The weather is getting warmer and soon the dog days of summer will be here. With summer comes festivals, events and outdoor activities – all of which are excellent places to get your custom mascot in front of your fans and potential customers.
Performing in the summer, however, takes some planning if you want to ensure that your mascot performer stays cool and comfortable.
To help your performer be the best they can be, consider these summer performance tips and tricks from BAM Mascots:
1 - Wear the right clothing
If your mascot is going to be out in the heat, be sure that your performer wears lightweight clothing that wicks away moisture.
Performance work-out clothing will help keep your performer cool and comfortable, and it will make movement easier. Bulky clothing like jeans can not only heat up your performer, but it will also make it hard to be active by constricting movement within the costume.
Sweat bands can also be a helpful addition. It can get warm inside a mascot costume, and that means there’s the chance that sweat can run into your performer’s face and eyes making them feel awkward, uncomfortable, and potentially impairing their vision which could be dangerous.
Keep a supply of sweat bands in your mascot’s gear bag. They will wick away the moisture before it becomes an issue.
2 - Try a cooling vest
The ideal cooling tool - a cooling vest is specially designed to keep performers feeling refreshed. The vest is equipped with pockets for cold gel packs, like the ones used for first aid or in sports. Swap out the gel packs when they lose their cool, to keep your mascot performer comfortable during the entire performance.
3 - Take routine breaks
Your fans and followers love your mascot, and that means it can be hard for your performer to take a break from performing cool tricks, dancing with fans, playing games, taking pictures and having a fun time. However, even a super energetic mascot performer needs a break.
While your performer should have the opportunity to get out of the spotlight and have a private moment or two to unwind, use the facilities, have a drink and even grab a bite, not all of the breaks need to involve them getting out of character.
Sometimes it is enough for them to simply focus on low key activities, which will give them an opportunity to reenergize - maybe they can sit down for some staged poses or take a relaxing break in the shade. If they are a team mascot, they can join players on the bench, and if you are an organization at a trade show, have them sit at your event booth.
4 - Stay hydrated
You’ve probably heard it a hundred times before but be sure your performer drinks plenty of fluids. While it may mean more breaks away from the crowd, it will ensure your mascot’s performance is optimized.
If they feel thirsty then they haven’t been drinking enough. The same could be true if their mouth becomes dry, their vision blurs, they aren’t sweating as much, they feel tired or they have a headache. If any of these signs occur, they could be dehydrated, and it may be time to call it a day.
5 - Have more than one performer
If it is going to be a long or excruciatingly hot day, it can be very helpful to have rotating performers. They will appreciate the time to get out of character to cool off and you will benefit from mascots that are high energy all day long.
6 - Test out your mascot costume before the event
Before the main event, it’s a good idea to practice the performance with all the base layer clothing under the costume. The dress rehearsal will make sure your performer is entirely comfortable going through the routine and will identify any problems before the big day.
7 - Plan your mascot design to meet your unique demands
If you know that your mascot will be performing for long periods in the sun, design your costume to suit the environment. Ensure there is strategic ventilation, such as through the eyes, mouth and nose. Depending on your design, there may be other places that the ventilation can be placed as well.
8 - Give your ventilation fan a test run
Before the performance, it’s a good idea to check that your ventilation fan, battery and charger are working properly. Without the fan forcing the circulation of air, no matter how many vent ports your costume has, it will still be stuffy inside the costume.
In addition to ventilation, adding a battery powered fan to the costume is possible in some cases, and can help expel warm air and cool down the performer.
At the end of the day, you, your mascot, and your fans will have a much more enjoyable time if you’ve taken the necessary steps to keep your performer cool and comfortable in the heat.
Don’t yet have a mascot for your summer activities? Contact us today for help designing the perfect custom creation that will help transform your organization’s marketing efforts.
