Being a fursuiter myself and having had experience with various fursuit handlers*, I figured it was time to share my experiences in the form of a guide for handlers.
Feel free to comment on any tips you might have yourself and be sure to share this guide with anyone (fursuiters and handlers). Maybe it will help someone ^^
Tips:1)
Know the person you are looking out for, the fursuiter.
Who are they? Do they have a fear of anything? Any special needs or wants while in a fursuit? Do they talk to others while in a fursuit or not? (see point 3)
This leads to point 2:
2)
Communicate with your fursuiter.
This is important to have a fun and safe time. Also make sure that they know you sometimes have to touch them by holding their arm to lead them safely through a busy area or guide them by other means.
It might also be a good idea at this point before they go into suit that you communicate what (hand) signals you have with what meaning. E.g. when the fursuiter is waving one of their hands in front of their face to indicate they are feeling extremely warm, so they need a break.
3)
Communicate for your fursuiter.
Some fursuiters prefer not to talk to others while in suit, to keep up their character's appearance, yet sometimes there might be kids (or adults) who want to talk with the fursuiter and ask them questions. Maybe they can act they understand yes-or-no questions and answer by nodding or shaking their head, but they might not be able to reply to more complicated question-types.
4) Try to have
one handler per fursuiter.
If there are more fursuiters, get more handlers.
5)
Realise your fursuiter has poor vision/eye-sight when in suit.
Fursuiters are wearing a head, whether toony or (semi-)realistic, most of their vision is blocked and cannot see. This can put them or others sometimes in tricky situations. They might not see a kid right in front of them, or someone wanting to hug them on the side. Be sure, as a handler, to know what to do when these things happen. Usually by communicating with your fursuiter what's going on, where to go to avoid possibly dangerous situations, etc.
6) Carry a
backpack with snacks and drinks (preferably water).
Also be sure to include (long) straws to drink with for the fursuiters, just in case they want to stay in-character by not taking off their head to drink!
7) Take regular
water breaks.
Whether it's hot or cold outside, make sure your fursuiter drinks enough. Some might have a higher tolerance for warmth and can hold out longer without drinking, but be sure to rest regularly and have enough to drink either way.
8) Take regular
breaks without necessarily drinking, try to find areas where your fursuiter can take their head off.
It can be quite exhausting to fursuit, there are a lot of people overexerting themselves when fursuiting. Be sure to take regular stops/breaks to have your fursuiter catch some breath. They don't necessarily have to drink, but can simply air out a bit.
9) Carry an
emergency sewing kit.
Just in case a seam comes loose from the head or whatnot, so you can easily repair it with a quick-fix.
10)
Do not be afraid to protect your fursuiter.
Are a few kids being rough on your fursuiter? Or do they have icky hands, or holding food?
If they are holding food, be kind and have your fursuiter wave at a distance.
If the kids are a bit rough? It might seem like they're playing, and while they might actually be, make sure your fursuiter is ok with what is going on. If not, tell them the fursuiter (mention the character's name or species) needs a break and that it was fun meeting the kids, then walk away calmly. If they keep bugging you, be sure to repeat the same thing over and over. If it gets too bad? Tell them to leave. If that doesn't work: Get a hold of an authority figure (try the kids' parents first, then go from there). First just try to leave if you can.
11) Try to take photographs/videos for your fursuiter.
Protecting and communicating comes first, but if it is possible, your fursuiter would probably appreciate it a lot if you can take pictures or videos of them, so they can look back at the experience
Every time you fursuit or are a handler, you will learn better how to deal with certain situations and get to know your fursuiter better while they are in-suit as well
Good luck, handlers!
(* = A handler is a person who is not fursuit and is looking out for the person who is fursuiting.)
