Moving directly from college student to campy green furball, Dave Raymond pioneered the field of sports mascots as the first person to go out on the field as the world-renowned Phillie Phanatic. During his 16 years performing as the Phanatic in 48 states and five countries, Dave’s charismatic showmanship carried the Philadelphia Phillies to World Series victories and unimagined levels of popularity, sparking a revolution in the mascot industry.
Leveraging the unique lessons he learned from the inside out (literally!), Dave made a seamless transition as an entrepreneur into the world of character branding and mascot development. Since starting Raymond Entertainment Group nearly 20 years ago, he has designed and rehabilitated hundreds of character brands for Fortune 500 companies, sports teams, and colleges and universities. In 2005, he founded the Mascot Hall of Fame.
In the The Power of Fun! keynote, virtual events and best-selling book, Dave shares his “phantastic” story—and how his time as the Phanatic revealed to him fun’s transformative effects as the key to living a content, healthier and more productive life. While others have studied how to unlock the power of fun, Dave actually lived it. Now, he shares his simple-to-implement F.U.N. process for creating sustainable, long-lasting happiness—and building the life of your dreams.
From 1978, when Dave Raymond first donned the green fur until he left the Philadelphia Phillies in 1994, he redefined the world of live character performance as the original Phillie Phanatic. Also a successful entrepreneur, Dave has worked with some of the world’s leading companies, universities and teams, using the same creative process that created a multimillion-dollar brand extension for the Phillies. Along the way, his “phanatical” thinking process and focus on fun helped Dave get through some of the most difficult times in his life.
In his memorable The Power of Fun! keynote and virtual events, Dave entertains audiences with the best stories from his performance career, and he outlines a simple process—a ground-breaking, data-backed theory about fun—that changes people’s lives. Dave shares how his adventures as the original Phanatic led him to realize that serious fun holds the key to living a happier, healthier and more productive life—and to overcoming extreme adversity.
Dave’s presentation can be customized to fit the needs of your event and audience. This empowering keynote can fill anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes. The performance and content will be tailored to your initiatives for developing culture, health, productivity or morale. It is interactive, memorable, and will leave your audience energized and ready to meet new challenges.
Ask about adding a meet and greet for a more personal and memorable touch!
Dave and his team go above and beyond to deliver the best possible experience for everyone throughout your engagement. Learn more in this behind-the-scenes blog post.
