Originally Posted By OceanSpace The one thing about the face character is that they have to be quick on their feet to be able to answer any question that pops into those kids minds. They do have to do a fair amount of acting. Fuzzy characters have all sorts of other issues to worry about. It's too hot, they can't communicate very well should they need help, and depending on the costume, they can't always see the kids.
Originally Posted By HRM Ah yes, the actual VERBAL communication required of face characters; and I do remember the Princess Storytelling... okay,... it's starting to make a little sense, sort of... more and varied tasks required of Princesses > "the royalty". What about the face characters like Cruella, Peter Pan, and Mary Poppins?... although I met M.P. once on Main Street and she was doing a great job being in character, answering questions, engaging the crowd and signing autographs -- so I guess she was acting...
Originally Posted By hiddencat3 Anyone that can talk to you is a Face Character. They all get paid the same and get the same benefits. Mary Poppins and the Mad Hatter are two of the harder parts to cast because the accents and distinguishable voices. Are you still considering being a character, HRM? The most rewarding part of the job is being onstage with the children. For all of you who want to be charaters and become characters here is my tip: Don't get caught up with the antics backstage and be strong. I have seen many of good people fall due to this. Be prepared for High School cheerleading all over again.
Originally Posted By HRM oooops, thanx hiddencat3, I forgot Madhatter is a face character... RAH! RAH! RAH!
Originally Posted By tcsnwhite Pay rate: fuzzie starts at 8.35 face starts at 10.35 parade starts at 6.40 This is what I was told from someone in the entertainment dept.
Originally Posted By tcsnwhite though, if I remember right, parade starts at 7.40, not 6.40. minimum wage is 6.75 anyways. "For all of you who want to be charaters and become characters here is my tip: Don't get caught up with the antics backstage and be strong. I have seen many of good people fall due to this. Be prepared for High School cheerleading all over again." what exactly do you mean by that?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros "minimum wage is 6.75 anyways." Then why did I make less than $1 per hour this summer? Oh, that's right, they don't love camp counselors. : )
Originally Posted By Kira While we are on the whole character subject... I saw that disney has auditions for "atmospeher characters" would these be face or fuzzie characters or both?
Originally Posted By ToonFinder It's for fuzzy. here is the info from Disneyland's webiste: The Disneyland® Character Department is currently casting Atmosphere Characters. Casting all positions: 4'10"- 5'3", 5'11"-6'3" Dates/Times: Saturday, August 27 8:00 am Callbacks: August 28 Orientation: September 9
Originally Posted By hiddencat3 tcsnwhite - Being a character is a great experince. Everyone I have ever known loved being out on stage. However, there are some management problems backstage. The Face Character side of it is worse than the Fuzzies. You just have to be strong and don't let rude comments from your co-workers get to you. There is a lot of backstabing for hours, better locations....you name it. Just remember why you are there. Side Note: I just remembered another name for the Fuzzies - The Zoo Crew. They actually where these shirts with "Zoo Crew" around backstage.
Originally Posted By ToonFinder "Side Note: I just remembered another name for the Fuzzies - The Zoo Crew. They actually where these shirts with "Zoo Crew" around backstage." Used to... The zoo crew shirts all dissapeared pretty quickly. You know, left in bags to be taken home by accident and such *wink wink*
Originally Posted By hiddencat3 Yeah, this was all like two years ago. If Disney doesn't bolt it down, then it always ends up "by accident" in someones bag. I don't even want to begin on all the weird stuff I have seen in my friend's apartments...submarine lagoon fish mounted on wall...hmmmm.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Which characters would be 5'11"-6'3"? Would those be like Baloo, Goofy, and Hook? Or something completely different?
Originally Posted By HRM >>Are you still considering being a character, HRM? The most rewarding part of the job is being onstage with the children.<< hiddencat3 Its still an option... the attraction is being part of team that has a positive and significant impact on the Guests that visit Dinseyland, and the Guests don't even know who you are -- they just remember the character! I've heard a little about scuttlebut between face characters. An acquaintance of mine used to play Cinderella... at first I thought it was just a particular personality thing, but now...
Originally Posted By hiddencat3 I have worked in two departments while at Disneyland. And both were great. One of those departments was attractions. Even though I wasn't a famous face and people didn't drive hours just to see me - I was still able to make great memories for guests. I received most of my Guest Compliments from doing Guest Control on Main Street! Yes, there are photos with me and families floating around the world. You don't have to be a Princess or a Fuzzy to make a difference on someones vacation.
Originally Posted By HRM What's Guest Control? My apologies, again I typed before I thought (or reread & edited)... As wonderfully explained to me at the CM @ DL Thread, every CM makes an important contribution to the success and magic of Disney. My remark, #55, was simply to state that being a character is special because of the anonomous nature of the job, it sort of fits my personality. For example, I would love to be PUSH! (or the person that controls PUSH) ) If I were so fortunate to have the opportunity to work as a CM, I would actually want to try several roles -- that's why I'm exploring options and taking notes from CM's kind enuff to offer their insight (such as yourself, thank you!)
Originally Posted By HRM GREAT THREAD > "ALICE AND THE MAD HATTER" following quote... >>i have also noticed the characters being more interactive than they used to be.<< #7, lesmisfan Is there a Character profile that CM's study, are trained on, and/or must follow? what happens when someone breaks character?
Originally Posted By hiddencat3 There is extensive training! By the end of it you know every little thing about your character. I have seen characters break charater before. The secret is you don't get caught. For example, management doesn't like when characters mix stories on stage. They don't want to see Belle and Prince Phillip hanging out. I have seen this happen before and management saw it too. The girl who was caught was pulled from her special event because of it (that is a big deal in the character world). Do you remember what finger Princess Aurora pricked on the spinning wheel?
Originally Posted By OceanSpace It was her left of course...left hand, middle finger (and no, I did not look it up). I love that movie and it's quite the memorable scene, I'll never forget it.
