So on that note, could you share? 

Gemma Smith (38:47.82)
A little more just about any special rituals you have with Screamy. Yes, well she loves to be brushed. She loves to be brushed like I'm brushing her right now. She still plays. She still sometimes gets the zoomies. And I always make sure if I'm like if I'm working on my computer or something if I can I stop and play with her just because you know she is she is on the older side. She's a golden girl. 

Gemma Smith (39:15.334)
she likes to play chase and go to her scratchy post and scratch for scratch, rituals. She used to do that walking around in circles, screaming at the air thing. She doesn't do that as much anymore. She, I mean, she's a cuddle bug. She, that's her favorite thing in the world to do. She just, she likes to sleep either cheek to cheek with her little cheek on my cheek or in my arms. sometimes in between my legs. 

Gemma Smith (39:43.026)
If I'm not in bed, I think by like midnight, if I'm home, she'll scream at me to get in bed. What other rituals? What other rituals scream me? Well, there's the ritual of giving her her fluids and her blood pressure medication. yeah. I'm so glad you brought that up because I used work at veterinary clinic. know it can be really hard for some cat parents to give fluids daily, and it's for hydration for cats with kidney disease. It's amazing that, I mean, she's so chill. I can see how you're able to do it. Yeah. Would you share a little bit about that process and how like she adjusted to letting you? 

Gemma Smith (40:13.43)
Yeah. It's so funny because when I first did it, I was so scared. I was more scared than she was because I was like, putting a needle in my baby. So the first month, I was really bad at it. then my boyfriend, would assist me sometimes, but we would get into fights just because we kept forgetting to hold the line flush against her body. So when she would move, it would like come out and would squirt everywhere. So that was funny. 

Gemma Smith (40:41.954)
But I found a routine, there's a windowsill, there's these windows in my apartment and I just, I kind of press her little body up against the corner and I put my big old thigh underneath her tiny little head and like block her in there and put the fluids in. always am playing lately what we do in the shadows. We watch that while we do it. the lady who lives in my building who runs Greenpoint Cats, I didn't know this. 

Gemma Smith (41:11.426)
I don't always do this, but you can warm up fluids too. Like put it in a pot of warm water and warm it up. Sometimes that'll be less shocking. And also massaging the fluids into the skin after you do it. I've been doing that. The main thing she hates more than anything is her blood pressure medication. She doesn't like pills. I've tried everything. 

Gemma Smith (41:34.51)
There's not a pill shooter that's small enough for her little mouth because she has a very tiny little head. she do a pill pocket or she's too smart? She's smart. Like she loved churus. Churus were her favorite thing. I used to put it in churus. After a week, she figured it out and she won't eat churus anymore. That's so hard. And it's sad because it was like one of the treats she loved. And her diet, she's not on a prescription diet because she's so finicky. Dr. Toy Show works at Hardiff Chelsea. He's an amazing vet. 

Gemma Smith (42:03.942)
he told me it's more important for her to eat than to be in a prescription diet. So we rub that funk in the trunk. The protein is, you want it to be lower in protein, I think for the kidneys. So she's in that. even, paid like a hundred something dollars for them to make the blood pressure medication into a liquid and chicken flavored. wouldn't eat it. So I have to just pry her little mouth open every night. 

Gemma Smith (42:33.054)
She hates it. And sometimes she'll trick me. And then she'll have to, tell her, then you eat nasty candy, because I just have to hold your mouth closed until it disintegrates. I wanted to say, I know how hard it is when you just want to help them and they don't like don't know. That's the one thing where I feel like Screebee and I are in the same wavelength. And she really gets me, except when I'm giving her her pill. I'm like, 

Gemma Smith (43:01.912)
Why can't you just understand? She is so in tune. People who say that cats aren't as emotionally intelligent as dogs. I disagree. They really are. They're just, they're just different. They express themselves different. And I lucked out because Screamy is, she's such a lap kitty, as you can see. And I've met other cats that aren't like that. And I, I would be very sad if that's how Screamy was, but I've learned to really like them too. You know, they just have their... 

Gemma Smith (43:30.254)
They're like, little aliens, but they can be just as sweet as dogs and they know when something's wrong or you're upset and they let you know, like screaming at her water fountain when I'd forgotten to turn it on. She wakes me up every morning to feed her. She's so funny too. Sometimes she'll jump in the bed to cuddle and then I'll open the covers and I'll tell her to get in and then I'll close the covers and she'll go away and then I'll close the covers. comes, it has to be her idea to get into the covers. 

Gemma Smith (43:59.934)
There's so you're right like cats have their own personality traits and quirks and people that just don't say that they don't like cats They just don't know cats yet, or they haven't met the cat that they like that's how I was an act with ya Sounds like you're such an excellent you and your partner excellent cat parents I've loved hearing about screaming and all of your art and your nuggets of Wisdom for our fellow creatives before we wrap up. Is there anything else that you'd like to share? 

Gemma Smith (44:27.406)
about being a cat mom and creative. That I'm very lucky to have such a little precious angel. I definitely want to create an act to do with cats now. Yes, and I want to have you at the next Cat baret after Galentine's. I want to do one. haven't booked it. It's either going to be maybe an end of April or it may be more summer like July, but maybe you can do that a risk to. 

Gemma Smith (44:54.612)
yes, I'd love to do that. But adopt senior cats. They really, I didn't adopt her in the traditional sense, but you know, when she did fall into my life, I didn't even think about the fact that, she's older, she might not be with you as long, just because I was her person, you know? But they're so sweet. went, I forget in Brooklyn. 

Gemma Smith (45:23.128)
On the 4th of July, my boyfriend and walked in and we saw these kittens and they were so cute and they were all to be adopted. But then I spent some time with this boy. He was like 11 or 12 and he was just so sweet. He was so sweet. And I have some friends who just adopt senior cats and they deserve to be loved. And it's hard because sometimes it's expensive. Like I'm very grateful that I'm able to afford and take the best care of her that I can. But... 

Gemma Smith (45:50.306)
They deserve all the love and they can in their senior years. I guess my message, I'm so long-winded, is adopt senior kitties. They're worth it. mean, have nothing. Kittens are adorable too, but. No, I hear you and I'm here for this advice because yeah, working in a shelter, I know that kittens get adopted like that. They get adopted so quickly, but there are other cats waiting. 

Gemma Smith (46:16.46)
They're longer, that might be nine, 10, 11, 12 more, and they need a home too. I really appreciate you saying that. Yes, yes, because they're the best. And for everyone that wants to follow Screamy and Elizabeth, also known as Bitsy, you can follow them on Instagram at ebayz underscore, also in the show notes, you can check that out. And that's a wrap for this episode of Tails and Tassels. We love hearing from you, so feel free to send us an email. 

Gemma Smith (46:46.41)
at tailsandtasselspod at gmail.com. And thank you for listening. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Also join our community on Instagram at tailsandtasselspod for more updates and behind the scenes fun. And that's it for now. Take care and until next time, kitty cats. And that's a wrap for this episode of Tails and Tassels. So if you have any questions, comments, or just want to say meow, 

Gemma Smith (47:35.828)
Feel free to send us an email at tailsandtasselspod at gmail.com. Thank you for listening, and don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review our podcast. Also, join our community on Instagram at tailsandtosselspod for more updates and behind the scenes fun. See you next time, kitty cats.