Getting into a mascot suit can be an exciting and unique experience. Whether it's for a sporting event, a parade, or a promotional event, being a mascot can bring joy and entertainment to those around you. First and foremost, it's important to remember that being a mascot is not just about putting on a suit and jumping around. It requires dedication and enthusiasm to embody the character and bring it to life. It's about creating a connection with the audience and making them feel something, whether it's laughter, excitement, or simply a sense of happiness. Before getting into the suit, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the character.

ItÂ’s all about funny business

A sell-out crowd of about 90 people, all waiting to laugh, filled the Magic Lantern Theater in downtown Spokane. Before long, a young man with screaming yellow hair, wearing a referees uniform, bounded out onto the small stage and began interacting with the packed house and popping one liners.

The referee was soon joined by six others, three in matching red baseball jerseys and three in blue jerseys, who for the next hour and a half improvised routine after routineand kept the audience guffawing and yelling out suggestions.

The frivolity was music to the ears of Kasey Christie, the co-owner of Ducks-in-a-Row Productions Inc., an improvisational comedy company here that does business as SpoComedy, and puts on shows at the Magic Lantern, 123 S. Wall, every Saturday night.

My goal is to get this business going well enough that I can hire players full time, Christie says. Unlike many performance groups, SpoComedy operates as a business, rather than a nonprofit organization, which heightens the sense of professionalism of those involved, Christie says. He currently has 18 less-than-part-time employees. All are players in the improv troupe; some also help Christie run the business.

SpoComedy is one of 27 licensees of Milwaukee, Wis.-based Viewers Like You LLC, which provides a blueprint for shows and instructional programs called ComedySportz. Since June, SpoComedy has worked to entertain audiences with weekly shows. SpoComedy also holds classes at the theater to train people in the art of improv, performs road shows for private events, and offers comedy-driven team-building seminars.

So far, no one is making a living through SpoComedy. Viewers Like Yous well-established licensees elsewhere, however, are growing businesses whose players make good livings and dont need to hold down other jobs, Christie says.

Currently, SpoComedy pays its players per performance from a portion of ticket-sales proceeds. Because the players are employees, Christie believes they take their roles more seriously than they would if they were volunteers. He says that dedication, hard work, and high standards are necessary to establish and maintain a successful business.

Christie, who also practices law here at Lee & Hayes PLLC, had no experience in theater or performing before taking a ComedySportz class in Portland, where he lived until just over two years ago, on a whim after attending a show. While watching the performance, he thought, Wow, thats amazing! Howd they do that? After learning the ropes, he became a player there, and wanted to continue his involvement in improv after moving to Spokane. He started and co-owns SpoComedy with ComedySportzs Portland licensee.

Christie says people can learn a lot about themselves and others through improv, and dont need any particular background to be successful.

I can teach funny, he says.

ComedySportz shows

Many peoples only exposure to improv comedy is the ABC television show Whose Line is it Anyway? hosted by Drew Carey, who at the top of each segment sets the scene for four comedians to invent skits, games, or songs in front of a live audience. While Spo-Comedys style of improv is similar to that seen on the TV show, Christie says the two shows are very different.

SpoComedys shows, like all ComedySportz shows across the country, are designed to be highly interactive and family friendly, he says.

At the Magic Lantern show, after a spoof of the classic seventh-inning-stretch song, Take Me Out to the Ball Game, the red team and blue team squared off to try to earn points by being funny. Audience members were asked for suggestions, to get them involved and to show the players werent working from scripts. Then, the audience was asked to judge which team performed better by holding up red or blue fly swatters called judges whopners.

SpoComedys Web site boasts that the shows are funny enough for a bachelor party, clean enough for your grandmother. To keep things clean, the referee calls a brown-bag foul if a player or audience member says or does something the referee considers to be rude, crude, lewd, socially unacceptable, or otherwise offensive. The referee then places a brown paper bag over the head of the offender, which must remain in place until the end of the activity. The ref also can call a foul on a player who makes a joke so bad that the audience groans.

During a spelling bee, the ref asks the audience to suggest increasingly difficult words. As a team tries to spell the word, each team member calls out one letter at a time. Then, the team has to use the word in a sentence, with each person saying only one word at a time.

Another contest is an improvised musical drama based on a topic suggested by an audience member. In that event, players develop characters and a plot and sing portions of the story, complete with rhyming lyrics.

Road shows, for events such as company parties, are essentially the same as the Saturday night shows, and can be tailored for different venues and budgets, Christie says.

SpoComedys players are chosen not through formal auditions, but through classes called Improv 101 and Improv 201, which SpoComedy sponsors. Because the classes run for several weeks, Christie says they give him more opportunity to assess a students ability, drive, and dedication than he could during an audition.

In Improv 101, participants learn the basics of improv, which include not only being funny, but working as a team and paying close attention to what others are doing so one can respond appropriately and augment the humor.

One such exercise involves telling a story in a circle. Each person says only one word, and does so as quickly as possible. Then, the next person comes up with an appropriate follow-up word quickly.

Things dont always go smoothly. At a recent class, players uttered: The most incredible thing I ever did was to run away from the bulls . Pamplona is a very large and town that is loving caring and full of bulls. After a few times around, things deteriorated to: Crock pot flu and contagious smallpox . My word what pressure!

While most of the attendees were college-aged, Christie says other classes draw people of all ages. Some are experienced actors who want to improve their skills, while others arent involved in theater, but think improv would be fun, he says. The seven-week Improv 101 class costs $95, and participants get four free tickets to a ComedySportz show. Improv 201, a drop-in class for graduates of Improv 101, costs $5 a session.

Team-building seminars

SpoComedys team-building seminars for businesses use activities to achieve several ends: to break the ice, to get people to listen to one another, and to demonstrate the necessity of effective communication.

An activity Christie has seen work well at seminars starts with a group of people walking in a circle. When anyone claps their hands, the participants must change direction. Inevitably, someone will clap several times in quick succession, which leads to confusion and chaos, he says.

Often, the participants will start arguing about which direction is the right way to go. Thats when the seminar leader steps in and explains nothing is gained by arguing over how many times someone clapped their hands, and the only right way to go is the one that makes the circle flow smoothly.

A main theme of the seminars is the importance of the entire team, rather than of the individual.

SpoComedy hasnt yet done many such seminars, which are customized to fit businesses time and budget requirements, but Christie says hes working to get the word out that the seminars are available, and he expects demand for them will go up.

Live theatre events in Spokane, WA

Before getting into the suit, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the character. Study their movements, gestures, and mannerisms. This will allow you to fully immerse yourself in the role and make your performance more convincing.

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Additionally, practicing different poses and actions will ensure that you are comfortable and can move freely inside the suit. When it comes to actually getting into the mascot suit, there are a few key steps to follow. Start by wearing a sweat-wicking undersuit to keep you cool and comfortable. This will help prevent excessive sweating and odor. Next, put on any necessary padding or accessories that come with the suit. This may include gloves, shoes, or additional foam padding to fill out the suit. Once you're fully prepared, it's time to put on the head of the mascot. This can be the trickiest part, as it requires careful maneuvering to align the eye holes with your own eyes. Make sure the head is secure and properly fitted to ensure good visibility and mobility. Now that you're suited up, it's time to embrace the role and become the character. Move with purpose and energy, engaging with the crowd and creating memorable interactions. It's important to remain aware of your surroundings and any potential hazards, as the suit may restrict your vision or movement. Being a mascot can be physically demanding, so be sure to stay hydrated and take necessary breaks. Remember to have fun and enjoy the experience. Being in a mascot suit is a unique opportunity to spread joy and entertainment, so make the most of it! In conclusion, getting into a mascot suit requires preparation, dedication, and a willingness to bring a character to life. Embrace the role, engage with the audience, and enjoy the experience of being a mascot..

Reviews for "The Psychological Impact of a Mascot Suit: Empowering Performers"

1. John - 2/5 Rating: I was really disappointed with "Get into a mascot suit". The storytelling was weak and the plot was extremely predictable. The characters lacked depth and there was no emotional connection to any of them. The humor fell flat and the jokes felt forced. Overall, it was a forgettable and unengaging experience.

2. Emma - 1/5 Rating: I cannot express how much I disliked "Get into a mascot suit". The acting was terrible, and it felt like the actors were just going through the motions without any real passion or effort. The dialogue was cringeworthy and the plot was completely unoriginal. It felt like a poorly made imitation of other, much better movies. Save your time and invest it in something actually worth watching.

3. Sarah - 2/5 Rating: I had high hopes for "Get into a mascot suit" but it turned out to be a major letdown. The pacing was slow, making the movie drag on for what felt like an eternity. The story had potential, but it was poorly executed with cliché characters and a lackluster script. The humor was predictable and the attempts at comedy were forced. I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this one.

4. Mark - 2/5 Rating: "Get into a mascot suit" was a disappointment. The concept had potential, but the execution fell flat. The movie lacked originality and relied on tired tropes. The acting was mediocre at best, and the characters were one-dimensional. The humor was forced and didn't elicit many laughs. Overall, it failed to deliver an enjoyable and engaging experience.

5. Jessica - 1/5 Rating: "Get into a mascot suit" was a waste of time. The storyline was weak and uninteresting, and the movie failed to hold my attention. The characters were forgettable and lacked any depth or development. The attempts at humor were juvenile and fell flat. I would not recommend this movie to anyone looking for a quality film.

From Zero to Hero: Training for Mascot Suit Performance