By Essie Osborn
John Lennon famously once said that before Elvis there was nothing. He is one of the most influential figures in the genre of rock and roll and indeed the pop music culture in general. His premature and tragic death has added to the mystique and performers that can do an Elvis tribute are very much sought after.
Like The Beatles there are various eras of Elvis. Some impersonators will do the broad range of hits while others will specialise in certain areas. What you have to do is decide what is best suited to the kind of event you want to do and whether or not the impersonator is appropriate to what you want.
However a lot of people associate The King with his Vegas comeback show. This was the man who confidently strode in the white rhinestone jumpsuit. He flung himself around with incredible energy, showing to a world that was starting to forget him that he was a star and ensured pop culture immortality.
This is what you need to consider when choosing an impersonator. Some people may go for a wide range of songs from his whole career. Others may choose to focus on the pre GI era or the later period when he was managed by Colonel Tom Parker, arguably making Elvis the first pop creation that would go on to influence everyone from The Beatles to One Direction.
Another thing to consider is the style of the event. If it is a formal event then you may not necessarily want someone who is constantly in character. You may well prefer to set up a stage, let them do their act and let the impersonator get changed and go on to another event elsewhere.
While a lot of people love someone doing a show on stage more people want a full experience. Increasingly people want interactive entertainment for their event. For example some performers go to weddings and do other forms of entertainment as well as singing such as acting in character while serving drinks or doing balloon animals for the kids.
It is also worth checking to see what kind of performance they do. Some people may simply go on stage and sing. However others may offer a more interactive style of show. For example some weddings book impersonators that stay in character for the whole event, serving drinks and making announcements. It can make the event very memorable, especially if you get the best possible impersonator available in your price range.
You can find various tribute acts, performers and impersonators online. Some will be independent and others will work through agencies. If you work for a charity it is worth asking to see if they will be prepared to lower their fee for you. Look online to see what is available in your local area and to get feedback from people who have used performers in the past. With the right approach you will find the right performer to get your audience all shook up in a good way!
Like The Beatles there are various eras of Elvis. Some impersonators will do the broad range of hits while others will specialise in certain areas. What you have to do is decide what is best suited to the kind of event you want to do and whether or not the impersonator is appropriate to what you want.
However a lot of people associate The King with his Vegas comeback show. This was the man who confidently strode in the white rhinestone jumpsuit. He flung himself around with incredible energy, showing to a world that was starting to forget him that he was a star and ensured pop culture immortality.
This is what you need to consider when choosing an impersonator. Some people may go for a wide range of songs from his whole career. Others may choose to focus on the pre GI era or the later period when he was managed by Colonel Tom Parker, arguably making Elvis the first pop creation that would go on to influence everyone from The Beatles to One Direction.
Another thing to consider is the style of the event. If it is a formal event then you may not necessarily want someone who is constantly in character. You may well prefer to set up a stage, let them do their act and let the impersonator get changed and go on to another event elsewhere.
While a lot of people love someone doing a show on stage more people want a full experience. Increasingly people want interactive entertainment for their event. For example some performers go to weddings and do other forms of entertainment as well as singing such as acting in character while serving drinks or doing balloon animals for the kids.
It is also worth checking to see what kind of performance they do. Some people may simply go on stage and sing. However others may offer a more interactive style of show. For example some weddings book impersonators that stay in character for the whole event, serving drinks and making announcements. It can make the event very memorable, especially if you get the best possible impersonator available in your price range.
You can find various tribute acts, performers and impersonators online. Some will be independent and others will work through agencies. If you work for a charity it is worth asking to see if they will be prepared to lower their fee for you. Look online to see what is available in your local area and to get feedback from people who have used performers in the past. With the right approach you will find the right performer to get your audience all shook up in a good way!