It was John Lennon who famously said that before Elvis there was nothing. While it is true that country, blues and rock and roll existed before him the fact is that all of these genres converged when this act was created. This is why today an Elvis tribute remains one of the most in demand impersonators for events.

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.

For example with an older audience they are more likely to want the earlier Elvis who performed at Sun Records and before he went to the army. These tend to be the more rock and roll style and are a bit rougher and edgier than the later Colonel Parker era records.

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.

This is something you can find out on a website. Some performers will work with an agency while others will be independent. In both cases it should be possible to get details or watch videos in order to find out more about their skills and the kind of performance they will do and whether or not that performer is appropriate for your event.

Once you have narrowed it down to three potential performers you should see them in person. This will give you the chance to discuss details about your own event and to gauge whether or not they are appropriate for that event. You can find out what they are prepared to do and what they will charge for their services. Remember to find out if all the costs are included such as insurance and travel costs so you can compare the various performers.

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!