NationStates Jolt Archive

So one of the things I'm finding about my new life is that occasionally I'm free to take an 'off topic' job. In this case, I'm making a sort of return to one of the best jobs I ever had. I'm a children's character-this time the Easter Bunny at a mall in the Bay Area. If you're in the area TG me and I'll tell you which one...maybe...

It's not quite like my old Ninja Turtle job. I'm a lot more anchored, I don't have any magic tricks or parachutes and I don't get to use the raspy surfer voice. (Which is good, because apparently I can't do that anymore without coughing.)

I gotta say, I like working with kids again. It may be influenced a bit by the fact that I know that on the 14th I don't have to do it anymore and I can go back to crew work, but what the heck. I'm having fun so far, but it is only the second day.

A budy of mine points out that kids are just like adults, they have the same chance of being cool or little jerks-and the little jerks don't have the empathy thing really developed yet. But I have had a chance to revisit some things.

I wonder what adults the kids will make. What of the shy ones, that have to be coaxed into shaking my hand or 'petting' my 'paw.' What about the ones that want to be older, too cool to acknowledge the bunny. What about the little girl who couldn't stop waving, laughing and dancing, but didn't want me any closer than three feet? (probably has a good sense of smell, it was day two for that costume...) Or the one who wouldn't leave my side? What about the screamers, the starers? What about the caretakers, the older sisters who would step in and attempt to calm a fussy brother on my knee?

It's interesting to see how often the photo is for the parents versus how often it's for the kids. I sympathize with the kids, I've never been able to fake the smile either.

I don't ever remember 'believing' in the mall Santa or Easter Bunny, or Mickey Mouse at Disneyland or Bugs Bunny at Great America...I knew it was a dude in a suit, I just didn't care. When we go to a play we know that the actors aren't really a couple of arguing college professors (though, sometimes they are, but you get the idea). When the kids see me they don't look into the eyes of my giant bunny head, they look at the screen in the mouth. They know that mouths shouldn't have screens in them and eyes should blink, they just don't care. It's not the Easter Bunny, it's a dude playing the Easter Bunny for them.

For adults, the world revolves around their kids, but I think it's hard to imagine that kids don't always see that and when they find things that are just for them, especially in the mall where they don't want to try on that cute outfit a fifth time, they're thrilled. They don't know 'suspension of dis-belief,' the nature of performance and space, the role of audience and art. They do know that the man or woman in the giant bunny costume is waving at them. Specifically.

Maybe the criers think I'm real. Maybe they know I'm not and have decided that a man in a giant bunny suit is not to be trusted.

So far few mallrats have opted for a bunny photo, I'm prohibitively expensive. I await the prank, I can only hope it's good.

That should be long enough for no one to read...

What are your remembered Mall Bunny/Santa experiences, or pranks...(I'd like to know what I'm in for...)

They don't know 'suspension of dis-belief,' the nature of performance and space, the role of audience and art.
If only you knew how long I've been trying to think of that term.
That should be long enough for no one to read...
Your writing style isn't abusive, so it went quick and painlessly.
What are your remembered Mall Bunny/Santa experiences, or pranks...(I'd like to know what I'm in for...)
I didn't like Santa, the Easter Bunny, or even some other stuffed plush dude in a suit. I was always kind of weary of them and forced by my parents to sit on their lap, take a picture, and stuff. Anyhow, at the tender age of young, there was this crazy giant moose in a Christmas present at my mall. There was, of course, a door leading to where a dude or a computer contolled the actions of it, but I loved that thing. I remember like standing in front of the Wizard of Oz, only he wasn't green and magical, he was a giant friendly Christmas moose.

If only you knew how long I've been trying to think of that term.

Your writing style isn't abusive, so it went quick and painlessly.

I didn't like Santa, the Easter Bunny, or even some other stuffed plush dude in a suit. I was always kind of weary of them and forced by my parents to sit on their lap, take a picture, and stuff. Anyhow, at the tender age of young, there was this crazy giant moose in a Christmas present at my mall. There was, of course, a door leading to where a dude or a computer contolled the actions of it, but I loved that thing. I remember like standing in front of the Wizard of Oz, only he wasn't green and magical, he was a giant friendly Christmas moose.
I was as a child, and remain to this day, a HUGE fan of animatronics. I even liked the Hall of Presidents and thought that the Mission to Mars sucked but the animatronic bit in the line was cool. It's one of my dreams to find a Chuck E. Cheese that's closing down so I can have my own private Chuck E. Cheese Band that plays my music...

As I'm typing this the episode of The Boondocks is on where Riley stalks mall Santas...

congrats on the gig, man. Most pimpin' bunny ever.

I just pictured the easter bunny saying "I'm gonna butter you like a corn cob" and almost choked.

I was as a child, and remain to this day, a HUGE fan of animatronics. I even liked the Hall of Presidents and thought that the Mission to Mars sucked but the animatronic bit in the line was cool. It's one of my dreams to find a Chuck E. Cheese that's closing down so I can have my own private Chuck E. Cheese Band that plays my music...

As I'm typing this the episode of The Boondocks is on where Riley stalks mall Santas...
so I'm not the only one who was a huge loser like that? And at one point wanted to work for disney for that reason alone? (well, more to design show lighting...they have tons of tricks I've been trying to figure out for years now. I almost have some of them...)

*Remembers the movie, 'Mallrats'.*

You're gonna get beat up by a couple stoners. :)

Hey, nothing really to contribute, but I wanted to say "Thanks!" The op is a nice, thoughtful little read, and made me think about what it's like to be in the audience (something I rarely do, as a backstage-type). /salute~!

congrats on the gig, man. Most pimpin' bunny ever.

I just pictured the easter bunny saying "I'm gonna butter you like a corn cob" and almost choked.


hahaha! I am picturing that now.


I remember going to see the Easter Bunny and some kid had pee'd on his lap. They had such a long line that they didnt even let the Bunny change outfits! So all the kids kept sitting on the pee leg and got their clothes wet....it was an outrage!

hahaha! I am picturing that now.


I remember going to see the Easter Bunny and some kid had pee'd on his lap. They had such a long line that they didnt even let the Bunny change outfits! So all the kids kept sitting on the pee leg and got their clothes wet....it was an outrage!

But the parents weren't getting out of line, were they? :p

One thing I really like about young kids is their short memory span. You can do something to really upset them and 5 minutes later they're happily doing whatever.
On Saturday, a kid in one of my classes was playing with some trading cards. I told him to put them away, and when he didn't I took them off him and went back to my desk. He followed me and asked for them back. I told him 'No', and he stood in front of the class in crying. I ignored him, and sure enough 5 minutes later he was back at his desk doing his work.
(I gave the cards back at the end of the lesson btw)

*Remembers the movie, 'Mallrats'.*

You're gonna get beat up by a couple stoners. :)
Crap, forgot about that. Well, I deserve it for what I did to Brody...

Hey, nothing really to contribute, but I wanted to say "Thanks!" The op is a nice, thoughtful little read, and made me think about what it's like to be in the audience (something I rarely do, as a backstage-type). /salute~!
Over the last year I've been working less (actually, none) theater and more low end crew on films and television on stuff I don't even really want to see, so I've kind of lost touch with the idea that there even is an audience. Fortunately the years that preceded that involved lots of essays both read and written contemplating that. Or unfortunately, one of the two. All that work and the little papers with the stamps on it and I'm still in the Bunny suit...but I am enjoying myself so far (still 11 days to go...)

hahaha! I am picturing that now.


I remember going to see the Easter Bunny and some kid had pee'd on his lap. They had such a long line that they didnt even let the Bunny change outfits! So all the kids kept sitting on the pee leg and got their clothes wet....it was an outrage!
Towards the end of Saturday there was a child with a less than fresh diaper that I could smell all the rest of the day. I think it was that kid that wasn't fussy until he was placed in my lap-he wasn't afraid of me, he didn't want to be put in my lap in rank diapers. Good lookin' out kid, to bad you don't have a vocabulary yet...

On the subject of vocabulary and the idea of the kids understanding performance and thier role in it even if they can't articulate it...there where two instances that struck me today-fist was a kid that was cool with me as long as I was four feet away. After repeated attempts to get him close I realised what the problem was-he could see me inside the helmet and that freaked his shit out.

I watched a lot of the kids and how they looked at me today-almost universally they didn't look into the eyes of the helmet but straight into the mouth of the bunny-they know I'm in there, but (with the exception of the kid above) they don't care.

Another instance, again with a toddler who loved being around the bunny, loved the 'fur' and the ears and everything else. I couldn't really see what was going on for most of it becuase I was surrounded by the whole family-but I kept hearing, "Yes, that's his mouth." Finally I shifted to realise that the toddler was pointing into the screen of the helmet. He wasn't pointing out my mouth, he was trying to tell everyone that there was another, smaller head in there. Again, he didn't have the vocabulary to articulate it, so they patronized him without understanding that he knew better. I imagine it was frustrating, not even having the vocabulary to put together, "Hey, you goofballs-this isn't a rabbit, it's a dude. I'm cool with it, but doesn't anyone else notice this?"

I was looking a lot at adults today, too-since there where far more of them today, being Monday.

The ones that smiled and waved back I imagined where the kids that would come up and shake my hand. The adults who would reluctantly wave after a little bit where the shy kids that had to be coaxed into petting my fur or giving me a 'high five.' The ones that giggle and wave while walking by quickly where the staring kids, the ones that don't come close but will stand there motionless, occasionally waving back or pointing me out to thier parents. The ones that wave at me first where the kids that jump into my lap as soon as they see me. The skowlers who don't wave and walk by quickly where the criers.

Still the only mallrat photos have been dudes, though I made some mallrat girls fall on the escalator when they called out to me and I hopped. I don't know why she fell becuase I was hopping, but it made me laugh.

It occoured to me today that I'm doing this in the San Francisco area, I wonder how long until a Furry cops a feel...the problem there is it's hard to tell what gender I am under there, and the costume is pink...

But the parents weren't getting out of line, were they? :p
They're relentless. And they leave their kids on my lap while they pay and rearrange their crap. I don't talk, the kids just sit there and I sweat...I sometimes wonder if they can hear me huffing and puffing in there and if that creeps them out...

They're relentless. And they leave their kids on my lap while they pay and rearrange their crap. I don't talk, the kids just sit there and I sweat...I sometimes wonder if they can hear me huffing and puffing in there and if that creeps them out...


lol....


"Mom! I think the Easter Bunny is dying..."

It occoured to me today that I'm doing this in the San Francisco area, I wonder how long until a Furry cops a feel...the problem there is it's hard to tell what gender I am under there, and the costume is pink...

Like you said, you're in the San Francisco area. Does it realy matter what gender you are? :p

lol....


"Mom! I think the Easter Bunny is dying..."
:D They said that the Bunny they hired last year would just lay there in the chair and people kept asking if he was real or alive.

One of the frequent comments I get is, "You're warm, Easter Bunny." I want to say, "You don't know the half of it."

Like you said, you're in the San Francisco area. Does it realy matter what gender you are? :p
True, true...and I can't see all that well so I can tell myself anything I want...

I grew up without mall bunny/Santa experiences. The first time I came across this I was probably about 17. I remember thinking something along the lines of, "There's a person over there in a rabbit suit. Wait, people are paying to have their children sit on this guy's lap?! Weird." :)

I should take advantage of this and brag to the kids that I'm friends with the Easter Bunny.

I grew up without mall bunny/Santa experiences. The first time I came across this I was probably about 17. I remember thinking something along the lines of, "There's a person over there in a rabbit suit. Wait, people are paying to have their children sit on this guy's lap?! Weird." :)
Somewhere around 12-17 have a strange relationship with the Bunny, they know they're too old for it, but part of them I think wishes they weren't.

I should take advantage of this and brag to the kids that I'm friends with the Easter Bunny.
You should have seen the milage my friends and family got out of me being a Ninja Turtle...

If I could convince Eristade to have her picture taken there'd be photo evidence with two NSers in it-and I'd still be anonymous...

-snip-


Most of all this brought up (at least for me) the fact that although even when I was young, I knew that the bunny was really some guy in a suit, they still seemed slightly dehumanized. Even from the perspective of someone who is much older, it's hard to think in terms of the person "in" the costume. In that regard, even though we may technically realize that its an act, there is a subconcious suspention of our disbelief.

On the other hand, I was always the one who rolled my eyes and cynically realized that what I told Santa I wanted, my parents heard me saying, and would consider getting it (although my family is often quite conservative about presents, so I quickly learned to be reasonable.. Sorta). Today I'm the guy who sheepishly waves back and tries to not to let on how uncomfortable I am at being singled out (see where that fits in your judgement of people).

I do think you've put a lot more "person" behind the mask though, so next time I see a mall Santa or Easter Bunny, I'll make sure to be a bit more friendly.

Most of all this brought up (at least for me) the fact that although even when I was young, I knew that the bunny was really some guy in a suit, they still seemed slightly dehumanized. Even from the perspective of someone who is much older, it's hard to think in terms of the person "in" the costume. In that regard, even though we may technically realize that its an act, there is a subconcious suspention of our disbelief.

On the other hand, I was always the one who rolled my eyes and cynically realized that what I told Santa I wanted, my parents heard me saying, and would consider getting it (although my family is often quite conservative about presents, so I quickly learned to be reasonable.. Sorta). Today I'm the guy who sheepishly waves back and tries to not to let on how uncomfortable I am at being singled out (see where that fits in your judgement of people).

I do think you've put a lot more "person" behind the mask though, so next time I see a mall Santa or Easter Bunny, I'll make sure to be a bit more friendly.
That's the whole audience and performer and performance space thing-keeps theater theory writers going for ages...

When I was a professional character performer I was hired to do a Santa at a party where the kids sat on my lap and told me what they want and then I'd hand them the present already wrapped and ready for them, almost never what they asked for. I thought it was ridiculously cruel...

I think that there are kids that have the same issues when I wave at them specificly, and I think for the same reasons you stated. I identify with that actually, most of the time I just want to get in and get out with as little impact as possible-I know what I'm looking for and about where it is, I don't need to be greeted...You don't need to do much, a casual wave is all the Bunny/Santa can really hope for.

Well i was up at Coastlands when Humphrey B Bear was performing i watched his show seeing as i grew up on him and all.

So? When do we get to see pics?

So? When do we get to see pics?
I can't afford me.

:D They said that the Bunny they hired last year would just lay there in the chair and people kept asking if he was real or alive.

I can just about picture a new twist on the old urban legend... "there was this mall bunny who died and they only noticed five days later when a toddler complained that 'Bunny stinks!'":p

I can't afford me.
haha...hows that for depressing?

I say right after some little brat gets their picture, you tackle the parent, steal the picture, and run.

No, a giant pink bunny running won't be noticable.

cool job.

My kids don't do the whole "Easter Bunny" thing, so even if we were in the area we probably wouldn't come see you, we don't do the Santa thing either though.

Other kids seem fine with it, but their parents always think we are weird.

cool job.

My kids don't do the whole "Easter Bunny" thing, so even if we were in the area we probably wouldn't come see you, we don't do the Santa thing either though.

Other kids seem fine with it, but their parents always think we are weird.
Some kids just aren't into it. What sucks is when they have a todler who sits on my lap and doesn't cry, but then they spend what seems like an eternity trying to get the kid to smile. Look, they're not screaming thier heads off, count yourself as lucky, take the picture and let me get up before my back knots up.

Dead split, screamers and kids who couldn't get enough today.

Bunny Wrap

15 days is, apparently, just about right for me to have gone back to being a costumed performer. I was done about halfway through the last day.

There was a few notes.

Parents seem all too willing to traumatise thier kids. I can see that they're not going to want to sit on my lap, and if you want them to, you're going to have to give them time. Forcing them into my lap four times and in a row isn't going to work.

To the dude who looked like he was on his first date with the asian chick with the died blonde hair all in yellow-First, she's flirting with the Easter Bunny, not the 34 year old balding dude in the bunny suit. Second, I'm just guessing, but it seems like flirting is just something she does. She probably did it with you. The difference is she actually went out with you, she just made cutsy faces at the bunny. If this is going to work out for you, you're probably just going to have to be cool with that.

Now, if you think the date is going to go really well, I can see how you might be uncomfortable with her flittering with a six and half foot tall fertility symbol, so...

I don't know what kid I was. I think I was a disbeliever, which is a little disapointing. As I had said, most the kids aren't really 'fooled.' No one looked me in the giant dead eyes, they looked in the grille, where I was. But the disbelievers want it to be known that you're not pulling one over on them. Maybe it's a deep desire to be 'in' on the joke-to make sure everyone knows you're 'in.' This really slapped me when a disbeliver kid was desperately trying to point out I was a man in a suit and a younger kid next to him finally snapped, "I know. I don't care," and shook my bunny hand and laughed when I brushed his nose with my 'paw.'

No one pranked me. What's the world coming to? One kid around 12 said he'd jack me for a carrot. I wanted to be able to take off the helmet and show him the big biker lookin' dude he was saying that to, but it didn't really matter. One teen tried to get me to respond to 'Jesus.' I don't know what he was after, but there where kids about so I ignored him and shook thier hands instead.

Ultimately I shouldn't have taken the job, I missed out on at least one if not two jobs in my field. And the money I made was really just a push versus what I spent to be on the job.

You know what I can't tell apart? Little white kids. I know I'm a cracker, too, but damn. Cylons have more variations than little white kids. What the hell...

Little boys smell bad. I don't know what it is about boys, but it was so prevasive I can only assume that I, as a little boy, smelled bad. I can see now why girls thought we had coodies. Good lord. And after a dozen or so of them sat on my lap, I started to smell like smelly little boys. We had to get some frebreeze to spray the suit between shifts.

Anyway, it was fun. No furries grabbed my butt. I took a few pictures with mallrats (the ones that where skittish where annoying). Again, they where flittering with the Bunny, not the dude inside who would creep them out if he sat next to them on the bus...though the one who stroked the inside of my leg might have gotten the two confused...or she didn't mean to, but she went back and forth...

hunn i AM NOT READING THAT CUZ I AM WAYYY TO DRUNK


buy i agreee with you.