In the past year, I've had a couple of radio, newspaper and school newspapers ask me some pretty good questions about being in that mascot suit. I've narrowed them down to the top 10. Hopefully, my buddy will add a comment and answer the same questions. It should make for some interesting reading.
AN INTERVIEW WITH A MASCOT:
STEAMER, ALTOONA CURVE
10. IS IT HOT IN THAT SUIT AND HOW DO YOU KEEP COOL?
THOSE ARE THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS. HOT? IMAGINE WEARING A WOOL SUIT WITH A TOSSEL CAP, SCARF AND MITTENS, AND THEN SITTING IN A SAUNA. AND, THE KEY TO KEEPING COOL IS DRINK LOTS OF WATER, AND I HANG OUT IN THE HUGE WALK-IN FREEZERS.
9. DO YOU REALLY LOSE WEIGHT?
I PERSONALLY DO NOT, BECAUSE I EAT BALLPARK FOOD ALL SUMMER LONG AND IT KINDA BALANCES ME OUT. BUT I DO SWEAT A LOT.
8. WHEN DID YOU KNOW YOU WANTED TO BE A MASCOT?
I ALWAYS HAD AN AMBITION TO BE THE PITTSBURGH PARROT, AND REALIZED I HAD TO PLAY THE MINORS FIRST. BUT, I’VE LOVED PUPPETS AND MASCOTS EVER SINCE I WAS A KID AND NEVER MISSED AN EPISODE OF THE MUPPET SHOW.
7. DOES IT PAY WELL AND WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
ALTHOUGH I USED TO WORK FULL TIME HOURS, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART TIME WORK FOR ME. SOME MASCOT GIGS PAY VERY WELL. THE PHILLY PHANATIC, WHO STARTED IT ALL, IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PAID MASCOTS IN THE BUSINESS. PAY? WELL, REMEMBER, I DO WORK FOR A GROUP CALLED THE ‘PIRATES’.
THE BENEFITS ARE THE FRIENDSHIP AND RESPECT ONE GETS FROM THE FANS, ESPECIALLY THE LITTLE LEAGUERS.
6. ANY SKITS OR PRANKS THAT WERE MEMORABLE?
WE DID A PRANK/SKIT YEARS AGO, WHERE I WAS THE ‘PLANT’. DRESSED AS AN OLD MAN WITH A WALKER PLANTED IN THE CROWD. WE DID A YMCA DANCE NUMBER, WHERE BILL, THE ORIGINAL STEAMER, TRIPS THE OLD MAN AND HE FALLS FLAT ON HIS FACE WITH HIS WALKER DROPPING OUT FROM UNDER HIM, ONLY TO BOUNCE UP AND DANCE THE REST OF THE SONG WITH THE TROUPE. WE HAD DOCTORS, SECURITY, USHERS AND EMTS WHO BELIEVED IT WAS REAL. WE GOT HATE MAIL, WHICH WAS HILARIOUS. YOU SHOULD’VE SEEN IT. IT WAS REMARKABLE.
THE OTHER ‘DARE’ THAT MADE IT TO THE BIG TIME CABLE SPORTS SHOWS, WAS THE DAY I CLIMBED THE 80 FOOT LIGHT TOWER IN THE COSTUME, BUT COULDN’T GET DOWN IN IT. SO, I HAD TO STRIP, AND COME DOWN IN MY TEE SHIRT AND SWIM TRUNKS. OH, WHAT A SIGHT.
5. NAME SOMETHING YOUR CHARACTER DOES THAT IS UNIQUE.
STEAMER RIDES THE ROLLER COASTER JUST BEYOND THE OUTFIELD AT LAKEMONT PARK. WHEN IT’S MASCOT MANIA, WE TRY TO FILL EACH SEAT IN THE COASTER WITH A DIFFERENT MASCOT. I HEAR THERE ARE PHOTOS OUT THERE, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A COPY.
4. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A MASCOT?
WAY TOO LONG. ABOUT 10 YEARS. I STILL TELL PEOPLE, “I’M JUST FILLING IN UNTIL BILL’S KNEE HEALS UP”, AND THAT WAS 2001. IN THE BEGINNING, I WAS AN ASSISTANT AND A ‘PLANT, BUT THEN BY THE 3RD SEASON FULL THROTTLE. THIS IS A GOOD YEAR TO LET THE YOUNGER GUYS FILL IN THE CLOWN SHOES.
3. WHAT OTHER MASCOT GIGS HAVE YOU DONE?
I AM ONE OF SANTA’S HELPERS AT CHRISTMAS TIME, AND THE SHRINERS HAVE ASKED ME A DOZEN TIMES TO BE A CLOWN AND RUN WITH THE CIRCUS. SHOULDN’T BE HARD, MY LIFE’S A FREAK SHOW. HOWEVER, I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT THE OTHER MASCOTS IN OUR DEPT. HAVE BEEN MASCOTS FOR PROFESSIONAL AND COLLEGE BASKETBALL AND HOCKEY TEAMS
2. DO YOU NEED TO BE IN GOOD PHYSICAL SHAPE TO BE A MASCOT?
IT DEPENDS ON THE MASCOT CHARACTER THE ACTOR IS PERFORMING. STEAMER, IS THE ‘FAT GUY IN LITTLE COAT’, AND IS THE COMIC RELIEF. SO, NO, I AM NOT PHYSICALL FIT, BUT I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PHYSICALLY PFFT! THOUGH WE DO RUN MORE THAN THE PLAYERS, MY SIDEKICK DIESEL DAWG HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE MORE ATHLETIC TYPE. HE’S A PUP, AND HE CHASES CARS, SO HE’S IN BETTER SHAPE THAN ME. I JUST GO OUT AND RIDE AROUND ON MY ATV AND THE ROLLER COASTER, AND HAVE A BLAST. THE OLDER I GET, I REALIZE THAT STRETCHING BEFORE THE GAME IS A GOOD THING TO DO.
1.WHAT’S THE FUNNIEST THING YOU’VE EVER DONE IN THE COSTUME?
THAT’S A TOUGH ONE. THERE ARE SO MANY STUNTS I DO. I PERSONALLY LIKE DOING THE NEARBY ANTICS WHERE I HAVE A CAPTURED CROWD. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I PLAY THE STANDS AND THE BLEACHERS, I PLAY FOR A MUCH SMALLER FAN BASE, RATHER THAN WHEN I AM ONTOP OF THE DUGOUT AND PROJECTED ON THE BIG SCREEN, AND NOT EVERYONE CAN SEE WHAT I AM DOING. I RELY ON GOOD OLD FASHIONED PANTOMIMING AND THE 3 STOOGES PHYSICAL COMEDY FOR VISUAL EFFECTS. EVEN THOUGH, STEAMER DOESN’T TALK…MUCH, WHEN I SEE A BUNCH OF FOLKS I KNOW, I GET UP CLOSE AND TALK WITH THEM, AND THEY TELL ME IT’S REALLY FUNNY TO HEAR. I HAVE CREATED STEAM SOUNDS AND WHISTLES TOO, BECAUSE I AM A CHOO CHOO.
Comments
10 more ?'s... I love it
20. ARE THERE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR A PERSON TO BECOME A MASCOT?
I AM GUESSING 'YES'...LOTS OF BUSINESSES WITH TRADE CHARACTERS, AND SO MANY SPORTS TEAMS HAVE MASCOTS BECAUSE IT UPS THE MERCHANDISE SALES. I'VE EVEN SEEN MASCOTS AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVELS. START 'EM YOUNG.
19. HOW LONG CAN YOU PERFORM AS A MASCOT?
UNTIL HE PASSES OUT OR, IN MY CASE, RUNS OUT OF 'STEAM'. WHOEVER HAS THE ENERGIZER BATTERY, I BELIEVE.
18. ARE A LOT OF GIRL MASCOTS AND HAS STEAMER EVER HAD A GIRL IN HIM?
THAT QUESTION NEEDS TO BE REPHRASED....HELLO, MR. EDITOR....?...WHERE ARE THE CENSORS? I WAS PLAYING STEAMER, YEARS AGO AND THE PENN STATE NITTANY LION WANTED TO RIDE THE ROLLER COASTER WITH ME. I KEPT GETTING BUGGED ON THE WALKIE TALKIES, AND IT BECAME ANNOYING. SO, I MET THE LION AT THE ROLLER COASTER, AND NEVER SPOKE TO IT ( DIN'T KNOW THE CAT WAS A GIRL )... I STUCK IT ON THE COASTER, AND I TOOK OFF FOR THE DIAMOND. I TOLD THE OPERATOR TO KEEP THE LION ON FOR AT LEAST A HALF AN HOUR. OOPS. SHE MET ME IN THE DUG OUT AND TOOK HER HEAD OFF, AND IT WAS A SHE, AND I NEARLY FAINTED. SHE SAID, 'THAT WAS AWESOME'. I FELT BAD FOR LIKE A NANO SECOND.
17. IS ALL THE SWEAT AND LOW WAGES WORTH IT? AND WHY IS ?
BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS...AND IT'S THE TOUGHTEST JOB YOU'LL EVER LOVE. THE BEST PART OF BEING A MASCOT IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT , THE FANS. THE KIDS ARE THE BESTEST OF ALL.
16. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE MASCOT AND WHY?
ICEBURGH....THE PITTSBURGH PENGUIN. EVER SINCE HE STARRED WITH JEAN CLAUDE VAN DAMMIT, IN 'SUDDEN DEATH', I HAVE BEEN A FAN. I'VE WORKED WITH MIKE SEVERAL TIMES, AND HE'S JUST AS FUNNY OUT OF THE COSTUME, AS HE IS, IN IT. WE DID A MASCOT DAY AT THE BUCS ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO, AND HE WAS MESSING WITH THE GROUNDS CREW AND I THOUGHT MY SIDES WERE GONNA SPLIT. HE WAS THE FUNNIEST CHARACTER I HAVE EVER WORKED WITH.
15. CAN I BECOME A MASCOT OR IS THERE SOME SPECIAL TRAINING?
I LOST A BET, THAT'S HOW I GOT IT. THERE ARE MASCOT BOOT CAMPS, BUT IF YOU ARE A CLASS CLOWN, AND KNOW HOW TO HAVE FUN AND BE FUNNY WITHOUT HURTING YOURSELF AND OTHERS, YOU CAN DO IT.
14. HOW CAN YOU TELL IF A MASCOT IS BAD OR GOOD?
IF HIS EYEBROWS POINT UP, HE'S GOOD, IF THEY POINT DOWN, HE'S BAD. HA HA HA
ANYONE CAN THROW ON A SUIT, HOLD A SIGN AT A CAR WASH AND WAVE TO PEOPLE AS THEY GO BY ( THAT WOULD BE THE 'NOT EXPERIENCED' MASCOTS)...BUT A TRUE ENTERTAINER, PERFORMER AND SHOWMAN IS THE BEST KINDA MASCOT.
13. WHY DO MASCOT FIGHT ALL THE TIME?
PERSONALLY, STEAMER IS A LOVER NOT A FIGHTER. SINCE THE BREWERS GAMES ABOUT 6 YEARS AGO, WHEN THE BALL PLAYER BEAT THE SAUSAGES WITH THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER, PEOPLE HAVE THOUGHT THE DESTRUCTION OF MASCOTS IS FUNNY. WHEN IT IS A PLANNED SKIT WITH STUNTS, THEN I BELIEVE IT IS FUNNY. FOR EXAMPLE, I PLAYED A SOCCER GAME WITH ABOUT 20 OTHER MASCOTS IN POURING DOWN RAIN AND WE WERE ALL SLIPPING AND SLIDING AND BIFFING IT. WHEN I SAW THE PLAYBACK, I NEARLY PISSED MYSELF. THAT WAS HYSTERICAL. ANOTHER FUNNY ONE, WAS WHEN I PLAYED A MASCOT HOCKEY GAME AND I PLAYED GOALIE ( I THOUGHT I WOULD BE SAFE THERE AT THE NET ) W R O N G! ONE OF THE MASCOTS FELL AND 4 MORE PILED UP ONTOP OF HIM AND THEY ALL SLID INTO ME AND THE GOAL. MY ASSISTANT TOLD ME, IT WAS SO FUNNY. I WISH SOMEONE WOULD HAVE HAD THE SENSE TO COME OUT AND THROW US ALL ON STRETCHERS AND CARRY US OUT...ALL OF THE SAME GURNEY. NOW, THAT MY FRIENDS, IS COMEDY.
12. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER A DRUNK FAN?
TAKE YOUR HEAD OFF AND DRINK ONE WITH HIM. YOU IMMEDIATELY GAIN THEIR ACCEPTANCE, AND YOU USUALLY GET AT LEAST A SIX PACK OUT OF IT. SERIOUSLY, USE EXTREME CAUTION WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SCHLITZED.
11. WHAT IS THE WORST EVENT YOU HAVE EVER DONE OR HEARD ABOUT?
CLIMBED INTO A BOUNCY TRAMPOLINE WITH ABOUT A DOZEN KIDS, AND HAVE MY SHOES COME FLYING OFF, MY HEAD BAND COVER MY EYES TO BLIND ME, AND RIP MY PANTS ON THE WAY BACK OUT. WOULD HAVE BEEN WORSE IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE MASCOT COSTUME. LOL
mascot inteview contines
My friend was attacked by five 12 year old boys who thought it would fun to beat up the mascot. So they pushed him down and started to kick him. My friend grabbed one of the boys and told them that stop. The boy got scared and ran and told his mom that the mascot scared him. The mom wanted to sue, but thank God a vendor witnessed this event. The mom then dropped the charges
An interview with another mascot
that is cool
100% brother, i enjoyed that
"What's my secret for happiness? I think of every day and almost every moment as if it were a Friday afternoon rather than a Monday morning." Corben Geis