Jamie Austin at Southern Comfort Conference

Jamie Austin is a cross-dresser's best friend. Not only is he great with makeup, but knows how to direct and pose an amateur wannabe model!

While at the Southern Comfort Conference I signed up for makeup and a photo shoot. I was going to use one of my usual blond wigs when Jamie directed me to a bunch of his wigs that he had handy. He wanted me in something darker so I picked out a red number. Something I rarely wear.

So we ran around the hotel taking pictures. The Crowne Plaza at Ravinia has this beautiful lobby with jungle plants and waterfalls. So here are a few of some of the 100 plus pictures that were taken. The only thing I regret is not having enough time for an outfit change:















I had a blast, I hope you like these photos too! And thanks again to Jamie Austin for making it happen!

- Tracy

Captain Cross Dresser Addendum

I thought I would share this with you. There are nice people pulling for us!
Husband and wife playwrights Sam Bobrick and Julie Stein wrote this animation. It was presented as a pilot for Sony Television.

From Sam's web site:

However, ever now and then a project or idea shows up that I can’t resist getting involved in. Recently my wife, Julie Stein and I created a TV cartoon series called THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN CROSS DRESSER that was bought by Sony Pictures Television. It’s about a normal family man who becomes a super hero when he puts on women’s clothing. We produced it along with our very good friends George Shapiro and Howard West who also produced SEINFELD. The wonderful comedic actor Fred Willard played the lead along with incredibly talented Carl Reiner, Jane Lynch and Brian George. We thought it came out great. Although we did not get it on the networks, Sony still believes in it and is taking it a new route to get it out to the public. I hope they do. It was great fun working on it and has tremendous potential. You can watch the 8 minutes mini-pilot by going to LINKS and clicking on “crackle.com”

I felt I had to write Sam and thank him for this wonderful little gem:

I wanted to thank you personally for the Captain Cross Dresser animation. There's a lot of us out here, though like your lead character, deep in the closet. It was positive and quite accurate. I especially liked the son spouting off homophobic non-sense and his sister and mother calling him out on it!

Though we get confused with gays and drag queens, and there is nothing wrong with those people, it's just not our story.

I put a link from my blog http://tracyschapes.blogspot.com/ to the crackle site. Many of my "sisters" on the message boards have been made aware of it too. Maybe it could be shown on Cartoon Network's"Adult Swim" or on the Logo channel.

Good luck with it and thanks again,
Tracy Schapes

Sam wrote me back:

Dear Tracy: Thank you for your note. Although getting CAPTAIN CROSSDRESSER made into a series is an uphill battle, we are not giving up on it.Progressive ideas are not the easiest thing to sell to TV.

Thanks again.Sam Bobrick

The Adventures of Captain Crossdresser

The "Adventures of Captain Cross Dresser" is a cute animation and is very positive for us cross-dressers. Instead of portraying us as perverts, some very accurate information is imparted. Like most of us are straight, and have a wife and kids. It is done in a very light and clever way. It even has the son of the cross-dresser spouting off homophobic non-sense, and his sister and mom call him out on it! Hope you enjoy it. Thanks to Crackle

For Those That Feel They Look Too Manly

My last post had to do with those T-girls that don't know how to start getting out and about. Transgender Conferences are really the way to go. The other main question I get is "How do I look more like a girl and less like a dude in a dress!"

My best recommendation has always been to practice and take lots of pictures. But for those that are frustrated or just impatient, may I suggest a transformation service.

Two of these services that were present at the Southern Comfort Conference that I attended in October of 2008 was Jamie Austin and Amanda Richards. I used Jamie Austin's but I also saw the results from Amanda Richards. Both do an excellent job. I learned a great deal from this experience. Jamie was great and provided wigs and outfits that I would not normally wear.

I'm still not that good at posing, and I certainly have the more "girl next door" look. I don't think I know how to pose sexy!

Here's some pictures from the shoot. I got to pose around the lobby and out behind the hotel. It was fun to have someone take your picture like your some kind of model. It was a blast!













There's a number of these services around the country. Usually in more urban areas, but it is worth the time to look one up. They can make all the difference in the world!

-Tracy

Major CD/TG/TS Conferences for 2009

I've have been neglecting my blog. I had every intention of posting something each week. As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

I didn't realize what an impact the SCC conference had on me. On one hand I wanted to go back the next day and on the other, some of my "Pink Fog" had lifted. I had somewhat OD'd on the experience, so there was bound to be some snap-back. But all, in all, I plan on going back this September all the same.

So there are more conferences than just SCC. I've just been to SCC, but I've heard good things about these other ones. Here's a chance to be the girl you want to be for several days in a row, and meet a lot of lovely people!.

Why not make it one of your goals to go to one this year?

I don't have a list of them for all countries, but here are some in North America:

For 2009

March

26 - 29; Colorado Gold Rush; Dever, Co

April

30 - May 2; Transgender 2009 — The Liberty Conference; Philadelphia PA

May

10 - 17; Esprit 2009; Port Angeles, WA

June

2 - 7; Be-All 2009; Chicago, IL

September

22 - 27; Southern Comfort Conference; Atlanta, GA

October

18 -25; Fantasia Fair; Provincetown, MA
27 - Nov 1 ; Fall Harvest; Kansas City MO

November

4 - 8; Holiday En Femme; Chicago, IL
6 - 8; An Alluring Affair; Huntsville, Ontario, CA
16 - 21; Lake Erie Gala 2009; Erie, PA

If I missed some, please let me know. Two have already occurred this year:

First Event Peabody, Ma
The 23rd Anual Conference of the IFGE 2009 Alexandria, VA

So sign up today and make a pledge to get out and do it!

Hope to see you at this year's SCC!

-Tracy