Character Performer Auditions

[Eeyores Butterfly]

The dance and animation may not be the same every time. They do recycle them, so you may have similar scenarios, but I have been to many auditions (the color coding auditions are th same as the initial auditions in set up) and have never had the actual dance or scenario repeated. Also, they tend to conform to what the need is at the moment. The auditions you go to are open call which means that it's not just CPs. I know the call back movement audition last year was straight of FOLK because they needed to hire for it. The style of dance even in the first round may even correspond to an upcoming show or parade.

 

[krisTXyn]

wow, so reading over this has been really helpful
i'm hopefully applying for the spring 2010 CP, and at first i was going to try for DLR, but i've changed my mind, because from what i've heard WDW has MANY more open spots
but anyways
i have a question

i would LOVE to audition for character performer,
i'm about 5'7" if not a littleeee bit taller,
but i'm not really "thin"
i'm just guessing that this would be a problem.
i'm not extremely overweight, but it doesn't help that i don't have a "dancers body" i was a soccer player, goalie in fact. so i'm sure you can imagine.

i was interested in fur, because i've had expierence with that before. ( i worked a chuck-e-cheese for a little over 2 and a half years, so i'm used to animating my movements and acting out emotions and whatnot without saying anything) so hopefully i'll still be considered??

wow. that was long.
sorry

 

[Toffy]

^Haha, I'm talking to my friend who works at Chuck E Cheese right now myself who's also applying and he's thinkin' the same thing heehee!

My question of the day haha... I know pretty much what characters I am in the height range for (5'9"/5'10"), but I was wondering.... which heights are considered are "competitive" heights? I know there is special consideration for mouse, duck and goofy height, but I know some of the 5 foots are more "competitive" than others...

 

[MaryPoppins86]

^Haha, I'm talking to my friend who works at Chuck E Cheese right now myself who's also applying and he's thinkin' the same thing heehee!

My question of the day haha... I know pretty much what characters I am in the height range for (5'9"/5'10"), but I was wondering.... which heights are considered are "competitive" heights? I know there is special consideration for mouse, duck and goofy height, but I know some of the 5 foots are more "competitive" than others...

i believe the competitive heights range from 5'0/5'1 to 5'11/6'0

 

[Toffy]

^ahh I see... so basically anything that isn't duck/mouse/goofy height eh?

 

[Joanna71985]

^ahh I see... so basically anything that isn't duck/mouse/goofy height eh?

Yeah, pretty much.

 

[MarinaAndCharlie]

Is it beneficial to go to one of the earlier auditions? I'm in Seattle, do they save some spots for the later auditions or is it a first come first serve on the roles? I'm 5'6 so already in a competitive height.

Also an awkward question, while I am thin (size 6) I am pretty busty. Would that be a problem in the costumes?

They do save spots for later auditions but the main reason I auditioned at an earlier location was in case I didn't pass the audition. In my case, the application process was opened on January 20th. The first audition (Rochester) wasn't until March 20, two months later and Austin (where I live) wasn't until the end of April so that meant that there was basically three months where people were filling up my backup roles. I had very few backup roles that I wanted to do at the time so it was important to get the entire process over with early.

Your situation may be different. Is it more important for you to get to WDW that specific semester no matter what role you get or is it more important to make Character Performer no matter how many auditions it takes?

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Actually, it's 4'8"-5' (not 5'-5'1") and then about 5'11" +.

The worst height range for being hired is about 5'1"-5'5". Towards the lower end of that spectrum we just simplyh have more people than we know what to do with. 5'5" exactly is affectionately known as dead height.

ETA: As for not having a "dancer's body". Most people actually don't. There are quite a few overweight people in entertainment. The only way your body size will affect you is if you cannot fit into the costume, and you either have to be very overweight or have an abnormally large chest for a girl. Plus, the taller height ranges have more forgiving costume designs than the lower.

 

[krisTXyn]

Actually, it's 4'8"-5' (not 5'-5'1") and then about 5'11" +.

The worst height range for being hired is about 5'1"-5'5". Towards the lower end of that spectrum we just simplyh have more people than we know what to do with. 5'5" exactly is affectionately known as dead height.

ETA: As for not having a "dancer's body". Most people actually don't. There are quite a few overweight people in entertainment. The only way your body size will affect you is if you cannot fit into the costume, and you either have to be very overweight or have an abnormally large chest for a girl. Plus, the taller height ranges have more forgiving costume designs than the lower.

thanks i have hope now! lol

 

[DollfieDreams]

okay so, i started reading over everything and got pretty lazy in reading this entire thread. but i have some questions.

- my dream is to someday audition for cinderella (betcha havent heard that one before). i dont have to be in a parade or in a show, and id much rather do M&G's. i know its all about height (im 5'5 i should be okay...right?) but i was wondering if anyone knew the correct weight or measurements they are looking for? ive got a ways to go before i will be able to audition, but it would help with my goal if i knew.

- if i am planning to try and audition for M&G character (does that even make a difference?) do i have to be able to sing? edit: i will not be a CP, if this makes a difference.

- just being curious, what does it mean by 5'5 being a dead height? does that mean people that height really dont have a chance? and what do you mean by "competitive height"? what about eye colors/skin tone/etc? do they play a smaller or larger role in possibly being chosen?

thanks for the help and sorry if ive repeated questions. i was a PT CM at epcot for almost a year, so i know the disney-drill so-to-speak, but not when it comes to entertainment.

 

[Little_Mermaid]

I'm sorry if this has already come up(after reading through 20+ pages my eyes were starting to water), but I do have a question. Ideally, I'd like to start work in January, as a character. My problem is that I'm not sure when would be too late, or too early to audition. Due to school and work now(I'm finishing my AA degree), I can't move to Orlando until January, and I don't really live close enough to commute daily. Would applying in November be too early? ALSO- I'm not doing the College Program, if that affects anything. I am in college already and would like to keep with my current plan.
I'm also curious about Dollfiedreams question. I fall into "competitive" height (I'm 4'11"). What exactly is it? Am I competeing against more people, or for fewer positions?
:] Thank you!



And congratulations to everyone who's gotten in~

 

[MarinaAndCharlie]

- just being curious, what does it mean by 5'5 being a dead height? does that mean people that height really dont have a chance? and what do you mean by "competitive height"? what about eye colors/skin tone/etc? do they play a smaller or larger role in possibly being chosen?

Being a dead height most likely means that there's a ton of people out there with the same height so it's harder to find shifts in (or be cast in) and it might be that there are fewer characters in that height range as well. I'm not entirely sure.

I did read on here that for face characters they always have you wear a wig and colored contacts. I'm sure skin tone has a lot to do with if you're cast but its probably more to do with looking like the other girls who are friends with that specific character and not so much with the animation itself, although that's important too. If you're shooting for Cindy, I would look at pictures on Google Images and Flickr. You can do searches on both. That way you'll know what they're looking for. Being cast as a character, face especially, has a lot to do with who they need at that given time. Like, it may just happen that they're short on Ariel this fall but short on Cindy in the winter. If you don't get it this time and its something you really want, keep trying, because there are other factors out there besides just what you've brought to the table.

I'm also curious about Dollfiedreams question. I fall into "competitive" height (I'm 4'11"). What exactly is it? Am I competeing against more people, or for fewer positions?
:] Thank you!

You're not in competitive height, you're in the special considerations height range which means they actually need MORE of you! 1) Because its not a common height range and 2) because the mice and the ducks fall into that category and they are definitely among the most popular characters!

 

[Little_Mermaid]

You're not in competitive height, you're in the special considerations height range which means they actually need MORE of you! 1) Because its not a common height range and 2) because the mice and the ducks fall into that category and they are definitely among the most popular characters!

Oh! Okay. :] I must've misread a post or something earlier. Thank you!

 

[Melinda22]

They do save spots for later auditions but the main reason I auditioned at an earlier location was in case I didn't pass the audition. In my case, the application process was opened on January 20th. The first audition (Rochester) wasn't until March 20, two months later and Austin (where I live) wasn't until the end of April so that meant that there was basically three months where people were filling up my backup roles. I had very few backup roles that I wanted to do at the time so it was important to get the entire process over with early.

Your situation may be different. Is it more important for you to get to WDW that specific semester no matter what role you get or is it more important to make Character Performer no matter how many auditions it takes?

Now I have decisions to make. This is my only chance to do the CP since I am graduating this year. Going to Disney is more important than specifically being a character performer.

I minored in theatre and I have been dancing since I was 5 and have done character roles before. I always got casted in those types of roles because that is what I'm good at. I love performing more than anything else. But if I don't get casted, I would hate getting stuck in a role I wouldn't be happy doing or not get accepted at all! Especially since this is my only shot at this.

I have time to think about it. Maybe I'll just not audition, apply early, and try to get another role I would like. Then at the end of my CP, audition and see if I could extend. I have some thinking to do...

 

[MarinaAndCharlie]

Now I have decisions to make. This is my only chance to do the CP since I am graduating this year. Going to Disney is more important than specifically being a character performer.

I minored in theatre and I have been dancing since I was 5 and have done character roles before. I always got casted in those types of roles because that is what I'm good at. I love performing more than anything else. But if I don't get casted, I would hate getting stuck in a role I wouldn't be happy doing or not get accepted at all! Especially since this is my only shot at this.

I have time to think about it. Maybe I'll just not audition, apply early, and try to get another role I would like. Then at the end of my CP, audition and see if I could extend. I have some thinking to do...

Yeah this was the same trouble I had. I ended up going for the audition but I didn't pass, nor did I get accepted in any role, but I literally applied for character performer, hospitality, and merchandise. The later two I had zero experience in so I'm not really surprised. I had a tattoo on my hand so these were the only roles I was eligible for and I wasn't very enthusiastic about them.

I think you stand a good chance at passing the audition, but I also think getting accepted under the next best choice and then extending into entertainment would be safer. I don't really know what to tell you. I'm in sort of the same situation myself! Best of luck to the both of us I guess!

 

[Goofster18]

Dead height= pretty much no characters in that range. For example, i know a face performer who was fitted for pluto but because it bunched up too much around his ankles, he wasn't approved. So he attended and did his face thing. With face, you wear a wig yes and there are contacts you can get. some performers don't which is annoying because they are readily available and while may not be noticed by everybody, it could make a difference to a die hard fan and it jus makes the show that much better. so my little info tidbit.
Have a Magical Day!!!
Goofster18

 

[Melinda22]

Yeah this was the same trouble I had. I ended up going for the audition but I didn't pass, nor did I get accepted in any role, but I literally applied for character performer, hospitality, and merchandise. The later two I had zero experience in so I'm not really surprised. I had a tattoo on my hand so these were the only roles I was eligible for and I wasn't very enthusiastic about them.

I think you stand a good chance at passing the audition, but I also think getting accepted under the next best choice and then extending into entertainment would be safer. I don't really know what to tell you. I'm in sort of the same situation myself! Best of luck to the both of us I guess!

Thnaks for your help! Best of luck!

 

[QueenofPrideRock]

I'm not planning to audition until Fall 2010, but I was just curious if anyone had a clue as to which cities commonly pull for face?

I'm dangerously close to dead height but I'm still hoping that they might be in need of princesses... can't get it if you don't try, right?

 

[QueenofPrideRock]

Oops, double post!

 

[Berlioz70]

It's generally the larger cities - Chicago, New York... however, just because the specific location you audition at doesn't pull for face, they will still indicate on your form if they think you would be a good fit and then you'll get pulled when you check in.