A mascot performer is an individual who brings life and energy to the character of a mascot. They are responsible for wearing a full body costume and embodying the personality and characteristics of the mascot. These performers often work for sports teams, schools, theme parks, and other organizations that utilize a mascot for promotional or entertainment purposes. The primary role of a mascot performer is to entertain and engage with an audience. They use physical gestures, exaggerated movements, and non-verbal communication to convey the emotions and actions of the mascot. This can involve dancing, cheering, interacting with fans, and participating in skits or performances during events.

Choosing a Mascot Performer

Once you have a mascot costume, your next step is to choose a mascot performer. Most mascot costumes do not follow a, “One size fits all” approach when it comes to fitting. Oftentimes these mascot costumes are designed to fit a certain size range of human being. This is something to consider when looking for mascot performers.

Another thing to consider is the personality and characteristics you want to bring to your mascot. Is the mascot meant to be fun and joyful? Or serious and competitive? These are the sorts of personality traits to be on the lookout for when it comes to a mascot performer. You want to be sure they understand your vision and can translate that into their actions as a mascot.

There is a lot to consider when picking someone to act as your mascot. Essentially, when they put that mascot costume on, they are a representing your brand. In order to help you simplify your search, we’ve put together some helpful tips to get you on the right track.

1. Mascot Performers Needs to Fit Height Range of Costume

Each mascot costume design has a specified height range. It is important to choose a performer that fits those height guidelines for the costume to fit them properly. If your performer is too tall or too short for the costume, the costume will either not fit or it will be too baggy. Your brand will be better represented if the costume fits your performer well.

In our experience, we’ve found that most mascots seem to accommodate a height range of around 5′ 8″ – 5′ 11″. Not surprising given that the average male height in the US is 5′ 9″. There are exceptions to this though, so we recommend checking in with your mascot’s manufacturer to be sure.

2. Performers Need to be Physically Fit

There is no need to be a world class athlete, but understand that mascots can appear at events for hours at a time. This can be a physically taxing endeavor, especially in hot temperatures. Having a mascot cooling system does help, but being constantly on the move is going to put a strain on anybody. Not to mention that mascot’s are not generally given too many breaks.

Your performer will need to be able to handle being active for long periods of time amongst sometimes intense conditions. Whether your mascot is performing in 50- or 90-degree weather, it will still be hot inside of your mascot costume, so endurance is a must for anyone wanting to step inside a mascot costume.

In addition, mascot costumes can add extra pounds to the back or neck of your character’s performer, so they will need to be capable of carrying the extra weight. If you want your mascot to be super active and preform cool tricks or stunts, your performer themselves will need to be able to do those things. As well as have a mascot costume designed for sure activities.

3. Mascot Performers Need to have Animated Personalities

Your mascot’s performance is just that, a performance. Mascot costumes don’t have the luxury of having facial cues, eyes movements, or even a voice. This means that in order to express emotion, you have to do so with exaggeration. Every movement, mannerism, and expression needs to have a heap of energy behind it. For some people, this ability comes naturally. For others, it takes practice. Whichever camp your mascot performer finds themselves in, there is always room for improvement!

Something as simple as acting in front of mirror is a great way to build up skills as a mascot performer. If nothing else, you get to see how your mascot costume is perceived by the audience, as well as build muscle-memory when it comes where to place your hands and feet when doing certain gestures. If you don’t have a mirror, try using your cellphone. Not only can it replicate a mirror, but it allows you to record so you can review your progress.

At appearances, your mascot will be engaging with lots of people, your performer will need to have a friendly personality. Your mascot will also need to enjoy interacting with people of all ages and must be able to read the crowd. Generally, a performer with a bubbly or outgoing personality outside the costume will be ideal for such a role.

Finally, this might seem rather obvious, but you need to make sure that your performer enjoys performing and interacting with a crowd. If your performer doesn’t find it enjoyable and doesn’t take the job seriously, the audience will know, so find someone who’s excited to be in costume.

MASCOT TIP: If you want your mascot to have a certain personality, create a mascot handbook for your performer outlining the traits and behaviors of your mascot.

Mascot Character Services

Our mascot character services offers your organization a complete setup where we bring our professional mascot performer to wear your costume at your scheduled events.

These are not just people off the street wearing your costumes. These are 100% certified and trained mascot performers. They are trained and knowledgeable on how to wear these special costumes.

If you place the wrong person inside your mascot costume, you may risk some serious health hazards. Such as someone becoming claustrophobic or dehydrated. Causing them to go unconscious. Characters for Hire ℠ mascot character services takes all those worries away.

Our performers are skilled, and all come with a mascot handler. Ensuring success at your event. If you want to add life to your next corporate event, hire our performers.

Every mascot performer is trained on everything from dealing with large audiences and rowdy fans at a school sporting event to managing their comfort-ability level in a hot and sweaty costume. Contact us for all of your events:

1. Grand Openings
2. Brand Awareness
3. Promotional events
4. School Sporting Events
5. Convention Center Events
6. Company Sponsored Events

With over 3,500+ actors, Characters for Hire ℠ is the most complete, reliable and trusted entertainment company in the U.S.

This can involve dancing, cheering, interacting with fans, and participating in skits or performances during events. Mascot performers must have a high level of physical stamina and endurance, as wearing a mascot costume for extended periods can be physically demanding. The costume itself can be heavy, hot, and difficult to see or move in, so performers must be able to adapt and work around these challenges to deliver a memorable performance.

Inspiration

In addition to physical ability, mascot performers must also possess strong interpersonal skills. They need to be friendly, approachable, and able to connect with a wide range of people, from young children to adults. The ability to improvise and think on their feet is essential, as they may be called upon to interact with unexpected situations or adapt their performance to suit different audiences or events. Mascot performers also play an important role in promoting their organization or team. They act as brand ambassadors and help to create a positive image and association with the mascot. They may appear at community events, charity functions, and public appearances to engage with fans and generate excitement and support. Overall, a mascot performer brings a mascot to life, creating a memorable and enjoyable experience for audiences. Through their physicality, enthusiasm, and ability to connect with people, they become an integral part of the team or organization they represent..

Reviews for "Beyond Cheerleading: The Multi-Faceted Role of Mascot Performers in Sports Events"

1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with the mascot performer at the recent sporting event. The costume looked cheap and poorly designed, and it was obvious that the person inside lacked any energy or enthusiasm. They seemed to just be going through the motions without any real interaction or entertainment value. It was a letdown to say the least.

2. Sarah - 1/5 - The mascot performer was a complete waste of time. They barely even moved or attempted to engage with the crowd. It almost felt like they were just there to collect a paycheck. The kids around me were visibly bored and uninterested. I definitely won't be looking forward to seeing this mascot again in the future.

3. Michael - 2/5 - I've seen many mascot performers before, but this one was definitely lackluster. They lacked charisma and failed to capture the spirit of the character they were portraying. The few attempts at interaction were half-hearted and the overall performance seemed unenergetic and unenthusiastic. I hope the event organizers select a more talented performer next time.

4. Emma - 1/5 - The mascot performer was a complete disappointment. They barely interacted with the audience and their movements were clumsy and awkward. It was obvious that they lacked experience in bringing a character to life. The whole performance felt forced and uninspiring. I expected better entertainment for the price of admission.

5. David - 2/5 - I've seen better mascot performers at local events. This one lacked the energy and enthusiasm that usually makes these performances fun and engaging. They seemed disinterested in their role and the level of crowd interaction was minimal. The overall experience was underwhelming and I left feeling disappointed. Hopefully, the next time I see a mascot performance, it will be a more enjoyable one.

Mascot Performers as Influencers: Leveraging Social Media for Fan Engagement