File puptcrit/puptcrit.0609, message 180


Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:49:38 -0400
From: Kevin Pittman <klp-AT-moonshade.oit.gatech.edu>
To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Ergonomy in puppets is not standard..


On Wed, Sep 13, 2006 at 07:03:37PM -0400, Mathieu Ren wrote:
> I can imagine how though it must be for those street characters at Disney.
> 
> I performed a few times inside a VERY badly done and totally un-ergonomic 
> mascott.
>
> I assume the Disney mascots are better designed and have better vision 
> holes, but still, I can imagine how tough it can be.

As an avid costume-puppet (or body-puppet) and mascot costume builder with many friends in the mascot performance world (including a couple who work as characters at Disney), I can tell you that like in so many fields, these kinds of characters run the gamut as far as quality goes.

I much prefer my own creations, since I can build them to be safe, lightweight and accomodating of my body more effectively than a character costume made by most anyone else could.  But, I've done a few mascot gigs playing corporate characters, and I've had some really fun times and some really lousy times.

One suit in particular was very easy to wear - large scrim in the character's mouth that made it easy to see and easy to breathe.  Another suit I performed in was terrible, with visibility and breathing through a tiny mouth scrim that was about one-inch high.  The costume itself was gorgeous, but the designers hadn't given any thought to the comfort of the performer in the design.

I've heard a number of stories about Disney from good sources.  They definitely run the gamut from fun to wear costumes to hard to handle parade float giant puppets.  One of my friends who works at Disney has been raving about the old-timey B'rer Fox character that they brought back for the summer.  He got to play that character for a large part of the summer and loved every moment.  But he's also been asked to play characters that are big and bulky and hard to perform in.  Unfortunately, working at a big park like that, you can't get the fun stuff every single day.

I do wish there were a rule that anyone designing mascot costumes or costume/body puppets had to spend a full day in their creation before sending it out.  That might get some of these bad designs rethought and reworked before they end up in the hands of the performers who have to ultimately deal with them.

Just my two bits,

Kevin

----------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Pittman    info-AT-forestpuppets.com    www.forestpuppets.com         
                     
Professional puppeteer and costume character performer
Specializing in fun, fairy tale style puppet shows, featuring
Personally designed, lovable and lifelike animal characters.
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