Advice around mascot appearances at parties and permissions

[BarmyBaxter]

Hi there

I'm looking at starting a little party/entertainments business and as a previous employed Entertainer I have a few ideas but am looking for some advice. As an add on to my other services, I am looking at mascot hire with an accompanying person to do the party dances along side the mascot. I found a Poppy mascot from the movie Trolls but am wondering how this works with copyright...surely all the Disney Princess appearances at parties don't have Disney's permission? And would I have to record my own songs to do party dances to?

Any help would be much appreciated but please don't be too harsh on me...it's taken a while for me to make this step hehe xx

 

[Ashley_Price]

Welcome to UKBF, @BarmyBaxter

Hmm, I guess it's one of those controversial things. Like you say, surely all the princesses worldwide aren't licensed officially.

I guess though, the main thing you're going to make sure is that having "mascots" of characters that children know and love could be a double-edge sword. Yes, you will see their happy faces, etc., but you or the other person who plays the character is going to have to know "everything" about that character because children will have watched the films hundreds of times and will know them inside out. You'll need to be that knowledgeable for if they start asking questions.

Also, you'll need to stay in character all the time you are there. Someone I know is "Elsa" at conventions and she said it can be extremely wearing. Another actor was playing a character, forgot about the children, got drunk, took his mask off and started trying to fight entertainer while in costume... causing great upset to the children.

 

[Mike EMF Business]

Hi

I could make website for free for you as the starting business.
it might help

 

[BarmyBaxter]

Welcome to UKBF, @BarmyBaxter

Hmm, I guess it's one of those controversial things. Like you say, surely all the princesses worldwide aren't licensed officially.

I guess though, the main thing you're going to make sure is that having "mascots" of characters that children know and love could be a double-edge sword. Yes, you will see their happy faces, etc., but you or the other person who plays the character is going to have to know "everything" about that character because children will have watched the films hundreds of times and will know them inside out. You'll need to be that knowledgeable for if they start asking questions.

Also, you'll need to stay in character all the time you are there. Someone I know is "Elsa" at conventions and she said it can be extremely wearing. Another actor was playing a character, forgot about the children, got drunk, took his mask off and started trying to fight entertainer while in costume... causing great upset to the children.

hehe this made me giggle...thanks. I definitely have no intention of getting drunk and as an ex Haven entertainer I know the importance to keep the face under the mascot a secret...it's hard to believe small children actually believe it but they do lol. I'm actually thinking about having a costume custom made and recording my won tracks to do party dances to but what's putting me off is once children are above a certain age they want someone they know like Elsa and Paw Patrol etc. Thanks for the advice x

 

[BarmyBaxter]

Hi

I could make website for free for you as the starting business.
it might help

I'm good for a website thanks...I have a background in design and social media but thanks for the offer x

 

[Ashley_Price]

t's hard to believe small children actually believe it but they do

I am a Rotarian, and every December we go round the streets of our town collecting money for local Rotary charities and for those in need at Christmas. This is called the "Tree of Goodwill" and includes a Christmas Tree on the roof of a car, but also, and more importantly, Father Christmas on his sleigh, with a wooden reindeer and it is on the back of an open back lorry!

Now, what we have to remember of course is despite it all looking very false to us grown ups, children are able to suspend reality and see what they "want" - not what is there. So, for the especially young children they believe it really is Father Christmas.

 

[wevet]

A friend of mine put a big scooby-do picture on her dog walking service van. Within 2 months she received a solicitors letter demanding removal.

If you are using trade marked characters I would suspect that the copyright holders would be on your case. Would they find out? my dog walking friend was probably betrayed by a competitor.