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G2E / Global Gaming Expo / Gaming / Slot Machines / Michael Jackson / Elvis Impersonators / → All Tags

Confessions From A G2E Virgin

With just a bit of an interest in Las Vegas and the industry that keeps its lights on, this VegasChatter member looked forward to his first steps inside the Global Gaming Expo earlier this week. Unlike other events for which we like to map out an attack, we went into G2E without a playbook in order to see where our eyes and ears led us.

As our resident gambler reported, G2E is obviously filled with slots, slots, and more slots but the show also had plenty more going on. Behind all the suits, jewelry, and fake n bake tans, we spotted transaction analysis software, security firms, marker destroying companies, ATM machinezzzzzzzzzz.....

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Elvis / Hilton / Elvis Impersonators / → All Tags

Can't Help Falling In Love With Another Elvis Fest

Elvis fans can never seem to get enough of the dead guy and frankly we can't either. Actually, maybe we can. But for the most part, non-Cirquedup Elvi perk our musical craters especially since so many sightings are tied to our beloved Las Vegas. Whether it's the December running of the Elvi, framed dueling karoake Kings, a milestone birthday, or the recent Downtown tribute contest, Elvis and Vegas go together like sequins on rice. Wait, that's not right.

In any case add one more Elvent to your calender as the Hilton hosts the Las Vegas Elvis Fest July 28-30. The event is advertised as a fan festival, convention, showcase, and concert. The E-fest website even says if you only attend one event all year, this should be the one.

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Elvis / Elvis Impersonators / Fremont Street / Fremont Street Experience / Binion's / → All Tags

The Elvi Are Coming! The Elvi Are Coming!

Perhaps every Elvis fan's wet dream hits downtown Vegas this weekend: the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest. Hosted by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc, the Fremont Street Experience, and Legends in Concert, the mouthful of a contest is more than just a photo op or parade of Elvis impersonators. The ultimate goal is to find the ultimate Elvis. Oh, was that obvious?

The Vegas festivities are a prelim to the national competition held, of course, in Memphis during Elvis Week August 10-16. Last year's Vegas winner, Justin Shandor, ended up winning the national prize, making him King of the castle. OK, maybe just King, but still nice work if you can grow sideburns.

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Tribute Shows / Elvis / Elvis Impersonators / Hard Rock Cafe / Live Shows / → All Tags

Metal Elvis To Rock And Roll All Night At Strip Hard Rock Cafe

There is never a shortage of Elvis sighting opps in Vegas. Big Elvis, mini-Elvis, Hooters Elvis, Next Best Thing Elvis, Jailhouse Elvis minus the rock, or of course French Elvis. Why, even this morning, we found another side of Elvis--Painter Elvis.

But this week an Elvis legend we’ve been itching to see for a while rolls back into the Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip. Not to be confused with the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Or the Hard Rock Cafe off the Strip outside the Hard Rock Hotel.

METAL ELVIS.

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Freaky Friday / Elvis Impersonators / Elvis / Steve Connolly / Downtown Vegas / Art / → All Tags

Elvis Not Only Lives, He Paints As Well

This would look spectacular on our wall

There are few things we like better than an Elvis impersonator, but an Elvis impersonator who sidelines as an artist? That sounds pretty rad.

Steve Connolly, who, according to his website, was voted best in Vegas in 06 and 07 (which might be why we haven't heard of him before) also happens to paint. And he's just unveiled an exhibition of 10 works Downtown at the Southern Nevada Center For the Arts (at 1310 3rd Street).

From the looks of his website, most of his work is Elvis-related (this one in particular deserves a special mention). Why? Because:

I believe the best work you can create is born from the art you know best. The Elvis career has provided me the opportunity to focus on myself as a fine artist, where I can express my own ideas that come from my mind and soul, which spring from a very personal creative process.

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Contests / Elvis Impersonators / Mexican Independence Day / Tacos and Tequila / Luxor / → All Tags

No Matter What You Look Like, You Too Can Be An Elvis

Yes, this guy (Mini Mariachi Elvis) will be judging you

Do you dream of being an Elvis impersonator but are constantly thwarted by being female/blond/short/overweight? Then Tacos & Tequila could have the answer for you – on Wednesday, they’re having an El Rey de los Elvis competition where anyone – no matter how tenuous their resemblance to the King – can show off their “most creative Elvis costumes”. Because it's Mexican Independence Day, obviously.

Anyone arriving in Elvis gear gets a free frozen daiquiri (winner); you’ll then walk the red carpet to the competition, where the “most creative rendition of Elvis” will win $500. Second and third place contestants get to share $500. Then there will be a “live mariachi mashup of Viva Las Vegas” and various $5 cocktails. Double winner!

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Interviews / News / Elvis / Elvis Impersonators / → All Tags

What Would Elvis Think of Elvis Impersonators? Here's What

Norm Clarke, Sam A Thompson, Loanne Miller Parker, Dick Grob and Armand Thomas

As well as being accosted by various Elvi at the Las Vegas sign last weekend, we also got some proper, OMG-is-this-really-happening Presley action when we attended the CVA’s Elvis media forum on Sunday at the Bellagio.

Norm Clarke was presiding over a panel consisting of two of Elvis’ security guards - Dick Grob and Sam A. Thompson - Loanne Miller Parker, widow of Colonel Parker, and Armand Thomas, Director of Creation for Viva Elvis.

We’ll give you the goss on Cirque reshaping Viva Elvis and the delightful Loanne’s views on Vegas down the line (suffice to say, the CVA should really get her on board as a Vegas ambassador) but for now, we’re going to let you in on our private – yup, one on one - conversation we had with bodyguard Sam Thompson (who's now Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada) after the forum.

Still smarting from our triple-Elvis overdose at the sign on Friday, we asked him what he thought the King would have made of all the impersonators around today. Great minds think alike – turns out he actually asked the man the same question a year or so he died. (Yes, Elvis impersonators were around back then – who knew?) This is what he said:

He had a quote: he said “emulation is the sincerest form of flattery”. He really felt flattered that people took the time to emulate him. He didn’t like the fat, 40-year old impersonators and attacks like that - he was human like everybody else - but in terms of people emulating his music and his moves, he was fine with it.

He also reckons that Elvis would love Viva Elvis – more on that another day. But not all the impersonators are off the hook. He went on to say:

I don’t think he would have liked the proliferation of the bad Elvises that are around now, or Fat Elvis. Things like that go beyond the point of flattery – you’re doing it for self-aggrandizement. Most of us abhor those kinds of people and I think Elvis would too.

So there you have it. FYI, Sam also shook our hand. Which, if you think about it, is basically the same as getting a handshake from Elvis Presley, albeit once removed. So if you see someone wandering round the Strip with a right hand that doesn’t look like it’s been washed since Sunday, come say hello, ok? And we’ll pass The Touch Of Presley onto you.

Snapshot / Elvis Impersonators / Las Vegas Sign / Elvis / → All Tags

The Elvis Impersonators Were Out in Force on Friday

Friday was an important day for Vegas. CES was in full swing. Adult Expo star Kayden Kross was hosting her porn party at Tao. And the rest of us were perusing 75 Facts You Didn’t Know About Elvis in honour of the King’s 75th birthday.

Obviously such a landmark day was a big opportunity for the Elvis impersonators. Our pet Elvis, Tim Welch, was off in California doing some gigs, but the ones with more, um, free time on their hands, took it upon themselves to head to the Las Vegas sign, get in the photo-taking public's way, and charge them for the privilege. How very enterprising!

When we stopped by the sign in the afternoon there were no less than three Elvi competing for our money attention. As you can see from Purple Elvis on the left, none of them were exactly dead ringers. Tiger Elvis looked best from the back, while Hawaiian Elvis, who was parked up in the car park in his pink Cadillac, is something we shall save for another time.

Anyway, we’re sure the real Elvis was looking down on these guys feeling mighty flattered. Maybe.

Only In Vegas / Elvis / Elvis Impersonators / Vegas Abroad / → All Tags

Tom Jones, Prison Riots and $2,500 Catsuits: The Life of an Elvis Impersonator

Here's a modern-day fairytale to brighten your Tuesday: once there was a little boy from Zanesville, Ohio, called Tim Welch. Little blond Tim grew up dreaming of being an athlete; instead after a stint in the Marines, he ended up a prison guard in southern California.

Life as a prison guard wasn’t the best of fun. One day there was a riot, and Tim got stabbed by an inmate, leaving him with a 3in scar (for life) on his chest. Not fun!

But then in 1997, Tim decided to go to Vegas for the weekend. As one does in Vegas, he ended up standing up and singing You Don’t Know Me to a roomful of people at the end of a Tom Jones concert. And, it being Vegas, the audience included Tom Jones.

Afterwards, Sir Tom came up to Tim, told him he did a mean Elvis impression, and suggested he might like to reconsider his career plans, seeing as the prison gig wasn't going so well. So Tim cut his shoulder-length blond locks, invested in some wigs ($2000 a piece) and a couple of catsuits ($2500 a go), and upped sticks from LA to Vegas.

The rest is history. He used to do a show at the New Frontier, but since that closed he’s become the preferred Elvis of the Las Vegas CVA. Which is how we met him, last week, at the launch party for British Airways’ London-Vegas flights.

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