| 03 September 2010
Welcome to WTF Friday!
I could barely see the stage, even though I was staring through the doorway-sized entrance just off stage right. I had only been waiting a few moments to run onto the stage, but my stomach was already turning.
"Come on kids, let's call him out here together," yelled a woman's voice through the sound system.
As I focused on the stage through a layer of mesh, I heard a bunch of tiny voices yell in unison, "SUPER COOPER!!!!!!"
I struck my best superhero pose, prayed I didn't run into anything and ran onto the stage. After striking a few poses and doing the running man, I made my way down the steps and into the aisles of kids. It was time for the obligatory high fives and messing with all adults in attendance.
I tried to not look like a girl playing Super Cooper. I didn't think that would be hard since I was in a big mascot costume, but then I realized I don't really know how to present myself as a guy. So I stuck to the running man and striking manly super hero poses. I learned later even that didn't work.
The costume was made for a man who is 6-feet-tall. Here I stand at 5-feet-6-inches. Thankfully no one could see the expression on my face as I made my way through the crowd. When I held the head up where it should be, I sucked in layers of hot material. When I looked where I was going and caught my breath, the head fell over.
While Super Cooper probably looked like he was having a seizure or trying to give himself whip lash, I was inside dying. Not only was I breathing layers of thick material, I felt like I was being cooked over a fire. I made a quick exit a few minutes after making my entrance. The last thing the kids needed to see was their beloved super hero dog pass out!
If there is one thing I learned from the experience, it's that being a mascot is not an easy job!
It's hard enough that you can't see, but you also have to stay in character. That means no talking and no taking the head off in public even if you feel like you're going to pass out. But the people who do it right, make being a mascot look good!
And it is a lot of fun. Who doesn't want to make large crowds scream with excitement?
And the reaction of kids to mascot is the best!
So in honor of mascots everywhere, this WTF Friday is for you! Thank you for keeping us smiling, laughing and enjoying events all of all kinds!
Happy WTF Friday!!! Remember to live on the lighter side of life this weekend! Life's just too short to be serious all the time, take it from me, the one-time mascot!
.jpg)
