SIDEBURNS, STUDS, AND SEAMS: An Interview With Dorian Alberti

Walking into Dorian’s workspace, you’re immediately greeted by a bit of a tonal curveball: two full-sized, gleaming Iron Man suits standing guard like high-tech sentries. It’s the kind of thing that makes you pause, but after five minutes of chatting with him, the super suits start to make sense. Dorian isn’t a billionaire playboy, but he is a professional engineer with the soul of a tailor and the heart of the King. From learning the ropes at a local tailor shop to a life-altering night in Las Vegas that turned a karaoke hobby into a full-blown career, Dorian has carved out a unique space in the tribute world. Part Edna Mode, part Elvis Presley, and entirely authentic, he’s a one-man powerhouse who makes his own jumpsuits, engineers his own path, and reminds us why the "TCB" spirit is still very much alive.

While working on his bachelors in engineering, he took a job in a tailor shop, where he learned the basics of sewing and garment making. Being an Elvis fan, he thought it’d be fun to make himself an Elvis suit and do some karaoke. It was a business trip to Las Vegas that changed his life, and he’s never looked back.

Dorian: It was my last night in Vegas, so I decided to go see an Elvis show. I met Daniel Jenkins at the “All Shook Up” show, it happened to be his night. He picked me out of the crowd, made me sing a bar of “Viva Las Vegas” since I had some sideburns going on. We met up after the show and I asked him about the ins and outs of the business. The following month, he invited me to the first Elvis Vegas Fest, and things kind of took off from there.

Dorian really jumped into this business with both feet; his first performance as a tribute artist was in the Las Vegas competition. Not knowing the guidelines, Dorian wore something he’d created. He described it as being Elvis-adjacent, sort of a two piece version of the Cisco suit. He didn’t know how to sing properly and he was very stiff on stage, but he still got some applause. Maybe his voice and his look wasn’t quite there yet, but he definitely had the spunk to make up for it.

Dorian: I was talking to this guy right before I went on, and I told him I’d made my own suit. He said that was going to hurt me, and I replied that at least I’ll look good. He said “well, you could be delusional.” Right after I got offstage from my performance, he handed me an invitation to Elvis Explosion. I said something along the lines of “I guess I wasn’t delusional, huh?”

Dorian has expanded beyond Elvis-adjacent clothes and also makes traditional Elvis jumpsuits. I asked him how he even got into that very niche market, and he said it came from making his own pieces. Sometimes the big companies can be backed up for up to two years with jumpsuit orders, so Dorian cut out the middle man. He orders a “shell”, which I learned is basically a blank article of clothing and NOT some kind of weird turtle shell I was picturing. It’s essentially a blank canvas for Dorian to work with. Sometimes he makes “biblically accurate” Elvis suits, but Dorian really shines when he gets to be creative. He loves being inspired by Elvis’ jumpsuits but ultimately creating his own unique designs. He might combine aspects from several outfits to make a one of a kind piece. He describes himself as being like Edna Mode from “The Incredibles.” He has an aspect of exclusivity, simply because he’s a one-man show. Outside of making costumes, he has a full time job engineering and works as a tribute artist. But if Dorian takes your commission, know that you’re going to get a one of a kind piece that’s handmade by a true Elvis fan. 

Because when it comes down to it, Dorian is an Elvis fan. That may seem like a “duh” statement, seeing as I interviewed him for an Elvis related blog, but relevant. For some tribute artists, it’s just a job for them. And there’s nothing wrong with that, but I personally feel that, as an audience member, we can tell when someone’s heart and soul are really in it. Your motivations for being a tribute artist shape the way your performance impacts your audience, whether you realize it or not.

Dorian: I do it because it makes people happy. It brings joy to the fans, it fills a gap. It makes the audience forget their troubles while you’re on that stage. I’m here to make you smile, I’m here to make you remember and give you a sense of nostalgia, and I’m here to, hopefully, entertain you. 

That desire to entertain is the reason Dorian says he’d pick performing at an assisted living facility over a stuffy gig any day. He’s performed at expensive venues for ten bored people, but assisted living facilities? 

Dorian: They’re just happy you’re there. They can partake in the magic, and they’re super into it. They cherish those moments and its overall just a great time. Really they’re just happy to see you and that someone is taking the time to interact with them. 

Even if they aren’t the most exciting gigs, they’re meaningful to Dorian. You might not be gracing any billboards by performing at senior centers, but you’re making a real difference. Though we did joke that the seniors can be a tough audience; if they don’t like you, they’ll be sure to tell you!

Dorian emphasized the importance of getting honest feedback and criticism about your performances. While someone saying “you did great!” may flatter your ego, it’s not exactly helpful. You need someone to tell you when you were flat, or that you weren’t moving enough, or maybe that you were moving too much. Your real friends are the ones that will be straightforward with you, even if it’s not the easiest thing to hear. Being able to listen to advice, unsolicited or not, can be a key strength when it comes to performing. 

At the end of the day, Dorian’s world is a mix of high-tech precision and old-school heart. Whether he’s troubleshooting an engineering problem, meticulously hand-studding a custom jumpsuit, or performing for a room full of seniors who just want to feel the magic again, the mission is the same: excellence. He’s the first to tell you that he’s a work in progress, a performer who values a hard truth over a hollow compliment. Those Iron Man suits standing guard in his studio aren’t just for show; they’re a testament to what happens when you combine technical skill with a little bit of spunk. Dorian may have started out as a guy with some sideburns and a homemade Elvis-adjacent suit, but he’s evolved into a true craftsman who understands that the real "TCB" spirit isn’t about the fame- it’s about the joy you leave behind.

Dorian Alberti is a professional engineer with the soul of a tailor and the heart of "The King." A true one-man powerhouse, Dorian hand-engineers his own custom jumpsuits and performs as an Elvis tribute artist, a journey that began with a local tailoring job and a life-altering trip to Las Vegas. Whether he’s meticulously designing one-of-a-kind costumes or performing for seniors to bring back the magic of the "TCB" spirit, Dorian blends technical precision with a genuine passion for making people smile.