What, in your opinion, makes a top ETA???

I started up another post about do you need to be an Elvis clone to be a good ETA.

I don`t think it came across right, so this is the new, revised post!!!

So, what do you look for in a top ETA?

If we have any ETA contest judges on here it would be interesting to know

Hi Michael

Taken from "Behind the scenes BBC1 WGElvis " www.stevepreston.com



However to sum up, the BBC show was a novelty and in reality the only way to judge an ETA properly is to witness exactly what an ETA “brings to the table“.

Here are most the tools that you will require if you are having aspirations of a career as an ETA. To have just one or even two is not enough, you will need a mixture of at least 3 or 4 to be a contender.

The most important is the first as without it you will never succeed, the rest are only relevant if you have the first to begin with.






Number one and the most important

You must be an Elvis fan, if not you will never go the whole mile. Next in no particular order :

the voice

the look

the aggression

the charisma

the presence

the showmanship

the stagecraft

the inner Elvis (only a select few ETA’s have.)

the will for the hours upon hours of practice,

not forgetting .... the wit

and the grit

plus the determination to get up from all the heavy knockdowns that will no doubt head your way.

Elvis Presley had all these above by the truck load and the more an ETA has will determine his world ranking and imminent success.





Shawn Klush brought more to the table than any ETA I have ever witnessed and that’s is the basis how I judged him as with any other ETA including myself, and not in a novelty 3 song BBC competition. Within a few weeks Shawn Klush went on to be crowned the world champion ETA in the Graceland competition in Memphis and after what I had witnessed, I can’t say I was surprised.

I`m new to the browser - is this you Steve Preston???

Top quality site!!!

Well put Steve!
I can only think of another couple that is stage confidence/control and humility.
I do agree with you 100% about Shawn Klush - he is the full package.
Cheers
Neil J Duncan

yes Mike it's me.

And hi Neil ... thats a good couple of pionts you made. Yes Shawn is the real deal, that was the question I was asking before the BBC and we all got the message whilst down there ......full on lol.

regards Steve

There are so many ETAs and excellent ones to, these days it is more easier, but for me it was like going to collage, i used to think i can't do that, no way can i have a quiff like that, move like that,
That was such a long time ago when i used to sit next to Steve in nursery and flick custard at him !!!!!!
Ian
Billy Dean

So it was you Ian. lol I thought it was Big Jim White lol

Was this when everything was in black and white and 78's was a large cd ?

what i would like to Know is Ian you say it was custard you was flicking at Steve are you sure it was not Boggies LMAO

I also had a runny nose at the time but it looked like custard, Steve never complained, just licked is lips lol.
your right paul everything black & white and that is what we call racist today, plus i took my 78 back because it had an hole in it. lol
Ian
Billy Dean

I also think it's important for the audience to see u are enjoying yourself on stage. If you are having a good time, they are more likely to have a good time also.
Whenever you see Elvis performing, he is nearly always smiling. Even in songs such as My Way, How Great Thou Art etc. there are moments when you can catch the twinkle in his eye or he momentarily smiles to himself. In Aloha, when he sings in the 2nd verse "....I did what I had to do" he briefly smiles, it's moments like these which are Pure Elvis magic.

J.R.TherealJasper wrote:

I also think it's important for the audience to see u are enjoying yourself on stage. If you are having a good time, they are more likely to have a good time also.
Whenever you see Elvis performing, he is nearly always smiling. Even in songs such as My Way, How Great Thou Art etc. there are moments when you can catch the twinkle in his eye or he momentarily smiles to himself. In Aloha, when he sings in the 2nd verse "....I did what I had to do" he briefly smiles, it's moments like these which are Pure Elvis magic.

You hit the nail on the head there! You have to pay attention to detail. It makes all the difference

I think a good ETA, is someone that dosnt nessaserly have to look or act like Elvis, but give a good TRIBUTE, to the King!
Sing with his hard and soul to honor Elvis.