Saucy Chicks e-zine seeks satire, comedy, genius

NEDERLAND — Business and art — that’s a combo that mixes about as well as oil and water. But two Nederland women are making the two blend like chocolate and milk.

Business in their world is, well, different. Toss out the ties, the high heels, suits, high-powered meetings and everything else that comes to mind when you think business. This is business “saucy” style.

Shawn Marie and Blanch Prizer own Saucy Chicks: a two-woman company that’s, uhm, hard to define. As for attire, Prizer said her feather-boa collection is the “envy of everyone who appreciates impractical accessorizing.”

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As for making money in the venture, Prizer’s attitude appears laissez faire.

“Regardless of whether or not we take people’s money for the goods we provide — content — I consider our readers our customers. In that spirit, Saucy Chicks is a business enterprise.”

Ask them what they do or what that business enterprise is and good luck getting a nice short answer such as sales or management. According to their Web site, Saucy Chicks is an e-zine, but they also describe it as a “worldwide movement, a forum for free expression, a lifestyle, a network, a satirical outlet, a comedy troupe and the creative genius” of Marie and Prizer.

Remember the book out a few years ago, “Do What You Love and the Money will Follow”? That’s more the Saucy Chicks’ philosophy.

The two mostly produce an e-zine called Saucy Chicks. And they publish a bimonthly e-newsletter called The Saucy Spot. They don’t sell either publication; they ask for tips. Readers are asked to click on the honor system banner on their home page at www.saucychicks.com

and enter an amount. The site reads, “We would be remiss if we didn’t mention that buying something or leaving us a tip are both excellent ways of supporting ‘The Cause.’ “

Visitors can buy stuff. Saucy Chicks sells T-shirts from $14.99 to $17.99. Mugs for $11.99 and mouse pads for $11.99 You guessed it. They all say “Saucy” on them within a crimson oval over white. And don’t forget to add $3 per item for shipping and handling.

“Our merchandise is somewhat of a business enterprise,´ said Marie. “Though it mostly exists to spread the word about Saucy Chicks, we do sell it and enjoy pocketing the cash. We have hopes that Saucy Chicks will become a world-recognized trademark. We’re changing the world one T-shirt at a time, so major T-shirt distribution is happening.”

So does Saucy Chicks actually make money?

“Sometimes we don’t. We don’t have a recipe for making millions. So we take a leap of faith by throwing ourselves into doing what we love,´ said Prizer. “The money will somehow follow. I don’t know how or when, but we pay the bills doing other things in the meantime.”

Prizer said those other things are writing and consulting. Marie said the Saucy Chicks movement started about four or five years ago. The organization and the Web site officially began at the end of 2000. Prizer and Marie would not disclose any financial information about their company, its original financing, revenues, profits or losses.

So who are these women?

Prizer grew up in Denver and majored in biology with hopes of entering medical school. That ended when she said she became disenchanted with the way hospitals are run.

She said she’s proud of a contest she won regularly between 1988 and 1990: the “Miss Hot Legs” title. “But frequenting nightclubs that feature a special row just for Camaro parking gets a girl only so far in life,” she said.

Prizer eventually settled down to “try working a regular job in a regular place for a while,” something she likened to “sprinting full speed into barbed wire fences.” However, she said she the job gave her enough material to develop characters for her writing.

Since then she said she’s been “self-employed (and unemployable) and back on the go.”

Prizer now spends her days writing and managing her businesses (she said she has interest in 10 ventures and is looking to sell one, a dive bar). One of Prizer’s plays is called “Lethargy is Your Friend.” It’s posted at www.saucychicks.com/blanch/lethargy.html. Another of Prizer’s short pieces is called, “You Are Your Basement” is at www.saucychicks.com/blanch/basement.html.

As for Marie, she describes herself as a “frequently misunderstood, free-spirited redhead with an incorrigible case of wanderlust.”

After attending many schools, Marie sought a theater career. She founded Erleichda Enterprises, which includes novice artists; a grassroots theater company and Girlpatch Production, which produces works of art in all genres. Marie considers herself a playwright and an essayist; she’s authored seven plays.

Marie said some Saucy Chicks spin-off book campaigns are in the works. Two titles have been written: “Retail-E-Ation” and “When Life Hands You Lemons — Make Yellow Snow.”

Marie said they’re also formatting Saucy Chicks for television and movie theaters. She said she’s also writing a one-woman show entitled “Shawn Marie’s Porno” and is gathering information to produce a vagabond comedy revue television show.

Keep the remote handy.