• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Big Mascots & Big Costumes

  • Home
  • Mascot Basics
    • How Much Does a Mascot Cost?
    • Mascot Design
    • Ordering Your Custom Mascot Costume
  • Services
    • Mascot Consulting & Presentation
    • Mascot Performer Training
  • Mascot Musings
  • Mascot Archive
  • About Us
  • Connect With Us

community

Mascot Eyes

May 19, 2014Leave a Comment

Tasha&eye

We spend a lot of time focusing mascot eyes, so this article in the New York Times about eye contact with characters caught my eye. Here’s a quote from it:

“There’s the notion that your relationship with a brand should be like a relationship you have with a person,” said David Aaker, author of “Aaker on Branding” and vice chairman of Prophet, a global brand consultancy based in San Francisco. “A real friend looks you in the eye.”

Higby the Bear - eyes - Holy Innocents H.S.

At AvantGarb, we make mascots for big, big universities and teensy, weensy school districts. We meet with with professional teams and minor, minor minor league teams. We work with giant, worldwide, humungous corporations and very small start-ups. They all have one common characteristic. The love what they are a part of; be it a huge communications company, a small school or a little lip-balm start up.

GriffEye

They all truly want to connect.  They want to be part of the community. Of course, they want you to join their team, become a fan, purchase their product. In my experience, when a there is a pretty neat mascot in front of you, it’s worthwhile checking out the product, the team, the school, the event. They want to make eye contact.

BeanEyes

 Connect with the Mascot Mavens at AvantGarb

 

.

Tagged With: community, mascot designers, mascots

Mascot Resolutions for 2013

January 10, 2013Leave a Comment

Mascot cleaningAt the New Year many make resolutions – join a gym, spiff up the wardrobe, take that vacation. The New Year is a good time to make Mascot Resolutions for 2013.

This was brough home to me when I got an email from Dave Raymond, the Mascot Doctor. He got me thinking about resolutions for mascots and the mascot program.

Things to Consider When Making Mascot Resolutions

  • Do you feel like your missing out on community goodwill programs with your mascot?
  • Is the mascot revenue stream faltering?
  • Does your mascot look up to date? Like clothing and cars, mascots can look out-of-date.
  • Does your mascot need a good cleaning and fluffing?
  • Is it time to look at your mascot program’s strategic plan?
  • Are you thinking of enhancing your mascot program by adding another mascot?

Get in touch w/ AvantGarb. We will work with you on your Mascot Resolutions for 2013; mascot design, creation, production cleaning, repair, and maintenance.

….or we will connect with one of our Lovely Collaborators like, Dave, the Mascot Doctor and the original Phillie Phanatic  He will work with you to create a dynamic, mascot program.

HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR.

We wish you health, happiness and wealth

Your mascot mavens at AvantGarb

 

Tagged With: community

Goodwill & Mascots

December 13, 2010Leave a Comment

Balls – ReGifted – Phoenix Theater

 A mascot is a true community goodwill gesture.

Sir CC/ Cleveland Cavaliers

….and during the holiday season, they give a nice big bounce of fun to the street life, events & games that fill up the many moments of celebration & cheer.

Bud Beer – Griffins Hockey

 Happy Hols!

Tagged With: community

Braces with Bling

June 10, 20102 Comments

The Glamorous Orthodontist has lots of bling on her teeth.
She just arrived at her home in Chevy Chase, MD.
She will be working for Dr. Jill Bruno Orthodontics – www/brunosmiles.com.
  • Her braces are silver sequins with holographic, sliver fabric on really big teeth.
  • She has a big, fabulous necklace
  • Big, red fingernails, of course!
  • A big lab coat with big pockets & big buttons
  • ….and ohmygoodness what a hairdo – Big Hair!
The  BrunoSmiles mascot will entertain current patients and usher in new patients. She will be present at do-good events and clinics. She will promote good orthodontic health and habits.

The Glamorous Orthodontist will be a true, community liaison for Bruno Orthodontics.

This mascot doesn’t have a name yet. Any ideas?

Tagged With: community

Biz, blessings & a martini

November 23, 2009Leave a Comment

AvantGarb has been a growing, productive business for a really long time.
I started AvantGarb in my Berkeley, California garage when my youngest daughter was about 3 months old.
Month after month AvantGarb has made a profit and those dollars have increased through the years.
AvantGarb is a real, ongoing operation.
Even though we get grow each and every year, get more marvelous clients, are able to hire extraordinary people, and have moved to jazzy new digs. Even though I’ve been paying my mortgage, clothing my children, going on vacations, buying shoes, getting my hair done and my eyebrows tamed, I still think, it could be over tomorrow.
This is crazy thinking.
When I am sitting with a curved needle, stitching yellow muppet fleece to green fur, I have taken to counting my blessing.
Here are some of them:
  • I have a really grand family. They keep me involved and interested in their lives. My husband is funny, handsome and sexy. My daughters are gorgeous and glorious
  • I  love my biz – making fuzzy critters that add a great dollop of fun to the landscape.
  • I’ve traveled everywhere–okay, not everywhere, but a lot of places – Kenya, India, China, Mexico, Mexico, Mexico, Taiwan, Egypt, and oh yeah, Europe. I feel fluent in the world. I like to be places where I can’t speak the language.
  • … however, I can speak Spanish, stutter through French and be polite in Swahili
  • Every Monday I look forward to the week ahead.
  • I interact with a wide and varied creative community of mascot people, art people, writers and imagineers.
  • Every Friday I come home to a really good martini.
  • I love going to church on Sundays, singing hymns w/ the congregation, listening to the sermon and being blessed for the coming week with the benediction.
  • I love reading the New York Times and napping on couch on Sunday afternoons.
  • I have gotten bit of fame for doing what I do.
  • …and I have magnificent friends. Some I’ve had for most of my life, some I’ve only just met
I am truly blessed. I have imagined my life, and it became real.
I suspect the story of other small biz people is similar.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tagged With: community, mascots, muppet fleece

Mascots and Community

April 5, 2012Leave a Comment

George Mason University's Gunston mascot w/ kidsWhere does community spontaneously happen?

Where do we bump shoulders with strangers?

Where do we just get silly!

When we’re in the presence of a mascot, that’s where!

Where mascots are, community emerges, people gather.

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

It doesn’t take great talent, superior intellect or an educated eye to joke, to have fun and to pass the time of day in the presence of a mascot. When a mascot is around we have a reason to connect.

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.

Organizations that put in the long hours of imaginative, strategic planning, design collaboration and dollars into a mascot program is really holding out their hand in joy, trust and community.

Quote button

Tagged With: community, mascot designers, mascots

Avant Garb • Indianapolis, Indiana • 317-523-6267 • © 2023

  • Home
  • Mascot Basics
    • How Much Does a Mascot Cost?
    • Mascot Design
    • Ordering Your Custom Mascot Costume
  • Services
    • Mascot Consulting & Presentation
    • Mascot Performer Training
  • Mascot Musings
  • Mascot Archive
  • About Us
  • Connect With Us