How to Work as a Mascot Actor

Thanksgiving just ended, the next morning, you and your family head into their local mall or downtown commercial center for Black Friday shopping, and you have the kids in tow. All of a sudden, you see a recognizable commercial or cartoon character trying to entice you to come into their store. They’re waving, they’re jumping up and down, or maybe they’re handing out samples. Around the corner, you encounter a long line to see Santa Claus because every kid wants to get a head start on their Christmas list. Santa’s helpers of elves and reindeer might be around too. Now, as an adult, you know there are people under those massive costumes or suits. But did you know that a lot of actors seek this costume work to supplement their income during the holiday season when film & television productions are slowing down? Here are the behind-the-scenes of life as an actor doing costume and mascot work.

You are not a character, but a BRAND

The actor who excels best in this work has had experience in the theatre, dance, and maybe even mime or clown work. You’ll utilize your movement and expressionist skills here. However, this position is not about a character at all. Sure, there might be traits they possess you need to demonstrate: Strength, happiness, curiosity, etc., etc. But this role is about the BRAND this character represents. You might be in a Tony the Tiger suit, but you are representing Kellogg’s. You might be Bullseye the Dog, but you are representing Target. Everything you do is reflective of them. This is why most mascots DO NOT SPEAK. The exception is well-known taglines (Tony the Tiger’s “GRRREATTT”) of the character or corporate-approved copy promoting a product or service. Particularly for well-known mascots who we’ve never heard their voice, the illusion must be maintained of their purity or curiosity.

The Rules of Engagement

The illusion of your great character is at the ethos of any engagement that will happen between you and the general public. This is the most important aspect of your job. Missteps here can bring unwanted attention & publicity, personal liability, and major financial damage to the company (google the Sesame Street fiasco earlier this summer). Because your character and gigantic characters in general appeal most to children, high interaction will involve them. It is due to this that you personally will undergo a criminal background check for any sex offender registries. In addition, most companies will have specific rules on when and how to interact with the kids. NEVER under any circumstances should you touch a child first. For one thing, they might be scared of you, especially upon seeing you for the first time. If a child is excited, the next natural thing might be for them to run up to you and give or ask for a hug. You, as the character, should hug back with only with one arm, on their upper back, with the other arm staying by your side. For children and adults alike, the general engagement will be waves, head nods, and high-fives. You might have the occasional handshake. An escort is hired to accompany you throughout the day to monitor public engagement, assist with costume removal (more later), and, most importantly, physically guide you when necessary. The costume can block hearing and vision (especially on your sides). Escorts can be employees of the branded company, members of the marketing agency, or fellow brand ambassadors themselves. Whoever it is, they are supposed to have your six. The unfortunate part of these gigs is that there will always be jerks (children & adults) who will test you or will try to elicit a response outta you. You might say, what if my character is antagonistic or sarcastic (you’ll only see that in SPORTS)? But your response always is to say NOTHING and do NOTHING. Especially in the times of iPhones and social media. A negative interaction with a beloved childhood icon could go viral in minutes. That is why an escort's presence is important AT ALL TIMES, it is their job to handle the misbehaving public. They’ll have means to communicate for backup or to escalate up to security or police, if necessary.

How to Manage Your Movement

The costume you’ll be wearing is always bigger than you. It’s why the ideal model/actor is 5’4-5’9. Your head usually aligns with the character’s mouth. The mouth opening is how you see the outside world. In getting in and out of the costume, you should enter feet first, like putting on a pair of pants. An escort should assist you in putting on the head because it mostly has to be tucked in or zipped up somewhere. Shorts and a white tank top will be best, especially if you work outside in the summer. Regardless of the season, your body temperature will naturally rise. The general rule of thumb is to work 40 minutes on and 20 minutes off. Your escort will guide you back to a designated break area, out of view of the guests, and assist in taking the head of the costume off only. You’ll be provided with water and some sort of energy snacks. These breaks might be increased if your character is in constant movement or have to perform a routine. Bathroom breaks, you ask? Well, not every costume is created equal. The better ones are designed with forward and backward flaps, so you won’t have to take off the entire costume to relieve yourself. As I mentioned before, every costume is different, so it is important to practice moving around in the costume first. How do you walk in the costume naturally vs. how does your character walk? Can you move your fingers? Are there external elements like wings, gills, etc.? The more comfortable you are moving in your costume, the better you’ll be in your portrayal.

How To Get Into Mascot Work

The number one way to get into mascot work is through brand ambassadors or modeling agencies. Whether it's Attack! Marketing, ATN, Hype Marketing, or others, registering with them and making a completed profile is the first start. Next, marking off your interest in costume work is next, making sure your email filters tailor for those opportunities. Next, do a few assignments as a regular brand ambassador to build trust and familiarity with the agency. These agencies will choose someone they know first for a bigger job like a costume gig. The hourly rate for these assignments varies, the median range I’ve seen is between $25-40/hr, usually with a minimum guarantee. Pay variables will depend on climate, interior/exterior work, length of time, distance traveled, and weight of costume. Not all mascot work is during Christmas. In fact, it is a year-round affair. There are peaks and valleys throughout each season. Summer sees another spike in work where companies pitch their tents at festivals and sporting events. Other ways to get into mascot work include gig economy websites like Craigslist, Taskrabbit, or Fiverr. A note for mascots in sports, those jobs are full-time work, especially in professional leagues like MLB and NBA. In addition to working home games, you might be asked to go to community events, pre or postgame rallies, and travel with the team. That is more of a commitment than your one off’s. Lastly, if you work for one of these companies directly, you could see if their Talent department has an opening; however, sometimes extracurricular activities for the company are non-paid with a hearty thank you or side perks.