Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "perhaps they should be doing something else." They are. In recent past some departments have had near 100% turnover rate. I don't know if things have changed since those rumors broke, but Disneyland is not a desirable job as it used to be. Many cast members are discovering that as we speak.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "To my way of thinking, it wouldn't take much to improve one's delivery just by listening to how Paul Frees did it; heaven knows they're a captive audience. Again, that's just my way of thinking." None of your ideas are particularly bad. But you say that cast members should do this and that. But the reality is that many start slacking off when they realize that Disneyland is not the great job they had anticipated. After a period of sub-par performance they finally put in their two-weeks notice. It happens to many cast members.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones The reality is that Disneyland doesn't respect labor as much as they used to. I wouldn't say there is a crisis right now, but things are definitely bad. Low morale, high turnover, and less community. In the end, what suffers is the show.
Originally Posted By oc_dean I wouldn't call myself a "Maynard Fan" (ie, one who follows him around like he's the equivalent of a major Hollywood star)... But I'll say this .... every time I see him .. I act with such humbleness in front of him. I've seen him at all the attractions that have been listed in this topic .. but for me .. It was his role as a Haunted Mansion CM that that did it for me! I was absolutely stoked at his amazing talents .. for that _specific_ attraction. He was meant for the Haunted Mansion! Tiki Room? No HISTA? No 50th Anniversary film? No Astro Orbitor???? HECK NO. I wish I could remember exactly what he did in the foyer and in the stretch room ... but what I do remember is he added to the attraction with PRECISION. And no .. he did not detract from it at all. I really wish they would put him back on the Haunted Mansion. And it is just utter bull that CMs should not "detract" .. but just do the same old spiel they do in their "half enthusiastic" way. Every now and again .. come those special people who love Disneyland so much .. that it is genuinely in their hearts to make each attraction they work just that much more special. They are not there for the money ... They are not there begrudgingly wishing they were somewhere else - they love their job! The guy is talented. He knows how to inject an attraction with an added "touch" ... as he did so well with the Haunted Mansion. Hey Maynard ... I'm hoping for the day you work the Haunted Mansion again. You turned it into an "E+" attraction. I'm sure you'd make a great skipper on the Jungle Cruise, as well!
Originally Posted By oc_dean And to Maynard's defense ... I've never known anyone in my hundreds of visits starting at the age of 4 in 1968 .. where a CM cared for his job that much that he wanted to make it as entertaining as possible. It's too bad Disney does not reward CMs when they go the extra mile. Anyone who follows the many quotes of Walt Disney would recognize ... the employees of the park are just as much an intregal part of the entire THEMED ENTERTAINMENT "landscape" as the rides are. As someone already mentioned .... CM stand for something: CAST Members ... And for those who are not entirely happy with the way TDA is treating you ... I really feel for you. Disneyland management does not treat the CMs as good as they should ....... but please don't spoil it for those still have in within their hearts to go the extra mile. Like Maynard. Too bad there aren't more Maynards around the park though. As Disneyland is a "stage" when you really think about it..... It's those "live" improvisations that make the Disneyland experience more "alive" .. more repeatable .. with a breath of spontaneously. I don't have any "Walt" quotes in front of me ........ but I'm sure there are a heck of a lot of them to support my discussion here!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo oc_dean - I think i would very much enjoy HM Maynard, and I bet he would make a great JC Skipper too. I remember one skipper who worked the JC when I was little. A pudgey blonde guy. I believe he went off to work with computers, toys, bugs, monsters etc. He knew how to put on a show! To me the Jungle cruise (and Storybookland Canal boats) are awesome if you get a cast member into it.
Originally Posted By danyoung >"I'm sick of CMs with *zilch* personality begrudgingly telling guests to move away from the walls in HM stretching room, or whatever."< I've watched this over the years, and it's my opinion that most CM's simply don't know how to properly act "dead". They do try, but it comes out as bored. It's a fine line, and many CM's just don't have the acting ability to pull it off. >And it is just utter bull that CMs should not "detract" .. but just do the same old spiel they do in their "half enthusiastic" way.< Nobody in this thread wants CM's to be half enthusiastic. But there's a line that shouldn't be crossed. I'm betting that Maynard is indeed terrific in the HM. But running around the Tiki Room in the middle of the show? Simply not acceptable.
Originally Posted By Mickeyfan1 <It's too bad Disney does not reward CMs when they go the extra mile.> Oh but they do. It's called the "Spirit of Disneyland" award and believe me it is a very special award to receive. You are nominated by your fellow Cast Members. I felt very honored when I received mine many years ago.
Originally Posted By DismayingObservation There you go. Sure, there are the turnovers that we hear so much about. My thoughts re. #62 are simply that those who are doing a shift in which you're doing something as repetitious as the HM spiel need to kick in the imagination just a bit. There are ways of disciplining oneself to get through the shift and maybe even have a bit of fun at the same time. The Jungle Cruise skippers seem to do it, even though the once-spontaneous "back of water" schtick is now scripted. If the delivery and timing are right, even the old "sleeping zebra" gag comes off funny. Since there's a fine line between sounding "dead" and "bored," I think it would be worth it for ANY Haunted Mansion stretching room operator to WANT to polish the delivery.
Originally Posted By carguy_16 I actually just got a call from my Mom just a couple of nights ago as she was taking her break back stage at d-land and she noticed Maynard taking a break and he was in Haunted costume. And I have never ran in to him in person but I have to say from what I hear about him he is a great cm and really believes in the Disney magic.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones " those who are doing a shift in which you're doing something as repetitious as the HM spiel need to kick in the imagination just a bit. " I don't know if they are enforcing this at Disneyland but WDI has clamped down on improvising at the Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion. Cast members are required to stick to the script and there are approved and forbidden lines that they are or aren't allowed to say.
Originally Posted By Aussie Obsession When he spoke with us at our meeting in Sydney, we did ask him his most rewarding time. His response was HM. He said that the HM allowed him to really get right into character and enhance the attraction for the guests. Maynard definitely seems humble about his opportunity to entertain in Walt's backyard, and does what he does not for his own benefit, but to try and entertain guests.
Originally Posted By oc_dean >>Nobody in this thread wants CM's to be half enthusiastic. But there's a line that shouldn't be crossed.<< If I may offer this "dismaying observation" ........ I think we also get a little too use to CMs just being "employees running a ride" to "performers participating in with the ride". I can remember a few cast members here and there on Star Tours who made me feel like I was actually at an airport type place actually getting ready to board a craft actually getting ready to blast off. Instead of ... "enjoy the ride". Isn't that why love Disneyland so much? We can talk about for days "Disney theme park design 101". Well ... the same philosophies should apply to actors/performers/whatever ..... Like an airline steward who is preparing you for your flight to the Moon of Endor ... and not just 'That ride on a simulator'. About Haunted Mansion CMs .. it's like Maynard set the standard the first time I saw him perform as an usher. There's such a thing as acting "dead" and getting into character .... And acting "dead" .. and feeling dead coming into work, wishing they were at the Huntington Beach barbecue party instead.
Originally Posted By DismayingObservation OC Dean, you just earned a gold star. That is the single best argument I've read on this thread. SpokkerJones' point on 72 is excellent as well, but even if there is a limit on what can and cannot be said, it is up to the cast member to say it each and every time as if it was the first time. I'm speaking as someone who really does have to play to an audience on a daily basis. Mine is a radio audience, which is even more intimate than a group of Disneyland guests. If I'm having a rotten day, I absolutely cannot let it show and yes, I have had some rotten days and yes, sometimes it does bring down my energy, but not to the level of droning through the day while waiting to hit that barbecue. For that matter, a lot of what I say is repetitious. I might promote something four or five times in a shift, but few people are listening for that entire five hour shift; the audience is constantly changing. Ditto with Disneyland and if any CM agrees to take a job which involves that level of guest interaction, they need to be in character at all times.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones "I'm having a rotten day, I absolutely cannot let it show and yes, I have had some rotten days and yes" Actually, I like radio shows where the host can let it show. As you say, radio is an intimate forum and restrictions on your format by the program director may hinder your ability to connect with your audience. But that's a whole other discussion altogether. "Ditto with Disneyland and if any CM agrees to take a job which involves that level of guest interaction, they need to be in character at all times." I agree that they need to be in character at all times, but the reality is that they aren't. Real wages offered by Disneyland have gone down over the years while the cost of living and the bull you have to put up with to work there has gone up. Nobody sets out to deliberately do a bad job at their Disneyland job. But for a period of time before they quit and after they've become disenchanted with the place their performance may suffer. Even the most hardened Disney dreamer may become disenchanted when their effort goes unnoticed and nobody cares about their enthusiasm.
Originally Posted By danyoung >Mine is a radio audience, which is even more intimate than a group of Disneyland guests.< I have many years of live radio in my distant past, so I relate entirely to what you're saying, DO. And I don't think anyone on this thread is arguing that CMs should drone on and be uninteresting. There's a work ethic, the whole concept of being "on stage", that is important to a Disney CM. Some get it, but sadly a lot of them don't. And the pool of workers that Disney can attract at low pay just isn't as large as it was back in the 50's and 60's. As far as Maynard goes, no one wants him or any other CM to bland up and just recite the words given to them. But IMO (and again I haven't seen him live but I've read many accounts of his actions) Maynard tends to overdo it, and that ain't good either.
Originally Posted By DismayingObservation You're both right, I fear. I'm glad that you can both relate to broadcasting! Getting back on subject, we have the reality: Low wages, high turnover. The result: What we've been discussing. Disney puts beaucoup bucks into the infrastructure but zilch into the labor pool. Another result: Lots of underperforming CM's and not a lot of Maynards. And you're right, Dan: He can overdo it which might actually be worse for those experiencing the attraction. Interesting topic, to say the least.
Originally Posted By courtneydisney I spotted Maynard just a few weeks ago MCing the Tiki Room show - he was as amazing then as when I first saw him at the Haunted Mansion 10 years ago!
Originally Posted By Clopin one of my favorite DL photos is my sister and I, outside the Haunted Mansion the first year it was decorated for Nightmare Before Christmas. We are standing with Maynard, and he is making a hilarious face and holding a Jack Skellington doll on top of my sister's head. classic! I think later that day, he had his finger puppets in the HM too. Hahahahahaha!
