Tails and Tassels

The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Creatives & Their Cats

• Gemma Smith • Season 2 • Episode 5

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Don’t Miss the Next Catbaret! 🐱🎭

There’s always a new Catbaret show coming up—whether in person in NYC or virtually! Grab your tickets at CatbaretShow.com for a night of cat-themed comedy, music, and burlesque! 

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🎁 The Holiday Gift Guide Episode Is Here!

This week, I’m sharing my newly refreshed Holiday Gift Guide for Creatives and Their Cats — a curated list of tools, treats, small creators, and enrichment toys I actually use and love.

👉 Explore the full guide (with photos!) on the blog here.

Resources & Links (mentioned in the episode)

Experiences as Gifts

💌 Connect with Us:

Programming Notes
Dec 18: New expert episode with Harris Baker (Catfluence) on SEO for creatives
Then a short holiday break so we can rest, recharge, and snuggle your cats. The podcast returns the first full week of January

Support the show

Logo by Logan Laveau

Gemma Smith (00:05.934)
Hello, hello, kitty cats, and welcome back to the holiday episode of Tales and Tassels, the podcast where you pounce into the lives of burlesque nightlife performers, their craft, their cats, and how the two worlds intertwine. I'm your host, Gemma Smith. By day, I work in animal welfare, and by night, I host the Cat Beret, New York City's cat-themed variety show.

And today we are diving into my annual but newly improved holiday gift guide for creatives and their cats. These are real things I use and love and get compliments on all the time. Plus a few fun surprises for the performers and cat people in your life. And please know I'll be featuring plenty of independent artists and small businesses, but also some of these links for products I use full disclosure.

They're Amazon affiliate links and they don't cost you anything extra and they're a super easy way to support the podcast while getting one of my favorite items. And before we begin a tiny life update, I'm transitioning into a new role in animal welfare and I'm learning so much. You know, I like to keep my career separate from my podcast.

but I wanted you to know it's an exciting, busy time, deeply meaningful work. And so I'm using this winter to hibernate, to learn, I have a ton to learn, and to keep a slower creative pace. So no cat beret again until March, because sustainability over burnout is the name of the game. Go back to season two premiere episode where I talk all about that. And before we dive into it, a quick programming note.

We have a brand new expert episode coming next week on December 18th, all about SEO for creatives and social media with Harris Baker from Catfluence. And then we'll be taking short three week holiday break so you all can enjoy time with your families, your cats and your creativity. And we'll be back the first full week of January. All right, let's get into it.

Gemma Smith (02:30.336)
All the products I mentioned today are linked in the show notes and I'll likely make a little blog roundup too. Starting with your craft, this is for performers, producers, emcees, and just all around creative humans. My first plug is for those old school folks like me who like to write things down. The Passion Planner, this is my number one producer tool.

In addition to my Google spreadsheets, that is, I have used Passion Planner for almost 10 years. It's part planner, part gratitude journal, and part vision board, and it also keeps my creative life sane. My cover this year is Cosmic Charm. It has a gold sun and moon, and for me, that represents Lion-O and Luna. I always imagine Lion-O is the sun and Luna is the moon, so I'm really excited about my new planner.

So if your inner artist likes pen to paper organizing, this is the gift for you. Next up for my show girls and just anyone who travels, a leopard print suitcase set. When I committed to the suitcase life for Cat Beret, it changed everything. This little carry on and tote combo is light, cute, and extremely functional. I use it for every show and I get

compliments constantly. I will say that I leave the cat ears, merch, whatever I have left over from the previous show. After the cat purée show, I organize everything back into that suitcase. Even the cash, I have a little cat fanny pack and I have a certain amount of cash for change for my stage kittens with raffle tickets or with making tip change for audience members.

and I count it and I leave it in there for the next show. I like everything to be as organized and easy as possible because as you all know, producing shows is a lot of work. So this leopard print suitcase set, it's made my life a lot more simple. And in addition to the leopard print suitcase set, I also love my leopard print packing cubes. Instead of plastic bags,

Gemma Smith (04:51.724)
because Lionel eats plastic. I use packing cubes to store my costumes. Please comment or DM me if your cat also loves to eat plastic and you can't keep plastic bags or anything plastic in your apartment. my goodness, if I bring in something from outside and it has plastic, within one to two minutes, Lionel will start eating it. And so we have to be, my husband and I, very diligent about getting rid of.

any plastic in the apartment because we just don't want him to eat it and to have stomach upset or you know unfortunately it could even cause something like a blockage so you have to be really really careful. I digress these leopard print packing cubes come in all different sizes and they keep my burlesque costumes organized and ready for stage life so I highly recommend if you want a little fun organization in your life.

Ooh, and this worked out perfectly. Our next item is the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lip and Beiso, which I am wearing right now. And I totally forgot about that as I was actually prepping for this podcast recording. And I just thought, I'm wearing my Christmas little sweater with kitty cats. Let me wear my red lip. And this is it, my signature red. She survives the show, a subway ride, and a slice of pizza after.

I like to add a little loose red glitter on top and I get so many compliments. Next up is the Burlesque Handbook by Joe Weldon. So many of our Tales and Tassels guests have mentioned Joe and have trained at the New York School of Burlesque. And Joe Weldon's Handbook is basically a backstage mentor in paper form. And it's perfect for beginners or seasoned performers who want to deepen their craft. I also took

classes, including the Act Development class at the New York School of Burlesque back in 2019 and have a copy of this book myself. So I highly recommend. Okay, my creatives, my purrformers, those tips were for you. Next, let's get into some things your cats are gonna love. First up, we've got an exciting offer for you, okay? We've got the FeeLess Luxe Prey Wand Toy.

Gemma Smith (07:15.946)
My cats go wild for this wand toy. It's beautifully made and really durable. And there's a special listener gift from Fearless Lux. I'm so excited about this. The wonderful folks at Fearless Lux created a special 50 % off code just for tails and tassels listeners. Yes, you heard that right. 50 % off. Use Tassel 50, and that's tassel in all caps.

for 50 % off your first order. It works on one-time purchases and subscriptions, no minimum. Lionel and Luna genuinely love this brand. I met the founders at CatCon back in August. They so kindly gifted me a wand toy and my cats go crazy for it, especially my Lionel, who's not been as playful. He's 12 years old and he's very smart. So sometimes I feel like he's not as playful because

I'm not engaging him correctly or tricking him enough, but with this one toy, have first the snake attachment, slithering it around on the ground. He loves it. I haven't seen him go this excited for toys since he was a kitten. And then I also have the bat attachment, which was part of the Halloween subscription box. And he goes crazy for that as well. In addition, I have their catnip and silver vine spray.

And that was really helpful for me in training Mr. Lionel to sit on the cat bed next to my work from home desk and not on my new desk. That was a bit of a drama. And I find that the spray really helped show him, no, this bed is for you, not the desk. Anyway, Tassel 50, T-A-S-S-E-L 50, linked in the show notes. and I also just want to say they generously donated to Cat Beret.

as our costume contest prize and the winner was overjoyed. So this isn't a meowsing deal that we have here. And I just want to make sure you buy it for the cat lover or your own cat in your life. Next up, have Rova Foss-focused lickable cat treats. Goodness, back to Mr. Lionel, but he had two urinary blockages years ago. So I'm always paying attention to moisture and quality. And these treats aren't

Gemma Smith (09:39.778)
you know, medical fix for him, but the high moisture and lower phosphorus make them a nice gentle option for cats with urinary histories or senior kitties. And both my cats love the flavor. So it's a win-win. Next up, goodness, don't we love to share what cat litter we use and everyone loves different kinds, but especially I love the sustainably yours litter.

Sustainably Yours is great because it's an eco-friendly, high-performance cat litter made from renewable corn and cassava. It offers excellent odor control. I love the firm and fast clumping. I really need that to make sure I see that my cats are going to the bathroom easy to scoop, and it makes cleanup easier and healthier for cats and homes. And it's championed by cat experts like Jackson Galaxy.

And next up, I just wanted to share for your kitty cats this gorgeous cat tree that we have, both our cats love. So if you want a cat tree that actually looks like a piece of art, the Refined Feline Lotus Cat Tower is gorgeous. It's sleek, modern, and it blends into your home like a sculptural statement instead of like the carpeted pet cat tree. You know what I mean. So my cats love the height and it's got

curved perches and it's sturdy enough for zoomies, lounging, you know, it's definitely a splurge. I won't lie. But if you're looking for something that's going to elevate your space and be with you for the long haul, I would recommend this cat tree. I also want to share some gift suggestions for the, just the creatives in your life. And so we can support also some of our artists who we love. These are gifts with heart from real creatives. I personally know and support.

First up, want to say Fortune Cookie, who was on our show just a few episodes ago. She is the producer and host of Books and Burlesque, and she also has a gym called Cosmic Fit Club in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. In addition to going and checking out her show, I highly recommend taking a class. Take an aerial yoga class if you're here in New York City. If you're not, reach out to Fortune Cookie. She is such cute.

Gemma Smith (11:56.664)
performer merch. I have a very cute Books & Burlesque shirt. I got their magnet. I have stickers. I know she's making, I think something new. This show, like a romper, a tube top. Check her out. If you want to support a working performer and producer, this is a fantastic option. Also, her show recommends many books by creators who we want to amplify their voices. So if you're not sure what new book to read or get your

aunt or partner who loves books, check out the authors she highlights in Books and Burlesque and support them. Next up is featuring our cat braids show photographer, El Jong. You may have heard him in season one of the podcast. If you want to give someone a creative upgrade for the new year, consider a photo shoot. Our cat braids photographer,

El-Jong is just fantastic and he's a cat lover. He's professional, talented, and he really knows what he's doing. I've shot with him myself in his studio and met his adorable, adorable cat, Whiskey. She's really part of the experience and he's also a great show photographer as well. And I checked with him before this episode to make sure he's accepting new clients and he is.

So I'll link his information in the show notes and you can reach out and schedule a session. Next up for all my burlesque babes, one of the best gifts for a creative is skill building. And Gigi Holiday offers burlesque classes and 30 minute one-on-one sessions called On Tease Knows Best.

I've taken not only in-person classes with her, but also a private session, and she is so warm, honest, and incredibly helpful. So this is a perfect gift for emerging or established performers. And a bit about Gigi Holliday, she is listed as the number 13th most influential burlask performer in the world. She's known as the Chocolate City Titty, DC Brood, and New York Infused. I've seen her perform at the New York.

Gemma Smith (14:06.786)
Burlesque Festival, in addition to taking classes with her, including a private session that was so incredibly helpful. And then lastly, if you listened to our last episode with TNR advocate and rapper Sterling Trap King Davis, then I've got a gift for you. If you want a gift that gives back, check out the merch from Trap King. You just heard him on the pod. He has shirts and gear that support

his incredible work in trap-neuter return and community cat advocacy. It's a great way to rep a mission you believe in and support a creator doing real grassroots work for cats. And he also has a Patreon, so you could support him that way as well. And sometimes the best gift is a night out, right? An experience and supporting local artists.

So consider tickets to Books and Burlusk coming up on December 13th at Caveat. That's Fortune Cookie's beautiful show. If you're on the West Coast, follow and check out Show Me Your Kitty's Cabaret. We had Luna Lovely on the show earlier this season. And in general, wherever you are around the world, your favorite local variety show, Cabaret Burlusk Show, this would make a great gift or a night out for a loved one.

And of course, kitty cats, I'd be remiss if I didn't plug the next cat beret. In March, March 5th, a caveat, it's a cat lady purr-tee where you're gonna celebrate your inner, and for most of us, our outer cat lady. And I've got some fun ideas brewing for that show. We've got a great lineup of cabaret dance, burlesque, singing,

Comedy so I'm really excited about that show and you can definitely purchase tickets as a gift for the loved ones in your life So whether you're gifting your favorite performer a cat obsessed friend or you're just treating yourself, which I do a lot Everything is linked in the show notes. Okay, so if you have a favorite creative tool or cat product you swear by DM me or email me at tails and tassels pot at gmail.com. I love hearing what you're loving

Gemma Smith (16:24.438)
and your picks might make it into a future roundup. Happy gifting, kitty cats, and a reminder to stay tuned for next week's episode featuring our first expert guest of season two.

And that's a wrap for this episode of Tales and Tassels. So if you have any questions, comments, or just want to say meow, feel free to send us an email at talesandtasselspod 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 Tales and Tassels Pod for more updates and behind the scenes fun. See you next time, kitty cats.


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