CP Character Performer Question

[LilDancinAsh89]

Hi There,
I am brand new to this board but I had a couple questions about the CP and so hopefully someone will be able to help me out! =)

I have been looking into the CP for Winter 2010 but I have always wanted to work down in Disney as a dancer/performer (I have had training in dancing, singing, and acting my whole life) I am wondering though if applying for a character performer would be the best route to take? I heard that it's mainly for the costumed characters (like the fur ones) and that's not really what I want to do, I would rather be a parade performer or even in one of the shows but is auditioning this way a good way to get my foot in the door and have it hopefully lead to more auditions? Or would it be better for me to forget the cp all together and simply go audition for WDW on my own (I heard though they aren't really hiring at the moment) Or would a third option be to try and apply for attractions and see if I could work at like the great movie ride or something like that where I'd at least get to deliver lines and interact with people?

I guess I'm just really confused overall with what exactly the cp is and any advice/help I can get I would really appreciate!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Goofster18]

CP is a good option!! 1st off, they aren't really hiring so no go there. second the shows and such are mostly equity actors so that doesn't really work. Even if you have a high color code, you still probably will not get cast in parades or shows. If you are a face character, then you do face and fur. At least when you do get fur, you can apply at the end of the program to go seasonal, and once in entertainment, you can go to recode sessions to try and upgrade your color codes, or reaudition for other openings. There are always flyers posted for new roles and auditions for shows and parade performers, etc. So at least you get there and are in, then you can try to go seasonal, reaudition, etc. worse comes to worse you have it on your resume. More and more people are having this on their resume when they apply to disney, but it is still almost a necessity to do a CP or careerstart program to get a job at disney. Just my 2 cents on the issue. Good Luck!!!
Goofster18

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

It really depends on what you are and aren't willing to do.

I did two performance CPs. It seems like every few years they go back and fort on training the CPs for the parades/shows. When I was there I was trained in 3 parades and 1 show and also performed untrained roles in two other parades. Since then, they have trained very few CPs. I sent a girl who had an extremely high color code (she was even called back for the higher movement) and although she was there over the holidays she was not trained in anything. I think she was kind of disappointed. If you are willing to do sets for several months with no guarantee of training, then entertainment is a good way to do.

The pros are that you will get your foot in the door and will become familiar to staging. You will also be able to attend staging workshops. In the past they have been what are called "color code" workshops which were designed to help you up your movement/animation score. They then went away from that and started doing workshops on very specific skills. It changes a lot so I can't tell you what it will be when you get there. I used to be a competitive dancer, but the kind of dancing you are dong may not be the kind they arel ooking for, and the benefit of these workshops is that they will teach you what Disney is looking for and you will get your name out to staging.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Now, here are the cons. You state that you do not want to be a character. That's fine, not everybody is cut out for it. But even if you go full time, you will first and foremost be a character. Although we have character performers who "move" (we cannot call it dancing as I will explain in a moment) in the parades and shows, many people spend several years in fur before they are trained for parades and shows, and even during that time they will perform sets. They may have roles where their face is showing, or they may do the parades and shows as characters. It is my opinion that if you do not want to be a fur character, you should not audition. That is what you will be doing. It is a very hard, phsyically demanding job. The rewards are wonderful, but honestly, the CP characters have enough of a reputation to fight. I worked with way too many who did not really want to do the job and they give us all a bad name. You will not be happy.

It sounds like what you want to do is equity. Any role that requires a certain level of movement (what we refer to as dancing), any live singing, or any acting is an equity role. There are equity auditions. Typically they have monthly open call auditions. They may also have specific auditions for specific shows. You do not have to be a character to audition for equity. In fact, none of the equity performers I worked with in Celebrate the Season were former characters. While some characters do successfully transition to equity, it was my experience that the vast majority were never able to. It is two very different skill sets. I would use the opportunity to do another role that you like (one that you will be happy doing) and then you can attend an open call audition while you are there.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Okay, now that I have given you the pros and cons. You asked what exactly is the CP.

Basically, the CP (or College Program) is a chance to work for Disney. You will work long hours for little pay, but it was honestly the best job I have ever had. You must be enrolled in college when you apply. You are able to go the semester after you graduate. You will choose roles that you are willing to perform (recommended to choose at least 3). They do your best to put you in your first choice and in my experience most people get their first choice. If you do attractions it will give you can request a role that has spieling but there are no guarantees.

My advice: Apply for the CP as something other than character performer. It's not necessary to do to make equity and will not really help you that much. Based on your post, I think you will be really unhappy as a performer. (Don't get me wrong, I loved it and my dream is to relocate there so I can teach full time and perform part time.) You only want to do parades and shows and the only way to do that is to become an equity performer. When you do that, you will have very little guest contact. Use this as an opportunity to work with guests.

I will say one other thing: My first program was attractions, and I'm very happy it was. While I loved being a character and it was my dream job, there is a lot of drama that goes into being entertainment. I caught a lot of flak for staging's decision to train me in so much and worked with some real drama queens. While it was and still is my dream job, I don't think I would have been as positive on the program if I had not had the attractions experience first. There is something to be said for experiencing it from the other side. While I loved being a character, I would still pick up shifts in my old area because it is nice to be able to talk to guests and interact with them in a different way. I don't think you will be disappointed if you decide to do attractions.

 

[DisneyLover0526]

CP is a good option!! 1st off, they aren't really hiring so no go there. second the shows and such are mostly equity actors so that doesn't really work. Even if you have a high color code, you still probably will not get cast in parades or shows. If you are a face character, then you do face and fur. At least when you do get fur, you can apply at the end of the program to go seasonal, and once in entertainment, you can go to recode sessions to try and upgrade your color codes, or reaudition for other openings. There are always flyers posted for new roles and auditions for shows and parade performers, etc. So at least you get there and are in, then you can try to go seasonal, reaudition, etc. worse comes to worse you have it on your resume. More and more people are having this on their resume when they apply to disney, but it is still almost a necessity to do a CP or careerstart program to get a job at disney. Just my 2 cents on the issue. Good Luck!!!
Goofster18

It honestly just depends...I'm a character performer for the college program...I have been up here for about 3 weeks, and I'm already in the process of being trained for ACG (a show in Animal Kingdom that closes the park)..and I have done the Welcome Parade in Magic Kingdom twice already (LOTS OF FUN!)...my color was pretty high (my options were nothing but parades/shows to choose from)...but I must say that the reason why I'm probably getting this good treatment is because I'm 4'9 1/2"...that height range is very needed for the company, since most of the characters are short....and I was just like you when I first started...I only wanted to do parades and shows, but being a fur character is LOADS of fun, and it helps get your foot in the door for parades in the near future.