• Staying too in-character can sometimes make others uncomfortable. Know when to drop it; if you like, use a hushed voice to answer questions. Eye contact is a good indicator whether someone is engaged or put off!

• Get a helper or record yourself in costume to get a feel for your movement. Practice posing to see how you look to others when interacting or in photos.

• Read the “Twelve Principles of Animation” on Wikipedia — many are rooted in classic theatre and apply even to the most human of characters, just framed in the enjoyable context of cartoons.

• Don’t just stand there! Breathe, look around, scratch yourself! Think about the idle animations in video games, and be like that.
• If nothing else, even just a distinct walk and a couple of standing poses can make the difference between wearing a costume and being the character.

Adafruit projects on this page: Xenomorph Halloween Candy Bucket.