A nightclub act is a production, usually of nightclub music or comedy, designed for performance at a nightclub, a type of drinking establishment, by a nightclub performer such as a nightclub singer or nightclub dancer, whose performance may also be referred to as a nightclub act. A scheduled performance, such as a wedding gig, is a club date.[1]
What distinguishes stage performance in a nightclub or club date setting is the breaking down of the "fourth wall," the invisible barrier between audience and performer that separates their realities. The audience's disbelief doesn't have to be suspended for more than the length of a song.[1]
The role of the female nightclub singer occurs frequently in fiction: books, movies, television, and even songs; she may serve as temptress, kidnapping or abuse victim, femme fatale, gangster moll, or as a prostitute. Due to censorship, a nightclub singer was often used to replace a prostitute character in film adaptations of books.
Nightclub acts were more common in the past, as modern nightclubs have moved towards dance music, DJs, and rave like environments.[citation needed] However, musicians such as David Bowie and Madonna have played nightclub singers in music videos and live performances.[citation needed] In New York City, since 1985, successful, enduring, or innovative cabaret acts have been honored by the annual Bistro Awards.[3]
^Carnes, Mark C.; ed. (2005). American National Biography: Supplement 2, p. 364. Oxford University. ISBN9780195222029. "In the late 1950s Martin became a fixture in Las Vegas, often performing at the Sands nightclub.
^Clarke, Andra D. and Denton-Drew, Regina (2015). Ciro's: Nightclub of the Stars, p. 95. Arcadia. ISBN9781467133791.
^Schechter, Scott and Stritch, Billy (2004). The Liza Minnelli Scrapbook, p. 16. Citadel. ISBN9780806526119. "In September 1965, Liza Minnelli performed her first nightclub act."
^Gallick, Sarah and Maier, Nicholas (2003). Divinely Decadent – Liza Minnelli: The Drugs, the Sex & the Truth Behind Her Bizarre Marriage, p. 37. American Media. ISBN9781885840042.
^Ilson, Carol (1989). Harold Prince: A Director's Journey, p. 139. Hal Leonard. ISBN9780879102968.
