The Elvis Revival, Inc. responds to EIN's article

Dear Elvis fans,

Thank you to EIN for giving the multi award winning Parkes Elvis Festival organising body the opportunity to respond to this article.

Firstly, we'd like to correct the historical information quoted in this article. The Parkes Elvis Festival was actually established in 1993, not 1992. The 2009 Festival will be the 17th Parkes Elvis Festival. The Festival took a new focus, and was re-born in 2004/05, and has continued on the up since then.

In 2008, Elvis Revival Inc trialled an outdoor concert which starred El Gamble. Whilst the concert was a success and enjoyed by many, the article mentions that this concert attracted a crowd of 6,500 which is impossible. The venue, Cooke Park cannot hold that many people, and with official visitor numbers to the whole Festival being 8,000 (with many of these visitors attending events within other venues on that evening, and also many event-goers day tripping from around the region - and returning home prior to the concert), I can assure readers that there were not 6,500 people in the park on the Saturday night. Whilst it was a popular event, there were more people in the local clubs, pubs and restaurants. The Parkes Elvis Festival organising body estimates a crowd of around 700-800 people were present at this event.

Ellie Ruffoni, Festival Coordinator & ETA, Greg Jones

The Parkes Elvis Festival organising body, Elvis Revival Inc. decided not to proceed with an outdoor concert in 2009 for several reasons. The Tourism NSW Regional Flagship event funding expired in January 2008 (with the maximum 3 year assistance period ceasing) which meant costs that had previously been covered by this grant needed to be sourced from elsewhere within the Festival budget. The Festival runs on a tight budget, with many outdoor activities being provided for free, but attracting infrastructure and staging costs - and with Council costs for the Festival escalating between 2007 - 2008 the Committee is now absorbing additional costs - many of which stemmed from holding a free outdoor concert (staff wages, clean up crews, waste removal etc.) The Committee enjoys providing free entertainment for visitors but it was felt that with some increased expense areas and grant funding gaps for 2009, they would not proceed with an outdoor concert in 2009. Toilet cleaning costs were the last of our worries!

Mark Andrew, the Feature Concert artist, was hired in 2008 and will be starring in 2009. The fee which the Committee pays Mark is no where near the $40,000 mark. Festival visitors love his shows which is why due to popular demand, he has been invited back in 2009. The Feature Concerts are a genuine fundraiser for Elvis Revival Inc, with some of the costs being offset by sponsorship from Keno and ClubsNSW. The Feature Concerts helps Elvis Revival Inc. provide the free entertainment in Cooke Park and other ongoing costs incurred to run the festival. The Committee will of course consider hiring an alternative performer in the future (based on performer profile and visitor demand), however the Committee is not obligated to.

In response to the comment that ETA's do not receive expenses whilst in Parkes - Mark Andrew receives accommodation in Parkes as part of the negotiated performance contract between himself and Elvis Revival Inc. However, it is up to the discretion of the many independent venues that engage their own performers whether they provide accommodation and expenses or not - as part of their own private contracts between the venues and the artist. Other Feature Concert Artists at past Festivals have included Dean Vegas and David Cazalet. Max Pelicano (Elvis to the Max) was invited a couple of years ago, but was not able to accommodate the Festival dates. The Committee encourages all professional performers to forward promotional material, performance DVD's and pricing schedules to assist in the selection of the Feature concert artist.

The Festival Committee did not give away 150-200 free dinner and show tickets in 2008. Only sponsors receive complimentary tickets to any of the Elvis Revival Inc. shows - resulting in only a few dozen complimentary tickets - all part of any standard sponsorship arrangement at any major event. The Saturday night Feature Concert always sells out before the Festival, closely followed by the Friday night show and then matinee performances. The Parkes Leagues Club holds 600 people - not less than 500 as stated in the article - which means we can sell 2400 tickets over the 4 shows - a good sized venue for a country town! The Saturday night Feature Concert is already fully booked for 2009, with an alternative concert being held at the Parkes Services Club. Obviously indoor concerts add varied staging elements, with light and sound being better controlled and offering a different, more intimate experience to an outdoor venue.

Whilst Elvis Revival Inc. cannot comment on behalf of Mark Andrew, we find it very hard to believe that Mark or his management would make such comments about El Gamble - or any other performer in the letter referred to. Mark Andrew has been a great ambassador for the Parkes Elvis Festival, and goes out of his way to give back to the event, by participating in additional activities including the street parade, wall plaque unveiling, Elvis Gospel Church Service and media requests - at all times being respectful to the event and to all people involved.

Parkes ETA Street Parade

The Parkes Elvis Festival is recognised nationally and internationally as one of the world's premier Elvis events. 2008 media coverage included features in many international newspapers and requests for 2009 information has already come from across the world, including the UK and Vietnam. The Festival television advert was generously donated by Prime Television as the prize for the Festival being awarded the Regional Achievement and Community Award in the Events and Tourism category. The Committee does not agree that it depicts 'unfortunate stereotypes of the Elvis legend'. At the Parkes Elvis Festival we work hard to cater for all Elvis and music fans, not just staunch/ specialist Elvis fans, and what you see in the television advert is real people having real fun at the Festival - what better way to advertise it, and to attract interest in the Elvis phenomenon - which is what we're all here to achieve! All of which are celebrating the life and work of Elvis in a positive and enthusiastic way.

Whilst the Festival offers light-hearted activities for the less serious fan, there are also a range of activities aimed at preserving Elvis' legend in celluloid, including the screening of films, displays of Elvis' personal memorabilia and the history attached to it (Greg Page Elvis collection), and in particular the very moving Elvis Gospel Church Service. We are all trying to achieve the same thing, an understanding and appreciation of Elvis, and everyone's thoughts and ideas on how best to do this will obviously differ, but so long as we achieve the same end result - we've all won.

In summary

The majority of the claims and information provided in this article are false - even the historical facts. The Festival is organised by a Committee of dedicated volunteers who work really hard year round to pull off each Festival, and provides a big learning curve for everyone involved each year as it grows and develops. It is their undying devotion to the Festival and Elvis which makes it what it is today. It is also the goodwill built between the Committee, Parkes Shire Council, local businesses and the community that has really made this Festival work for our town - a fantastic achievement for a regional centre the size of Parkes, which is envied by many other country towns - and has come at a time of drought and overall regional downturn.

Parkes has become a success story, and spreads its news and successes with other towns and festivals in the hope of building up their events too. Parkes the town is the big winner from the Festival, with the event generating significant growth in the local and overall regional economy, with flow on benefits from our event stretching right around the region - and who could blame anyone for having the interests of their town at heart - in all their planning and development decisions? Any resident anywhere would be wrong not to want their town to prosper and succeed.

The Committee has exciting new additions to the Festival program for 2009, and has further ideas to trial in 2010. Running an outdoor concert is still a possibility for the future but we have some other ideas we would like to try too. The 2009 Festival is set to be another great Festival, and we look forward to seeing you there.Thanks for everyone's interest in our event - it is nice to think that so many people have such an attraction to it, to the extent that they are keen to know more about the inner workings.

The Committee always welcomes feedback after each event, with correspondence to be directed to Elvis Revival Inc. PO Box 611, Parkes NSW 2870.

Elvis Revival Inc., December 2008

  Visit Parkes on the web at www.parkes.nsw.gov.au

The 2009 Parkes Elvis Festival runs from 7 to 11 January - view Festival program

Helen: Read your Parkes bit with some interest.  I don’t really have a comment though as unfortunately I missed the 2008 event and know none of the organisers so don’t have any firsthand knowledge.  I did think your figures on the attendance and world-wide audience reeked a bit of the Aloha viewing audience & 1,000,000,000 sales figures though J.  It’s interesting that only three of your respondents was actually at Parkes and estimated the crowd at 50 or 500!  How differently we all see the same events.  As usual repliers seem to have got away from thoughts on your article and into whether Parkes is a good thing or not. 

I’m not a fan of impersonators myself but have been to Parkes a number of times and always have a fantastic time.  I enjoy Mark Andrews but don’t think he sounds anything like Elvis.  The guy two seats down from me this year thought he sounded pretty spot on.  How differently we all hear the same events.  Personally I wouldn’t be seen dead at the ETA Comp during Elvis week but, for me, Parkes is just a fun weekend with the emphasis on fun.  I don’t take it seriously and I presume no one else does. 

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Glen Vass: I have been to the Parkes Elvis Festival three times now.      The first time being in 2007… My memory of that was the average heat of 45 degrees!!    I didn’t have any Elvis jumpsuits or Elvis wigs at that point in time except for showing up as Roy Orbison, so unfortunately could not be part of the World Record Number of Elvii!!     I had the pleasure of meeting some wonderful people, not only from other areas across the country, but the locals from Parkes.     I attended dinner karaoke at the Parkes Golf Club, the Parkes Hotel and saw Dean Vegas at the Leagues Club.

One of my newer work colleagues was staying at a pub at the North end of Parkes and the fact he was not going to the festival in 2008 and that I could take his place for accommodation purposes.     This was a great thing to do, as I then offered my own karaoke hosting services to licensee of same hotel.      I put on entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights which generated a sizeable bar trading and a large attendance for their restaurant.     I was still able to go to the Parkes Golf Club on the Friday evening and also on Sunday to see Silas Lulic and the feature ETA concert Mark Andrew.     It was too hot to spend too much time in Cook Park.     Naturally with the pub karaoke being a success, I was invited back for 2009.

In January 2009, I once again had the pleasure of providing entertainment at the pub.    Even had time to see the Greg Page Elvis Collection, which was simply aw inspiring.     THIS IS ELVIS!!!    I packed the pub on Thursday from 2pm right through to 2am.    I even had one ETA from Melbourne come in and sing for over an hour.    The pub was ‘standing room only’ on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.       We didn’t even advertise in the official programme or the local paper.    We obviously don’t need to, going on the results of the weekend.   I also saw the Sunday afternoon Mark Andrew Legends Show, which was simply fantastic.

In 2007, I watched the parade…..In 2008 and 2009, I entered the parade…    Elvis loved his cars, and I am sure he would have been simply gob smacked at the collection of classic cars on parade.

In 2007, I had a tailor made gold jacket made which cost $500.    In 2008, I had BK Enterprises tailor a Nail Jumpsuit which set me back around $2000AUD.     I could not lower myself to a cheap Chinese “tacky” variety ebay type jumpsuit.    I had to have the real thing.     As for Elvis Wigs, I purchased a decent looking one from a reputable wig store in Sydney.

I have already been booked back in at the pub for 2010 and I am sure we will generate plenty of interest again by the visiting crowds.    I aim to keep the memory of Elvis alive through his music, not his mannerisms, although I must admit, I am a fan of peanut butter and banana sandwiches (not deep fried!!), thus is why my jumpsuit is on the large size!!

I believe that the organizers of the event have done a magnificent job and I congratulate them.     I also pay tribute to the people of Parkes for being so friendly and welcoming.      I look forward to January 2010 to celebrate Elvis’ 75^th Birthday.

Sam: This years festival got a lot of media attention and thats where the problem was. It was a sad to see the media and visitors to Parkes trivialise Elvis the way they did.

Jeff T: I went to Parkers this year for the first time. I had a lot of fun ands met a lot of new friends but I can understand why some fans don't like it. It's not about Elvis or his musical legacy, it's about dressing up as him and having fun.

Annette Bilings: The TV footage of the goons in Parkes still makes me shudder. Is this what the Elvis legacy has been reduced to? Anyone who really cares about Elvis and his music would avoid Parkes like the plague.

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Mark Andrew:  I read the article. In response:

I had no Idea that El Gamble recieved those letters and I am deeply dissapointed someone would go that far especially if my name was mentioned.

Wonder how many blank looks you will get.....

Susan Theodore: I went to Parkes once and only once. In three words tacky.tacky.tacky. Elvis needs to be remembered much better than this.

John from Parramatta: The television commercial is pathetic. What a big joke the Parkes Festival is. Elvis was the greatest singer the world has ever known and Parkes lets him down badly. They need to be told to talk about his music and his charisma not his hackneyed (thanks to the media) mannerisms.

Pat: Why is EIN picking on Parkes??? I've been going there regularly for the last 5 years and it is just bloody fantastic!

Jim: Parkes..........................................UGH never again

Bill Franklin: There are to many Elvis impersonators at Parkes and theyre not that good. Its not good for Elviss memory. Thats my opinion.

Frank: I lived in Parkes up until 18 months ago. I knew some of the people on the Elvis committee. There has been problems with running the festival for a lot of years.

Tony K: The Parkes Elvis Festival is a good effort of remembering the King. It could be better but I enjoy it.

Amy: What a joke that ad is. Get them to take it off. I'm never going to go the festival, it's disrespectful to Elvis in so many ways. Give us his music not his idiosyncracies. How Parkes can expect to be taken seriously as an Elvis event confounds me.

Cynthia Beaman: There are very few real Elvis fans at the Parkes get together. Most of those there wouldn't know It's Now Or Never from In The Ghetto. Yet the organising committee rattles on as if its Australia's Elvis mecca. Well I have news for them it's far from that and the way its run now it never will get close!

Warren Holt: Just saw the tv ad for the Parkes weekend. It's absolutely terrible. They are not respecting Elvis' talent just the mass media fascination with minor things.

Celia: The Elvis ad for Parkes is disgraceful. It promotes the ignoramous views on Elvis.

Ted Pullman: I saw the television commercial for next years Parkes Elvis festival. It is disgraceful. I thought we'd got beyond the narrow take on Elvis.

Bethany: I don't understand the fuss about Parkes. I saw the TV news last year and it was all pretty tacky. Why can't Parkes promote Elvis as he should be, and acknowledge his beautiful vocal skills and music. He was such a gifted performer who could communicate to each of us on a personal level. Ridiculous looking Elvis artists in hideous wigs and no talent should be banned 4ever!

James Parker: I visited Parkes for the festival last year. Everyone there (and there were a lot) seemed to be having a great time. I can't say it overwhelmed me. There were too many bland Elvis and Priscilla look a likes and not enough real Elvis!

Sharon: I went to Parkes expecting to have a good time but instead I left thinking what a wank the whole thing was. If this is how we are to celebrate Elvis give me his greatest hits record every time. Junk food and crappy costumes are not what Elvis was about and they never will be. I got the feeling most of the people there were not real fans, but tourists out for a good time.

Brett: Graceland has accepted tacky impersonators so why not Parkes Australia? I reckon its better than having a bunch of Michael Jackson clones walking the streets.

Tania D: Elvis is the King and always will be. I can't believe fans actually go to a festival that is based on the negative things about him.

Pam: What a shocking ad! It's little wonder so many people think of Elvis as a junk food addict and not as a serious musician.