Little League : Courtney Barton, Communication Designer
Courtney Barton is an up and coming communication designer located in Vancouver, Canada (you've likely already peeped her work as she's the mastermind behind the Left Field branding). Below she shares her first foray into the workforce at the tender age of fifteen.
"My first job was about as chill as it gets. I worked at Dinotown, a children’s amusement park near Bridal Falls, and was better known as Dusty Bones, a big purple dinosaur, amongst visitors and staff. Essentially, I was paid to waltz around in a dinosaur suit performing shows for children. My downtime was spent cooling off in a private dressing room with my fellow Stage Girls, eating popsicles and making hemp jewelry. The only downside to the job was feeling that summer heat through layers of fabric and padding – unbeknownst to the kids, their favorite dino dad was actually a scrawny teenaged girl in a sports bra and underwear.
Looking back, what I find most interesting was how fearless I became as soon as I was suited up. Typically unless I’m around people who know me well I’m sure I can come off as conservative or shy. When shielded by my dino suit I was even surprised with how carefree and goofy I’d act towards complete strangers. To them I was Dusty Bones, but for me I was safely hidden away.
Over a decade later I still laugh at some of the strange happenings at Dinotown. Like the time this little boy came in for a hug when suddenly I felt his hand slip into the back of my costume and onto my bare back. I looked down to see him examining the glistening sweat on his little hand, while suspiciously peering up at the black mesh screen concealing my existence. To this day I’ll never know if I’m the reason he grew out of old Saint Nick and the tooth fairy."
As told to Left Field on 10.22.2015. Photographs supplied by Courtney Barton.
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