Former Finance Guy Is Now Instagram Star of Celebrity Party Scene

Michael Tommasiello attends the Kola House Opening Party at Kola House (Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Michael Tommasiello is an unassuming guy who ditched a career in finance to document his life on the NYC party circuit, and it worked.

Known as @NYDoorman on Twitter and Instagram, Tommasiello gets paid by luxury brands—who ask for product placement in return—to attend and post about parties in exclusive New York City clubs. The glimpses he provides into celebrity nightlife are unusually candid, and his observations range from informative to insightful to cutting, which is why they’ve become so popular.

at Milk Studios on April 22, 2014 in New York City.” width=”800″ height=”533″> Joseph Parcon, Michael Tommasiello and Justin Min attend the opening night of Dog Dance By Brad Elterman at Milk Studios (Mireya Acierto/Getty Images)

Mireya Acierto

Since Tommasiello isn’t himself a celebrity, he worked his way into this lifestyle via a more down-to-earth method—by being nice to the help. He befriended nearly every nightclub doorman in New York, looked up club DJs and asked to be put on the guest list, and never threw tantrums when he was refused entry.

“He was very sweet and respectful and not to the point of being a kissass, so I invited him in,” promoter Cody Pruitt, who let Tommasiello into a party at the now-closed XIX lounge, told the New York Daily News.

Tommasiello’s advice to people hoping to follow in his footsteps? “Being polite opens doors,” he says, “and money only works in the movies.”

—RealClearLife