I get questions from young mascots (being an old mascot) about how to get jobs, what’s open, and how to improve. My standard answers usually include getting as much experience as you can, connecting with other mascots, and developing a unique character. It’s that last piece of advice that needs more explanation.

A lot of mascots are just that….mascots. You can trade one for the next, skits can be used by any of them since they are all acting out as a crazy guy in a suit who can “get away with stuff”. That’s being a mascot for many. To be a good mascot you need to have a unique character to guide your actions and reactions….and when trying to get a job it’s what will seperate you from the competition.

For example: When you watch Seinfeld, there are 4 main characters. They are all identifiable and unique. The physical comedy that works for Kramer can’t simply be handed to George’s character and still work (it may, but it would be for different reasons). So a skit for Kramer’s character is different than one for George, since they are different characters….and along those same lines, a skit for one mascot would be different (or should be) different for another. If you are unique. Of course many skits use a basic premise you can work your character into, but that’s another blog post.

Thankfully you don’t have to listen to me, since Big Bird says it better. In his Book “The Wisdom of Big Bird” there are many examples of how Caroll Spinnney developed a character around Big Bird….which explained how he thought, acted and reacted. Every great mascot has also completed this process (consciously or subconsciously). It’s what separates The Phoenix Suns Gorilla from the guy dressed as a gorilla a the car wash (that, and the smell of car freshener).

If you are a young mascot or you want your mascot to continue to develop a more defined character (i.e. you want your mascot to improve) I highly recommend this book. That aside, the book is funny, interesting and inspiring as well. It also includes countless fun anecdotes about Seseme Street….a quick and enlightening read.

Get in character and enjoy.

-Cudo

Friday night I saw a live performance at the Cleveland Playhouse Square Center of David Sedaris. Sedaris is one of my favorite writers and a frequent contributor to NPR, Esquire and the New Yorker. Profound, funny, poignant and always entertaining, Sedaris also reminded me that you don’t always need pyrotechnics, gobo lights and thumping bass to entertain your crowd.

Of course there are some differences to the crowds at the local theatre and a typical sports fan, but in the end your goal is the same: Entertain them enough to want to pay to see you. (more…)

This is a week long review of the five biggest ovations in my memory.

1. coming Friday
2. Powell’s Bookstore - Winter 2002
3. Cleveland Cavaliers v. Detroit Pistons - May 15, 2005
4. In Your House - April 1996
5. South Korea v. Brazil - Fall 1997

Number Two:
This one may sound ridiculous, but i still get goose bumps when I think about this.

The second most powerful ovation I have ever heard took place in a bookstore in Portland Oregon. Powell’s Books is huge bookstore that takes up over a square city block in Portland. Known for it’s amazing selection of new and used books, it also is a popular stop for author’s doing book signings. Powell’s has a small open space where chairs can be set-up for larger events. In many cases the authors will speak to the crowd and take questions prior to signing their book.

In the winter of 2002 Daniel Ellsberg was on tour promoting his book called Secrets. Ellsberg was one of the authors of the Pentagon Papers, and was responsible for leaking those papers to the New York Times. For history buffs, Ellsberg is a pivotal figure in both the end of the Vietnam Conflict and the fall of the Nixon Presidency. His book Secrets chronicles his experience in the Defense Department through his anti-war crusade. To many, the personal risks Ellsberg’s took to expose the inside story makes him the truest of American patriots.

I had a front row seat for Ellsberg’s comments and I joined the crowd standing and clapping after he was introduced by a Powell’s employee. I was immediately struck by the noise and energy of the crowd. The bookstore roared with approval and admiration. Just as the thought struck me “Damn, this place is loud” the ovation peaked even more and went on for seemingly forever.

As I sat and took my seat I realized that it was one of the most powerful ovations I had ever been a part of….despite working in sports for nearly 15 years.

I had goose bumps then…and I still get them now thinking about it.

Tomorrow in the final installment, the roof comes off in Houston.

-Cudo

Glen Gower’s blog has a great new piece about the Wrigley Field scoreboard (GGower Blog)….which also cites an article on SI.com.

He makes a great point about the nod to tradition and the fact that Bill Veeck was the one who installed the then “forward-thinking” manual scoreboard. He notes that Veeck would likely put in a video scoreboard, a comment Veeck’s son agrees with.

Veeck was innovative and passionate about fan expericence, so I would only disagree on one point. Veeck wouldn’t put in a video board now….he would have done it years ago. In fact it would probably be in HD format with a stage extending out of it and the whole thing would be rigged for pyro.

As noted by Gower, if you want to learn about sports entertainment you can’t go wrong with any book by Bill Veeck….or for that matter any book by Mike Veeck (like Fun is Good).

–Cudo

Who’s the Al Schacht of our generation?

Who’s Al Schacht for that matter?

Schacht was the original Clown Prince of baseball who started touring the country as an entertainment act in the 1920’s after an arm injury ended his pitching career early.

Schacht has a couple books out about his travels, which are pretty funny. One story that sticks with me is how he bought a goat on the way to a game. He wanted to add the animal into a skit that night….which is great when you think about how he was totally rolling the dice on what the goat would do. We’ve all seen dog acts….but dog’s are trained. Goats are pretty much doing their own thing, especially one you buy off the street on the afternoon of the game.

(for more on Schact you can hunt for the out of print books, Clowning Through Baseball and My Own Particular Screwball, or read the Gameops.com Interview with Jon Terry.)

I was just thinking…what ever happened to that? Former players going on the road because they loved the game and had such a strong personality they could make it work.

After Schacht you had Jackie Price and Max Patkin….but now? Mark Fidrych doesn’t tour, Al Hrabosky has never worked with a goat, and Joe Charboneau never used his popularity and charm to work the minor leagues entertainment circuit.

Do you put Sun’s MC Cedric Ceballos in that mix? …..or the Harlem Globetrotters? Seems like a lost art or something can has just faded from plausibility.

If Charles Barkley could only ride a unicycle we might have something.

-Cudo

Book link from Amazon.com