“you must get this all the time”

throwaway interaction turned into this new doc i made.

This attractive woman approached me after a stand-up set at Union Hall. I had co-hosted my friend Alison Leiby’s show. We showed a slideshow with alternating pictures of our tuxedo cats – her cat is named Rizz, mine is named Crim. The slideshow was a big hit. Turns out, audiences in Park Slope enjoy pictures of cats, who knew. It was my birthday – November 30, so I had just invited friends and strangers alike to hang and drink afterwards.

This woman darted over to me. She said, “You must get this all the time, but you look exactly like Michael Bublé.”

I don’t get that all the time, or any time, but I just squinted, trying to remember who he is exactly.

She started to show me photos of Bublé that she had already pulled up on her phone. “Don’t you see it?” I did not see it. But she saw it. It seemed to make her happy. Did she want to make out with someone who looked like Michael Bublé? Sounds like it.

“Yeah. No, I get that all the time,” I said. “And you find him attractive?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. Not at all.

She added, “My mom does.”

She was looking for a Michael Bublé impersonator for her mom’s 60th birthday in one week. It was the holiday season. Bublé impersonators were in demand and commanded high rates. She offered me a significant sum of money, if I was interested. I gave her my Instagram.

I figured she’d wake up hungover and realize, “Oh, this guy doesn’t look like Michael Bublé…” then she’d wonder to herself if she needed to cut back on drinking, since it’s impairing judgment. Instead, I woke up to a DM explaining the deal. She said they’d love for me to sing (or even lipsync) “Feelin’ Good” and hang out for 30 minutes “in character” as Bublé at the party. It seemed insane – so I accepted.

I don’t resemble the man. Some critics would also say that I cannot sing as well. I’d argue quality is subjective, but haters hate. Yet, in her eyes, I could be Bublé.

I chronicled the full journey in a doc short, Being Bublé, a true story that makes no sense. What followed was one of the most committed and unnecessary preparations of my life. I studied Bublé, learning multiple (more than one) facts about the man. I hunted for the perfect suit, rented a conference room to rehearse, shot a Rocky-style training montage. I even met with my friend Erin, a singer and vocal coach, who gently but firmly advised me to lip sync instead. But I practiced that song every day.

Being Bublé is my favorite thing I’ve made so far. I’m not sure why exactly. I love that I was able to create impulsively but thoroughly and push myself in new ways. It was also fun to just follow my instincts and push this thing as far as I can take it, as long as it’s fun for me. To take some throwaway interaction and just pull that thread as far as I can. No development, no seeking permission or funding, just having fun. The end result is this film about effort over ability, identity and belief, and the fact that, if you squint a little, anything can make sense.

My friend described this whole thing as a “reverse Jury Duty.” He said, “When you think about it, of course 50 people could convince one person of something. You’re one person who somehow convinced 50 people you’re Michael Bublé, when you’re so clearly not.”

The premise is ridiculous, but I took the task seriously. I wanted sincerity in the effort in a world of silliness. I was fine if the joke was on me, as long as I gave them the best show I could. I could pop psychology the whole thing for a while, but that’s probably boring. I do think it says something nice about the joy of letting folks believe. Whatever. Who cares. It’s fun.

I’m showing the film at Anthology Film Archives in NYC tomorrow, September 9th at 7:30pm. Free screening, showing a couple other films I’ve made, then closing with Being Bublé. First come, first serve, so show up early if you’d like to get in. It’ll screen at some festivals, then land online somewhere.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned through this process, it’s that there’s a little Bublé in all of us.

Follow Dan on Substack & Instagram @danjperlman.