Ok, it’s a Saturday night in Las Vegas. It’s 102 degrees outside. What do you do? Well, if your Sazzy and me, you head to the Fremont Street Experience to see the first ever “Ultimate Elvis Tribute Contest” preliminary to take place in Las Vegas.
Go figure. The land of Elvis impersonators and we were not the first place they ever held a contest like this??
Last night was the finale. 23 Elvis “tribute artists”, formerly known as impersonators, were what was left from the night before. You had 23 different Elvis characters who walked the red carpet plus special one 6 year old Elvis rode in the pink Cadillac. You had a tall Elvis, a fat Elvis, old Elvis, skinny Elvis, young Elvis and a few that I was wondering what they were.
Right off the bat, 13 were sent packing. The final ten spent the night singing, dancing and snickering like they think Elvis would for the judges and the packed Fremont Street Experience audience in beautiful 102 degree summer time heat. Not sure who won, but it was fun to see all the variety of Elvis people and what they thought Elvis looked and sounded like.
If nothing else, it was a spectacle you would expect to find on a hot evening in Las Vegas. Ultimately, Justin Shandor, 26, a Chicagoan turned Vegas performer — was crowned the Vegas King of Rock of Roll and will head to Memphis next month.
According to the Elvis website: “Contest are judged on the ‘best representation of the Elvis legacy’ in talent, appearance, performance, stage presence, and overall tribute. The winner of this contest qualifies to compete in The 2010 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest presented by EPE (Elvis Presley Enterprises) in Memphis during Elvis Week, August 10-16.
The winner of Las Vegas’ Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist preliminary contest will take home a $2,500 cash prize and a Graceland getaway prize package.”
As with anything happening on the Fremont Street Experience,,, the people watching is worth the price of admission. Including this couple who were locals and not dressed like Elvis.
