Mascot Musings Archive

9 Reasons to Get a Custom Mascot Costume

February 12, 20203 Comments

Why get a big bundle of fuzz and foam with a big head?

1. Mascots are media magnets. No matter how good-looking and socially savvy your marketing people are, they will not get the attention a mascot gets by just showing up.

2. You posted a photo of your kid (or your mom, grandma, boyfriend, uncle) dancing with a mascot. You’re probably going to buy the product, go to the game, consider the college, attend the event.

3. You have an amazing, custom-made mascot. Your competition has a brochure. ‘Nuff said.

4. A mascot is a diplomat, your representative at events that matter in the community like parades, charitable runs, festival. You can probably name a dozen event where a mascot’s presence would enhance your brand.

5. When a mascot shows up, everyone knows they’re gonna have fun.

6. …and there’s mascot merchandising. Get bobbleheads, plushes, hoodies, caps.Marketing and the revenue pool is much bigger than just the mascot. When people wear your image – or sleep with your mascot —I mean the snuggly, plush toy of your mascot!!!! —-you have made a lasting bond.

7. Mascots are the true, real life, totally interactive social media.

8. Mascots are Brand Awareness Monsters.

9. Mascots promote goodwill for your brand because they bring people together in a community around the mascot. It’s a kind of accidental Flash Mob community. Mascots are the true warm fuzzies of marketing.

Join the fun! Let’s talk about your mascot.

A Truck Mascot with Blinking Lights!

May 4, 2019Leave a Comment

We made a Truck mascot named, Safety Sammy, for Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF). It has lights that turn on & they blink! The video above is one of our “ooh & aah” studio videos.

We worked closely with the visioneers at Story Partners on this mascot. First, our designer made several, custom, character designs. With an approved design we moved onto mascot creation – bringing the Safety Sammy the Truck, to life.

Standing Around a Work Table & Making Plans

There are lots of parts and plans that had to come together to make a big, big mascot like this one. We stood around a worktable in the mascot studio, talking through the process. To clarify our ideas, we made lo tech, simple, pencil sketches.

We knew what the truck would look like because we had the character design. We had to figure out what the interior structure would look like and what it needed to do.

The Truck has an intense inner structure, that we designed, engineered & built just as dazzling as the truck’s exterior.

That inner structure is lightweight. It includes:

An intuitive harness so the performer can move safely through venues.
Interior handles so the performer can give the mascot personality with signature moves.
Visible & simple controls for the the light features.
Terrific vision for the performer.

This mascot was an exciting challenge.

We were up to the challenge, because we are always up to the challenge.

We have high, high standards and the knowledge, talent and vision to grab hold of the fabric, fur, fuzz and foam. We sculpt, sew, engineer and wire in the technology.

Need a mascot with razzle dazzle – We know how to do it!

Let’s connect and discuss big things!

Say Hello

Flocks, Herds, Multitudes of Mascots – The Queen Of Fuzz Talks Mascots

May 2, 2019Leave a Comment

Jennifer Smith interview – for Indiana’s Got Talent blog

Jennifer Q Smith is the Queen of Fuzz at Avant Garb, a company that designs and builds mascots for teams, universities and corporations throughout the country. She has been making, wearing and analyzing costumes, wearable art, street wear and mascots all of her life. Even as a 4 year old, she donned her cowgirl outfit, strapped on her holster and hopped on her stick horse to patrol the neighborhood. She was part of the wearable art movement in the 70’s with Friends of the Rag in Seattle.

She wore her site-specific costumes on NYC streets. Her wearable art pieces have been shown at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian, at MoMA exhibitions and at PS1, where she was a Studio Artist. Jennifer Q has been married forever and has 2 always fascinating daughters.

David Boyer interview with Jennifer Smith

How did Avant Garb first come into being?

I had been designing and making costumes for art performances and for theater in Seattle, NYC and San Francisco. When I started Avant Garb, my plan was to design costumes for avant garde theater.

However, a small, chocolate chip cookie company in Berkeley asked me to make a giant cookie for them. Making the cookie changed my outlook, and I altered my plan. The day after it was finished the Chocolate Chip Cookie mascot, was on the front page of the S.F. Chronicle. I thought that was pretty exciting. That was the beginning of Avant Garb – Mascot Makers.

What was your first “mascot’?

Several years before the Chocolate Chip Cookie, I was with a costume and performance group in Seattle named, “Friends of the Rag”. We were commissioned to create costumes and a performance for the opening of the opening of the Seattle Aquarium in 1977. I designed and wore a costume called, the “Sexy Salmon” It was a big hit. That was it for me!

Following the Sexy Salmon, I made a black velvet “Formal Clarinet” for the Seattle Symphony. Joan Mondale, the Vice President’s wife came to Seattle to see a Friends of the Rag performance. I was wearing the Clarinet. I later met Joan Mondale in DC, at another Friends of the Rag production. I told her that last time we had met, I was a clarinet. She said, “I remember”.

There must be so much meticulous detail in creating one of your mascots. How long does it usually take to complete one? Or does that depend on the character involved?

It takes a million hours to make a mascot. We sculpt the head and cover it with fabric and fur, make the patterns for the body, the muscles, big belly, giant head, legs, arms, tails that boing and really big mascot shoes. Yikes! Yes, there are detail, details, details – like eyebrows, painting the eyes, making sure there is plenty of vision ( which needs to be hidden) and ventilation ( also hidden)…. and claws and clothing and logos. Yup, it takes a million hours.

Is there a lot more involved in one of these costumes than meets the eye? I mean, are there certain safety and health requirements that have to be met?

The performer’s safety is always at the front of my mind. We work hard to give performers good, stable vision. That means, there is an athletic helmet that is secured inside the mascot head. Sometimes the hardest part about making the head is placing the helmet so that the performer has good, stable vision. We also put air vents in the head. Air needs to circulate so the performer can breathe. We have engineered mascot shoes so that the performer’s own shoes are secured into the mascot shoe. Nobody likes to wear someone else’s sweaty shoes. Mascot performers shouldn’t have to either. We send each mascot out with its own Mascot Manual so clients know how to care for their mascot.

Have you found that just as many adults enjoy your work as kids?

Mascots are a public spectacle. They are for children and adults. When a mascot shows up, we all know we’re going to have fun. Mascots create community. Strangers connect when a mascot is present. Mascots are for everyone.

On the subject of mascots, what was “Barf-boy” used to promote? I’m sorry, with a name like that, I just had to ask. LOL

Everybody asks about Barf-Boy. He was a mascot for a children’s biology exhibit named, “Grossology.” Grossology was about everything that is disgusting about the human body – like well…barf.

We made 5 Barf-Boys for exhibits in Children’s Science Museums all around the country. He’s pretty great, isn’t he?!

Any exciting news about Avant Garb to let us in on before you go?

The exciting news about Avant Garb is that we are a company in the United States that makes things by hand. We make it by hand, people can touch it, interact with it, have their picture taken with it. Yet, mascots are of the moment. They interact with us in our physical world and they are present in our digital world.

And the mascots become part of the fabric of all of our lives. Everyone has hugged a mascot, had their picture taken with a mascot, laughed at a mascot’s antics or turned to that stranger and talked about the mascot. The mascot and the team, product, event they represent has become part of the story that connects all of us.

I kinda believe mascots could bring world peace. It would be a goofy world peace, but what the heck!

I love making mascots – flocks of mascots, herds of mascots, multitudes of mascots!

I believe you!

Mascot Makers, Designers, Experts & Know-It-Alls

March 6, 2019Leave a Comment

From Idea to Mascot & BEYOND!!!

We’re with you from from concept to design to finished mascot. We can also guide you with your mascot strategic plan, mascot training and mascot safety.

There’s a whole world of mascot trainers, advisors, designers and performers who are also part of our world. We consult with them on a variety of projects almost daily.

We’re mascot know-it-alls

Need a custom mascot? Get in touch.

Adorable Crew

We’re a pretty adorable crew. The gaggle of mascot makers at AvantGarb are loaded with talent. That’s Annie at the top of the page. She’s sitting on her favorite high-heeled shoe chair to attach a wheel to a truck mascot. She’s one of the Magnificent Mascot Mavens.

Queen of Fuzz

I head the crew of mascot experts. On my biz cards I’m the Queen of Fuzz. I started Avant Garb in my Berkeley, CA garage in 1986.

Mascots were just inching their way into the culture when Avant Garb started making them. They were so new, I had to invent ways to make them. We’re still inventing.

Master of Mascotology

Annie is the studio manager, and she’s in charge of shoes and accessories. In Mascotland, tails are accessories. She’s also my daughter. She has been hanging around mascots since she was a toddler.

We awarded her a special, Mascot of Mascotology degree

Puppets, Video & the Over-head Projector

Mike’s background is puppets, video & the over-head projector – yes, really! In his hands, the over-head projector is an art form & it’s hilarious! Turns out those are great skills to have in the mascot studio

Fuzz Whiz

Tonie was on the Phantom of the Opera Costume Road Crew for a year. She also grew up in costume shops. Her mother was a designer. She knows how to put all the foam, fuzz & fabric together.

Lucky us! Tonie also works backstage on many of the big shows that come through town so we sometimes get great stories of stars backstage.

Robotics, Sound and Lights

David is our lights, robotics & sound guy. If the mascot needs some sort of battery & sequential lights or some moving part that needs to be manipulated remotely, David knows how to do it. He is, indeed, a wizard!

Let’s connect and discuss big things!

Say Hello

Three Questions you need to answer about your Mascot Brand!

February 5, 2019Leave a Comment

David Raymond, aka the Mascot Doctor, was the original Phillie Phanatic performer. He is the founder of modern mascotting. He is the guy who walked the walk and perfected the wiggle.

Dave is our guest blogger for “A Mascot Makers’s Musings”. I always pay attention to what he has to say.

The Mascot Doctor is in the house and has three very important questions you need to answer to see if your mascot brand is in tip top shape. Just consider it a free check up with no needles, no pain and never any rubber gloves!

What would Disney do?

Maybe a better question…if you had Mickey Mouse as your mascot brand how would you be using him tomorrow? You would make sure your mascot brand was leveraged on every single communication or marketing asset you controlled. You would have dedicated mascot brand pages on your website. Your mascot brand would lead all of your communications and would be the face of your community outreach. Your stadium would contain mascot themed areas in concessions, merchandise, signage and facilities. Just think of all the places those “mickey ears” would be powerful!

Do you only have a “kid in a suit”?

Remember your mascot brand is not just a “kid in a suit”. It should be a living, breathing brand extension for your organization. When your fans come in contact with your brand it is all about memorable fun. What better asset do you have than your mascot brand? What other marketing initiative do your fans flock to, hug, take pictures with and share on all their social media channels? What other marketing asset creates emotional and memorable connections with your partners and fans? Answer to all those questions is “none” so treat it as you would any other powerful asset.

Do you care?

If you don’t care about your mascot brand then why should your fans, partners or staff care? Make sure your character costume is professionally cleaned regularly so it looks good and more importantly, smells good! Create permanent storage and costume care space for your mascot brand. Your performer should be trained and talented. Invest in training for your performer and make them accountable for developing a fun and interesting personality for your mascot. If you act like you care about your mascot brand then they will care as well!

Mascot Intervention

What if your mascot program could produce $30,000 to $40,000 of new revenue each year? Would you be willing to invest just a fraction of that in time and cost to find out how? Dr. Dave Raymond and his team of mascot health care professionals have the knowledge and tools to whip your mascot program into shape now! Just click on the Mascot Doctor and request a FREE consultation today! We promise it won’t hurt a bit !!!

Mascot Fabulousness – Bucky the Buccaneer

October 1, 2018Leave a Comment

There is a moment, when sculpting a big mascot head, or designing hugely, fabulous mascot clothes when I feel the mascot coming to life. For Bucky the Buccaneer, a mascot we made for Barry University, it was when we were making his fabulous, Buccaneer coat.

Bringing a mascot to life is magic. Bucky’s coat has a kind of magic woven into the fabric. For me, the coat gave Bucky his swagger. The coat was the magic moment.

Bucky had a well planned start. All mascots start with a rendering, a drawing of the mascot. Turkel Brands, an agency in Miami, Florida, provided a brilliant mascot design. We knew a lot about Bucky before we made the first paper patterns, before we started sculpting his head and before we engineered his tail structure.

Mascot Fabulousness

Bucky is a mascot that is filled with Mascot Fabulousness. When we sent him off for his grand debut, we knew we were sending off a great mascot.

Bucky has a big, expressive beak, a big, bird tail and a pirate coat with swagger! He has belts and buckles, a sword and a periscope and…oh yeah… a grand, flamboyant hat with a big, red feather.

Here’s a video of Bucky’s debut at Barry University

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