Sweat was already pouring down my face, I could hear the sound of my own hot breath echoing in the giant head. Even though it was only a few blocks, it seemed like I was traversing the Sahara Desert in my giant, foul smelling, fur covered prison. Oh yes, I forgot to mention that in my purple mittened hand I clung to a Mylar balloon decorated with the real, licensed Barney to bestow upon the birthday boy.Ĭursing the heat, I trudged toward the home mustering up party enthusiasm and mentally rehearsing to be the best faux Barney I could be. I started walking down the road toward the party house. The kids would be scarred for life if they saw fake Barney driving!Ĭonfident that I had parked far enough away to avoid detection, I locked the car, tucked the car keys into the giant fur foot (painful, but obviously there were no pockets in this contraption). Since there were few homes or trees or well, anything to obscure the view, I decided it was best to park down the block and walk a bit so as not to spoil the total mystery. Had they splurged on a water slide in addition to my one off Barney impersonator, I may have had to be outside for the entire party. Thank God this party was being held inside. #Inside barney costume how toI started by doing a drive by to determine a game plan, decide where to park, and how to make my big entrance. Homes were spaced out by many lots, development was sparse and random. The working class neighborhood where the party was being held was typical of the area: a small stucco home on a 80 X 160 lot with Bahai grass and 2 small landscape trees that were required by code. IF you take the job of being a costumed character seriously, it is even more challenging. But if it’s 95 degrees, being covered in fur from head to toe is about as challenging as it can get. Working in a costume is always a challenge. That is sort of what a constantly rented by hundreds of people “purple dinosaur head” smells and feels like. Have you ever been bowling and been handed the gnarliest rental shoes in the place? The ones that look like they have been fished out of a dumpster? The attendant picks up a spray bottle, gives the shoes a cursory spritz, and slides them over to you? Now imagine putting that on your head. No peripheral vision was possible, and to keep the head from falling off you could not move too abruptly. There was a little screen in the front that enabled you to see, but only straight ahead. The costume consisted of a large worn, threadbare, matted faux fur suit, and an insanely large fiberglass, foam, and fur head that weighed about 15 pounds and rested on your shoulders. Instead, it was called “ big purple dinosaur,” and trust me this costume was booked nonstop for over 2 years. Due to copyright laws, there was not a sanctioned Barney costume. Since children’s parties were my bread and butter, I rented whatever costume was available to make an appearance and entertain. It is Birthday party day everywhere in the country for that matter.Ģ-6 year olds are pretty much the sweet spot for birthday parties and, in 1984, Barney the purple dinosaur was the theme almost everyone wanted. It was another 95 degree day in southwest Florida, pretty typical for July, either that or thunderstorms.
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