Mascot Hydration

It’s officially summer and it is HOT outside! When wearing a mascot costume, it’s ALWAYS important to be well hydrated, but this is especially true when you will be outside during the hot, humid summer months. You should not only hydrate before going out in costume, but also during.

In order to remain hydrated throughout the day, you should create a schedule for your performer. For instance, the performer should have a set amount of time in costume and then get at least a 5-10 minute break to rehydrate. But remember, the performer’s break should occur away from the public. A mascot character should NEVER take off any part of their costume while in front of people. Be sure to have a designated break area where the public doesn’t have access and have plenty of water waiting for them.

There are also mascot cooling systems that hold water and have a tube that leads up to the performer’s mouth so they can drink water while wearing the costume. This will allow your performer to stay in costume for longer periods of time and will also keep your performer happy. Click here to be redirected to a site that offers a great mascot water cooling system.

Mascot Preparation

If your school already has a costume, ask if you can use it to practice. It’s important to get a feel for what being in costume is actually like. It’s NOT the same as performing out of costume! It would also be smart to practice at whatever location the actual event will take place. This is important so you can get a feel for what the temperature will be like inside the costume. You’ll be surprised to find that even if you’re in an air conditioned arena or gym, you’ll still get very warm (especially if you’re being extra energetic like a good mascot should!)

You may find that the temperature inside the costume limits the amount of time you can stay in costume. If your costume doesn’t already have a cooling system, you should definitely look into investing in one. They are rather inexpensive and can extend the amount of time you’ll be able to perform in costume by at least 45 minutes! Not to mention, you’ll feel a million times more comfortable in the costume. This will reflect in your performance.

If you’re hot and uncomfortable in the costume, chances are, you won’t be overly energetic or in the mood to be jumping and running around getting the crowd pumped up. This site has a great selection of quality cooling systems that can be used. If you’re currently looking to invest in a new mascot costume, you can also purchase a costume that comes with a built in ventilation fan in the mascot head. This company has a large selection of ventilated mascot costumes.

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!

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!