Best Practices

Mascots are everywhere. They represent teams, schools, organizations, products and events. They fill theme parks, have their own mascot games and their own Mascot Hall of Fame and are on tv, movies and stages.

Mascots are a big industry. Big industries have safety standards and learning opportunities.

Perceiving the need for standardized safety guidelines was the genesis of the National Mascot Association, the rock – or rather, the fuzz – on which the NMA stands.

Here are the Big 3:

1- All mascot performers need at least one handler- someone who has their back – someone whose only job is to see to the safety of the performer.

Mascot performers may find themselves in situations where they need help:

When there are unsupervised children who are fast and unpredictable.
Drunk adults – also unpredictable.
When the mascot performer needs to get safely away from fans and admirers for a break.

2- Hydrate – Drink plenty of water.

Mascot performers are covered from head to foot with foam and plush fur. They run around, dance & prance ….and because they are giving it their all, they get really, really sweaty. It is hard, sweaty, job.

3- Don’t pick up children or hold babies

Have parents hold babies for photo ops w/ mascots – This may involve much miming and assistance from handler.