is it important to look or sing like Elvis or talk like Elvis?

this is a Question i like to hear people view pionts to me i think its better not to over do it ive seen some guys wear pretty tribble wigs ,i genrally dont wear any ,and i think its better to sound like Elvis vocally with your own style then to over do it or talk like Elvis as if you are Elvis i like to talk in my own voice... and dont like to wear the glasses on stage , ive seen some over the top ,people walk around in jumpsuits , if u cannot offord a exat replica why not make your own suit and save,, i made my own ..its like somthing Elvis may of worn ... i sort of got 4 more new ones i getting made lt.blue red royal and black... i like to play around with idears.

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Permalink Reply by Moira Stephens on July 21, 2008 at 8:36pm: Tarie,
You're absolutely right. I wasn't trying to knock anyone else. It is a matter of preference. If I choose to listen to adult male ETAs, that's my choice. If some other act takes the stage that i don't care to see, it presents a perfect opportunity to take a break from the showroom. I'll take the steak, thank you thank you very much. (smile)
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Permalink Reply by Kathy G on July 22, 2008 at 10:30am: I am usually a chili cheese dog girl myself but then I have always been a little different. I figure that there are enough ETA's out there and way more Elvis and ETA fans that each one of us can have a favorite and no one will go with out fans. That is my one concern about young ETA's is this is a business and businesses can get very competitive and brutal sometimes, and even if an attack or remark is personal you can't take it that way, most statements aren't personal but in general - also we don't often see things the same way as Elvis sang Walk a Mile in My Shoes. It is easy to say who would be stupid enough to marry the town drunk and ridiculous that would be until your child falls in love and decides to marry them - you start to look at things different.

Now for my style I have done wrote a chapter on what is truly important to and ETA and it isn't physical but what is inside and why they are doing it. Robert Washington I am sure faced alot of flack when he started as a black ETA, he has won contest and proved he is a great ETA. ETA stands for Elvis TRIBUTE ARTIST, some one who is trying to be an Impersonator is trying to be that person and that case it does require the looks, the sound and the moves. Tarie couldn't put on a black wig and cut off jeans and have people get that she was doing Marilyn, she has to look and sell it.
My personal style if I was gonna sit and day dream about an ETA would not be a 12 year old girl nor would it be a 21 year old white guy. I happen to like a more mature or ageless 70's Elvis - lots of hair and sideburns and a aged mellow voice, perferrably average weight and of course goregous eye and a moderately good voice. But if you are talking contest then you got to follow the rules when entering a contest - if it says you have to have 3 inch self grown sideburns and you don't then stay out of that one and find one you fit in. Yes there are cheesy ETA's and I think that is one of the reasons that EPE banded jumpsuits on the grounds because not everyone looks good in them and there are bad hair jobs real or fake and some people just use it to meet folks and get pictures taken but - every job has those types and those will eventually find no success and quit -let them face their own music and don't give them grief - some really are doing it for the right reasons but have little talent or money to do it so that is why I judge the ETA's I see on their heart and not their look.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kristy on July 22, 2008 at 11:22am: EPE banned jumpsuits on the grounds? How does this affect "singing at the tent" during Elvis week? I've never been during Elvis week, so I don't really know if this is considered on the grounds or not....just curious.....I've seen pictures of some of the younger ETAs singing at the tent in their jumpsuits....; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kathy G on July 24, 2008 at 11:23am: Kristy,
There were a few years after EPE bought the shopping plaza the tent is in that they requested the performers not use jumpsuits. There were a few guys that I saw walking around the Graceland Plaza in them but those one stage were not to wear them. The last two or three years I believe that has been lifted. I don't think it is a problem now - in August tho jumpsuits are awfully hot so many still do not wear them even if they do in their shows. You could check with Danny McKorkle or some of those you have seen wearing them but I think it is an old rule now changed.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by ***ice-Elvis*** on July 25, 2008 at 10:23pm: thank you i sing elvis for elvis and fans,,i sing a lot at nursing homes i dont get paid ,theres a painting on my wall i would never part with a lady dying of cancer ...painted me alife size painting of Elvis ..i could not belive it becuse i have sung a few xmas there free... to this day i look at that when i feel down if i never make one dollor i know this painting to me is worth more then anything in the world cuse she painted for me a Elvis fan ,somthing elvis would of done,if i nver do anything great ,i achived somthing Elvis would of liked,and fans.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kambrie and Kelsie Gaddis on July 23, 2008 at 4:57am: AS A MOM OF 2 YOUNG GIRL ETA'S I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN SO BLESSED TO BE EXCEPTED INTO THIS ELVIS WORLD THE LAST 5 YEARS. THE GADDISGIRLS HAVE PERFORMED IN 10 STATES AND MANY VENUES SOME ELVIS AND SOME NOT.
SINCE OUR EXPERIENCE HAS BROUGHT US SUCH JOY BECAUSE THE GIRLS ARE SINGING AND BECAUSE WE HAVE MADE SO MANY GOOD FRIENDS. WE HAVE COME TO BELIEVE THAT ELVIS HAD NOT ONLY A SPECIAL GIFT TO SING BUT A SPECIAL GIFT OF LOVE THAT HAS LIVED ON ALL THESE YEARS LATER THRU ETA'S AND FANS.
NO ONE WILL EVER TAKE THE PLACE OF ELVIS AS WE ALL KNOW , SO PUTTING A LITTLE BIT OF YOURSELF IN THE MIX IS OKAY. I (MOM) ALWAYS TELL KAMBRIE AND KELSIE THE FANS WANT TO SEE ELVIS THRU YOU BUT DON'T FORGET TO LET THEM SEE YOU TOO. I FEEL THAT'S WHAT MAKES TRAVELING AROUNG THE WORLD PAYING TRIBUTE TO ELVIS SO SPECIAL IS BECAUSE THE GADDISGIRLS "MAKE YOU SMILE ON THE INSIDE"AND MAKE YOU REMEMBER ELVIS TOO.
I ALSO HAVE TO SAY WE HAVE NEVER BEEN MIS TREATED NOR HAD ANY PROBLEM GETTING VENUES BOOKED BECAUSE WE ARE GIRLS AND YOUTH. THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT AND LOVE WE RECIEVE. WE LOOK FORWAED TO SINGING FOR YOU SOON.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Carli Love on July 23, 2008 at 6:08pm: Thanks Kim, I love doing Elvis just as much as Kambrie and Kelsie. I am glad we became friends.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kathy on July 27, 2008 at 9:19am: As long as you are truly doing your best, with heart and soul, to pay tribute to Elvis Presley the rest will depend on talent and determination. Elvis used his talent to make the world a better place and that should be #1 priority. Too many people forget, Elvis Presley was a giver, not a taker.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ken Williams "Kenny" on August 24, 2008 at 8:24am: I think it's most important to have the humble attitude that Elvis did. He never walked around with his nose in the air and his humbleness that lasted from rags to riches, is his greatest legacy.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by katiuska on August 25, 2008 at 6:23am: I think in my experience is essential to be a good soul Elvis performer on the stage!... to understand his music and his talent and have the abbility to perform & COMMUNICATE THAT his elvis heart and mind..the physical is not as essential as to be a good performer!
great question ICE!
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Permalink Reply by Linda " MyWay " on August 26, 2008 at 4:15pm: i don't feel you have to resemble Elvis nor Sing as he did or talk either
Sing your own style as Elvis did
thats what keeps his memory alive Tributes Artists and their dedication to him...

Learning motions certain vocal ranges is helpful but when you start trying to hard
then you're not in tune and that takes away from your self enjoyment
be spontaneous and feel the lyrics in your heart
When it comes from your heart in " His Memory " then you're Golden
watch the You Tube " Love Me Love The Life I Lead "; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Billy Rebel™ on September 2, 2008 at 8:08pm: No. Just be yourself. Drop the IDENTICAL Elvis attire, (that was Elvis own UNIQUE style), employ your OWN stage look... style...although... ATTEMPT to INTERPRET the songs with the SAME DELIVERY and SPIRIT as Elvis did, to the best of your ability, (No small task!!!), just try to sing STRAIGHT from the heart, and you will be allright!

I like black or white boots, black or white stage pants, (occasional leather), fancy white, red, or blue shirt, occasional black leather vest, natural hair, and a finely TUNED black, or blue acoustic-electric Ovation Guitar!!!

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