How To Choose A Mascot Company

If you're considering investing in a mascot, the biggest question you probably have in mind is, what company should I purchase from??? A simple Google search provides endless options for companies that manufacture and sell mascot costumes. Here are some tips for determining which company to choose:

1. Ask if the costume company is the manufacturer of the mascot costumes or if they are just a reseller. It is better to go with a company that manufactures their costumes so you are working directly with the person creating the costume & you'll get exactly what you're looking for.

2. Consider their years of service as well as the range of services they offer. You want to go with a company that has proven itself over the years. Choose a mascot company that has been in the business for a good amount of time. Companies who have been working on costumes for longer have much more experience and you will get a better costume as well as better help and advice.

3. Check their client list. Most reliable mascot companies will have a client list posted on their website. Look for reputable clients and be sure they have an extensive list. Again, the more clients, the more experience. It would also be wise to request referrals to determine that they are a reputable company.

4. Ask if they guarantee satisfaction. A reputable company will. If not, DON'T BUY!! A company that doesn't guarantee satisfaction is obviously hiding something. A good mascot company should be confident enough with their costumes to guarantee your satisfaction!

5. Don't be afraid to ask your own questions! A good mascot company will answer all of the questions you have. They'll make your mascot purchase experience a much better, smoother process!

The mascot company that we have had the best luck with has been in the business for over 30 years. They have an extremely extensive client list of over 15,000 firms and always do an amazing job to accommodate our needs. They manufacture their costumes and they guarantee satisfaction. They even offer custom mascots! Click here to check out their website!

Mascot Rental

Not sure if you're willing to invest in a mascot costume yet? Why not try renting one?! Many people are hesitant in purchasing a mascot costume because they are unfamiliar with this type of costume. Since mascot costumes are much different than a typical Halloween costume, it may be a good idea to rent one so you can experiment with it and learn how they feel on, how you can use them for your event, etc.

This can also be a good way to determine what type of character would work for your situation if you're not quite sure yet. Perhaps you'll find that an animal you didn't expect to work ended up working great.

If you're interested in renting a mascot costume, click this link to go to the website of a company that has a good rental stock selection. The rental process is easy, so check it out!

Good Mascot Video!

This YouTube video has some great examples of how you should act in a mascot costume. Check it out to see some good examples of how to communicate with people while doing meet and greets.

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.

Signing Autographs

While not necessary, having your mascot sign autographs is an added treat for children. In the eyes of a child, a mascot character is a big deal- basically a celebrity! They love to be able to take home any memory of their visit with the character, and what’s more personal than an autograph?! However, if you decide to have your mascot character sign autographs at events, it’s important that all actors who will wear the costume have identical signatures for the character.

First of all, the signature should not be a basic, plain old signature. Your mascot character is a larger than life cartoon- that is what the signature should portray as well. Make the signature fit your character in some way….if it’s a dog, perhaps it should incorporate a drawing of a paw, etc.

Once you come up with a creative signature, have all of the people who will be wearing the costume memorize the signature (and practice signing it with the costume on). Be sure they all look the same. That way, no matter who is wearing the costume, the autograph will always look the same. After all, there is only ONE character, right?! Imagine if a child got your mascot’s autograph at two different events and they looked nothing alike. That would ruin the illusion of the character.

Check out a couple examples of how to make creative autographs for your mascot:

Posing For Photographs With Mascots

One of the most common activities you will be doing while wearing a mascot costume is having your photograph taken. Children and even adults love to capture a memory with the character. While many would assume this would be a simple job that requires no preparation, they are incorrect. Sure, anyone can wear a mascot costume and simply stand in one spot and have people take photos with them, but that won’t portray any life in the photo.

You never see a Disney character simply standing with their arms at their side for a photograph. They always have some form of ‘movement’ or ‘life’ (ie: arm(s) in the air, foot out to the side, etc). This brings the photo to life and can transfer an emotion or mood through the photo.

Look at the photo we found online... simply waving creates life in the photo, or the mouse on the right has his hand up to his mouth which makes it seem as though the character is laughing!

These costumes can be purchased at this site

Practice different creative poses in front of a mirror and figure out what works best for you!

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.

Mascots Need To Do Their Research!!

Is this your first time wearing a mascot costume? Then you may want to do some research! Especially if you will be wearing the mascot costume for your school, you’ll want to find out what some of the previous mascots did and if they were successful. If you are unable to find those who wore the mascot costume previously, ask other people. If they attended games or special events, they may remember and be able to tell you how the mascots entertained the crowd.

Watch video of mascots in college and the pros! See what their routine is, how they manage to engage the crowd, and what makes them successful and entertaining. Youtube is a great resource, so use it to your advantage!

If you’ll be wearing the mascot costume for a school or university, chances are, you’ll be working with the school’s cheerleaders and pep band. Talk with both groups to see what kind of routines they are doing and if they’d be interested in doing any routines with the mascot. If nothing else, at least find out what songs the pep band will be playing so you can plan some routines yourself. Choreographed routines are always an added treat for spectators and add to the professionalism of your routine!

Mascots Should Use Their Surroundings!

Before wearing your mascot costume at a public event, you must become familiar with your surroundings. One reason, of course, is for your safety. When you wear the mascot costume, you’ll find that your vision will be very limited. Your peripheral vision will often times be nonexistent due to the large mascot head. Not only will your vision be limited, but your movement as well. Wearing the large costume, head and shoes will limit your movement. Of course, after a lot of practice and use of the costume, it will begin to feel like a second skin and feel natural for you- this is especially true if you are very familiar with the area you will be performing in.

You also want to become familiar with your surroundings so you know what kind of performance area you are working with. As we’ve discussed before, you need to be as animated and energetic as possible. If you are familiar with your surroundings, you’ll be able to locate surfaces that you could jump on to (and practice getting back down safely!). Utilizing multiple levels and constantly changing levels will give your mascot character more life and energy. It will also make you more entertaining.

Often times, you’ll find that the location you will be performing at doesn’t have any higher levels for you to utilize. If this is the case, you might want to consider creating your own- ie: wood boxes, steps, etc. If you do this, be sure that they are out of the way so the general public doesn’t get hurt.

Show Emotion INSIDE Your Mascot Costume!

A great tip that can help you show emotion in a mascot costume is to use facial expressions inside the costume even though no one can see your expressions. Practice facial expressions in front of a mirror for various emotions (happy, sad, excited, etc).

Once you figure out what your facial expressions would look like if you were mad, sad, happy, etc, translate that into your mascot head. Chances are, the face of your mascot head will not move, so you must find ways to use your body to show the same emotion.

However, making your facial expressions while wearing the costume will help you 'feel' the emotion you're trying to express. For example, if you're trying to make your mascot character look like they're sad, hang your head and slouch your shoulders. If you want to look fierce, jump onto a block and pound on your chest.

You'll be amazed at the difference it will make if you actually make the facial expressions while wearing the costume. This is just one more way for you to become the character!

Click Here To Check Out Some Great Mascot Costumes!

When Would I Use a Mascot?

When would your business or organization use a mascot costume?? The opportunities are ENDLESS!! Here are just SOME examples:

• - Parades
• - Festivals
• - Promotional events
• - Press Conferences
• - College visits
• - Sports events
• - Tv commercials
• - Sales
• - Charity events

The list goes on and on! So what are you waiting for?

Communicating in a Mascot Costume

Mascots should never speak! When the person wearing the costume speaks to patrons while wearing the mascot costume, it ruins the illusion for children. When you speak while wearing a mascot costume, your voice will be extremely muffled. Not only will it be hard to hear or understand what you’re saying, but it will also sound like a normal human being.

You must remember, children actually believe that the costume is an actual living character- not a person wearing a costume!! Also, in most cases, the same person will not be wearing the costume every single time. Each person who wears the costume will have a different voice.

Chances are, you will get at least a handful of children who will ask why the character won’t speak to them. If the mascot has a guide (which they should if they are doing a meet and greet!), the guide can give the child any number of answers (ie: his throat is sore from singing earlier that day, he’s saving his voice for the show, he’s shy, etc- be creative!).

It’s a good idea to have a written description of how your character acts. That way, every person who wears the costume will know exactly how they are supposed to act. For example, if your mascot is supposed to have a shy personality, you wouldn’t want one person to be jumping around and being outgoing and the next person in the costume being shy and playing the actual character. Consistency is key!

Mascots Make You Money!!

One of the most common uses for mascot costumes is for high school or college sports teams. However, businesses are using mascot characters more and more in their marketing plans. But why? Because they WORK!

Businesses use mascot costumes for many reasons. First of all, they are a perfect way to promote a company, product, or event. Utilizing a mascot costume creates an association for the public. When they need a product, the memory of the mascot will help bring the marketing campaign back to mind during the purchasing process. According to the article “Use of Mascots” by Amy Nutt, “Many tout mascots as being the best choice for placing funds for marketing. Experts say it will yield the best rate of return for the investment placed in a mascot.”

Mascots can be especially helpful in promoting a new business. If your business is new, you have to set yourself apart from the competition and create an image for yourself. What will you remember more? A company who has a businessman hand you a promotional pen or a mascot character handing you a pen? Chances are, you’ll remember the latter.

Still aren’t convinced you should invest in a mascot costume for your business? Think about all of the successful businesses currently utilizing mascot characters… Disney, Universal Studios, Kellog’s (Tony the Tiger, Toucan Sam, Snap Crackle & Pop, Etc), Sony, Best Buy, etc etc. The list goes on and on! Do you really think so many successful companies would use mascot costumes if they didn’t KNOW that they worked? I don’t think so! So what are you waiting for?! Get a committee together and start brainstorming what mascot character you could use! Not sure which mascot company to trust with this investment? Check out this website! They make amazing costumes and you’ll definitely be happy with the finished product!

Fun Facts About Mascot Costumes

Check out this short article from RealSimple Magazine with some fun facts about mascot costumes! Click here

Be Careful Wearing A Mascot Costume!!

As we've discussed before, wearing a mascot costume is very different than moving around in everyday life. Mascot costumes restrict movement as well as vision. This is why it's important to practice your routines before going out for a 'performance' as well as being completely aware of your surroundings. When possible, always have someone who's not wearing a costumes act as your guide so they can prevent bad things from happening. This is very important- just watch this video and see for yourself!

How To Choose A Mascot

So, you've decided it's time to invest in a mascot. But there are so many different options- where do you start?

First and foremost, you must determine the purpose of the mascot. Are you investing in a college mascot, a business mascot, a special event mascot, a theme park mascot, etc? Does your college, business, or event already have an established logo, symbol, or character attached? If you already have one, you are one step ahead of the game. If you don't, you must first determine a suitable character that will represent your school, company or cause.

A simple internet search results in a plethora of mascot companies. With so many to choose from, many companies are often willing to produce low cost, low quality mascots just to compete with the competition. DO NOT fall into the low cost trap. A mascot is an important, long term investment. You will get what you pay for- so even though the low price tag will be tempting, chances are the costume is not made of quality materials, will not be comfortable for the costumed actor, and will not withstand the day to day wear and tear it will encounter.

Purchasing a higher quality mascot costume will result in a much longer life. Higher quality materials will last longer, look nicer, and reflect on your school, business, etc in a much more professional manner. Remember, your mascot will act as the face of your company or establishment- the quality and image it portrays will reflect the quality and image of your company or establishment in the eye of the public.

We have had tremendous luck with this mascot company. The costumes are top notch- not only in the material and workmanship, but in design as well. They have every kind of mascot costume you could imagine and also do a tremendous job on custom mascot costumes.

When choosing your mascot, it's important to look at all of the options you have. For example, say you're looking for a wolf mascot costume. What types of events will you be using the costume for? Is the mascot supposed to appeal to children? Teens? Adults? Don't simply choose the first wolf costume that you find. If you're looking for a wolf mascot that will be around children, you most certainly wouldn't want to choose a ferocious looking wolf, as it may scare the children. Or, say your football team's mascot is a wolf- would you want a friendly, cuddly wolf costume, or would you want it to portray a more tough, unbeatable attitude?

Don't be afraid to ask the mascot companies questions during your decision process. Remember, they have years of experience working with these specialized costumes and are there to help! The last thing you want is to get stuck with a mascot that will not fulfill your needs! We highly recommend utilizing companies that have a long history in the manufacture of costumed characters-chances are, they know what they're doing!