What is a 'Robot Performer' ?

This description basically covers two disciplines.

Moving with a mechanical motion.
Standing motionless for long periods.

Some performers use both aspects in their act, to a lesser or greater extent.

The First type are more obvious, and it is these that you have probably seen. They wear costumes that vary in complexity from silver coloured overalls to custom made vac-formed suits, like C3P0 of Star Wars fame. The performer's face is not normally visible. At exhibitions they walk about, interacting with the audience, using just gestures and pre-recorded sound effects and music samples. There is a lot in common with these performers and mime artists in the way that they evoke a response in the audience.
If you get a chance to watch a good one, then pay attention to way they interact with the audience, and the way this is done without any facial expression. If you come across them in the street, they may be standing motionless. Usually placing some money in whatever container is in front of them, will cause them to go into their act.

When the second discipline becomes the major part of the act you have a mannequin or living statue performer. This is the area that interests me most.
These performers can stand for long periods without any noticeable movement, even blinking can be suppressed for periods exceeding 10 minutes. Some performers use makeup to achieve the total appearance of a statue or mannequin. At some point the performer may decide to move with a mechanical motion, or just wink at a passer-by.
They can be found performing in a situations where you might expect to find similar models, shop windows, exhibitions and now most busy shopping streets throughout the world
Audiences may stare for long periods, trying to determine whether the motionless performer is real or not. At first they may be startled when the model comes alive, but then they applaud. If the performer just shifts position, then there is often just a double take, as a passer-by just looks back to say, "didn't that thing just move ?"

List of Known performers


Mannequin Performers	Mannequin-man - The Living Mannequin (UK) Sharon Hallingdal - The Living Doll (USA) Curtis Read: - Human Mannequin (USA) Brad Bodary - Human Mannequin (USA)

Living Statue Performers	Mr Statue (Portland - USA) Tronic States - Living Statue with personality (UK) Better Halves Punk Statue (UK) Joe Trammel (USA) Roman Statues (UK) Statues Joseph The Ice Faries (UK) Ulysses Statue (UK) Yuppie Man (John Nicholls) - Street Statue Performer (Melbourne AUS ) Live Statues - (UK) Jason Maverik - (UK) Pageant of the Masters - Recreation of famous art works (USA) Chris - Street Statue Performer (Covent Garden UK ) Steve - Street Statue Performer (Covent Garden UK )

Robot Performers	The Thing - Walkabout robot/Magic Show (Norway) Robotronix - Walkabout robots (UK) Xion - Walkabout robot/Statue performer (UK) Adam & Eve (Robotipia)- Gold and Silver Walkabout robots (UK) Arbie - Walkabout robot (UK) Blood, Guts & Diodes - Terminator walkabout robot (UK) Cybertech - Walkabout robot (UK) Cyborg - Walkabout robot (UK) Electra - Female walkabout robot (UK) Max 2000 - Gold walkabout robot (UK) Mr. SilverTM - Uses complete silver body makeup - (USA) Mr Zed. - (USA) Primo (UK) Robo the Cop - Walkabout robot (UK) ROM the robot - Walkabout robot and mascot - USA Servo Dummies - Robot/Waxwork dummies (UK) Socket - Walkabout robot (UK) The Biomechanoid - Walkabout alien robot(UK) Zios - Costumed walkabout robot (UK) The Mechanical Man - (USA) The Theatre of Pantomime TOK -(Poland)

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