http://hogtownmascots.com/should-i-trademark-my-mascot-design
It's a Mascot Thing...
News and Info from Hogtown Mascots
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Why You Should Hire a Mascot Performer from Hogtown Mascots
Whether you need a new mascot for your school’s big hockey
game, have enlisted Santa and elves for the holidays, or need an engaging,
larger than life figure to draw attention during a product sampling campaign, it
takes two things to ensure success –a well-designed mascot costume and a
talented mascot performer.
It Takes Heart to Captivate
an Audience
A good mascot performer puts on a costume and plays the part;
however, a great mascot puts on the costume and assumes the identity. Wearing a
suit is only a small part of being a mascot performer. More than anything, it
takes heart.
A lacklustre performance breaks character and drives an
audience away by utilizing gestures that are threatening, lacking in any humour, or simply just don't fit the character. Rather
than subjecting individuals and visitors to an awkward if not creepy
experience, hiring a professional mascot performer can ensure a fun experience
with a practiced and high energy mascot professional.
At Hogtown Mascots, our professional performers play not
only to the brand but to the audience ad well. What this means is that they
make use of the gestures, energy and attitude necessary to ensure an engaging
performance that resonates with children and adults, sports fans or potential
customers. They know what does and doesn’t work during sporting events, meet and
greets, parades and more.
All mascot performers aren't the same however. In addition
to talent, experience and training play a huge role. Being a mascot is uniquely
difficult as not only does the performance have to be vivacious with a touch of
humour and wit, it has to be silent as well.
About Hogtown Mascots
At Hogtown Mascots we design and create mascot costumes in
partnership with clients across North America.
We also provide mascot storage, cleaning and professional mascot performers,
along with many other related services. With our ongoing commitment to
innovation, we are constantly striving for smarter, more dynamic ways of
bringing your brand identity to life, whether through the costume itself or
through the performance. Hogtown Mascots is also proud to be a license partner
with Sesame Workshop, managing all meet-and-greet walk around character
appearances throughout Canada.
If you’re interested in learning more about hiring one of
our professional mascot performers for your sporting, marketing or other
special event, please don’t hesitate to contact us online,
or call 1-877-622-8422.
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Happy Holidays from Hogtown Mascots!
No matter where, how or with whom you are celebrating this season, make it count. Take some time to be with the ones you love. Maybe share a meal, grab a coffee or just pick up the phone and call someone to say hi. Even great distances can't keep people apart during the holidays. And it's a good reminder about what - and who - should be important at any time of the year!
From all of us at Hogtown Mascots, we wish you health, happiness, peace and prosperity for 2015 and beyond!
Thursday, December 11, 2014
What You Should Know About the Mascot Design Process
Advertising whizzes acknowledge that mascots can be a highly effective
tool when it comes to promoting your business. With continuing exposure,
mascots naturally remind customers of a company or team, and leave a lasting
impression - which is the ultimate goal of having a mascot. Mascot design
and construction vary, and during the design process, you will have to make
some important decisions that will impact the appearance of your character.
Following are some helpful tips on what you should know about the mascot design
process before
you buy a mascot costume.
Design Concept
Mascot design begins with your vision. Many mascots are inspired
by a toy, cartoon, food, animal, person, or, even an object. When making
this decision, you must first consider how the mascot will be used, whether it
will be standing still, handing out literature, or waving, jumping, and running
or all of the above. The communication process is important at this stage
as professional mascot designers begin to sketch your character and help you
choose colors, body shapes, and facial expressions. The designers at Hogtown
Mascots, for
example, use digital software that allows them to make rapid changes to the
design while communicating with you.
Comfort
Performer comfort needs to be a priority in the design of a mascot
outfit. The material used must be strong enough to endure the mascot’s movements,
while not causing the performer to be uncomfortable during the show/appearance.
The best mascot designers are actual performers who have experience wearing
mascot apparel for extended periods of time. All mascot costumes can be
hot, but using lightweight and breathable materials can make a huge difference.
Hogtown Mascots uses different types of lightweight, breathable foam
with varying degrees of density, rigidity, and flexibility. If you are
considering buying a mascot costume, you should avoid any designer who uses
fiberglass, upholstery foam, or compressed paper products. These
materials result in substandard costumes that will either not last or will be
too heavy to wear. Fiberglass is heavy, inflexible and likely to crack. Upholstery
foam is elastic and will droop after use. Upholstery foam is also not very
breathable and loves to hold moisture and bacteria.
Construction
Mascots may have different types of helmets used inside the head.
For comfort, support, and flexibility, the best helmets are custom-fitted and
adjustable. Padding should be included and removable for adaptability and
cleaning. Chin straps may be integrated with the
helmet for particularly energetic, or gymnastic mascot maneuverers. The
designers at Hogtown Mascots focus first on every mascot’s
comfort and safety during their performances. For this reason, more often
than not, the mascot’s head is not fastened to the body by fasteners or straps
that prohibit its hasty removal. This head independence also allows the
performer a much greater range of movement.
The structure and shape of the mascot body define its character.
Avoid designers who use wire, paper maché, or other material that does not
retain its shape after being hugged by children and adults. The finest
mascot designers utilize lightweight foam between layers of breathable sports
mesh to construct a mascot inner body that allows heat and moisture to
escape. Strong metal rings can then be attached to the inner body to hold
flexible tubing which allows the mascot to be repeatedly hugged without losing
its shape. The inner body design provides a space around the performer’s
body which increases the airflow.
Mascot design is serious business at Hogtown Mascots. If you are
looking for a professional mascot to represent your business or school, call
the mascot professionals at Hogtown today.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
What Are Mascots Made Of?
Mascots
can be made of many different materials; it really depends on the costume and
the manufacturer. Different materials are used for different looks, different
levels of wear and tear, different weather environments, etc. Most of our
mascots are made from a combination of fabric and foam. While different detail
components of the mascot like eyes, tongues, etc. are usually made from a
special type of plastic or rubber.
Foam
The
foam we use for our mascots ranges from very rigid (usually used for feet and
heads) to very flexible (used for things like the bodysuit). All of our foams
are breathable and lightweight while not trapping moisture—discouraging the
growth of bacteria and mould.
The
most common varieties of foams that we used are EVA, Etha, Esther and
Reticulated. EVA foam is generally used for the heads and feet of our mascots.
This foam is very dense and durable and doesn’t absorb moisture, which means it
can easily be wiped clean after use. Etha foam is dense but more porous, and is
used for creating intricate details on mascots—usually on their heads. Esther
foam is used in areas that require a softness, like cheeks. We make them
squishable! Reticulated foam is used when we have to “build out” our mascots,
like a big belly or chest. We sandwich this lightweight foam between layers of
sports mesh to ensure the costume is still breathable for the wearer. This foam
does not absorb moisture to allow for comfort, but it can be put in the washing
machine and dries very quickly since water passes right through it!
Fabric
When it
comes to fabrics, we also try to use lightweight breathable materials, keeping in
mind the comfort of the person wearing the costume. The different types of
fabrics we use range from faux fur/fleece, antron (muppet) fleece, Bur-fab
(Veltrex), poly/cotton twills and heavy-duty spandex. We’ll use any type of
fabric that will give us the look you want—but we’ll never sacrifice on the
quality.
Are there materials that shouldn’t be used
on mascots?
At
Hogtown, we never use upholstery foam, fibreglass or any compressed paper
product when making our mascots. These materials are either too heavy, too
flimsy, too toxic, or they are not moisture resistant, therefore making them
excellent breeding grounds for bacteria. These materials are also not built to
withstand the wear and tear of mascots.
To learn more about how our mascots are made and the types of materials
we use, visit our Birth
of a Mascot page. You can even check out
the video to see mascots actually being made! We can also be reached at 1-877-622-8422, or
contacted through our website.
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