A LIFE OF DISGUISES
A man finds his calling within costumes
William Kofalt jumped into his green and yellow frog suit ready to start his Saturday shift as a mascot in front of the Off the Hook exotic pet store in downtown Coraopolis.
Hoping to attract customers, he bounced, jiggled, swung his furry hips and waved to a steady stream of vehicles, drawing lots of smiles and an occasional honk.
No one had to see his face inside the giant, cartoon frog outfit to know he was grinning. Mr. Kofalt, 30, was doing what he loves — entertaining people behind the anonymity of a costume.
He’s been trying to make a living at it since high school in New Castle, Lawrence County. But it’s been a struggle.
After working for a time as a werewolf in a show at Universal Studios in Florida, he landed a steady, if low-paying, gig dressed as a Dalmatian puppy for a pet store near Youngstown, Ohio.
But after nearly six years, new owners decided they couldn’t use him, and he was out of work. Following a seasonal job as an Easter bunny at an Ohio mall this spring, he decided to move back to the Pittsburgh area in search of better opportunities.
So far, the only steady job he’s landed as a live billboard has been Saturdays at the pet store at $8 an hour. To pay the bills, he recently took a Monday through Friday position at a call center in Robinson.
One recent hot, humid but mercifully overcast afternoon, the frog-clad Mr. Kofalt knelt on the Coraopolis sidewalk to offer a hug to a small child passing by the pet store. The little blonde girl in a pink T-shirt and checkered shorts flashed a broad smile and hugged back.
“I’d much rather be doing this full time,” Mr. Kofalt offered later. “You make people’s day by making them smile.”
The owner of the pet store, Desiree Brown, said she hired him “mostly because he asked.” But she’s glad she did.
“It does attract a lot of people. We get a lot of foot traffic. It’s nice for the kids,” she said.
She also likes the “friendly atmosphere” he provides. “Some people are nervous around snakes,” she explained.
Inside the pet store, customers can find an assortment of unusual pets besides snakes, including redeyed tree frogs, exotic freshwater and saltwater fish, parrots, lizards — and rats. Rats in particular “make very good pets,” Ms. Brown said. “They’re smart and affectionate.”
She said Mr. Kofalt likes the job at the pet store so much, he sometimes volunteers during the week.
Mr. Kofalt said he enjoys the freedom of working behind a mask.
“You can be cute and cuddly. You can bring out yourself more wearing a costume. Without a costume, you can’t just run up to people and say, ‘Hi,’” he said. “Without a costume, I’m boring.”
He has “about 10” of his own costumes, including the frog and puppy. They come in handy for Furry conventions, where people who like to dress up as human-like animals get together to socialize.
“You’re supposed to dry clean [the costumes], but that costs money so I throw them in the washer instead,” he said.
Although his costumes are thick and furry, he doesn’t mind the heat of summer. “I drink lots of water and iced tea. I know when to take breaks” by ducking into the air-conditioned store.
Mr. Kofalt bikes or rides the bus to get around. He lives just a few blocks from the pet store.
He relies on door-to-door solicitations and word of mouth to advertise his services.
“I’ll do birthday parties, grand openings, any occasion,” he said.
Now and then he works down the street from the pet store in front of Big Shot Bob’s House of Wings dressed in a chicken suit. Passers-by aren’t always as courteous to him there. Maybe it’s the type of costume.
“People give me the finger sometimes,” he said. “You can’t take any offense to it. You just keep going.”