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What advice would you give to an impersonator?

Horrorlover656

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So that they can portray the man properly and also pay respect at the same time.
 
Hi, it's a very interesting question. I've seen performing live only few Michael impersonators in my life, and the first thing that comes to my mind, if I think to my memories, is that you can really feel if they truly love the artist they are impersonating or if they just want to have "fans" too. I hope not to sound judging, but I think this is the key. You really see and feel the difference, because the purpose is different. You can create something really precious and special for an audience who loves Michael's work, and try to convey the emotions he brought to this world, through your voice and dance moves. It can be amazing, but I think this is possible only when the impersonator himself experienced this emotion and knows exactly what he's going to do: celebrate a special man.
 
Horrorlover656 said:
So that they can portray the man properly and also pay respect at the same time.
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The first thing that comes to mind is, who is the performance for?

Is it for general public, casual fans or is it for a fan event?

They are very different and who the audience will be determines the overall tone of the performance.

Is this going to be a one off performance or something that will be a business venture?

Will the performance be dance based, using Michaels original songs, or will the performance be vocal based, using live vocals with a backing track.

Is the performer a professionally trained singer, dancer?

Are the costumes professionally made?
 
unfioredarancio said:
Hi, it's a very interesting question. I've seen performing live only few Michael impersonators in my life, and the first thing that comes to my mind, if I think to my memories, is that you can really feel if they truly love the artist they are impersonating or if they just want to have "fans" too. I hope not to sound judging, but I think this is the key. You really see and feel the difference, because the purpose is different. You can create something really precious and special for an audience who loves Michael's work, and try to convey the emotions he brought to this world, through your voice and dance moves. It can be amazing, but I think this is possible only when the impersonator himself experienced this emotion and knows exactly what he's going to do: celebrate a special man.
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I totally get what you mean. When Michael was alive our fan world was a lot smaller and it was very challenging and sometimes dangerous to be a Michael Jackson fan. Going to fan club events and seeing the performers was very special, because you could just feel they were the same as us, just plain ordinary fans. Many of them were known by Michael, hired by him in a professional decoy lookalike role or he knew then as follower fans or he saw them perform at events. Many of them went to Santa Maria in 2004 and 2005 and were at the court.

Watching them perform, you just tell they were truly honouring Michael at the highest level. It was like our "insider joke" when they did things like bring a girl up on stage during YANA, the girl would "act like a crazy YANA girl" or when they performed to rare songs. The first time I heard Mind Is The Magic was at a fan club event when someone did an original dance performance to it.

Those performers , all who were out there doing their thing when Michael was alive I respect.

Since 2009, it feels all too easy to be a performer. Now that Michael is a nostalgia act, impersonator shows are all over the place. Im not talking about the official shows like MJ ONE or the Broadway show or Thriller Live. I'm talking about the off Vegas Strip shows, the impersonator acts on cruise ships, the random touring impersonator one man shows going to small local theatres and clubs, the lookalikes that hang around Michaels star on Hollywood Boulevard and so much more. Anyone can learn the Thriller dance , put on a red jacket, get a Halloween Michael Jackson costume on Amazon and set up as an impersonator these days. If theres money to be made from the nostalgia circuit , there will be Michael impersonators doing the rounds.
 
Moonstreet said:
I totally get what you mean. When Michael was alive our fan world was a lot smaller and it was very challenging and sometimes dangerous to be a Michael Jackson fan. Going to fan club events and seeing the performers was very special, because you could just feel they were the same as us, just plain ordinary fans. Many of them were known by Michael, hired by him in a professional decoy lookalike role or he knew then as follower fans or he saw them perform at events. Many of them went to Santa Maria in 2004 and 2005 and were at the court.

Watching them perform, you just tell they were truly honouring Michael at the highest level. It was like our "insider joke" when they did things like bring a girl up on stage during YANA, the girl would "act like a crazy YANA girl" or when they performed to rare songs. The first time I heard Mind Is The Magic was at a fan club event when someone did an original dance performance to it.

Those performers , all who were out there doing their thing when Michael was alive I respect.

Since 2009, it feels all too easy to be a performer. Now that Michael is a nostalgia act, impersonator shows are all over the place. Im not talking about the official shows like MJ ONE or the Broadway show or Thriller Live. I'm talking about the off Vegas Strip shows, the impersonator acts on cruise ships, the random touring impersonator one man shows going to small local theatres and clubs, the lookalikes that hang around Michaels star on Hollywood Boulevard and so much more. Anyone can learn the Thriller dance , put on a red jacket, get a Halloween Michael Jackson costume on Amazon and set up as an impersonator these days. If theres money to be made from the nostalgia circuit , there will be Michael impersonators doing the rounds.
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I am really sorry for this. For what you all experienced watching so many changes happening, including this one. Thank you for the time you took to share this part of your story, Moonstreet.
 
Impersonators freak me out. It's like invasion of the body snatchers.

Every impersonator I have ever seen does a cartoonish caricature of his performances. The music is playing and you can tell they're not even really listening to it, because they're so focused on churning out a cheap conveyor belt of all the signature moves.

It's like they are unable to stay in the same spot and just feel it for 10 seconds for fear of boring people.

I just cannot watch them. It's too uncomfortable.
 
Ganesh said:
Impersonators freak me out. It's like invasion of the body snatchers.

Every impersonator I have ever seen does a cartoonish caricature of his performances. The music is playing and you can tell they're not even really listening to it, because they're so focused on churning out a cheap conveyor belt of all the signature moves.

It's like they are unable to stay in the same spot and just feel it for 10 seconds for fear of boring people.

I just cannot watch them. It's too uncomfortable.
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Did you see them when Michael was alive or after 2009?? Was it at fan events or general public casual fan events?
 
I respect them for paying tribute but the majority of them are rubbish.

The vocal is the biggest issue for me. MJ was so unique that those trying to imitate him come cross as a parody.

Some of the professional ones in the past like E Casanova were fine but there are a hell of a lot of really amateurish ones in clubs and holiday resorts who make me cringe.

It’s much easier to impersonate Elvis than it is Michael.
 
Moonstreet said:
Did you see them when Michael was alive or after 2009?? Was it at fan events or general public casual fan events?
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I would never deliberately watch one. My experience is from occasions when it has been forced upon me on TV or at fan events, before and after 2009.
 
My biggest advice for any MJ impersonator would be: Be at the top of your game and strive for perfection! Michael was known for being a perfectionist. So if you’re going to be performing as MJ…make sure EVERY move sits and that neither the choreographies nor the moves are sloppy. Make sure you basically can do the choreographies in your sleep, so that you can ”feel” the music and dance without thinking or counting. And make sure you have the facial expressions and every single move hand movement and finger movement rehearsed until perfection! If you’re going to do songs that MJ has performed too, perform them EXACTLY as he did. Nothing worse than impersonators killing MJ’s performances by changing the ICONIC choreographies!!!! Don’t do that!!! However, if you’re going to do MJ songs that MJ never performed live, in that case, new, cool, exciting choreographies are very welcome!!! In fact, adding ”rare” songs that MJ never performed but which always were fan favorites will get the die-hard, old-school fans screaming and out of their seats!!!! I remember when Valentino did a medley at the Killer Thriller party in London in 2002 and he had included ”Can’t Let Her Get Away” into the medley and they did their own super cool performance to it, I was screaming my head off because I had ALWAYS loved that song and had always wished MJ would perform it, so it was the next best thing to see an impersonator do the song!!! And it was so unexpected so it was AWESOME!!! People have seen the same performances a thousand times, so including a rare song with a new idea and new choreography can be exciting (especially if you’re performing for the MJ fans). Also, a dance group did the whole Too Bad choreography from Ghosts, dressed like the ghouls in Ghosts so that too was AWESOME because it was something rare and because they did it perfectly!!

If you’re going to sing yourself……that’s going to be a tough one. Because NO ONE sounds like Michael!!! I still haven’t heard anyone who would sound exactly like MJ when singing. And if you don’t sound EXACTLY like him..it is extremely distracting and straight up annoying!!! That’s why I recommend lip synching and concentrating on the dance and over all performance.

Also, make sure the costumes are of high quality! Nothing worse than someone performing as MJ but in costumes that look cheap and sloppy and not well made. I think when it comes to costumes, they don’t necessarily have to be exact copies of what MJ wore but could be done in the same style. Or it could be an exact copy of what MJ wore SOMEWHERE, something that people will recognize as MJ’s clothes but not necessarily what he wore during that performance. I think the clothes are one area where you could get innovative and creative if you want, and where you could bring your own ideas in. But only as long as they still have the MJ trademarks and can be recognized as something MJ would have worn, because it’s the same style, and as long as they look professional and well tailored and are well made.

And ALWAYS make sure you are honoring Michael with everything you do. Never ever make fun of Michael or agree to act or perform anywhere in a way that would mock or make fun of Michael or would somehow show him in a bad light. And should go without saying, but also always be kind. Doesn’t matter if in costume or somewhere else in private. Never act stuck up and never be rude to fans. Your motivation for being an MJ impersonator should always be as an MJ fan FIRST yourself, and wanting to be part of the MJ community AS A FAN first and your goal should be to HONOR Michael and his legacy and to help bring fun and joy to the fan community and also to the general public and try to make MJ even more known and you should try to inspire others to carry on MJ’s legacy….which is to heal the world and make it a better place. Always remember that you ARE NOT Michael but sort of an ”ambassador” for MJ and his legacy. So always stay humble.


Oh and also if you’re going to use back up dancers or musicians for your performance…the same standards apply to them also. Don’t let them be an ”after thought” on stage! If you’re in an MJ costume and doing a perfect performance, but the back up dancers are stumbling behind you and are performing with low energy or don’t seem to be part of the choreography or wear basic, sloppy/cheap clothes…your performance will go under and will look cheap because the back up dancers will be too distracting. If you can’t afford real costumes for them….then go for all black clothes. Same goes for musicians: If you can’t afford costumes for them…go for all black. But MAKE SURE that EVERYONE who comes on stage knows their part and knows what to do and when. And if they don’t….rehearse until they do and don’t go on stage before that! MJ was also known for having high standards and hiring the best of the BEST, so make sure everyone you’re performing with are also on the top of their game! They need to have the same enthusiasm and need to have the will to make the performance as great as humanly possible!

I hope that helps!
 
I think they need to have that same energy that MJ performed with. I doesn’t matter if the singing or the dance moves are a bit off. The audience needs to feel the energy
 
if a TRIBUTE ARTIST is true to their craft.. and L.O.V.E the subject behind the inspiration created within...

"Study the greats.. and become greater.."

"The best education in the world is watching the masters at work.." -michael jackson
 
Hello ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.. people from all over the world...
My name is Sean Vezina. I am a tribute artist for MJ (Michael Jackson) -not Jordan haha..
to grab your attention I want to make this announcement that I am in the works of creating a POSSTITIVE PUBLICITY PROMOTION Tour in
Chicago Illinois, South Chicago and Northwest Indiana ending at MJ's childhood home in Gary.
I am eager to gather MJ fans together (1 more time) for a grand celebration in time for the MICHAEL MOVIE IN APRIL 2025
For now I am trying to find fans that have plans to be in Gary for when the movie is released..
My ultimate goal is create an afterparty in TRUMP TOWER IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO
STAY TUNED....
L.O.V.E
 
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