This is, of course, one of the first questions people ask when seeking to purchase a custom mascot costume. It’s a hard question to answer, there are many variables. However, I’ll try.

Single Mascot Costs

If you are buying one custom made mascot costume, and you already have a graphic or a drawing of the mascot, the cost will generally be between $5000.00 – $10,000.00

Additional Duplicate Mascot Costs

If you need additional duplicate custom mascot costumes, cost is usually somewhere between $3000.00 – $8000.00 each depending on how many duplicate mascots you order and complexity of the mascot.

Consider duplicate mascots if:

1. Your mascot needs to be at 2 or 3 place at the same time.
2. If you are using your mascot for extended periods of time with different perfomers.
3. When there is an intense performance schedule – One mascot can be active while the other is getting cleaned or repaired.

Do you need us to design your mascot?

Cost for mascot design ranges from $500.00 to $5000.00. Cost depends on how finished the design needs to be.

A concept studio drawing cost less. A finished, graphic design that you can use on promo, signs, website and printed materials costs more. We will often include a quick sketch with a proposal. The quick sketch is on us!

Difference in cost between the 1st mascot and additional ones?

The original design, pattern-drafting and sculpting goes into the 1st mascot. Remember, custom mascot are,
indeed, custom-made.We get out the kraft paper and the rulers and the curves to make pattern. There are hours that go in to hand stitching with a curved needle, or placing the individual stripes on a tiger, or each pad on the paw of a bear. The 1st mascot takes close to a million hours to make. Additional ones take a little less time.

Mascot engineering

Performers need to breathe and see. If they are struggling to keep the mascot balanced on their body, that’s a problem. That’s where mascot engineering comes in.

The interior engineering like the helmet – the thing that holds the mascot head onto the performer’s head has to be chosen and placed at just the right angle to provide the performer with good vision. Hidden vents need to be placed inside the head so that the air circulates. Is there a ventilation fan, as well? A mascot is an integrated design and engineering wonder!

Lights? Action? Magic!

Does your mascot need lights and sound? Do the eyes need to move? Do the wings need to flutter? Does the nose need to wiggle? Does your mascot need to transform from a mere robot to a Camero and back again? All of that can happen.

These numbers and prices are very general, I hope this helps you to have a better feel for mascot pricing and what to expect when you are looking for a custom mascot.

Jennifer Q Smith – Queen of Fuzz

Decisions! Decisions! Decisions!

Deciding to change the look is a hard decision to make. Students, fans, customers, alumni often see the mascot as part of a cherished tradition. When the changes are made haphazardly, problems can arise.

It was a fiasco when Purdue University decided to update Purdue Pete. Purdue Pete is an esteemed mascot in the university culture. He has a distinctive look. The new Purdue Pete was introduced at the homecoming game. The new mascot walked onto the field and the old mascot walked off. The students and alumni boo-ed the new mascot. The homecoming game was the first and last time the new Purdue Pete was seen. The old Purdue Pete is back.

Going Public: Keeping the fans in the Loop 

…or how to update a mascot

Gunston was George Mason University’s mascot. Like Purdue Pete, Gunston was well loved at GMU.

When GMU decided to add a new mascot to their mascot mix, the Patriot, George Mason put together a whole backstory. The smart people at GMU put out news releases and videos. The basic story was, Gunston was graduating and taking a job in administration. Gunston (who, by the way is green) would represnt GMU’s extensive Green Initiative. Gunston is quite visible on campus and is a success for GMU – like students, he has graduated and taken on important work. Gunston has become a responsible, adult mascot – well, Gunston is a mascot, so responsible comes with a large dose of FUN.

It’s important to have a plan when updating a mascot. If it’s done with deliberation and sensitivity the update will be successful. 

Kona the Penguin adds zing to the traditional penguin garb. Kona is the mascot for Kona Ice. There are many details that make Kona a one-of-a kind.

A Penguin’s Very Specific Needs:

• The pattern on the Hawaiian shirt is unique to Kona. We had the pattern enlarged and printed on fabric.
• The lei around Kona’s neck had to be the same VERY BIG scale as the really larger-than-life Penguin – it, too, was designed and created in our studio.
• ….and ohmygoodness, Kona’s flip-flops! When I saw the flipflops, I knew I was in love with thePenguin!

The Kona Ice Experience

Shaved Ice, The Kona Ice Truck way, is an experience. The Kona Ice people wanted us to have the full Kona Experience. They had a Kona Ice Truck show

up at the loading dock in the Stutz Building – where we have the mascot studio. We all indulged in a shaved-ice experience really an extravaganza —okay, a spur-of-the-moment party. That’s what happens when a Kona Ice truck is in the neighborhood!

For about an hour, it didn’t feel like a cold, November day, It felt like a sunny, tropical day. Jimmy Bufffet was singing through the speakers

on the truck, and we were mixing delicious, colorful, shaved ice concoctions.

We worked closely with the Kona creative staff while we were making the mascot. The collaboration was fruitful ….and delicious!

Jennifer Q Smith – Queen of Fuzz

They are our Jimmy Choos

At AvantGarb we understands the physics & engineering of a mascot shoe.

We make Mascot Choos!!!

Bennie the Bean!

We’re finishing a mascot – a bean – Bennie the Bean for the Indiana Soybean Alliance. The curve of the smile on the Bean has been perfected.  The big, big hat is finished. Here’s a photo of Annie in the hat:

Annie in a Bennie the Bean’s hat.

The Bean’s shoes are finished and they are the most stylish shoes ever seen on a Soy Bean!

Bennie’s shoes

We make patterns for every single part of a mascot in our studio. The pattern for Bennie’s shoes is one of the most interesting patterns I’ve ever seen – it’s one piece and it works because of the curves and darts – only 2 darts! Matt is our mascot shoe guy – he’s also one of the mascot miliners (hat-makers).

Rob and Gabe, of Alley Woodworks in Texas, have sent the eyes and they need to be painted – the eyelid needs to be secured and stitched.

Bennie the Bean & Matt

The Bean is almost ready to make his debut! 

Alumni of Wabash College sport the special Wabash College license plate – and that license plate has a wonderful drawing of Wally.

AvantGarb is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. I’ve been seeing those plates for years and I have wanted AvantGarb to get a shot at the Wally Wabash mascot for a long time…..so, I was delighted when Wabash contacted us.

One of the designers we work with is Tom Sapp, of Real Characters. Tom had designed Wally several years ago. When a new Wally was needed, Tom guided Wabash to AvantGarb.

Wally was a great mascot to create – muscular, big jawed, red & white striped overalls with kind of Elvis Presley-do….which means, the gang at the Garb got to make the striped fabric. Or more specifically, Karen Witting made the striped, overall fabric.

…and we got to make big, muscular arms!

…and the mascot looked positively dreamy when we were finished.

…& look at those pockets!

Need a new mascot – contact us - or give us a call – 800/636-9562.

Closing time at the Children’s Museum

Rex stands at the top floor of the museum. He has a big, rainbow colored belly & he knows how to move it. He has a big tail that he knows how to wiggles when he walks.

Rex, with wholly, unfettered joy, starts off the Mascot Parade at the Children’s Museum. Children follow Rex the Dinosaur round and round, down the 4 story ramp.

The Mascot Parade at the Children’s Museum

Children beg their parents to go to the Rex Parade at the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis. Colored flags are shared, hops and skips are practiced. It’s fun to follow and mimic Rex. The children finesse their hops, skips and flag waving. The parade meanders down the 4 story ramp that spirals down to the first floor, through the entryway (or exitway) and out the door.

Here’s the video: End of Day Parade w/ Rex mascot

The parade is an exuberant blast of fun. It is also a way to close down the museum for the night. The Rex mascot parade is a daily event – yes. It is also a fun, efficient and kind way to close down the museum.

Rex Rules!

Mascots like to go-out-and-stir-up-some-fun inside and outside of the arena. Mascots are Everywhere!

….so, the whole team can’t make it to community stuff, they need to practice and play hard and win games. The mascot is another story. The mascots likes to get out and mix it up in the community.

Sir C.C. is a mascot in the community. He is the really handsome, buff mascot for the Cleveland Cavaliers. We have been watching him flourish -  moving about the basketball court and into the greater, Cleveland community. Mascots are crucial to a team’s outreach.

Sir C.C. has been in a dance-off on the city streets and a middle school’s summer basketball camp in Cleveland.

Mascots get out & mix it up with youth and fans.

Big Heads, Big Hearts and FUN!

Sir C.C. is a sterling example of mascot magnanimity and community adventure

Mascot have big heads and big hearts and they like to get outside and have some fun!

Mascots are Everywhere! 

Where mascots are, a community emerges. People gather.

Roche Diagnostics - Accu-Chek Peforma insulin meter at diabetes camp in Venezuela

A mascot is the perfect, goofy and generous host.

While we may think a mascot is merely a marketing tool, really, a mascot is a hand extended in community.

There are places where mascot people show up, to be part of the trade show scene. IFEA (International Festivals & Events), comes to mind. Or there are mascot people who go to yearly sport gatherings like the Baseball Winter Meetings. The NBA performers have an annual gathering, but there hasn’t been a mascot association.

…until now.

National Mascot Association

We are small, in the very very beginnings of organization. Right now, what we have is a name, a logo, a place holder website and a facebook page.

At AvantGarb, we are big fans of everything mascot, There is no such thing as a bad mascot. All mascots bring joy and curiosity whether they are totally fabulous, or a teensy bit ragged from age. Mascots create community for all who are near them.

As mascot makers, we like to connect with other mascot makers, as well as mascot performers, mascot trainers and the marketing people who have incredible ideas for characters, that we are able to bring to life. The suppliers of the mascot stuff, the people who dye the fabric, the sewing machine guys, the fabric suppliers, the foam supplies and everyone fills orders at McMaster-Carr. Then there are the people who know where to get the props, Gameops.com, comes to mind, the video people who catch the amazing mascot moments, and the mascot fans.

Everything changes when a mascot shows up because, when a mascot shows up, you know you’re going to have fun.

Charging Ahead!

I hope you join us on the journey to create the National Mascot Association. First we will be a virtual organization. When there is enough interest we will gather, meet, talk, present, exchange information

…..and, well, it is a mascot organization…so there will be hilarity and disorganization, too.

Email: prez@nationalmascotassociation.com