The Imitation Game A common symbol worn by Elvis Tribute Artists, or ETAs, is Elvis Presley’s motto “Taking Care of Business.” Elvis Tribute Artists travel all over the United States to performing heavily rehearsed shows of song and dance for fans, accolades and big-ticket endorsements and checks. Serious performers take offense to those who make a living on what they consider to be the sadder cliches associated with Elvis. Those who compete see Elvis as a positive influence on music and want to share that with his fans. Frank Cross, a Canadian performer and full-time truck driver, zips up his suit after putting on some shape wear. Cross says it is all a part of the job, a job he enjoys as a side hobby. “I do a lot of nursing homes and stuff like that but I do this enough that I cannot compete in the the amateur categories anymore. This is a hard competition,” said cross of the Elvis Fantasy Fest. Ryan Pelton puts the last touches to his makeup backstage before performing this third and final number, “Polk Salad,” a number he is famous for performing. Backstage Brad Mitchell of Spokane, Washington, gets some help with his jumpsuit from a contest organizer while another competitor completes their performance onstage. Jesse Aron waits backstage for another competitor to finish during the third and final round of competition. Jesse Aron, an ETA from Green Bay Wisconsin, performs his third and final number for fans and judges at the Elvis Fantasy Festival in Portage, Indiana. Aron said he was raised by musical parents who also loved Elvis which is why they gave him the same middle name as Elvis. Aron also performs as Roy Orbison and works as a full-time performer and promoter. A fan takes a photograph on her smartphone of Ryan Pelton as he performs at the Elvis Fantasy Fest. Brad Mitchell touches the hand of a fan during one of his performances at the Elvis Fantasy Festival. Elvis Tribute Artists Tim Hendry, left, and Jesse Aron, right, watch others as they gather and wait backstage to find out who the winners of the competition are and who will be advancing to the Ultimate Elvis Competition in Memphis in 2016. “We are all friends,” saidAron, “but we all also want to win.” Ryan Pelton’s jumpsuit for his next number hangs in the dressing room at the Elvis Fantasy Festival. Most artists spend thousands of dollars on their jumpsuits. Those that need whigs can spend as much as $3,000. This does not count jewelry, makeup and boots.
