Everyone knows or has a favorite celebrity, either presently or from the past. How many times have they fantasized about having that celebrity at their special event? Wouldn’t it be nice to have Elvis Presley or Lucille Ball show up at your next birthday party and sing Happy Birthday? Or perhaps you may want a celebrity such as Paris Hilton or Christine Aguilera. Think this is impossible? Not if you have a celebrity impersonator doing it. And a celebrity impersonator can make your event scintillating and glamorous. It can definitely take you out of the party doldrums.

Think about this. You are entertaining your guests when suddenly in walks Elvis Presley or Marilyn Monroe. Your guests flip when they seen them. Having an impersonator can really liven up the party and get the party moving. The biggest question is how to choose the right one for your party? Not all of them are available so which one would be the best choice, and how do you find them? The best way to know which one is the best one is by “word of mouth”. If you have a friend who has already hired a talented performer to entertain at their party, you can get the talent’s telephone number and you are all set. However, if your friend won’t tell you anything and you find yourself looking for a celebrity look-a-like on your own, you may have to go to Google in order to locate the one you want. If so, there are a few things that you should be aware of.

First, there are celebrity impersonators who aren’t as great in person as they may appear to be on the internet or on their web sites. There are those who are incredibly talented, while there are those who were barely mediocre. They can hype up their web sites with many accolades, and place slick photos there to make themselves look better than what they really are. Here are a few pointers.

1. Make sure the photos they are showing were taken within the last few years. There are many impersonators, especially Marilyn Monroe impersonators who are much older than their photos. You might be disappointed if the picture you saw does not look like the woman that shows up at your party and who looks more like Marilyn’s mother or possibly Grandmother. To prevent this from happening to you, get at least three recent references and do a follow up. Many people can be dishonest and give you references of their best friend who may lie for them.

2. Go directly to the impersonators themselves and not the slick high priced agents who charge high prices in order to pay their office rent. You could literally save $500 by doing this. If you can’t find a George Clooney impersonator, don’t be afraid to call other impersonators on the web and ask them if they know where he may be found. It might take a little footwork but it is worth it. Performers are usually willing to help another artist get a “GIG”, due to the fact that it is a networking business.

3. When you get in contact with the impersonator, ask to see a DVD of his/her work. Since this is the age of cyberspace and email, the impersonator may more than likely send you his information by email. If the impersonator you are interested in sings, for example, such as Christine Aguilera, then you would want to see a sample of her work. If the impersonator “LIP sinks” to the music, then you should be able to negotiate the price down a bit. Live vocalists can command more money. Be aware that there are a variety of impersonators who are just “look-a-likes. Others are look-a-likes with talent, such as singing with music, comic performances, and/or dancing.

4. There are two basic performances. One is a “Birthday or Party Gram” which lasts for a short time (less than 15 minutes). These should cost less than $300. A longer performance may include a “comedy roast’ for the guest of honor, music including perhaps three songs, and a photo shoot with guests. This second type of performance could run you anywhere from $400 to $1000, depending on the celebrity. But as stated before, you can keep the price down if you go directly to the performer and sign a contract with him.

Have fun with your next event by having a celebrity impersonator entertain your guests. And take a video of the events for a keepsake. By having an impersonator at your next party will give it more spirit and provide you with a lot of joy and make your guest of honor and other guests talk about it for many years to come.

Gerry Hoylie is known as the Hollywood Caricaturist. Gerry is a licensed NYC and New York State Art Teacher. She has taught painting and drawing to both adults and children. Gerry is also an Alumni of the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. If you wish to contact here you can by sending her an email to gerialana@aol.com or call her at 212-532-1142, or go to her website at http://www.allanaenterprises.com.