Where to Purchase a Mascot Costume

Having a hard time deciding where you should purchase your mascot costume? There are a lot of options out there! And the price range is huge. So the question is, how do you know which company to go with?

A rule of thumb to follow in purchasing a mascot is, you get what you pay for. That being said, it's very tempting to go with the cheapest option, HOWEVER, we suggest you don't fall into that temptation trap. If you want a mascot costume that will last you a long time, it is best to skip the mascot companies manufacturing very inexpensive costumes. The quality of the materials are much lower and will rip easier and deteriorate faster. The costume will also look less realistic and just plain cheap! Is that the image you want your school, company, event, etc to portray? Remember, your mascot reflects what you're promoting!

Another aspect to think about is uniqueness. Is this going to be a high school mascot, a college mascot, a business mascot? You don't want the same mascot as everyone else! You want to set yourself apart from other schools or your businesses competition. Some mascot companies make custom mascots that are unique to your school, business or organization! This would definitely be worth the investment!

A company that we have had tremendous luck with in purchasing extremely high quality mascots can be found by clicking this link. They create great looking mascots that hold up for a VERY long time! It's the best company we've dealt with so far!

So remember, a cheap mascot will not look as nice as a quality mascot that costs a little more. This is an investment- paying a little more will pay off in the long run!!

Which Lion mascot would you choose??

The cheap option

Or the HIGH QUALITY option??

Check Out This Crazy Mascot Stunt!

Check out this video of the Milwaukee Bucks mascot, Bango doing an absolutely crazy stunt. We DO NOT recommend trying this one! But it's unreal! Check out Bango doing a flip off a 16 foot ladder and making a slam dunk!

How to Put On A Mascot Costume

While putting on a mascot costume may sound like an easy thing to do, there are a few tips that can make it easier to do.

First of all, make sure the area is clean and clear of dust bunnies. It wouldn't hurt to lay a drop cloth or tarp of some sort on the ground the ensure there is not dirt in the area. This will prolong the life of the costume and keep it looking brand new.

We suggest you have a dressing assistant to help you get in and out of the costume. Mascot costumes typically have a great deal of foam and material. Due to the amount of extra padding and material, it is much more difficult to get dressed as compared to putting on regular clothes. This can easily end in losing your balance, which you would obviously want to avoid. A dressing assistant can also prevent the fabric or fur from getting snagged or caught which could result in ripping.

Always take you shoes off before putting on the mascot costume. This is important for a number of reasons. First of all, it will help keep the costume clean. Second, the rubber soles on tennis shoes tends to stick or get caught in the legs of the costumes. This can result in ripping.

We recommend you use a full length mirror to put on the costume. This will allow you to make sure everything looks correct (ie: the leg coverings are covering you legs, your arms are covered ,the costume is on the right way, etc).

If your mascot costume has a shirt (t-shirt, jersey, etc), put the shirt on the mascot costume before putting on the mascot head. Mascot heads are made to be larger than life and attempting to put the shirt on over the head will stretch the shirt out tremendously, and possibly rip it.

Bulldog Costumes

If your mascot costume head has a built in fan installed, you may want to wear a hair net or hat if you have long hair to prevent it from getting caught in the net.

Make sure you have someone double check the costume before you go out into the public. Make sure there isn't any skin or clothing showing under the costume. You want to be fully covered- nothing ruins the illusion of the costumed character actually BEING the character more than simple things like this.

Animated Mascot Costumes!

Do you want to REALLY set yourself apart from the competition? It is now possible to add animated features to your mascot character! Imagine- your mascot’s eyes could blink and its mouth could move! This would bring your costumed character to life in a whole new way! And the movement is completely controlled by the person in costume.

Adding this option could allow your mascot characters to perform for a show to a pre-recorded track. Imagine your mascot actually speaking, singing, etc! How cool is that?! Check out the mascot animation options offered by this company!

How to Prepare Yourself to BECOME a Mascot

As we discussed earlier, it is important for the person acting in the mascot costume to have a lot of energy. It is also important for the person who will be wearing the costume to have a high level of stamina. To build stamina, it is important to incorporate cardiovascular training into your weekly routine. This will help build the endurance you will need to keep moving throughout an entire event. For example, a college football or basketball mascot will have to be out for a good portion of the game. Building your cardiovascular endurance will help you maintain your energy for an entire game. Your cardiovascular training can include running, walking, elliptical training, biking, etc. Choose something that you’re comfortable with and push yourself!

In addition to cardiovascular training, it is also important to incorporate strength training. Some mascots are required to perform acrobatic stunts. It is also fairly common for college sports mascots to do pushups at certain points in the game, whether it be when the team scores, etc. You’ll obviously have to be capable of doing pushups out of the costume before even attempting to do so in costume.

Don’t be afraid to step outside the box. Taking at least a couple of dance classes will help give your mascot that extra zip it needs to keep patrons entertained. You can even check your local library for various dance instructional videos to aid in this department.

And most importantly, practice in front of a mirror (IN COSTUME!!!). There is a HUGE difference between practicing your mascot routines out of costume and in costume. You will be amazed at the temperature difference. While you can purchase cooling systems for the costumes, you still want to rehearse in costume (we do recommend you invest in a mascot cooling system- especially if your mascot will be performing in a warm area). There’s nothing worse than getting out in front of a crowd and realizing you’re not comfortable in the costume.

When practicing in front of a mirror, pay close attention to how you ‘come to life.’ Are your movements exaggerated enough? Are you animated enough? Are you able to portray emotions or messages without being able to speak to the crowd? Experiment! This is your time to figure out what does and doesn’t work!

HAVE fun, don't MAKE fun!

How many of you have had an unpleasant experience with a costumed character or mascot? Did they single you out? Poke fun at you? Embarrass you in front of your friends? This is something you must pay close attention to when wearing a mascot costume.

If your costumed character makes fun of a patron or makes them uncomfortable, it reflects poorly on your business or organization. It is important that the person wearing the costume HAS fun with the patrons rather than MAKING fun of them.

It is also important to be cautious with children while in a mascot costume. If a child is fearful of the character, never force them to meet with or take a photo with the character. Let it be their choice!