Physically speaking
Wearing and performing in a mascot costume is very physically demanding. Performers will get tired,
hot , sweaty and breathless. It is possible to make a mascot costume that keeps you in complete
comfort. In fact, we call this kind of mascot costume an "astronaut suit". They are made by NASA and
cost about a half-million dollars each and require a team of engineers to maintain. You can see one of
these on the next space shuttle flight!
Seriously, every mascot will have to deal with the problems of weight, heat and physical movement.
To help, designs can include features like the "Cool-Vest", ventilation areas, and the use of lightweight
materials and padding.
15 minutes
Theme parks in Central Florida limit wearers to 15 minutes with the mascot head on followed by
a 15 minute break for fresh air, a drink and a cool towel on the forehead. If you have seen a mascot costume
all day in a park, chances are that the park rotated several costumes for a continuous
performance effect. If you are planning to use a costume continuously for your application, then you need
to consider duplicate suits. A sure way to have an unsuccessful mascot performance is to have a hot,
tired, sweaty and angry performer inside the suit!
Cooling options
On some of the long parades at the
Central Florida theme parks, the characters riding the floats receive cool air from an air hose connected to their suits. It is possible to add battery-powered fans to any walk-around suit. However, the extra weight of the fan and batteries is sometimes a poor trade-off for the ventilation it provides. It is also possible to provide you with a Cool-Vest. It is a vest with a cooled
solution inside . The vest is pre-cooled in a refrigerator and worn under the costume. The weight of the
vest must be balanced with the cooling effect, so depending on how you use your mascot costume, this
may be an option for you to consider!
Awareness
Consider the safety of both yourself and the people watching you. Wearing your mascot
costume limits your ability to move and react. Your limited vision may cause you to fall or stumble over
an adoring fan. You will need help to perform in any mascot costume. We call that helper a "shadow".
That person is your eyes, guide and protector. They keep
you safe from over zealous fans and make sure that you are in the right place at the right time performing
the way you should perform. All theme parks use "shadows". Usually they are in a security uniform or something formal looking such as a white shirt and clip-on necktie with black pants. They almost always carry a walkie-talkie. Because they are official looking they psychologically keep the crowd under control. By the way, the walkie-talkie does not have to work. It is most useful to add authority by waving it around. Please take our professional advice. You must have a "shadow" at all times. We know instances where over zealous fans rushed mascots and actually hurt the performers! You need to develop some hand signals so your shadow can communicate with you and help you be the best mascot actor that you can be!
Show off!
Every great mascot performer is a natural show-off. We know of cases where people were normally
shy and timid but exploded with energy and personality when they put on the costume. We suggest that
you spend some time looking in a large mirror while wearing the costume. You can also have someone
video-tape you with a camcorder. You will notice that all movements must be very
exaggerated in the costume in order to be understood by the people watching. It could be helpful to have
someone who is trained in theater and pantomime to assist you in learning to act as a mascot. Some of
the mascot actors in the Central Florida theme parks have training in dance and ballet, but it is not necessary. Play with the fans, slap your knees, hold your stomach, and
make all kinds of physical movements that will add to the personality and effectiveness of your
character. Do your best to be a comic actor in your costume. Most importantly, have a good time! Your adoring fans will love you and your image will be a very successful promotion tool!