Originally Posted By retlawfan I was at DL today and got this info: They are "Shutting down" the Dans for about a month while the park auditions new performers. The current Dapper Dans will be auditioning, but there is no guarantee the current cast will be the returning cast. So, the park WILL have some form of Dapper Dans sometime in the future, but since noone really knows why they are doing this it's hard to tell WHO will be there. It this happening because of money concerns or creative concerns? The make up of the "New" Dapper Dans will vary depending on how that question can be answered.
Originally Posted By Hound Thanks for the update, Retlawfan. I guess we will just have to wait it out unless someone can get some "inside" information.
Originally Posted By DlandDug The Dapper Dans themselves were mum today... and you gotta respect that they will be so when they are on stage. Other cast members were frankly aghast at the news that the Dans last day is March 25.
Originally Posted By ChurroMonster The Dans' last day is not 3/25. That is simply the day the guys who portray those characters have their contract expire. Auditions are being held to replace their parts in the show (and the current performers are definitely in a good postion to win their jobs back)and those parts will be filled by talented performers who accept the money Disney is willing to pay.
Originally Posted By Mr X >>>They are "Shutting down" the Dans for about a month while the park auditions new performers. The current Dapper Dans will be auditioning, but there is no guarantee the current cast will be the returning cast.<<< Thanks for the info. >>>The Dans' last day is not 3/25. That is simply the day the guys who portray those characters have their contract expire. Auditions are being held to replace their parts in the show (and the current performers are definitely in a good postion to win their jobs back)and those parts will be filled by talented performers who accept the money Disney is willing to pay.<<< What "characters" are you talking about? We're not talking about Mickey Mouse here (or whatever short girl fits into that suit), we're talking about talented performers who are being screwed out of a job! Who the heck are YOU to be commenting about "replacing their parts in the show"?? And for what reason? Are you a Disney representative? Or just a callous human being in general? You make me sick!
Originally Posted By Mr X >>>and those parts will be filled by talented performers who accept the money Disney is willing to pay.<<< I sincerely hope this bites Disney right in the butt (I'd use the other word, but I don't wish my posts here to be erased, they are too important). It's happening right here in Tokyo right now. Many performers are being screwed out of money (most have said "sayonara" to Tokyo Disney), some outright fired (too bad for the guests), and others have been asked to stay after being asked to leave (and, to their credit, they said "no). So, I hope very sincerely that Disney loses the Dapper Dans (and if you guys are reading this, I will work hard to find work for you OUTSIDE of Disney if you are interested...), because SOME talented performers don't like to, or need to, or deserve to, be *messed* with, thank you very much. =if you haven't figured, replace *messed* with the appropriate word=
Originally Posted By Mr X >>>That is simply the day the guys who portray those characters have their contract expire. Auditions are being held to replace their parts in the show<<< Gee, ChurroMonster, since you know so much, has this ALWAYS been something that has happened when the contracts expire? Just curious (since you seem to know so much about what's going on and all)...???
Originally Posted By DlandDug Mr. X, with all due respect, I think you are overreacting here. I know the cavalier treatment of the talented cast at TDL has been unnerving. But churromonster was simply stating the bald facts (as he sees it). The Dapper Dans ARE portrayed by performers. They ARE characters on Main Street. And when their contract is up, the Resort has legitimate options. We may disagree with the way they choose to explore them, but that doesn't make them any less legitimate. OK?
Originally Posted By trekkeruss You could think of it like a sports team, or an even better example, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Every season, they hold auditions for a new squad. Veterans don't get a free pass; if new talent comes along that are deemed better than those that performed in the past, those new gilrs get the job. The pay doesn't change, or go up; it's a job to be fought over as it is.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>The Dans' last day is not 3/25. That is simply the day the guys who portray those characters have their contract expire.<< So they aren't employees. That explains a lot. Having a contract isn't so bad. At least you have guaranteed employment for a period of time, which is more than most people (who are "at will" employees) have.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA APOILER ALERT - CRITICAL THINGS BEING SAID ABOUT DISNEYLAND BELOW. Mr. X, I'm an actor myself. Among other gigs I've had, I've worked Disneyland Entertainment. My wife was a Dickens Caroler for 12 Christmas seasons. The only reason I say this is so you know where I'm coming from. Disneyland is a really fun place to work. It just is. The guests are very enthusiastic and it's fun. At the time I was there [1996 and 1997] the management who were running Disneyland Entertainment, and the casting people, were, for the most part, not terribly good at their jobs. Casting reps in the real world [those I've met while auditioning for commercials or movies or TV shows] I could develop actual working relationships with. At an audition in Hollywood, I've walked in and it's 'Hey Jim!' and 'Oh hi, Carol, I didn't know you were working on this show.' 'Yeah, I finished up on the movie, so now I'm here' You know, conversation. chit-chat. I know Carol, she knows me, and we talk. For some reason, at Disneyland, they seemed to feel that they're not allowed to do that. There seems to be this need to ‘level the playing field.’ As if, by acknowledging me, and knowing who I am, and that I worked the Christmas Parade last year, that I have an ‘edge.’ Well, yes, that is true. I do have an edge because I know the routine for the parade. Doesn't mean they're required to hire me. But they can know who I am. I worked the Christmas Parade in 1996 as one of the singing carolers. We held microphones, part of the 'Scrooge and Marley' float, and were a specialty group, and were getting paid more. My point is, we were 'different' than the other parade performers. The following year, I came back [of course I had to audition again], the same people who had cast me the year before, acted like they didn't know me. I mean, not even a glimmer of recognition. And maybe they didn't. But what the heck? There were 12 of us in this specialty group. Seemed pretty memorable to me. My wife worked with a guy -- they were both in the Dickens Caroling group -- and when he 'moved up' to management and began casting, he sort of pretended that he wasn't friends with her at the audition. It's the most bizarre thing I've ever seen. During the Christmas parade, Casting approached me and asked if I would like to learn the part of John Smith in 'The Spirit of Pocahontas.' I agreed, and learned the show in a day, came to do the show on Christmas day, Dec 26th, and Dec 27th. A month later, when the updated cast list was issued, my name was just not there. No explanation. No reason. I had to make phone call after phone call. I had to track down a person who could tell me why I wasn't on the 'sub' list any more. Had I done something wrong? Were they unhappy with my performance? The reason is still unclear. Something about ‘We think you’re terrific, but at this time we don’t feel there’s room for you.’ The short end of the story. I would never work Disneyland Entertainment again. Neither would my wife. I think they treat their performers poorly, and who needs the aggravation. Now that said, I don't think performers deserve any special treatment just because they're performers. But there is a feeling that you're being jerked around a bit. But Mr. X. if Disneyland wants to re-audition for 'The Dapper Dans' it is certainly their option. I don’t feel that those 4 current guys should be coddled or treated with special care just because they’ve been there. And don't think they don't know the realities of working at Disneyland. These guys aren't stupid. I would guess that their experience is very much like mine.
Originally Posted By coaster53 I agree with Jim's statements. I don't think the current four guys are unaware of the attitudes toward performers at the Park. The thing that has not been mentioned is the skill level that comes from being in front of an audience for years. I am sure there are things the current boys know an understand only because of their experience. These can be relearned by others, but why reteach them. My question: Why throw the baby out with the bath water? If it works, why fix it?
Originally Posted By Boo Wow, Jim in Merced. Thank you so much for that real behind-the-scenes info. I have always enjoyed your posts and really appreciate you sharing this experience. And hooray for your wife! - the Dickens Carolers were one of the best parts of the Christmas season. I am a singer, too - just finished a trip with my chorale to Carnegie Hall. And a former costumed chaaracter actor (non-Disney). I understand what you are saying about those weird management vibes that don't promote camaraderie and honor humanity. I've been reading these posts with a heavy grieving heart, but with your insights, I've changed my mind. If that's the way Disney Casting treats their people, then this current crop of Dappers may be better off moving on to gig with a more appreciative management. They do know that they've been beloved by their Main Street audiences. Entertainers live for that loving feedback, and take it one day at a time, knowing that the business is ephemeral.
Originally Posted By HRM Echo Boo's comments - props to you Jim; your Posts always have the maturity of experience, thanks for your input... Many work places have individuals who are unprofessional in their Human Relation Responsibilities toward employees; it is just unfortunate that this behavior affects other people's lives and livelyhood.
Originally Posted By Mr X >>>I've been reading these posts with a heavy grieving heart, but with your insights, I've changed my mind. If that's the way Disney Casting treats their people, then this current crop of Dappers may be better off moving on to gig with a more appreciative management.<<< I agree. Jim, I do understand your points very much (and I can sympathize with your feelings quite a bit as well), as well as everyone else's points since my last post (I still think that Churro was very callous, I haven't changed my opinion about that)... As I, too, have Disney experience, I've just seen too many instances like this one where some pencil pusher decides to try and save a few bucks. In general, it blows up in their faces. Great example...a while back TDL fired the Sax 5 quintet and hired a group of very young, very green, very cheap replacements. Well, a suit from America came in and said "no, those guys are unacceptable, what were you thinking firing the old guys?". So TDL fired the new kids, and begged the old guys to return (when an American suit says "jump", they say "how high). The leader of the old group demanded raises and got them for all 5 members. So, some idiot trying to save a few bucks ended up 1) effecting the lives of 10 people in a negative way, 2) making the company look like fools for hiring bad talent, and 3) costing the company more money in the long run. Of course, he got a promotion.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>I've been reading these posts with a heavy grieving heart, but with your insights, I've changed my mind. If that's the way Disney Casting treats their people, then this current crop of Dappers may be better off moving on to gig with a more appreciative management.<<< The only problem is that there is a limited demand for barbershop singers in everyday life. Unless they can get a job with "The Music Man" road show. They are left with one night stands in small venues. For everyone of the members of the "Dans" there are probably thousands of Dapper wannabees waiting to take their place. That type of harmony has fallen out of favor in our "cool at all costs" society and I, for one, hope that Disney doesn't stop the show completely. Remember they, in all probability, have signed agreements with Disney that they will not carry the name Dapper Dan after leaving Disney so recognition would be tough also. I wish them luck and hope that they can be successful with a new audition. My thinking is, however, that there might be some problem within the group that is forcing Disney's hand to audition, if that is the case. Or by the looks of the pictures posted they are getting older and not so slim anymore and therefore are projecting the wrong "image". I sincerely hope this is not the case, but stranger things have happened. The beautiful people reign!
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>Of course, he got a promotion.<< Sounds like corporate Japan works much like corporate America.
Originally Posted By monorailblue Re #117: Last summer, the Barbershop Harmony Society (i.e., the world's largest Barbershop organization) held their national finals in Salt Lake City. I was able to sing in the 'showcase'/'host' choir the evening before the semi finals. Let me just assure you that, though there may not be a lot of money-making to be had, barbershop singing is thriving. I could not believe the number and caliber of groups represented, and each from some nether region of the country. There are literally hundreds of thousands of BHA members worldwide, and it is growing fast. There are groups from every part of society, from inner city to rich-kid digs. It was simply amazing. Now, to be truthful, the 3 1/2 hours of competition that night were LONG. The music-making was phenomenal, but also exhausting. In any event, the DDs might not have many lucrative opportunities to walk into, but they certainly have a vast social network out there. And, I'm betting any of them could coach or direct groups, ensembles, or choirs, and I'm also betting that, individually, they could each pursue show-singing opportunities. My experience has been that a top-notch barbershop singer just has to be a top-notch singer in general. Just my observations; all the best to the Dapper Dans.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Just for the sake of accuracy the title of the organization is or at least was,..S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America. or, at least, that is what it used to be when I was a member over 40 years ago. Now that I think about it since the America part kind of limits its boundaries maybe they have changed it. Also these groups are amateur in status. They used to have to jump through hoops to get "donations" so they could retain that amateur status. So, if that is true, there is not much money to be made in it.
