I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for entertainers to never give up or assume it’s over when opportunities slow down. There are always new doors to open if you stay proactive, think outside the box, and don’t rely solely on agents to find work. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to reach out directly to the decision-makers—because that’s exactly what I did, and it led to this last-minute booking story.
It all started when a fellow impersonator friend texted me about a gig that was looking for lookalikes and impersonators. She shared the contact information of the person in charge, and for a couple of weeks, things went silent. All we knew was that Netflix would be involved in some capacity, there would be filming, and celebrities would be present. I had previously worked with Netflix on a corporate event, but this felt different—this was potentially part of a larger Netflix-related production, which meant major exposure. I was excited, but still waiting on a response that never came.
Then, the week of the event, I saw a Facebook post from a friend and follower, Bre, about auditions for a Michael Jackson lookalike contest being produced by Jeff Beacher. It wasn’t just any contest—it was being billed as the “World’s Biggest Michael Jackson Lookalike Contest.” While I only impersonate Bruno Mars, Bre mentioned something that stood out: if you showed up as Bruno, there was still a chance you could be booked. That idea stuck with me.
Instead of waiting, I decided to take initiative and reach out directly to Jeff Beacher to introduce myself and offer my services. Most of the time when I do this, people aren’t even aware that a professional Bruno Mars impersonator exists—so it often leads to bookings.
I sent this message:
“Hello, my name is Johnny Rico, and I am a Bruno Mars celebrity impersonator based in Los Angeles, CA. I wanted to see if any additional impersonators are needed for this event. I would love to be a part of the show.”
Within minutes, I received a response. We exchanged messages briefly, and by the next day I was invited to rehearsals. I was thrilled to be included in what I already knew was a legendary immersive production. I had seen and heard about events like this for years, but never imagined I would be part of one.
The next day, I arrived as Bruno Mars, observed the full show run-through, and was blown away by the talent and production. I also did my rehearsal and was honestly still processing everything I was seeing—both before and after my segment.
The show, Beacher’s Madhouse, is a high-energy live entertainment experience blending comedy, music, circus-style performances, and over-the-top variety acts. Created by Jeff Beacher, it became known in Hollywood for its wild, immersive atmosphere and celebrity-filled audience. It feels like a mix between a nightclub and a theatrical circus, with surprise performances throughout the night. Being included in something like that felt surreal.
On May 8th, the event officially began. We were called to arrive at 6:45 PM for rehearsals at The Hollywood Roosevelt. After going over the flow, I noticed I wasn’t assigned a stage performance, even though I had rehearsed one the day before. I checked in with the person running the rehearsals, and they told me they would confirm the final lineup. If I wasn’t on stage, I would instead be interacting with guests, mingling, and dancing—which I was completely fine with.
When the show began, guests filled the venue and were surrounded by themed performers like Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Mario, Austin Powers, and Johnny Depp impersonators. Throughout the night, the stage opened with red velvet curtains to reveal different acts: a mini Kanye West, laser performers styled like Mortal Kombat’s Raiden, Oompa Loompas, and of course Michael Jackson tributes. Beyond the stage, the audience was constantly engaged with roaming performers and theatrical drink deliveries from characters like a mini astronaut and Tinkerbell.
May 9th brought another early call time at the same venue. This time, the production lead approached me with an idea: a karaoke-style battle between an Axl Rose impersonator and me as Bruno Mars. I immediately said yes.
That night unfolded with the same immersive energy as the previous one. When my turn came, I performed a snippet of “Uptown Funk,” while the Axl Rose impersonator delivered his set. We later returned to the stage for audience voting, and I ended up being chosen as the winner.
The rest of the evening continued with the same unpredictable, high-energy atmosphere, and I even had the chance to spot celebrities like Jessica Alba, Terrence Howard, Dane Cook, Tori Spelling, and Flavor Flav in the audience, which made the experience even more memorable.
Those two days became one of my favorite gigs—not only because it was part of a two-day Netflix-related event for “This Is a Joke Fest,” but because it all came from simply taking initiative, reaching out, and putting myself forward without waiting to be chosen.
