Jaime Expósito is an artist who was born in Madrid in 1982, and from a very young age he always knew what he wanted to do in life. Today we will chat with him so that he can explain it to us.
Interviewer: Hi Jaime, welcome…
Jaime: Hi, thank you very much…
I: Well, before anything else we would like to ask you: how would you describe yourself, Jaime?
J: I'm an artist.
I: That's not very specific, don't you think? Hehehe.
J: What I do is not very specific.
I: You're an actor too, I understand, aren't you?
J: Yes, I've done several things that you can see in my bio 😉
I: You also sing, right?
J: Yes, I have several polished numbers, although I can always adapt to any song in advance.
I: I understood that you are also a great impersonator.
J: Indeed, and I'm also an expert in character performances.
I: That's what I wanted to get to. I know many celebrity look-alikes, or actors who play a famous character at parties and events.
J: That's what I enjoy the most.
I: And what is your character?
J: All of them, any character. There are no limits.
I: Could you elaborate on that a little more?
J: There are a number of characters that I have been adding to my portfolio over the years. And after past experiences I have acquired a remarkable ability to recreate characters.
I: I still don't get it, do you mean the number of characters? Could you give me an example?
J: For example, name a singer you like.
I: Marc Anthony
J: Would you like to have him at your birthday party?
I: Hahaha… yes.
J: Well, if this were a conversation with a client, all that would be left is to give you a quote.
I: And what if you didn't have Marc Anthony in your portfolio of characters?
J: I don't have him, I've never played him. But that's what I offer, versatility. If we add to that respect, a cheeky touch in good taste, fun and professionalism… you get something special.
I: What?
J: Me.
I: Tell me Jaime, how did this type of service come about?
J: For several years I worked in a well-known nightclub in Madrid (for a very specific kind of audience). My job was to become famous characters, whether current ones or from pop culture or sport, for example. The artistic team was made up of go-go dancers, dancers, musicians and actors. Each actor played certain characters, but not all the characters performed every week.
I: How were the characters distributed?
J: Well, the director could ask us for them, or our boss… or we directly offered our creations. If the character was a success, then you had more chances of working.
I: I see…
J: When I realized that, I started to offer characters practically every week. If it worked well, the character stayed in the show. And if it didn't fit, it was shelved or used only on specific days.
I: Which characters were the most successful?
J: My first character there, the one I joined with… Julito Iglesias.
I: Well, let me tell you that I can't imagine you looking like him hahahaha…
J: And I didn't look like him, but… I don't know… I put on make-up, gave myself an exaggerated tan, put on the suit and the sunglasses... and with a good vocal and body imitation… people played along. The key is not to look physically alike, or to have the same voice… For me, the important thing is to know the character well, and to use an element that you do have. In Julio Iglesias's case, I relied a lot on the voice and the personality. Really, it's a bit of a mix of everything. If you believe you are Julio Iglesias, it's easier to convince others.
I: That sounds too philosophical for an entertainment act.
J: What I do is act. I don't care whether I play Hamlet in a theater, Julio Iglesias in a nightclub or a waiter infiltrated at your cousin's wedding. I'm an actor. That's my profession.
I: You did many characters… but you've only told me about Julito…
J: I can tell you about Sabina, Steve Urkel, Rafa Nadal, Prince, Rambo, Ace Ventura….
I: The Jim Carrey character?? Hahaha…
J: As I told you, any character is possible, but not all of them are valid in every situation. There are certain types of characters that work better than others depending on the event and the conditions. With my clients I also usually talk about these aspects, and I usually advise them so that the result is the best possible.
I: Have you ever refused to do a character because you thought it wouldn't work?
J: Fewer times than I should. A few months ago I had to do Steve Urkel in a nightclub full of very young people, people too young to know the character. It wasn't a themed party or anything like that. It was dropping an 80s/90s character in completely out of context. It made no sense. People didn't get it. I also had to turn down an offer from this same client on another occasion.
I: What did they ask you for?
J: The Mask, by Jim Carrey.
I: But can't you do any character?
J: Yes, but not with 4 days' notice and no budget.
I: And didn't you think of buying yourself a mask or something?
J: That's what he suggested. But I'm a professional, and if what you're looking for is a guy who puts on a mask and a costume, I'm not what you need. If you want The Mask, I can do it, but I need time and budget.
I: You still haven't told me about your star character…
J: Are you referring to Freddie Mercury?
I: That's the one.
J: I created him in that nightclub, for a night of kings. They asked me for a “queen” and I was sure about it. When I proposed it they turned it down because they needed a character that would work really well. And I answered… “How do you know it won't work?”
I: And it worked.
J: It became one of the most popular. Unfortunately the crisis hit the business hard and the nightclub ended up closing. So I grabbed my things and left to start a family. I stopped performing for a few years and then… the Freddie movie came out.
I: And you came back?
J: In a big way, I came back in a big way. I worked really hard to get in touch with the most important nightclubs in Madrid. After performing at the first one, the rest were “smooth sailing”. And I spent a year performing at almost all of them. At some of them repeating up to 3 or 4 times.
I: Incredible.
J: On top of that, I also started performing at a dinner-show restaurant aimed at company dinners and bachelor/bachelorette parties.
I: And when everyone had already seen Freddie?
J: Then Joker came along. My first Joker I had created years ago for a haunted house.
I: Heath Ledger's Joker?
J: That's right, and when Joaquin Phoenix came along, I went for it.
I: And…?
J: Another success.
I: But one thing… do you sing like Freddie?
J: Hahaha… no. My voice isn't his. I can sing his songs, but you don't feel like you're hearing him. That's why, with the physical look and the great resemblance I achieved, I made the artistic decision to perform in playback. But if a client asks me to, I have no problem singing with my own voice. Playbacks are simpler on a technical level. Like when I performed in roadside clubs playing George Michael.
I: What???
J: Yes, hehe, they asked me to do it in some of those venues, and I can sing like George Michael, but not all venues have suitable equipment for a singer.
I: Which other singers do you impersonate?
J: I already told you Sabina and Julio Iglesias… Bunbury, Gurruchaga, Eros Ramazzotti, El Canto del Loco, George Michael, Melendi… I don't know… You just ask me and I'll figure out how to manage.
I: Do you have any projects in mind?
J: I have 3 ideas that I'm developing… Elton John, a Blues Brothers tribute, and Elvis Presley. All of them with my own voice.
I: Elvis Presley??
J: I'm a huge fan, and a great imitator. I've been after that idea for years.
I: What has held you back?
J: The same as for other characters. A good costume requires a lot of investment. It's taken me a while to save up. But I think that if you ask me at Christmas… I might have news for you.
I: I can't wait.
J: Me neither hahahaha…
I: It has been a pleasure talking to you.
J: Thank you, likewise, although where I really feel comfortable is performing. I'm not very extroverted in my daily life.
Well Jaime, all that's left is to thank you for your time and the availability you always have for our events.
See you soon, once the whole COVID-19 situation calms down a bit more; we'll have you back with your usual freshness and attitude.