1) A Good Mascot
Costume
Several factors contribute to making a costume “good”.
First, it must have a visual appeal for its primary audience.
Generally speaking, this means it be cute and cuddly, and bear
an obvious relation to the organization that owns it. Second,
it must be constructed of sturdy, durable materials that will
stand up well to wear and tear. Finally, it must be highly
functional in a wide variety of performing environments. This
means it must be well ventilated, allow for a good range of
vision and permit unencumbered body movements.
2) A Good Performer
A “good” mascot performer is defined by three
characteristics. First he/she must have a suitable personality.
Street Characters’ experience
has found that mild introverts with a dry sense of humor make
the best performers, not extroverts. This is because the anonymity
of the costume allows an introvert to do things he would otherwise
shy away from. Extroverts, meanwhile, have difficulty suppressing
their own personality in favor of the mascots. The performer
must get along well with people of all ages, but be especially
good with children. Accordingly, he or she must be gentle
and patient in manner.
Second, the performer’s act must endear the mascot to
fans by providing them with a lasting positive impression.
This requires the performer to develop routines that leave
the fans wanting more.
The last characteristic is the performer’s physical suitability
for the role. This entails having the correct stature to wear
the costume and being in good physical condition.
3) A Committed Organization
The final ingredient of a successful mascot program is the
commitment of the organization managing the program. By commitment,
we mean the willingness to provide the program with all the
moral and material support it needs to run effectively.
In terms of moral support, an organization needs to regard
the program as an integral part of its overall marketing, public
relations and entertainment package. To that end it must seriously
consider the promotional ideas and managerial concerns of the
mascot program’s staff. As for material support, it is
essential that the organization give the mascot program sufficient
financial, logistic and administrative resources to do the
job well.
Conclusion
So there you have it: the three keys to a successful mascot
program. Remember them, and your mascot will soon become
a fan favorite.
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