For a long time now, the admissions director and I have been talking about getting a mascot for the high school where we work. All schools need a mascot, right? So we found a Viking mascot costume and ordered it a few weeks ago. The mascot came in the mail yesterday and as we were opening it in my office, I decided to try the head on. One thing led to another and before I knew it, I was wearing the entire costume.
Laughing hysterically at me, the admissions director dared me to walk down the hallway in the mascot costume. To clarify, I asked her if it was a triple dog dare and she said yes. What else could I do? I never pass up triple dog dares. So I did it. Class was in session so there weren't a lot of kids in the hallways but the faculty and staff that we did run in to, were really enjoying the mascot. No one really knew it was me in there which I thought was even more fun.
At this point, school was going to dismiss in twenty minutes so we decided maybe it would be a good idea for me to stay in the costume and walk around the hallways to generate interest in auditioning for the role of mascot. I was really enjoying wearing it so I thought, what's thirty more minutes in it? I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
In a matter of ten minutes, I was almost tackled, manhandled, punched, flicked, had candy thrown at my face and suffered multiple attempts to be de-masked. I had no idea how much mascots bring out the very worst in people. Looking back, keeping my identity a secret while walking the halls in the mascot costume was not one of my better ideas. Most if not all of the students would have never treated me that way if they knew it was a staff member under the mask. For example, the girl who threw skittles at my face and punched me, when I finally yelled at her to "stop touching me," she immediately knew I was an adult and ran away.
Don't get me wrong, there were a lot of fun moments wearing the mascot, too. For example, when one student thought for sure they had figured out who was in the costume and then that person walked up next to them and they were totally confused. I also really enjoyed the students who were scared of the costume. Some students figured out it was me by my small hands and my "mannerisms." They said I walk and act a certain way (who knew?). But even when they were saying this, they still weren't 100% sure if they were right and that was really fun.
But overall, it was awful. I have a new respect for mascots that I never really appreciated before, including my brother-in-law who was Goofy and various other characters during his internship at Disney. I'm thinking about starting a support group. One thing is for sure, I will not be stepping foot in that Viking costume ever again.
Please remember, mascots have feelings, too.
At this point, school was going to dismiss in twenty minutes so we decided maybe it would be a good idea for me to stay in the costume and walk around the hallways to generate interest in auditioning for the role of mascot. I was really enjoying wearing it so I thought, what's thirty more minutes in it? I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
In a matter of ten minutes, I was almost tackled, manhandled, punched, flicked, had candy thrown at my face and suffered multiple attempts to be de-masked. I had no idea how much mascots bring out the very worst in people. Looking back, keeping my identity a secret while walking the halls in the mascot costume was not one of my better ideas. Most if not all of the students would have never treated me that way if they knew it was a staff member under the mask. For example, the girl who threw skittles at my face and punched me, when I finally yelled at her to "stop touching me," she immediately knew I was an adult and ran away.
But overall, it was awful. I have a new respect for mascots that I never really appreciated before, including my brother-in-law who was Goofy and various other characters during his internship at Disney. I'm thinking about starting a support group. One thing is for sure, I will not be stepping foot in that Viking costume ever again.
Please remember, mascots have feelings, too.
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