Mr Tumble

ENTERTAINER

Lifestyle chats to Mr Tumble Liverpool

How long have you been

Mr Tumble Liverpool? I started MTL in April 2019 How did it start? My nephew and his little friend was convinced I looked like him, we tried to hire someone for his birthday/ christening and struggled to find someone local an affordable that done Mr Tumble, the guy we found lived down south and would have ended up costing 100's of pounds to bring to Liverpool. So after searching with no luck I decided to have my first costume made and that I'd get dressed up and get some pictures hopefully he'll believe, I done this and everyone at the party loved it and was asking me to come to their party ext that was back in 2015. I was no where near as confident of have the experience I have now but decided to give it a go .......I got a job opportunity to work away so I snapped it up went to work across the country for an outdoor children's centre and then found an opportunity to go abroad to places like Turkey, Greece and the Alps and more.

Have you met Justin Fletcher and what was

it like? We've not met face to face unfortunately however, we've worked together on a project during the lockdown last year for Follow Your Dreams Charity who I'm an ambassador for. The wrong thing was crazy as you can tell from my face on the picture attached, I wasn't expecting him to join the zoom either........we had planned to surprise one of our charity members with a video chat from Mr Tumble and Santa when Justin joined us too! Crazy was so much fun...

What do you love about

what you do? I love that I'm making people happy, from children to parents, aunties, uncle's grandparents and everyone the smiles the laughter it fuesl to my fire. The reactions from some people genuinely make me so happy, I've had people crying with happiness because theirs child is having so much fun or is so happy and to have that effect on people is crazy. I love it.

Do you do sign language?

I do! I've completed my level 1, 2 and 3 in Makton with Makaton Charity and use different levels of Makaton everyday depending on who I'm working with and the type of performance I'm doing.

Did you make your

costumes? I don't personally however, they are tailor made by a

fantastic seamstress who works so hard with all the details to make it look so good!

How exhausting is it being a kids entertainer?

Being a children's entertainer can be tiring BUT the exhausting side is the business side of things haha! You'll know yourself Amanda Being self employed can be tough I'm responsible for everything from advertising, taking with bookings, payments and invoicing, cleaner etc as well as ensuring I'm covered/insured, trained and qualified as well as then being the face of it all and performing each day and working. It can be long hard and tiring but worth it.

You’ve been described as inspirational, why do you

think this? It's shocked and surprised me to be honest, I sat back when I found out and was thinking what have I done to be an inspiration. I'm hoping I've inspired people to SMILE nothing else haha during the lockdowns it was hard and I knew if I sat and done nothing I'd have struggled with my mental health so I decide to do a live stream every morning from 10am,boo some dancing and singing an have some fun and hopefully help boost people's morales and keep the kids happy, I think this was a big part of why I've been nominated along with the charity work I've done over the years.

What has been your

biggest booking? Taking part in a 5 day residential in Wales for Follow Your Dreams Charity was so much fun and opened the door to so many opportunities and is truly the reason I became and ambassador for them. I fell in love with their vision and passion for supporting children and young people either this or a weekly stint over summer for local councils working on their summer projects offering my services.

What are your plans for

the future? To continue to elevate the MTL brand I have created and hopefully one day be in a position to open my own centre in the city that’s inclusive for all. My goal is to offer a family centre which will be open and accessible to all offering all different levels of support, services and facilities that will benefit families and young people's development/ well-being.

Do you follow everything

Mr Tumble does? I've followed Justin over the years and watched the amazing work he's done and how he's helped elevate Makaton ........ in my performance or personality I do follow him however I've definitely made MTL my own I can’t hide that I'm a scouser so I've embraced it and i always say I'm not Mr Tumble I'm Mr Tumble Liverpool haha I have my own spin on Mr tumble.

What do kids love about

you? I don’t know, my smile my personality haha! I think the fact i love what I do and have a passion for making people happy and smile and giving them a good time and I think it shows and thats why both children and adults enjoy what I do. Although I'm first admit I'm scary to some and not everyone's cup of tea haha.

What were you doing

before this? Before this I was a nursery worker /Play Worker for a private day nursery and before that I was a kids club entertainer and child minder abroad.

Can you imagine ever doing anything else now?

I never in a million years imagined I'd be doing this 2 years on and having the level of success I have with it all and the support I've hard from the city has been amazing and I'm so grateful. I don't want to imagine what I'd be doing if it wasn't this! I know I wouldn't be as happy and as motivated though!