Dapper Dans get their notice, last day is 3/25

Originally Posted By wonderingalice

^^ Take that "she" outta there where it doesn't belong.

And I'd like to add that Mr. Alice's piano focus for the last year - with Lisa's help - has been Scott Joplin's music.

 

Originally Posted By DlandDug

>>On crowded summer days, i would sit on that short brick wall behind the drummer...Aren't they also the band on the raft before the Fantasmic! shows?<<
This is the atmosphere entertainment in New Orleans Square. The River Rascals perform on the raft.

>>I'll tell you one thing i'll miss is sipping on my diet coke and listening to the dapper dans. Sitting there in new orleans square...<<
That's not the Dapper Dans. They perform exclusively on Main Street, except for special events.

>>Last time I was there [Main Street] we saw some folks shaking some kind of tubular bells contraptions - interesting, but ultimately less impressive than the 'dans'.<<
That WAS the Dapper Dans, performing on their set of Deagan Organ Chimes.
<a href="http://www.harmonize.com/DapperDans/deagan_organ_chimes/d_o_c_Main.htm" target="_blank">http://www.harmonize.com/Dappe
rDans/deagan_organ_chimes/d_o_c_Main.htm</a>

I was listening to them perform one day, when an elderly woman next to me turned to her daughter and said, rather matter-of-factly, "My father invented those things they're playing." Needless to say, I saw to it that the Dans met the woman after the set. Sure enough-- her father was the Deagan who invented and marketed the chimes.

Do bear in mind that the Dapper Dans are as much a concept as an actual quartet. There have been many, many performers in the group over the years. Even these days it isn't always the same four guys.

I am mostly concerned about two things. One, that the Dapper Dans are being eliminated. Two, even if Disneyland does simply hire a new group, that an important continuity will be broken.

In answer to the earlier question about the Dans current performing schedule, the most recent guide I have has them performing weekdays at 10am, 11am, noon, 1pm, 2:30, 4:30 and 5:30. I am distressed to find they are not listed in the web site entertainment right now.

 

Originally Posted By iluvdisneyland

"Unless they can sing, then the answer is yes. After the layoff, when the need for more custodials rises, they will be easier to replace than a performer."


I disagree. Most performers live on a "call-to-call" basis - meaning they take whatever they can, whenever they can, regardless of wages (most of the time). Do you know how many people audition for just one role in Characters? It's insane how many people turn out to fill one position.

How many people show up to fill 50 Custodial Guest Services roles? These are the Cast Members Disneyland desperately needs. No offense to the wonderful atmosphere, happiness, and music the Dapper Dans bring to you all, but we need people sweeping and selling churros and pushing buttons on attractions more.

 

Originally Posted By DLfreek86

:-(

 

Originally Posted By Mr X

>>>Arent the Trash Can Drummers all from the U.S.C. Band?<<<

No, they are not.

 

Originally Posted By Goofyernmost

The Dapper Dan's are on both coasts, not just Disneyland but WDW as well. It is the name that Disney chose for the quartet, not the other way around. The concept is what is being let go. Is it necessary to have them, I don't suppose so. Neither is the Castle at the end of the street. It is all part of the show. Take enough elements out and the show is gone.

 

Originally Posted By RAM1984

My letters and emails are on their way!!
THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Originally Posted By retlawfan

Thank you DlandDugfor the schedule information!

I'm packing my bags.

I'll be there next week.

 

Originally Posted By Darkbeer

Actually, you can find the Dapper Dans at THREE parks, Anaheim, Orlando and Hong Kong....

 

Originally Posted By fkurucz

>>I disagree. Most performers live on a "call-to-call" basis - meaning they take whatever they can, whenever they can, regardless of wages (most of the time). Do you know how many people audition for just one role in Characters? It's insane how many people turn out to fill one position.

How many people show up to fill 50 Custodial Guest Services roles? These are the Cast Members Disneyland desperately needs. No offense to the wonderful atmosphere, happiness, and music the Dapper Dans bring to you all, but we need people sweeping and selling churros and pushing buttons on attractions more.<<

I am not sayin that custodial CM's do not play an important role. But face it, we all know who the Dapper Dans are. Are there any "celebrity" CM's, other than the infamous Maynard?

Trith be told, it is the atmosphere in DL that makes it different from other theme parks.

My choice of custodial CM's was unfortunate. They perform a thankless job, but be honest, its is an unskilled job. If CM's are hard to hire (which they are) its only because Disney is paying very poor wages (overall) these days.

It is at times a sobering thought: while we all think of DL as a magical place, it really is just a business that is trying to maximize its profits.

 

Originally Posted By wendebird

>>Can anyone tell me what the schedule is for the Dapper Dans these days? Are they Mon-Fri?<<

From their web site: <a href="http://www.harmonize.com/dapperdans/dd_today/dd_schedule/dd_schedule.htm" target="_blank">http://www.harmonize.com/dappe
rdans/dd_today/dd_schedule/dd_schedule.htm</a>

 

Originally Posted By Mr X

>>>Most performers live on a "call-to-call" basis - meaning they take whatever they can, whenever they can, regardless of wages (most of the time).<<<

Wow, ILuvDisneyland, you are really taking this all the way arean't you?

If YOU expect people to appreciate and respect the "regular" cast members, maybe you should show a little more respect towards other people in the cast. You make it sound like performers are beggars, rather than professionals. I don't think you know the first thing about what being a Disney performer is all about, honestly. Sure, some may take "whatever they can, whenever they can", and that's fine. But, the fact is, they have a marketable skill that, yes, might meet with some heavy competition. That's the nature of the game, I suppose. And yes, some might settle for lesser wages. I resent those people, because they make it harder on the REST of us in the entertainment business that expect proper compensation for highly skilled and valuable positions. But, just as with paying less for custodial and all the rest, you get what you pay for. Disney goes cheap, the entertainment suffers. And maybe not so many people notice, AT FIRST. But eventually, you are left with less than you had before, and that lowers the "magic" for everyone. Nuff said.

>>>How many people show up to fill 50 Custodial Guest Services roles? These are the Cast Members Disneyland desperately needs.<<<

If they are so "deperate", all they need to do is pay 50 cents an hour more than the McDonalds down the street, and they'll have all the help they need.

They are not willing to do that, and so they get what they pay for. In the end, the guest suffers.

But, that's the same as cutting back entertainment and searching for "cheaper help", isn't it?

 

Originally Posted By iluvdisneyland

I have always shown respect towards my fellow Cast Members in the entertainment division, even with their complete lack of respect for any of the rules and policies of the park. But then again, entertainment is a different animal completely. There is a reason entertainment was allowed to bring a giant crane into the castle forecourt before the park had even been called clear to the hub prior to May 5.

We respect that they have a job to do as well. It is not just about entertainment. All departments and divisions are essential, and while some may argue that attractions is more important than Outdoor Vending or Stores, it's the money those departments make that go into refurbishments and wages, etc.

And it is the same with entertainment. It's a give/take relationship. Entertainment is part of the ticket price - our Guests expect quality entertainment, whether attractions or live performances, when they pay the $60 to enter the park. That money goes back into the park. But does entertainment or attractions make money as a department? The theoretical answer is yes, but they physical answer is no. Without the draw of attractions and entertainment, Guests would not come, but you do not pay to ride the Mad Tea Party and you do not pay to watch Aladdin.

But you do pay for a churro. And if enough Guests buy churros, the park makes millions more dollars that go back into the various departments and divisions.

I never said or implied that entertainment was not essential. Quite the contrary; Disneyland would not be the world-famous destination it is without it. But just as entertainment is essential, so are the Cast Members supporting that show. Who cleans up after the crowds watching "Fantasmic!"? Who pushes the button that sends the jeep through the Temple of the Forbidden Eye?

And the problem is we are sorely lacking in those roles. There is no shortage of artists willing to work at Disneyland, but there is a shortage of people willing to work in attractions or custodial.

Here the boards are in an uproar because four Cast Members have recieved their walking notices. Foods/Outdoor Vending lost 600 experienced Cast Members in the week of April 3, 2005. I told you all about it, but there was no uproar. Very few even cared, much less threatened angry emails and letters to any Disneyland mailbox, yet the services provided by those Cast Members was just as essential as that provided by the Dapper Dans.

What is 50 attractions cast members when compared to four entertainment cast members? Sure, the Dapper Dans are a part of the essential atmosphere, but what happens when we can no longer staff Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?

If I were in the position of the Dapper Dans, I would feel honored that so many felt so strongly about this that they would take the time to write to Disneyland management begging them to rethink this decision. It's just sad to me that the same group who would readily go out of their way to attempt to save a barbershop quartet could care less that all of the other essential operations departments or dangerously understaffed.

And sure you could say "employment is voluntary," but do you truly agree with that? Is that fair to the cast members who have had to or are still working mandatory six days and 70 hour work weeks?

 

Originally Posted By Mr X

>>>But does entertainment or attractions make money as a department? The theoretical answer is yes, but they physical answer is no.<<<

And you have just explained exactly WHY the suits kill all the expensive new attractions, and cut all the entertainment.

And does that make sense?

Theoretically, yes.

Physically, no.

 

Originally Posted By Mr X


>>>And the problem is we are sorely lacking in those roles. There is no shortage of artists willing to work at Disneyland, but there is a shortage of people willing to work in attractions or custodial.<<<

Like I said, ILuv, they could fix that problem in a New York minute if they were willing to pay just a LITTLE BIT MORE.

But they aren't.

So, don't blame entertainment.

Blame DisCo.

 

Originally Posted By Mr X

>>>Here the boards are in an uproar because four Cast Members have recieved their walking notices. Foods/Outdoor Vending lost 600 experienced Cast Members in the week of April 3, 2005. I told you all about it, but there was no uproar. Very few even cared, much less threatened angry emails and letters to any Disneyland mailbox, yet the services provided by those Cast Members was just as essential as that provided by the Dapper Dans.<<<

I do appreciate what you're saying here, bro.

I heard from an upper management guy recently "entertainment is the "face" of Disney", and that makes sense. And you can understand WHY people might be upset about a very famous Disneyland group being fired.

I mean, if they suddenly fired Mickey Mouse, how many internet emails do you think would be fired off in the next 60 seconds!!??

DOESN'T make what others in the company do less important, BUT it is less visible. AND, when people complain that a famous entertainment group gets fired, believe it when I say that HOPEFULLY a savvy management person will get the hint that firing the good people (custodial, entertainment, food and beverage, managers, WHATEVER) is not a good move. ANY outcry from fans of Disney is a GOOD thing, believe it or not. Sorry to say this, but in the real world noone is going to go balistic over the loss of some custodial staff...

BUT, like I said, it's a different situation. The simple fact is, if Disney wants to get good people, they can do it easily. Just pay better.

But, as I recently experienced in Tokyo, they couldn't care less about quality staff. They recently downed the entry level pay from 9 bucks an hour to 8. So what does THAT tell you about they suits' opinion of "regular cast"?

I understand your concern, but I think your resentment is misplaced.

I'm curious though (since I have friends in DL entertainment), what is the deal with "complete lack of respect for any of the rules of policies of the park"?

Are they just complete jerks or something?

Is that why you are defensive?

I can't really comment to that, unless you give me some more details. I CAN say that at Tokyo Disney Resort, the entertainment cast is VERY respectful of the rules and VERY supportive and thankful towards all the rest of the CM's...is it so horrible in Anaheim that you all hate the entertainment staff?

 

Originally Posted By mrichmondj

I wish this world was so simplistic that higher pay = better quality people = better performing people.

There are too many other dynamics that determine the makeup of a workforce. I don't in any way advocate that Disneyland employees should be paid the lowest prevailing wage, but I have serious doubts that raising the entry level wage automatically will result in some magical arrival of more skilled and motivated employees. The world just doesn't work that way.

The cutback of the Dapper Dans, if indeed this is a fact, is disturbing in that it probably represents further cost cutting ahead for the parks. The truth of the matter is that all of the Disney parks and resorts aren't anywhere near the profit producing machines that they were 10 years ago. Even with attendance rebounding in the past couple of years, it is obvious that the profit margins are still depressed due to rising costs of everything from personnel to gasoline.

For Disney fans looking for new attractions, profits can be very important. Since Disney doesn't expense capital expenditures (i.e. new rides/attractions) as operating expenses, the amount of profit is directly proportional to the amount of capital that will be availabe for new additions to the parks & resorts. Either that, or the company chooses to go into debt to fund new things. Historically, the company has only used debt instruments to fund the construction of entirely new parks, and operating profit has funded the other expenses.

 

Originally Posted By Big Thunder

bummer, I agree with Jim in Merced about the small financial impact of something like this termination. I felt the same way about Lagniappe [mime] which is "how much are they actually saving while sacrificing important atmosphere and entertainment. The Dans IMO are MAJOR atmosphere and add to what I think Walt wanted on Main ST USA.

The Dapper Dans have been around a long time, they are a tradition. One of my favorite things about them is when they break out their tandem bike [which is very rare the last few years] Someone wrote that we may see that bike sold on ebay. I would not be the least surprised. My friend is a collector of old Schwinn bikes and he was talking to the Dans a couple of years ago about it. He was going to try find someone who might help them. That bike is old and parts are very hard to come by. Imagineering has tried to fabricate some parts, and Disneyland has tried to source some original parts, they just dont exists, eventually that bike will die, and since nothing is sacred anymore, the theme seems to be... "put it up on Disney auctions and see how much those fanatics will pay for it"

 

Originally Posted By HRM

WoW, this is getting to be quite a thread!!

OK, let me see if I understand what will be happening... As of 3/25 there will be no more Dapper Dan type of entertainment at Disneyland?

Is this what is being stated?

 

Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA

WoW, this is getting to be quite a thread!!

OK, let me see if I understand what will be happening... As of 3/25 there will be no more Dapper Dan type of entertainment at Disneyland?

Is this what is being stated?>

That's what is not clear, HRM. At least for me. I could mean that this current group of quartet members is getting the axe and being replaced by 4 new members.

Or, it could mean that they're laying off the current group, only to rehire them at a later date.

Or, it could mean that the Dapper Dans are going away -- never to return.

It's unclear which is happening.