Needless to say, this was quite radically different to my recent temp jobs, which verge on the surreal as it is. It was also a return to the wonderful world of customer service, and to be honest, that was the worst part. I’ll push boxes of tampons through a shrink-wrap machine, pick up litter in a dog-shit filled alley, or build a fake house with French people, but please don’t make me entertain the general public again.
I actually feel quite drained tonight, which is pretty poor after only three five hour days. I could put this down to being in the fresh air all day but I think it’s more mental than that. I was not exactly scared but definitely on edge for most of the time. It’s funny because having spent most of my adult working life in bookshops you’d think I’d have customer service down pat, but this was something else. I was repeatedly told to actively engage the public and entertain the kids. I don’t do “actively engage”. I’m fine when I’m approached but I just don’t have what it takes to go up to someone and “sell” them something, even if it’s just the anticipation of a wonderful experience. Problem solving is my department – give me something to get my teeth into (pre-booked party, need change for parking, directions, that kind of stuff) and I’m your man, but I do not know how to work a crowd.
That said, dress me up as a giant otter and I’m fine. The costume thing is very odd because you actually become that creature. Your vision is restricted by whatever gap is available so you’re not aware of your surroundings but most importantly no-one knows who you are. I’ve danced around like a big gay, well, otter, kneeling down to shake hands and being hugged by more kids than I can remember. This sort of thing just doesn’t happen when you’re not covered head to toe in felt, and to be honest I’m kinda glad it doesn’t. But for those ten to fifteen minutes I was Ollie the Otter and I really enjoyed it.
The Ollie costume was rather warm though, so we took it in turns and only did about three goes each during the day. The rest of the time was spent just standing around trying not to look like we were just standing around, until the queue vanished. It was simultaneously the most interesting, the most boring job and the most frightening job I’ve done to date.
I did get a chance to have a good look round the centre and I’ll post up photos soon. Currently though my brain is fried. Maybe I’ll talk more about the job in the comments.
These photos are of Hyde in the costume but to be honest I looked very similar. In fact one of them is of me and I bet you can’t guess which (hover over them for the answer).
Hyde backstage
Hmm, so it wasn’t “fun”. But it was different, yes? I vaguely remember you being entranced by the ‘animals” at Disneyland in 1976, so you may want to put it in that into perspective as well as in the present day context.
It is interesting that the costume does in fact take on some of the personality of the person “inside”, be it mannerisms, stature, etc., even if the person is completely concealed from view. One wonders if Disney actually select their Mickey Mouses on the basis of such criteria (Disney being the best there is at putting on a good show).
Then again, how many kids went home to Kings Heath or Smethwick never wanting to see an otter agin!? Or have you convinced a few that Tarka the Otter was for real?
Good photos!
Moments of it were fun, but a lot of it wasn’t. I didn’t really make it that clear – I loved being in the costume and, had it not been so hot in there, would have stayed in it for much longer. It was the non-costume stuff, the meet-and-greet, that I really couldn’t do.
The centre is, like most of these set-ups, half educational and conservation-based and half entertainment spectacle. The former I’m fine with but the latter is jut fake to me. A necessary evil, for sure, and I have respect for people who can do that kind of stuff, but I just can’t do it, even when the bad-cop manager is watching over me.
The personality goes both ways, I reckon. Hyde’s “Ollie” was different to mine (I did more of a squirrel thing with my paws than he did) but the essence of the character was channeled through us. I’d never act like that without the costume even when drunk. I became Ollie. It was most odd.
None of the kids seemed to think I was a real otter – it was more that I was a big cuddly teddy bear. And of course I made scores of them cry and hide in their mothers skirts.
Just don’t do anything naughty like Tigger did at Disneyland!
Ollie is in my past now – another one to chalk up. So what did Tigger do, dare I ask?
yes, what?
What Tigger did..
(Google cache for What Tigger did)
Aaahh…