Today we’d like to introduce you to David Babcock.
David, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
How It All Started
About 15 years ago, people started pointing out that I looked a lot like Will Ferrell. At first, I shrugged it off — until a local radio station announced a Halloween contest with a trip to New York City as the prize. My wife decided that was it: I was going as Ron Burgundy. She even called dibs on being Veronica Corningstone.
I laughed it off at first. I hadn’t worn a costume since I was twelve, and spray-painting an old jacket burgundy red didn’t exactly feel like the ticket to victory. (Not to mention, the fumes made me about as flammable as a Molotov cocktail. I smelled less like high-end cologne and more like pure gasoline — and yes, I winked when I said it.) But when I pulled on the jacket, slapped on a wig and mustache, and looked in the mirror, something clicked. I didn’t just see myself anymore. I saw Ron Burgundy staring back.
That night at the party, I grabbed a fake microphone, walked up to a guy dressed as Batman, and asked in my best anchorman voice, “So, Batman, what’s going on in Gotham? Have you caught the Joker yet?” He and his buddies cracked up, and I realized: people didn’t just like the look — they loved the act. I worked the room group by group, and by the end of the night, we’d won the trip. Flush with excitement, my wife said, “We’re doing this again next year!”
And we did. For the next few years, we hit every contest we could find, never finishing lower than second place. One night, I was lugging a giant TV I’d won out of a bar when the manager stopped me and said, “Would you host New Year’s Eve as Ron Burgundy?” By then, the costume had evolved — real mustache, sideburns, styled hair. I wasn’t wearing a costume anymore. I was Burgundy.
From Costume Contest to Career
Those events had photographers everywhere, which meant I suddenly had hundreds of photos. So I put them online — a simple website, a few social media pages — and the requests started rolling in. A prosecutor in Omaha wanted Ron Burgundy at his birthday party. Companies started calling. Before long, I was balancing my creative director job with a side career traveling as… well, not Will Ferrell, but something close.
Momentum snowballed. My photo landed on TheRealStanLee.com as a top 20 cosplayer. Warner Bros. flew me to London to be Buddy the Elf for the film’s 15th anniversary. At San Diego Comic-Con, I went as Ricky Bobby on day one and Ron Burgundy on day two — by the end of the weekend, I’d been featured by ABC 10 News and listed by Upworthy as one of the “Most Epic Cosplayers of All Time.” Not bad for a guy who once spray-painted a thrift-store jacket.
At Comic-Con, I also met a PR rep in line for a sandwich who happened to be engaged to Hall of Famer Andre Reed. She pulled a few strings and got me onto Cameo.com. That turned out to be a lifeline when the pandemic shut down live events. Suddenly, I was recording videos nonstop — birthdays, corporate pep talks, Zoom appearances for companies like Cisco. And when in-person gigs came back, I was busier than ever.
From Laughs to Leads
By now, I’ve done over 150 trade shows. My background in marketing gave me an edge — I don’t just entertain; I help companies draw crowds and then pre-qualify leads. Clients have told me things like, “That was our best show in 30 years,” or “You doubled our customer base,” or even, “That connection turned into $20 million in business!” That’s a nice return on their investment in me.
Where Things Stand Today
These days, I make great money bringing Will Ferrell’s most iconic film characters to life — Ron Burgundy, Ricky Bobby, Buddy the Elf, and others. My performances have been featured by Warner Bros., Google, Cisco, T-Mobile, Formula 1, NASCAR, ESPN, Comedy Central, San Diego Padres, and countless others. From London to Honolulu, I’ve seen firsthand how unforgettable it is when a larger-than-life character suddenly walks into the room.
I always tell people: most events are easy to forget. But no one forgets the time Ron Burgundy told them to “stay classy,” or Ricky Bobby shouted “Shake and Bake!” in their booth. That’s what I bring — the laughs, the memories, and yes, sometimes even a little gasoline-scented nostalgia.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There’s nowhere to turn for good professional advice on becoming a celebrity impersonator. It’s all learning by doing, etc. Of course, Covid was a considerable challenge.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in tradeshow marketing. I get businesses, many more leads, and deals than they would get without me.
I have over 150 trade shows under my belt for dozens of businesses of all kinds. Having been in marketing most of my life, so I understand that finding individuals in the crowd who may be potential customers is the main goal at trade shows. I draw many more people into the booth than any other strategy. I pre-qualify those people with a few quick questions, then turn the potential leads over to the sales team. I have been told by various clients that 1] they had the best trade show in 30 years, 2] I helped double the customer base, and 3] I brought people to the booth that otherwise would not have been there, which turned into $20 million in business. Now that’s ROI!
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I have always said I’m the luckiest guy I know. But when people began to tell me, I look like Will Ferrell I did not necessarily think that was good luck!
Pricing:
- The events I attend can be anywhere in the world, so each event’s quote is based on factors like time needed, location, and number of days required.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.RonBurgundyImpersonator.com
- Instagram: @RonBurgundy3
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RonBurgundyImpersonator/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willferrellimpersonator/
- Other: https://www.LinkTr.ee/impersonate
Image Credits
No image credits required
