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Summary: Fascinating Details About Elvis and His Impersonators
Review: "Wise men say, only fools rush in. But I can't help falling in love with you." That should help put you in the mood for reading this review. "You ain't nothin' but a hound dog!"Although this book is about impersonating Elvis, I was intrigued about the many details about how Elvis achieved his effects on his audience. The author is an Elvis impersonator who is president of the Elvis Impersonators International Association. You will learn almost everything you need to know to look, sound, and act like Elvis in a way that will stimulate those who meet you. After this book is widely read, Elvis sightings should definitely soar! You get instructions for creating your own Elvis costume for around $170 (if you do your own sewing and can rent some blue suede shoes). If you are like me, you didn't know that Elvis used lots of make-up in his stage appearances. You will learn how to put that make-up on yourself, as well as dye your hair the right color (yes, Elvis dyed his hair, too). If you are simply a loyal Elvis fan, you can be more like him by using only the products he did (Brut, Colgate toothpaste, Wella Balsam shampoo, Neutrogena soap, Scope and Listerine), so you can smell as nice as he always did. The book contains instructions for making your entrance, putting together songs in the way Elvis would have done, and making a splashy exit. I never would have thought of hiring people to pretend to be your bodyguards. You are cautioned to keep your act and costuming in sync. If you do decide to become an impersonator, you get lots of marketing advice as well. After Elvis died, many people resented impersonators. Since then, many people hunger for more Elvis and the impersonators have gotten better. Somewhere between 3,000 and 10,000 people now do Elvis impersonations. After this book, that number and quality will surely grow. There is a lot of good humor in the book about what it is like to be an impersonator. Sometimes you can pick up tickets left for Elvis at the box office. Other times you may get a chance to advise on or appear in a movie, as the author did. The many wonderful photographs of Elvis make this book fun to look at for Elvis fans. There was only one let-down. The author says, "I firmly believe Elvis is dead." Maybe I'll have to go see an impersonator show after all. You can enjoy this book as a serious look at Elvis, as a serious look at being an Elvis impersonator, or simply as good humored fun. In any dimension, you'll enjoy yourself! After you have finished reading and enjoying your Elvis reveries, I suggest that you think about what else may be missing from your life that you once greatly enjoyed. How can you recapture that? This may mean revisiting old haunts, taking on new "old" experiences, or making new friends who share the old preferences. In any event, allow yourself to be real about what you once enjoyed. You can enjoy your youth at any age! "Uh, thankya, thankya . . . very much!"
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Summary: THIS NEEDED TO BE WRITTEN
Review: As a collector of the unusual , I found this highly entertaining. I have seen plenty of Elvis impersonators in my day, and this struck me as amazing that there is a how to book...
A great gift for an elvis fans everywhere
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Summary: He's a hunka-hunka burning showman!!
Review: Being from Jacksonville, and a big fan of Rick's, I recommend this book for everyone whether you want to be Elvis, Priscilla or Lisa Marie!! Full of memorable pics of Elvis, Rick performing and pics of him with Celebs like Sarah Jessica Parker from "Honeymoon in Vegas". The book is colorful, entertaining and fun for any library! Rick is the "King" of showman himself, so slip into your blue suede shoes, lean back relax and enjoy "Be Elvis" - it rocks just like Rick and the forever King!
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Summary: He's a hunka-hunka burning showman!!
Review: Being from Jacksonville, and a big fan of Rick's, I recommend this book for everyone whether you want to be Elvis, Priscilla or Lisa Marie!! Full of memorable pics of Elvis, Rick performing and pics of him with Celebs like Sarah Jessica Parker from "Honeymoon in Vegas". The book is colorful, entertaining and fun for any library! Rick is the "King" of showman himself, so slip into your blue suede shoes, lean back relax and enjoy "Be Elvis" - it rocks just like Rick and the forever King!
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Summary: Buy it, fans of the King!
Review: Great mirrored cover, a must for the completist.Very entertaining!
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Summary: A pretty decent book on how to impersonate Elvis
Review: Rick Marino is one the better know Elvis Impersonaotor's in the world. He has appeared in numerous books, tv shows, and films. Now Rick has given us "Be Elvis," a guide for those who seek to professionally impersonate the King. This a decent book, but it is definately written more for someone who is just starting his impersonating career, rather than someone (like myself) who has been doing it professionally for a while. The book is long on general advice about jumpsuits, hair, stage equiptment and marketing info. All of this is good,...don't get me wrong, but it would have been nice to see some real specific info also (i.e., if you're looking for a pair of white boots, which are notoriously hard to find, go to such-and-such source, or if you want to find jewelry like Elvis', go to such-and-such source.) Rick eludes to these matters but does not provide the specifics. Still, the advice Rick dispenses in the book is very sound. I have only been doing this professionally two years, but I my experience tells me that Rick knows what he's talking about. Also, Rick included a lot of neat and potentially usefull information. For example, want to really mimic EP? Well, you could start using his favorite personal grooming products, which included Brut Cologne (yeah, really, the guy was worth millions and still choose to use the $5.00 bottle of Brut), Wella Balsam Shampoo, Nuetrogena Soap, and Scope Mouthwash. All-in-all a fun read that does have some good/useful advice for those of us who would be the heirs to the King's throne.
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