Elvis Makeover: How to Become an Amateur Impersonator

A lot of people claim Elvis Presley is still alive, so why not give the people what they want?

Saturday will mark what would've been Elvis' 76th birthday, and there will be a whole lotta shakin' going on at various events around the world in celebration of the King's life.

In Seattle, Elvis wannabes are lining up for the 14th annual Seattle Invitationals for a talent show that crowns the city's best impersonator.

But what, exactly, does it take to be a truly beloved Elvis "tribute artist" in today's world?

Is it about the dance moves? The hair? The diet?

The King was, after all, a man of many layers. Especially the '70s-era, "Fat Elvis."

Marlow Harris, a longtime judge and organizer of the Seattle Invitationals, told AOL News that virtually anyone can become an amateur Elvis in their own right by following a few cardinal rules.

So, get your hairspray and bedazzled jumpsuit ready, boys. It's "Elvis Makeover" time ...

The Sneer: For starters, Harris said, an amateur Elvis impersonator should always have some sort of sneer on his face to pay homage to Elvis' famous "lip curl." However, she said, the key to a believable Elvis sneer is consistency. "Remember which side of your mouth you sneer with first so that you can keep sneering on that same side throughout your performance. You don't want to keep switching sides or you'll look a little crazy," she explained. Harris said it's important not to "overdo" the lip curl either. Try doing a little lip lift here and there -- not after every single word that comes out of your mouth.

Hair: Let's face it, Elvis' perfect mane was a celebrity in and of itself. If you're going to play Elvis, you have to have the locks for it. Harris said growing out sideburns and dying your hair jet black is the most authentic way to go, but a good wig can work too. "If you don't have the right hair, your Elvis impersonation won't work. Make sure you get a wig or do something up there."

Package: Yes, by package we mean that bulge in your leather pants -- whether it's real or enhanced by a sock. Harris admitted that one of the reasons amateur Elvis impersonator Dino Macris won the Seattle Invitationals last year was the way he filled out his costume. "The ladies loved the package, known in the business as 'Little Elvis.'

"Dino was hot," she said. And Harris should know what makes an Elvis attractive to the fairer sex: She's dressed up as a Priscilla Presley impersonator for years, taking pictures with every amateur Elvis she meets.

Breath: If you're playing Elvis, you have to eat the part. It's common knowledge that Elvis loved three main food groups: peanut butter, bananas and bacon -- sometimes all together. "You should have a little bacon on your breath if you're dressed as Elvis," Harris said. "It's only natural."

Voice: Now, you don't have to sing like an angel to mimic Elvis, you just have to make sure your voice matches your look. If you're singing "Jailhouse Rock," try to dress to resemble 1957 Elvis. Harris said there's nothing worse than an Elvis look-alike singing a song that doesn't match the outfit. It's just sloppy.

Body: Don't worry boys, you don't have to hit the gym to impersonate Elvis. Luckily, the King went through several body transformations throughout his career, so even if your muffin top hangs over your bedazzled jumpsuit, there's hope. If you're pushing 220 pounds on the scale, don't fret. You, my friend, could pass as 1975 Elvis. You know, the huge, slightly disheveled but still lovable Fat Elvis.

Harris said that's her favorite type of Elvis to judge at the Seattle Invitationals because Fat Elvis impersonators are far and few between. "That mid-1970s, drug-addled, dissipated Elvis is tough to pull off. Not many impersonators do it because larger guys tend to get a bit of a camel toe if they try to stuff themselves into an Elvis jumpsuit. We had a contestant do Fat Elvis once while wearing a sumo wrestler fat suit and he was a hit."

There you have it, folks. A simple outline to becoming an amateur Elvis.

Since Elvis had so many different looks throughout his career (think 1956 rockabilly Elvis, Army Elvis, 1968 black-leather "Comeback Special" Elvis, 1970s jumpsuit Elvis), Harris said the sky's the limit when it comes to outfits and artistic interpretations of the pop-culture icon.

At the Seattle Invitationals, organizers urge every tribute artist to tackle a different Elvis era through the costumes and sing an Elvis song on stage.

Harris said the "Elvi" performances get pretty wild, like the time a man re-created Elvis' Aug. 16, 1977, death on stage.

"He brought out a full-sized, white porcelain toilet and sang 'A Big Hunk O' Love.' As he performed, he sat on the toilet and then pretended to die on stage. He re-enacted the entire death scene. We're still talking about it," Harris said with a laugh.

The wacky contest has also attracted other unconventional Elvis acts, including "Lady Elvis" Helen Anne Gately -- aka "Hellon Wheels" -- and World Champion Elvis impersonator Robert Washington, who happens to be African-American. They've also had a "Chelvis," or Chinese Elvis.

Don't be cruel. Remember, Elvis was known for experimenting with his style.

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