Congratulations! You’ve been through the tryouts and YOU have been given the honor of being your school mascot. Wearing that mascot costume is going to be a blast, and a 
big responsibility. Follow these nine steps to be the best school mascot your school has ever seen.
Step 1: You need to WANT to be the mascot.
This isn’t about simply putting on a costume. You have to want to be part actor, athlete, comedian, and stunt man. It’s a big year-long commitment, so you need to want to do it and stick with it.
Step 2: Create a back story or biography for your mascot.
Where did your mascot come from?
How did your mascot get to your town?
How did he/she wind up as the mascot for your school?
What your mascot’s personality traits?
Consider these questions and create a biography for your school mascot. This will help you get into the mindset and develop the character so you can perform better for the crowd at every school event.
Step 3: Try on the mascot head.
You will need to get accustomed to the range of vision and be aware of where the eyes are on the mascot head. Can you see out of the mouth? Out of the eyes? If ‘the eyes’ is your answer, you don’t have anything to worry about. If you can only see through the mouth, practice “projecting down” when you are talking/looking at someone. Practice wearing the headpiece to fine-tune your performance.
Step 4: Try on the feet/shoes and hands.
Practice wearing the mascot feet and hand accessories. They will take some getting used to because they are oversized. And moving around with them may be cumbersome at first. Keep at it. The more you practice the easier it will be.
Step 5: Try on just the body of the costume.
See how your school’s mascot costume fits you and if it has any limitations. Experiment with different positions (get down on one knee, sit down, get back up). Can you do gymnastics? Dance? Cycle? Try all of these ideas with just the mascot body on to find out what your range of motion is.
Step 6: Don’t talk.
Most school mascots don’t talk. You will be required to express and show your emotions through actions only. So, if you’re a natural chatterbox, challenge yourself to be silent for as long as you can.
Step 7: Be exaggerated and energetic.
Whether you are walking or waving, as the school mascot you will need to exaggerate your movements in order to be seen from a distance. Have a friend film your practice routines so you can rewatch it, take notes, and improve your performance. Don’t forget tobe energetic and enthusiastic. No one likes a dull mascot sitting on the sidelines.
Step 8: Stay in shape.
Maintaining your mascot character, and energy, for an entire ball game or school event requires endurance. There’s no better way to develop that than to stay fit and healthy. Develop a workout routine and don’t forget to eat well.
Step 9: Stay in character.
Don’t just get dramatic for skits. You need to live the mascot role through the entire school event. Don’t drop the act for a second.
Now that you’ve got all 9 steps down, it’s time for the most important one: ENJOY IT! If you’re having fun being your school’s mascot, the fans will have fun, too!
Got any other steps we should add? Let us know! We love to hear your feedback.