Gameops.com:
Talk about your program and how to you treat the character
to enhance his stature.
The
Coyote: We have worked to make the Coyote
as big a star as possible. If he has this "celebrity
stature" it makes the character a valuable asset
to the team off the court as well as on the court.
I think
you can manufacture a special quality and you can do it
without being self-serving or arrogant. The real key is
to understand that you can manufacture this celebrity only
if you are earning it on the court first. Celebrity can't
really be created, but it can be defined once you have
earned it.
I use
this analogy when I think about the Coyote and how we approach
appearance and this creation of celebrity: I treat the
Coyote as that guest on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno
who doesn’t move down the couch for the next guest.
Robert Deniro is important and when he is done with his
interview, he doesn't shift down the couch to sit by as
Jay Leno interviews Carrot Top.... Deniro's too important
for that and he's got to be someplace else. I try to be
that guest.
Gameops.com: So
there is a benefit in being scarce?
The
Coyote: It's not really being scarce. I
mean I have had years with 522 appearances and 444
appearances...so the Coyote is not scarce...but he's important.
He is in demand. It's an attitude.
This
extends to your entire presentation. The Coyote’s
assistant isn't wearing baggy shorts and an untucked shirt.
He is traveling with a celebrity and dresses accordingly.
As a
performer it's about your professionalism and your enthusiasm.
I go into it thinking the appearance will be special to
them, because this appearance will be special for me. That
puts me in the right frame of mind.
"Get
a feather duster, and always use it."
The
Coyote |
|
Whether
is two people a private party or 65,000 in the Alamo Dome
I go in thinking ..."man, I hope I don't bomb."
Gameops.com: So
how about some specific tips regarding personal appearances.
The
Coyote: Always have someplace to go next.
Remember you are important. It's special that you are
there and you don't want it to lose it's luster by
staying too long.
Some
specifics, for kids parties I also enter the room thinking: "Enter
low." What I mean by that is that you want to enter
at the kids level. If you come in as a 7-foot animal you
are bound to scare some kids. Enter at their height and
get tall as they get comfortable.
I
also try to build a theme around every event. You can always
go with your standard schtick, but to make everything special.
I look for that one thing that makes this appearance unique
from the other 400 this year. This works in every house,
ballroom, or basketball court.
I use
what I call "return comedy" I find that one thing
or person that I click with and I keep going back to it
for laughs. It can be the family dog or someone at the
party. Last week i did an appearance at a house with a
lawn alligator, and I kept going back to it through out
the appearance.
Sometimes
I will go with a person, like a grandparent at a party.
I will keep going back to them and try to really make them
feel special. Again, it can be anyone or anything. A rowdy
fan, the grandmother, a cute girl courtside...whatever.
It works at an appearance or at a game.
Look
for that something that is here now at this appearance
that wasn't at my last appearance. If you can master this
you will never again think" "Oh I don't have
my props, I can't to anything. Props are everywhere.
Gameops.com: So
there is a balance between creating a celebrity and acting
like a star?
The
Coyote: Yes. I try to act like Coyote is
a star, but that he got there by pretending to be a
star...and that it’s all kind of ridiculous.
Coyote will be waving to the lady, miming th "call
me" while he walks out of the room with a trash
can stuck on his foot. He's the star that still doesn’t
quite get it.
And this "star-like" attitude
certainly doesn't carry over to how we treat our clients.
Gameops.com:
You have created celebrity with the Coyote, but is this
going to work for a non-NBA guy?
The
Coyote: Certainly the NBA name and coming
from the Spurs is a tremendous advantage that not every
character has, but it's all relative.
So if
you are a minor league mascot and you act like you are
nothing special...then you will be perceived as nothing
special. It's an attitude...not obnoxious, but enthusiastic.
Gameops.com: Recently
I have been floating the idea of a minute per person appearance
structure, meaning that for every person you expect to
have at an appearance you would limit your appearance to
about 1 minute (except at the extremes). So if you had
a birthday party with 15 kids, you should plan about 15
minutes. A group of 50 would be just under an hour... So
if you have someone asking you to fill an hour for 12 kids
it should raise a red flag for you .
The
Coyote: I like it, obviously not at the
extremes, but it think it s a good guideline. We really
try to position Coyote visits as a "per appearance",
not "per hour". As a performer you can feel
when you have peaked, when you are on the way down
and when 
you
have overstayed your welcome. When kids a starting
to look under your fur and untying your shoes, it was
probably time to go a while ago.
Give
your self the benefit of being able to get out before you
have overstayed your welcome.
Gameops.com: Anything
else you want to share from your 20 years of experience?
The
Coyote: Get a feather duster and use it
all the time. You have got to use the feather
duster. I love to talk more, but I have to run. I have
somewhere else I have to be.
Gameops.com: Oh
yeah, that does work.
Thanks
to The Coytote for his insight and time. He's a true class
act and has built and outstanding mascot model for all
others to consider.
