Why Should I Use a Mascot??

Whatever product, service, or event you are promoting, the color and excitement provided by a 7-foot "fantasy-come-to-life" character is irresistible. Children and adults adore them. In today's world, the public is bombarded with a multitude of messages, and it has become increasingly difficult for an organization to stand out from the crowd and be noticed. Mascots provide instant attention, recognition and fun! Mascots automatically put the spotlight on YOUR message, product, or organization.

Do you think a mascot will not help promote your business, event, service, or product? Think again! Mascots have been a major component in grabbing the attention of consumers for YEARS! Just look at some examples of mascots used by successful companies and organizations and tell us you think they wouldn't use mascots if it wasn't beneficial!

So what are you waiting for?! Start creating an image for your business, event, product, etc! This costume company is well known for creating custom mascot costumes that will match your logo, product and more! They have created mascots for some of the top businesses in the world!

Caring For Your Mascot Costume

Purchasing a mascot costume is a major investment. It's important to take proper care in storing and cleaning the costume in order to get the maximum life out of it. If you purchase a high quality mascot, with proper care, it should last for a very long time, if not a lifetime!

In most cases, the actor who is responsible for wearing the mascot costume will perspire while wearing the costume. This can result in an unpleasant odor, not only for the actor inside the costume, but also for those who encounter the character. This can be prevented with proper cleaning of the mascot. It's important to keep the costume smelling fresh and clean!

Depending on what type of mascot you purchase, some can be hand washed or dry cleaned (however, in most cases, dry cleaning is not recommended-dry cleaning chemicals can ruin poly foam which is typically a component of mascot costumes). It's recommended that the costume be washed in cool water and left out to dry thoroughly. It's important to either drip dry or cold dry your costume. Heat WILL RUIN your costume! Hot dryers can, and will, melt or shrink your costume. Poly foam can be hand washed in cool water as well, however, it is important to gently and thoroughly squeeze the water out after, as poly foam will retain water. The foam should then be placed in front of a fan to dry thoroughly. But remember, don't wash it unless you have at least a week to allow it to dry. This will prevent mildew.

There are several products that can be used to keep your mascot costume clean and looking like new (stain removers, odor removers, etc.). There's one costume company that actually sells a mascot maintenance kit that has all the tools you need to keep your costume fresh and clean. It comes with cleaner, a sponge, spot lifter, a cleaning brush, fabric protector, disinfectant, odor eliminator, pin brush (for restoring costume fur and hair), a handy carrying bag and a complete user guide. This company has been in the business for years and has determined that these are the best and safest products to use on mascot costumes, so this is your best bet when caring for you costume. The Mascot Maintenance Kit can be purchased at this website.

Mascot and Costume Tip

Mascot tip of the day: It's important to determine what your costumed character will be doing before purchasing. Will the actor be sitting for photos? Will the actor be standing, walking around or running? It's important that you purchase a costume that has leg coverings that will be the appropriate length. For instance, if your mascot will be sitting for photos, you'll want a costume that has longer legs so the actor's ankles don't show. It's important not to ruin the illusion that the mascot IS actually the character!

Mascot Health Tips & Mascot Cooling Systems

Have you ever worn a mascot costume? If you have, you know how physically demanding it can be! Especially when the costume is being worn for an outdoor event during the scorching summer. In fact, it’s possible to sweat off up to 10 pounds while in costume! This job isn’t to be taken lightly. It’s important that your character actor has the proper fuel before going out in costume. Look at this as a workout, because- let’s be honest, it IS one! Your body needs fuel to make it through the period that you’re in the costume. This means you need to eat something healthy, stay hydrated, and get plenty of sleep before working in a costume. It’s also I important to do pre-workout stretches beforehand. Remember, your motions and acting must be extremely exaggerated, so you want to be as loose and flexible as possible.

There is a general rule of thumb as to how long you should stay in costume before taking a break. Typically, an actor should spend 20 minutes in costume followed by 20 minutes out of costume. This prevents the mascot actor from getting dehydrated and worn out- this is important because your mascot should be very lively the entire time it’s out in front of your patrons. If it’s not possible for your actor to follow this schedule and it’s necessary to have the character out for extended periods of time, you can purchase a cooling system.

Mascot cooling systems are worn by the actor underneath the costume. Typically, the cooling system is a harness worn by the actor that has pockets which hold ice mats. There are also cooling systems for the head and forehead. Built in exhaust fans are a smart choice, but added cooling systems make the experience much more enjoyable for the actor. A happy actor makes for good acting! Some cooling systems even have a built in hydration system, allowing the actor to drink water while in the mascot costume! We’ve had great experiences with the cooling systems we’ve found at this website. You’ll be amazed at how much more comfortable it is to be in costume when you have one!