Originally Posted By robinhood The characters in the park...for the most part...there are a few but very few..get paid for 8 hours and do sets in the park. The stay in the same park in the same general area and do their sets. There is a different set of cast members for the parades and shows. Each parade actually has it's own cast. Parade of dreams and Block Party have thier own cast and I can't think of anyone approved to do both. Some people in the parade also do character sets on their days off and rarely between parades. I am in both departments.
Originally Posted By robinhood At the beginning of my last comment it was supposed to say there are a few but very few exception to this!!!
Originally Posted By HRM ^^^ So it sounds like a CM can get 40 hrs/wk fairly easily? if this is true, is it also true in the off-season?
Originally Posted By Kira Ok...so call me crazy, but.... october 8th I'm going to audition for a face character part, I am 5 ft 1 in. so I fit right into the catagory of characters in peter pan and alice and wonderland. I also have the "childlike" features (or at least thats what I've ben told). I think this would be a very cool job, if I do get it I am hoping that they can work around and have me work weekends only since I will be traveling an hour and 15 minutes each time! so any last minute advice I should know before I go do the craziest thing I've done?
Originally Posted By SuzyMouse Smile, relax and have fun! Also, keep in mind that they are looking for a very specific look, so if they don't pick you it's nothing personal. Oh, and work on your British accent! And have fun!
Originally Posted By hiddencat3 AND for some reason you don't make the cut this year...TRY AGAIN! What they are looking for changes every year. It took me three times....but that is a whole other story. Here are some other tips: 1) Don't dress like the character you want to be. I have seen girls come with red bows in their hair like Snow White...they got cut at the first round. 2) Don't STRESS! That is what killed me one year. I was too nervous which lead to me being non-graceful. 3) If you don't learn the dance moves don't flip out! They are looking at your movement not how well you can memorize steps. I have seen girls miss every step, but the looked damn cute doing it and they were not cut. 4) Keep your game face on at all times. You are auditioning with professional actors/dancers/cheerleaders...you name it. Remember you are going to be a princess...you do not sweat and your make-up always looks perfect. OH, and don't wear fake eyelashes. They will tell you to take them off. 5)Bring water and snacks for energy. The days are LOOOOONG. It is very much hurry up and wait. If you have any other questions let me know. After seeing what works and what doesn't work I kinda have the auditioning process down. Good luck! You will meet tons of cool people! Most of the girls are very friendly and just as nervous as you are.
Originally Posted By Kira are the ones that normally get the part more along the lines of professional actors? or do alot of ones that get it not have any prior acting experience? and they are going to teach dance moves for face character positions? (this should be no big deal for me since I've had dance lessons since i was 5, just curious =) ) Just tryin to figure out if I have good or bad odds =P lol I have also been told to wear only light makeup if I insist on wearing it (light foundation and maybe a little dash of blush) is this a good idea or should I go with no makeup at all? Thanks for all the info! I'm going down to the park next week to pick up all the application papers I'm so excited!!
Originally Posted By hiddencat3 I would wear make-up, but only how you would wear it everyday. Don't smear it on! You want to highlight your best features...not look you are ready for Vegas. I would say there is a mix of girls who act/sing/dance professionally. I worked with girls who where getting degrees in psychology, teaching, business...pretty much anything. There is a still a majority who are majoring in theater, dance or music. I, personally, was a Marketing major and that didn't stop me. Here is how the auditioning is done: DAY 1: Cut 1- They just check out your face and features. You stand in a line with 10 other girls and state your name and age. Sometimes they will ask you more questions. Cut 2- You perform a dance they taught you a couple hours ago. Very basic dance nothing intense. Lots of arm movements and twirling. Think Princesses in the Parades...they don't really do much. Cut 3- They wig you into the character they think will work best. You do the full character costume and make-up from the waist up. End of DAY 1 If you make it past the Wig Cut they will give you a story to memorize and a time to come back tomorrow. DAY 2: You wait for the most of the day. Cut 4- You read your story normal first and then they have you try it out different ways. This is where you would have to break out the British accent if trying for Poppins or Alice. They tell you the night before so you can be ready. They wig you somemore in other characters. It is so much fun! Probably the best part. Then finally around the 10th hour they gather the remaining girls and tell them they have made it. Out of the 500 girls who tried out when I did, only 12 were hired. If you don't find this strange...you can check out the other girls who have played princesses on www.toonfinder.com. You can get an idea of what they are looking for and what they have had in the past.
Originally Posted By Kira just reading all that makes me nervous....I'm just hoping I get past the first cut. If I get past the first cut I should be fine, the dancing in the second cut wont be a problem. even if I just make it the wigging part and get cut after that I would be happy lol... I'm guessing the story they give you is something along the lines of a story to go with the character they want to cast you with?
Originally Posted By PirateJohn Just remember about any audition -- don't be afraid of failure. I've heard it said that an average acotr gets one role for every fifty auditions. So failure is something you really do have to embrace and consider a learning experience.
Originally Posted By hiddencat3 Ditto to PirateJohn. Like I said...I tried three times. Each time I learned something from each cut. I eventually found out the key is to be calm and enjoy yourself. Just be there for the experience...if you get cut, oh well, there is always next auditions. They are looking for people who are relaxed and can handle pressure/stress. A lot gets thrown at you when you are unstage and you have to that calm "I can handle anything" thought process....all while looking like a princess. The story they give you is a super generic fairy tale. I had to read about a blacksmith that was only 3 feet tall and I was trying out for three roles. I think everyone got the same story. You will do great if you just remain calm and graceful! P.S. I lived an hour and half away too out by Palm Springs. I drove down every weekend (back when gas was $1.15).
Originally Posted By Kira Thats so awesome that you drove all the way from palm springs, I feel your driving pain, I'll be driving from hemet =) anyways thanks for the advice again it has definetly prepared me for whats to come!
Originally Posted By hiddencat3 Hey! I know where Hemet is. I am actually from Yucca Valley. No one knows where that is... And IF you do get cut, don't shy away from taking another role at Disneyland. You can try out to be a Character Hostess or go pretty much anywhere. After the first time I got cut I walked over to Casting and filled my paper work out for Attractions. Attractions treated me very well...that is where I met my boyfriend 5 years ago! It was worth the crazy drive!
Originally Posted By Tamazon19 When I worlked for the fire dept. I got to be Sparky the Fire Dog during the July 4th Celebration. It was near 104 degrees and people were coming to the first aid station with heat prostration. The fire dept. let me wear a vest with frozen fillers in it to keep me cool. It worked. I still filled my boots with sweat, but my core temp stayed fine (they checked me). Does Disney use anything like this for their fuzzy characters?
Originally Posted By HRM >>You can try out to be a Character Hostess<< hiddencat3 could you explain this CM role please? Thanx in advance! )
Originally Posted By hiddencat3 These are the people that help out the characters while onstage. They help guests take photos, help their character get backstage/onstage, form lines (you are only supposed to have a line if a Character Host/Hostess is with you) and just make sure the character is safe. The people I know who are Character Hosts really enjoy it.
Originally Posted By HRM Can a person request to be a Character Hostess?... also, due to "Hostess", is this role filled only, or mainly, by women?
Originally Posted By SuzyMouse They have special auditions for hosts. Often times they will hold host auditions the same day as atmosphere character auditions. On those days when people get cut from atmosphere auditions they are asked if they would like to audition for host (or you can choose to only audition for host). Hosts can be male or female.
Originally Posted By HRM >>They have special auditions for hosts.<< What special characteristics is Casting looking for regarding CM's to be a Hosts/Hostess? It was mentioned that a prospective CM has to "audition" for this role, why is that? (or is this part of the Disney-speak; i.e. Cast Member) Also, is a Host assigned to a specific character during the entire shift, or does this change frequently?
