Anyone know a CM???

[DeniseD]

I need a little bit of help with a debate. We are trying to figure out how much face characters and performers make. My friend was a character but, she was on a student program and made minimal $$.

My guess is that they are not paid very well. Although they should be. Performers in the Lion King and Beauty and the Beast are fabulous. I was just wondering if they are well paid.

Sorry if I'm posting on the wrong boards. I thought you all could help!!

 

[eeyore29]

Here are 2 threads that I've learned some behind-the-scenes scoops from:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=612024&highlight=+Character++Salaries

and

http://www.disboards.com/showthread...ght=+Observations++on++character++performance

Hope you find what you're looking for!

 

[JinniLynn33]

this guy I work with want to be a CM but he said the pay isnt that great, like 8 or 9 bucks. Myabe that is just if you ar e in a suit, not like Cinderella or a show person............who knows

 

[GQQFY]

The Characters are Union (Teamsters) and their pay is negotiated with each contract renewal. They get very nice bonuses around the holidays due to the number of hours they will be working. Face Characters get a premium on top of the contracted pay rates (which vary by length of service). But remember, Face Characters must also be able to perform fur Character roles. I know some are making over $13 p/h with all of the add-ons that are possible.

GQQFY

 

[DeniseD]

Thank you for all of your help!! Thanks for the links eeyore29.

I would do it for free just to experience the magic of it all. And also to get down in those tunnels. Do you think that would ruin it?

Another funny thing that my friend told me was that none of the CMs are allowed to fuss over any of the celebrities. She worked there during soap weekend and is a huge GH fan. There were told that if anyone was caught trying to get autographs or bothering them underground they would be fired.

 

[MyGoofy26]

Yeah Disney is pretty serious about how to treat celebrities. Absolutely no autographs or pictures, and don't treat them any different than any other guest. They're on vacation too and Disney wants them to feel comfortable - they can't control how the other guests treat celebs, but they can control the CMs.

I worked at MGM a few years ago on the College Program. I was there during Super Soap Weekend. I had no idea who most of the people I ran into were so this woman that was standing by my cart was "teaching" me as people walked by. Susan Lucci did walk over to me as she was passing by to say hello - completely unprompted, I thought that was so nice of her to walk out of her way to say hi. Then some guy came over to buy a Santa Pooh hat. I knew he he was an actor (he had "the look" and a Disney VIP tour guide with him, LOL - that vest is Disney code for "be nice to this person with me!) but had NO idea who he was (and my little coach had since left, LOL) He brought the hat over, all embarrassed and had to tell me, "it's not for me." I started laughing and just nodded my head giving him an evil grin, "mmhmm, sure - do you know how many times I hear that a day?" He started stuttering and laughing, "no I swear! It's not for me!" I just started ringing it up and said, "let me guess, it's for a little kid back home?" He kept laughing, "it is! really!" He ended up sticking around for another 10 minutes or so to chat with me until the woman I was breaking came back. It wasn't until later that night when looking at my friend's pics from the day that I found out it was the guy who played Lucky.

My biggest challenge came when Steven Tyler walked into my store. Takes someone big to get me starstruck and I HAD to at least say hello or I'd regret it. So I'm trying to figure out my plan of attack (this was right before park close so the store was empty) and people are walking through and leaving so I'm saying goodbye and telling them all to have a good evening and then he walks around the corner and almost bumps into me so that was my shot, I said hello to him and he smiled and said "heyyyyy!" right back (in that classic Steven Tyler voice) After he walked away I looked up and 3 of the people I was working with that night were staring wide eyed. When he finally left the store a minute later one of the guys just dropped his jaw, "oh my god - Steven Tyler just said hello to you!"

So yeah - you can discreetly be a "fan" at Disney, but no special attention!!

Carrie

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Cast members are not allowed to approach a celebrity guest and ask them for an autograph. However, if the celeb offers an autograph with no prompting, then we're allowed to accept it.

Legend has it that on one visit to the parks, Robin Williams was a bit mystified as to why no CMs had asked him for an autograph. He asked someone, and learned the answer. The next day, he came back with a stack of autographed photos, just to give to the CMs.

 

[GQQFY]

If you want to "get down into those tunnels," take a "Keys to the Kingdom" tour!

GQQFY