Do you play along when your child is pretending to be a super hero or a rock star? I want people to feel that comfortable to let go and have fun. Imagine yourself at a Celine Dion concert where Celine walks into the audience and sings directly to you. Would you feel special? What if Marilyn Monroe sang her breathy version of Happy Birthday to your company president? Would you take a picture? Do you smile and laugh? If the people you work with played guitars like rock stars at your company party, would you cheer them on? My stage shows get those reactions.

Marilyn Monroe Impersonator Tracey Bell sings Happy Birthday Mr. President at the Victoria Hospital Foundation Gala Fundraiser

People like to shine, even shy people.

On New Year’s Eve, when New York New York is playing and everyone in the room is doing a kick line, do you join in, or smile while you watch them? Would you clap along with people if Dolly Parton encouraged you to? If your friends were strutting their stuff onstage with Madonna, would you want to video them? These are the experiences that I create with people. Whether you want to kick up your shoes, cheer from the sidelines, or smile as you watch others, there is a place for everyone at my shows.

Audience Participants learn to Vogue like boy toys with Madonna Impersonator Tracey Bell

After decades of experience, I know how to choose the first participants

It only takes a few outgoing people to get audience participation started, to set the example. If they can do it, others can too. Nobody has to be perfect. It’s especially rewarding when I get shy people involved in the show. I get the same reaction as a hypnotist, where participants are entranced and want to let their inner rock star shine.  After decades of experience as an interactive impressionist, I know how to choose the first participants, then encourage and inspire them. I’m encouraging them. Joy, fun and laughter are contagious.

Celine Dion Impersonator Tracey Bell Holds hands with the Canadian Consul General at the Chamber of Commerce Special Event in Shanghai, China

My stage shows are rewarding to me because I’m engaging people and giving them an experience they’ll talk about for years, whether they’re a spectator or participant. When we’re engaged, we’re fully present in the moment. Playing is good for us. Connecting is good for us. My purpose is to create a show where we do those things.  I put my whole heart into it. There’s a lot of me in the show: Tracey Bell disguised as Lady Gaga, Tina Turner, Judy Garland, Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, Julie Andrews, Shania Twain, Alanis Morrissette, and the rest.

The post Purpose, Connection and Corporate Fun appeared first on Corporate Entertainer - Tracey Bell Entertainment - Official Site.

Tracey Bell will become Marilyn Monroe to host the Women in Film and Television Spotlight Awards on June 19^th. She’ll do impersonations of Judy Garland as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, Julie Andrews from The Sound of Music and others at the event that she’s hosted twice before. She’ll also perform at A Loving Spoonful’s Project Empty Bowl on June 21^st before portraying 13 different divas during her unique, interactive celebrity impersonation show at Celebrities Nightclub on July 13^th.

At the July 13^th show, Bell will change in seconds seamlessly to perform her hilarious impressions of Celine Dion, Cher, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and more. With her warm, enthusiastic style of connecting with the audience, Tracey will inspire them into doing a kick-line with Liza Minnelli, performing guitar solos with Janis Joplin and being Boy Toys with Madonna. She stays in character, improvising with people throughout the show. Her joy and energetic playfulness are contagious.

Partial proceeds from her July 13^th show will benefit A Loving Spoonful, where Tracey is an honorary director. She raised $2300 for the charity at her April 6^th show, where she had the audience in stitches when she auctioned herself off as Cher.

Born in Edmonton, she’s made her living onstage since 1985, when she performed a Tina Turner impersonation just for fun and the nightclub she worked at checking coats hired her full-time as their in-house act.

An entertainment entrepreneur, Bell became self-employed in 1988 and moved to Vancouver in 1990 to build her one-woman business where she is a force as her own manager, marketing director, producer and costume designer. She has travelled from Whitehorse to Halifax and internationally, mostly performing at private corporate events.

Tracey Bell has returned to public performances, disproving the stigmas of middle age by adding impressions of millennial artists to her award-winning show. Exceptionally fit and looking better than ever, she’s ready for her comeback.

The post Tracey Bell Performs at the Spotlight Awards, Project Empty Bowl, and Celebrities Nightclub – Oh My! appeared first on Corporate Entertainer - Tracey Bell Entertainment - Official Site.

“I’m terrified to add new celebrities to my show.”

So why didn’t I do her?  I’ve impersonated dozens of celebrities over the years and created my most popular show with icons that audiences love; I’ve been a Celine Dion impersonator, a Madonna impersonator, a Cher impersonator, a Dolly Parton impersonator, a Janis Joplin impersonator, a Marilyn Monroe impersonator, a Tina Turner impersonator and a Liza Minnelli impersonator. I’m terrified to add new celebrities to my show because in the past I’ve added stars like Shania Twain and Lady Gaga and the audience response hasn’t felt as good as it does with my favorite divas. I’ve worked hard researching, rehearsing, designing costumes that can be changed in seconds and finding the right wigs that can be styled to make me look like the people I’m impersonating. I’ve paid for photo shoots and promotional materials, then been disappointed when new performances weren’t up to my standards. I’m afraid of failure. To suck on stage is to die!

“I’m afraid of failure. To suck on stage is to die!”

My quick-change show, 8 Divas in 44 Minutes, has a formula that works and gets me standing ovations. I’ve had success beyond my dreams performing as Cher and the other divas. I’m paid thousands of dollars to do what I love. I’ve been onstage in front of corporate audiences from Halifax to Shanghai and from Whitehorse to Playa Del Carmen. I’ve won Entertainer of the Year Awards. What’s going to happen if I change? I’ll see soon. It’s time. I’ve just gotta ignite the light and let it shine, ‘cause baby I’m a firework.

The post Overcoming My Fear of Katy Perry appeared first on Corporate Entertainer - Tracey Bell Entertainment - Official Site.

This reference letter came to us from Vilma Jones of Dundee Securities.

_______

“You were terrific.”

Dear Tracey,

Thank you for the wonderful job you did entertaining at Dundee’s CMP Golf Day. You were terrific and everyone loved your act.

I always wanted to see Cher, Madonna, Janis Joplin, Dolly Parton and Marilyn Monroe in person. Who knew it was so easy – just hire Tracey Bell.

I am certain we will call upon you again. Thanks for a job well done.

Best Regards,

Vilma Jones

Vice President
Equity Capital Markets

_______

Thank you, Vilma Jones!

The post 30 Years of Tracey Bell: Dundee Securities appeared first on Corporate Entertainer - Tracey Bell Entertainment - Official Site.

Here is Tracey Bell’s recap of the 2016 Spotlight Awards for Women in Film & Television Vancouver and her experience as a host!

—

“Do whatever you like. You can’t lose.”

On June 20th, I hosted and performed at the WIFTV Spotlight Awards for the second time. Just like the last time, it was an honour!

Having hosted and performed at the 2014 WIFTV Spotlight Awards, I decided to change things up this time. First of all, I had to choose which numbers to perform and divas to impersonate. Should I start with a quick-change medley or Janis Joplin’s “Mercedes Benz”? I hadn’t impersonated Janis Joplin or Madonna the last time. I asked one of the organizers what I should do and she said, “Do whatever you like. You can’t lose.”

She was right.

Imagine a room filled with people who support and celebrate highly accomplished, talented, strong, inspiring, creative, generous, and diverse women. They showed their appreciation for my performances as Celine Dion, Cher, Marilyn Monroe, Liza Minnelli and other celebrities with unprecedented enthusiasm.

Audience participation went exceptionally well at the WIFTV Spotlight Awards in 2014. So I incorporated it in this year’s performances. When Gigi Saul Guerrero accepted her award for Artistic Achievement, her “Mexican Family” – as she calls them – went crazy with wild cheering. I brought them onstage to be in Janis Joplin’s band. Her father brought down the house with his fabulous rubber guitar solo.

During my Madonna impersonation, I introduced one of the presenters, only to discover that he wasn’t there. So I spontaneously entertained the group with “Vogue”. An amazing group of men from the audience performed along as Boy Toys.

Near the end of the WIFTV Spotlight Awards, winners in gowns and their friends danced on stage during my Cher impersonation.

“The speeches were the best I’ve ever heard.”

Have you seen Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch or Dr. Who or the cult classic Tank Girl? They were directed by this year’s Woman of the Year, Rachel Talalay. She’s a Director, Producer, Professor and Activist, as are many of the other award winners. Four of this year’s Award Recipients are Actors as well as Film Creators. As talented as these deserving winners were, their acceptance speeches were even better, perhaps the best I’ve ever heard. As a matter of fact, I would rate them above the Oscars or any of the dozens of Awards Shows I’ve been a part of.

Sarah Kalil, President of Women in Film & Television Vancouver, said the speeches are especially inspiring because the recipients love and support the incredible community that they are addressing. Here’s a transcript of Rachel Talay’s speech. I wish I had a video of her powerful presentation.

Some of the Women in Film & Television Vancouver award winners have received international recognition and awards. Even so, they still don’t get the same opportunities that their male colleagues receive. They’ve had to be better than most men in order to get where they are.

Two supportive men received awards. Walter Daroshin, President of Troika Productions, received the Honoured Friend Award. He listed numerous women he had worked with. He didn’t choose them because they were women; he chose them because they were the best people for the jobs. Claude Joli-Couer, Government Film Commissioner and NFB Chairperson, received a standing ovation after his moving acceptance speech. He announced that half of the National Film Board’s funding will go to films by women and used Justin Trudeau’s line, “Because it’s 2016”. This made his speech and announcement especially relevant.

“It was a lot of fun!”

I wasn’t the star of the Women in Film and Television Spotlight Awards. The stars were Mary Galloway, Mina Shum, Christine Larsen, Kailey Spear, Sam Spear, Kat Montagu, Emily Yakashira and Sabrina Furminger, and the others above.

What an incredible evening! It was a lot of fun!

Thank you, Women in Film & Television Vancouver!

The post Tracey Bell Hosts The 2016 WIFTV Spotlight Awards appeared first on Corporate Entertainer - Tracey Bell Entertainment - Official Site.

Tracey Bell returned to her hometown of Edmonton, Alberta as a host and performer at the 2016 Edmonton Pride Festival.

It was a thrill for her to host such an important event in her hometown and share her collection of divas with a wonderful audience. Here are Tracey Bell’s thoughts on the 2016 Edmonton Pride Festival and her experiences there.

—

“I have been honoured, adored, supported, and celebrated by LGBT communities.”

It was an honour to host the main stage at Edmonton’s Pride Festival on June 4^th, 2016.

Like Madonna, Cher and the other great gay icons I impersonate, I’ve been honoured, adored, supported and celebrated by the LGBT2 communities I have performed for from Miami to New York and across Canada.

In Canada, I’ve hosted Vancouver’s Gay Pride Festival stage twice. Each time, I memorably introduced politicians like NDP MP Svend Robinson, Liberal MP Hedy Fry, and former BC Premier Ujjal Dosanjh. Edmonton’s festival didn’t have political speeches, which was disappointing in some ways, but also a relief in others.

I opened with a medley of quick change impersonations of Janis Joplin, Marilyn Monroe and Tina Turner.

Dressed as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, I impersonated Gay Icon Judy Garland.

To introduce performers from The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose, I impersonated Julie Andrews and sang a re-written version of “My Favourite Things” from The Sound of Music.

“I especially enjoyed bringing interactive entertainment to the festival.”

In my corporate shows, one of the highlights of every show is audience participation. With that in mind, I especially enjoyed bringing interactive entertainment to the festival. Throughout the day, I included many people in the show and chatted in character with audience members, especially entertainers, technicians and officials. While Edmonton cover band Uptown played classic rock and dance hits, I also posed with audience members.

Midway through the afternoon, it was time for Liza Minnelli. Members of the audience and the Pride Centre of Edmonton Dance Team kicked up their heels with me to “New York, New York”.

From there, I changed in seconds to become Madonna. Some expert “Vogue”-ers from the professional dance team Snap Boys joined me on stage. These dancers had previously performed with Britney Spears impersonator Derrick Barry and RuPaul’s Drag Race runners up Pearl and Adore Delano.

While local band We Were Friends was setting up their gear, I was Dolly Parton. The show had to go on, so I interviewed the charming band members in character. In conclusion, I jumped into “9 to 5” as a sign off for the Dolly Parton portion.

Finally, I ended the show with impersonations of Celine Dion and Cher.

Above all, it was a pleasure to perform for such an adoring audience at Edmonton Pride. I’m grateful for the opportunity.

The post Celebrity Impersonations at the Edmonton Pride Festival appeared first on Corporate Entertainer - Tracey Bell Entertainment - Official Site.