subject: The Importance Of A Mascot [print this page] Mascots are typically known as a good luck charm or a symbol that represents a team, an individual or an organization. Mascot originates from the French translation of charm. Charms such as the ones used can be seen worldwide.
In the beginning, a mascot was defined simply as a charm. Soldiers in the First World War would carry buttons, figures or coins that they believed would give them better luck, keeping them safe in combat. These were known as mascots. The representations cavemen used as charms can be seen in early drawings of men dressed in animal clothing or heads as a wish for good luck depicting the animal that was hunted by the tribe.
Over time, mascots evolved from being charms that brought good luck to the animals and other representatives that are used by schools, teams and universities that we see today. As a practice that started long ago in the 1800s, live animals were used for a long period of time. The expense of the upkeep for live animals soon became too much and human representations in costumes began showing up.
Mascots also help to advertise and sell products such as breakfast cereals and drink products. Marketing companies have been utilizing them to draw interest in merchandise for many years. Local companies that use them for advertising are often used as goodwill ambassadors at events in their region. It was easier for a person in a costume to whip up the energy of fans at a sports game. The person inside the costume would almost certainly have to have an entertaining personality and the willingness to jump around and act silly.
Some routines and dances are known for teams and sports events. Fans come to the games expecting to see these well-known performances. New recruits to this dance will want to familiarize themselves with it to stay in concert with what is normal. Dedicated entertainers do not want to disappoint the fans. They also help bring funds to the organizations or teams through merchandising. People can by representations of their favorite teams at games or in retail stores. Keychains, t-shirts and hats, among other things, are sold to bring in money and advertise. This is one of the key ways that some organizations bring in necessary funds to pay expenses.
People of any age are entertained by the excitement they see at games. They are either attracted or repelled by the representation they see. Good mascots draw in a crowd and create the kind of atmosphere that sports fans seek. Teams may or may not relate them to the nickname of their choice. As an example, the Cleveland Browns use several four breeds of dogs to represent them. They have given them the names of TD, CD, Trapper and TD.
Some famous custom mascots are the Kool-aid Man, Tony the Tiger, and the Dig em frog. These three are examples that provide the marketing necessary to sell the products they are associated with. Ever since the beginning of commercials, advertisers have been using cute and charming representatives to gain attention for their products.
Sports team mascots of note are Sir Purr of the Carolina Panthers, the Arizona cardinal and Rowdy of the Dallas Cowboys. These excited people in a hot, stuffy mascot work up a crowd on a daily basis, interacting with the fans and entertaining all.
