- Joppa, MD
- Corporate Entertainment
- Contact for rates
Jaymea D. said
“Michael was everything our festival needed . We look forward to booking him again. ”
Tomfoolery Entertainment
Washington, Jefferson and Liberty
Roman Centurion
Athena
Neptune
Caesar
The Oscars (We have six...)
Alabaster Artist (We have six...)
Blind Justice (Legal Events)
Overview
Tomfoolery Entertainment has been creating and presenting human statues at corporate, commercial, political and social special events since 1989. We design, create, transport, install and perform the statues ourselves, and have been doing so for over 30 years. We have worked for thousands of clients and have traveled and performed all over the USA, Canada, Europe and China. Washington, D.C. is the home base, but we are willing to go almost anywhere to perform. We have many thematic and color/texture options to choose from including iconic American Colonial statues and Presidents, The Statue of Liberty, Classical Gods/Goddesses, Roman/Greek Warriors, Sports themed and Western Bronzes.
Reviews
4 reviews
Tyler F.
September 26, 2023The Perfect touch to our Secret Garden Wedding Reception
We couldn't have been more pleased with our Human Statues! They entertained our wedding guest for nearly 4 hours and were an absolute hit. Thank you to Brian at Tomfoolery and our two entertainers for bringing pure magic to our evening! These memories will last a life time.
Ty and Dave
Ps. - We have only gotten limited photos back of the evening - I'll be sure to include when we do!
Hired as: Human Statue
Kim B.
October 31, 2022Best Party Entertainment Ever!
I had four live statues at my party placed inside and outside. It was amazing! My guests loved it.
I will most defiantly do it again. I have had many different types of entertainment at my parties, but this was the best!!
Live art experience
Hired as: Historical Character, Human Statue, Interactive Performer
Suzanne B.
October 18, 2022Tomfoolery Provided Excellence!
From start to finish, Tomfoolery did a wonderful job. Brian was easy to work with & had great ideas about how to present the statues while maximizing my budget. The performers were engaging & the costuming/make-up superb. They made the event so memorable. I'll be calling back for future engagements - highly recommend!
Hired as: Historical Character, Human Statue, Interactive Performer
Tomfoolery Entertainment
Many Thanks, Ms. B! It was my pleasure!
Cheryse J.
October 18, 2022Awesome 🤩
Brian was absolutely great! Let me start by saying that he wasn’t able to help me but he called me back right away and was networking with me to pull out all of his contacts of people who were able to help me in order for my event to be a success! He seems like a really nice guy so if you can definitely give him a try!!!
Hired as: Mime
Tomfoolery Entertainment
Cheryse,
Thanks for being so patient and seeing it through. Finding a mime during the Halloween Season and Renaissance Festival weekends is not an east accomplishment! Have fun!
Brian@tomfoolery
Booking information
Price range: $ 350 and up
Languages: English, Spanish
Gig length: 30 - 120 minutes
Insurance: $1,000,000 - General Liability Policy
Unions: SAG-AFTRA, SEIU
What to expect
We need a dressing room on-site with close access to running water. It takes a 45 minutes to and hour to get the make up and costumes just right, so ask that you make the dressing room area available at least 90 minutes before the beginning of the event. You must cover the parking costs onsite. Please be aware that human statue performances are physically demanding. The performers need at least 5 minutes off an hour to stretch and sit down. Pedestals can be provided for fee. An overnight hotel room is needed for events over 125 miles from Washington, D.C.
We believe that placing the statue in ambient light in a high traffic area, but NOT IN A SPOTLIGHT on top of a table. This will greatly increase the big reactions, surprised faces, gasps, and overall memorability and satisfaction. Putting a human statue in a spotlit area actually decreases the effectiveness of the performance, and quickly reduces it to an interactive mime performance, which is fun....but not AMAZING, which is our goal.
About
Brian McNelis - Producer/Owner
With over 4,000 events under his belt as an agent, circus performer, comedian, writer, director & producer, Brian McNelis has a long history of creating and delivering outrageous corporate, commercial, and professional events, festivals, and touring shows . His passion is for physical theatre, Human Statues, and cirque-style performances.
He was heavily involved in the corporate entertainment production and touring world from 1989 through 2011. He took a break 10 year break to teach Communications at Montgomery College, and run Sensei Martial Arts, an after School Taekwondo program. Now, he is shifting back into entertainment, on a somewhat narrower scale.
Additional booking notes
Again, we cannot stress enough that this best work when it is placed the statue in ambient light in a high traffic area, but NOT IN A SPOTLIGHT on top of a table. This will greatly increase the big reactions, surprised faces, gasps, and overall memorability and satisfaction.
The goal is surprise! Delight! We live for the, "THAT'S AMAZING" response, not just " Oh that's cute...."
You should too!
Services offered
Past booked events
September 2023
23
Saturday
Wedding Reception
5:30pm - 7:30pm
•
Grantsville, MD
January 2023
07
Saturday
Birthday Party
6:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Clarksburg, MD
November 2022
10
Thursday
Corporate event - MD
3:30pm - 6:30pm
October 2022
29
Saturday
House Party
8:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Chevy Chase, MD
29
Saturday
Wheaton Coporate event
1:00pm - 3:00pm
28
Friday
Corporate Event - MD
7:00pm - 8:00pm
01
Saturday
Corporate Event - MD
3:00pm - 6:00pm
September 2022
24
Saturday
Commercial Event - VA
11:00am - 5:00pm
15
Thursday
Corporate Event - DC
6:00pm - 7:00pm
10
Saturday
private event - MD
4:00pm - 5:00pm
09
Friday
Commercial Event - MD
6:00am - 8:00pm
Influences and inspiration
The Ponts des Artes, in Paris.
The works of Degas and Rodin.
Andy Warhol.
Any iconic political, cultural or historic statue that is commonly recognizable.
Setup requirements
We can provide pedestals, if requested, at a small additional fee. (Limited number available)
Report Tomfoolery Entertainment
Human Statue
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