Previous character performers or current. advice please :)

[Kayticheer101]

Hey guys. Im looking for people who have been or are currently a character performer Or If you have auditioned that would be okay too. I need advice and details on auditions..like hair, makeup, etc. Any details. How the audition goes? what is the setup? any thing would be greatly appreciated!! thanks

 

[Reinhart_x]

Ok Kayti, now I wasn't a character performer myself, but my roommate and a close friend both were, and 3 of my other roommates tried but didn't make it. They were all at the same audition and there were something like 3 or 4 different stages of the audition that you had to make it through. One was a choreographed dance you had to do, and if you did well enough, you moved on. I also know another one was they gave you emotions to act out and you had to do your best to show them that emotion without making noise. After all was said and done, out of 100 or so people, only my friend, my roommate and one other person made the cut. They all said it was pretty challenging, and I'm sure it was. I'm not trying to scare you or anything, just trying to help, scout's honor! Take care and good luck!

 

[Kayticheer101]

Ok Kayti, now I wasn't a character performer myself, but my roommate and a close friend both were, and 3 of my other roommates tried but didn't make it. They were all at the same audition and there were something like 3 or 4 different stages of the audition that you had to make it through. One was a choreographed dance you had to do, and if you did well enough, you moved on. I also know another one was they gave you emotions to act out and you had to do your best to show them that emotion without making noise. After all was said and done, out of 100 or so people, only my friend, my roommate and one other person made the cut. They all said it was pretty challenging, and I'm sure it was. I'm not trying to scare you or anything, just trying to help, scout's honor! Take care and good luck!

Thanks! thats helpful! Im hoping i make it otherwise im stuck with QSFB which i will be okay with but i would love being a parade performer or character performer!

 

[DisneyLover0526]

I was (and still am) a character performer =]...the audition is really simple....have your hair in a ponytail, so it can be out your face (you would be doing a lot of moving)...makeup..i wont wear it...you're going to be in a large room with at least 100 others...and it would get warm really quickly...the audition process is really easy...they would teach you the routine...and you would have to "act out" certain things...they would ask you to act out as if you're meeting a favorite Disney character...and act like you're really hungry...and you're eating something from the park....but these have to be BIG!!!! You're going to feel really silly doing it (the sillier...the better)....the sillier you feel...that means you're doing it right lol....

 

[Kayticheer101]

I was (and still am) a character performer =]...the audition is really simple....have your hair in a ponytail, so it can be out your face (you would be doing a lot of moving)...makeup..i wont wear it...you're going to be in a large room with at least 100 others...and it would get warm really quickly...the audition process is really easy...they would teach you the routine...and you would have to "act out" certain things...they would ask you to act out as if you're meeting a favorite Disney character...and act like you're really hungry...and you're eating something from the park....but these have to be BIG!!!! You're going to feel really silly doing it (the sillier...the better)....the sillier you feel...that means you're doing it right lol....

Aww thank you so much! I know that if you make it you get put into the character pool... and yo uhave to accept or decline right? how does that work.. if yo uaccept and then lose your job they gave you already but then dont get the part? What character are you? And what did you wear to the auditions? What kind of experience did you have going in?

 

[DisneyLover0526]

Aww thank you so much! I know that if you make it you get put into the character pool... and yo uhave to accept or decline right? how does that work.. if yo uaccept and then lose your job they gave you already but then dont get the part? What character are you? And what did you wear to the auditions? What kind of experience did you have going in?

No...if you don't make it...thats when they put you in a character pool...and your name would sit there until they have an opening for your height range.....and I'm what they consider "Mouse Height"...I'm 4'10...(you may not believe it....but I was actually one of the SHORTEST and SMALLEST mouse height person)...and because im so small...I'm able to do a total of 13 characters...im:

-Mickey Mouse
-Minnie Mouse
-Donald Duck
-Daisy Duck
-Lilo
-Stitch
-Piglet
-Jiminy Cricket
-Marie
-Annie
-Meeko
-Thumper
-Miss Bunny

For the auditions...i wore a black tank-top...black tights with black shorts over it....and sneakers...just something really comfortable that i was able to dance and move in...and I'm a theater major...i have been acting ever since i was about 3 years old....a gymnast since i was 6....and a dancer since i was 9....depending on your experience...the interviewer would determine if she thinks that you're a candidate for being a performer...and they would pass you to the auditions...oh wow...i almost forgot...how tall are you?? Your height is also important....depending on your height....it would determine if you have a better shot or a competitive shot at being a character (sorry if im scaring you)

 

[allicat1214]

DisneyLover: Can you clarify something?

Are the character performers and dancers (parade or show) in the same grouping?

My D wants to major in musical theatre in college; She has been dancing since she was 3, acting in community plays since 10.

She wants to do the CP and would LOVE to be a face character princess, but I believe her dancing skills would give her more opportunities as a parade or show dancer.

My D is 5'6" (and has a ballet dancer build - long and lean)....I know that means this is a common height and the competition is greater. But is there a height restriction for dancers?

Thanks!

 

[bellaDisneydncr]

DisneyLover: Can you clarify something?

Are the character performers and dancers (parade or show) in the same grouping?

My D wants to major in musical theatre in college; She has been dancing since she was 3, acting in community plays since 10.

She wants to do the CP and would LOVE to be a face character princess, but I believe her dancing skills would give her more opportunities as a parade or show dancer.

My D is 5'6" (and has a ballet dancer build - long and lean)....I know that means this is a common height and the competition is greater. But is there a height restriction for dancers?

Thanks!

It depends on the show. Dream Along with Mickey and Beauty and the Beast dancers are in a totally different category. They're covered under a union and have separate auditions. CP's cannot be in these roles.
Festival of the Lion King and parades are open to CP's, but it's rare that they get trained in these.

 

[PrincessMegan]

i was just wondering the reason for cps not often trained for parades and shows? If a cp kicks butt at the auditon fits the role perefectly and there is room in that specific role can they still be denied just for the fact that they are a cp?

 

[QueenofPrideRock]

i was just wondering the reason for cps not often trained for parades and shows? If a cp kicks butt at the auditon fits the role perefectly and there is room in that specific role can they still be denied just for the fact that they are a cp?

From what I understand, it's not just because you're a CP - it's all a numbers game. If you rock the audition and they need dancers and performers for something, you're all set. If you rock the audition but all the parades are staffed, you're out of luck. Hopefully someone who knows for sure can clarify!

 

[MaryPoppins86]

Adding to QueenOfPrideRock comment; I've heard that sometimes cper's aren't because they're not there long enough to be in the show or parade. It's like training someone to do something and knowing that person will only be able to perform in that particular show/parade for a very short time. Then they'll have to find/train someone else for that spot once that cper leaves. Hope I'm making sence.

 

[bellaDisneydncr]

i was just wondering the reason for cps not often trained for parades and shows? If a cp kicks butt at the auditon fits the role perefectly and there is room in that specific role can they still be denied just for the fact that they are a cp?

It's not totally impossible for a CP to be trained in a parade. I've known of CP's who have. A friend of mine did Fall and she got trained in the Christmas parade.

From what I understand, it's not just because you're a CP - it's all a numbers game. If you rock the audition and they need dancers and performers for something, you're all set. If you rock the audition but all the parades are staffed, you're out of luck. Hopefully someone who knows for sure can clarify!

Adding to QueenOfPrideRock comment; I've heard that sometimes cper's aren't because they're not there long enough to be in the show or parade. It's like training someone to do something and knowing that person will only be able to perform in that particular show/parade for a very short time. Then they'll have to find/train someone else for that spot once that cper leaves. Hope I'm making sence.

Yep and yep. lol Both of these are the biggest reasons why CP's don't get trained.

 

[DisneyLover0526]

It depends on the show. Dream Along with Mickey and Beauty and the Beast dancers are in a totally different category. They're covered under a union and have separate auditions. CP's cannot be in these roles.
Festival of the Lion King and parades are open to CP's, but it's rare that they get trained in these.

Bella...you actually have them backwards..Dream Along with Mickey...you don't really need to be in the Union for that...i know a couple of dancers who performs in that show that aren't part of the union....and depending on how good you are..CP's can actually be in that show...my friend was friends with Minnie Mouse and was a CP in the show....Festival of the Lion King on the other hand...CP's cannot be in that show because the entire cast is STRICTLY people from the Union....they are all equity...most shows on Disney property...CP's dont usually get trained in....CP's have a higher chance of learning seasonal parades than shows

 

[DisneyLover0526]

DisneyLover: Can you clarify something?

Are the character performers and dancers (parade or show) in the same grouping?

My D wants to major in musical theatre in college; She has been dancing since she was 3, acting in community plays since 10.

She wants to do the CP and would LOVE to be a face character princess, but I believe her dancing skills would give her more opportunities as a parade or show dancer.

My D is 5'6" (and has a ballet dancer build - long and lean)....I know that means this is a common height and the competition is greater. But is there a height restriction for dancers?

Thanks!

yes...character performers and dancers are in the same grouping....and no...there isn't a height restriction for dancers...

 

[bellaDisneydncr]

Bella...you actually have them backwards..Dream Along with Mickey...you don't really need to be in the Union for that...i know a couple of dancers who performs in that show that aren't part of the union....and depending on how good you are..CP's can actually be in that show...my friend was friends with Minnie Mouse and was a CP in the show....Festival of the Lion King on the other hand...CP's cannot be in that show because the entire cast is STRICTLY people from the Union....they are all equity...most shows on Disney property...CP's dont usually get trained in....CP's have a higher chance of learning seasonal parades than shows

Dream Along dancer auditions are usually held separately according to disneyauditions.com and they always say that those dancers are covered under Actors Equity. I just meant the dancers- characters I know are not under Equity.
I knew the two birds from Festival were covered in equity, but I didn't know the other dancers were. I think that's because previous auditions had them in auditions that weren't strictly dancer auditions.
Actually I just checked the website and Festival dancers are being looked for at both Equity and non auditions. Dream Along dancers are only on the equity audition.

I know you're probably a better source for this than me, but I'm just going by how the audition website puts it.

 

[dancer_mom]

Hey guys

Just weighing in with my 2 cents

I was a CP Character Performer for Fall Advantage 2006

I was trained in MK day parade, Spectro, and Mickey's Twas (Christmas show that is now retired)

I was always fur but got to dance in each of these parts

Sometimes I still worked regular meet and greet shifts but not often.

I agree it is a numbers game... I am a trained dancer however I fell into a great height range and because of this was highly useful to them in parades as I could do many roles. Also I did the advantage program - I knew very few - I would say close to zero CP's that got trained in parades and shows who did programs shorter than this.

Some advice for the auditions - SMILE big time when dancing and have a LOT of fun with the acting bit. I always tried to make my 'pantomime' stand out by doing something silly or funny.

It was an awesome gig... HARD work and many people get very negative but I had fun and kept my spirits up and really enjoyed the work.

 

[Kayla0929]

Would you say that if a CPer is auditioning in general to be a character performer, not necessarily in parades and shows, but applies for just the fall program that they are less likely to be hired in a role than FA?

 

[QueenofPrideRock]

Would you say that if a CPer is auditioning in general to be a character performer, not necessarily in parades and shows, but applies for just the fall program that they are less likely to be hired in a role than FA?

Not necessarily. In fact, for the Fall 2008 program many performers had to be switched to fall because advantage was full!

 

[Firedad]

My 15yo DD has caught the Disney bug from me. I told her about the different college programs and she is now really excited. She is very involved with anime, making her own costumes and cosplaying (costume playing). She has won several contests so dressing up wolud be right up her alley. At 5' I guess she is a good height. The one thing she has not done is dance. She is not uncoordinated but is unsure about the dance moves during the audition. Does she need some lesson since it will be a little while anyway, or can she just follow directions well? Thanks

 

[Kayticheer101]

No...if you don't make it...thats when they put you in a character pool...and your name would sit there until they have an opening for your height range.....and I'm what they consider "Mouse Height"...I'm 4'10...(you may not believe it....but I was actually one of the SHORTEST and SMALLEST mouse height person)...and because im so small...I'm able to do a total of 13 characters...im:

-Mickey Mouse
-Minnie Mouse
-Donald Duck
-Daisy Duck
-Lilo
-Stitch
-Piglet
-Jiminy Cricket
-Marie
-Annie
-Meeko
-Thumper
-Miss Bunny

For the auditions...i wore a black tank-top...black tights with black shorts over it....and sneakers...just something really comfortable that i was able to dance and move in...and I'm a theater major...i have been acting ever since i was about 3 years old....a gymnast since i was 6....and a dancer since i was 9....depending on your experience...the interviewer would determine if she thinks that you're a candidate for being a performer...and they would pass you to the auditions...oh wow...i almost forgot...how tall are you?? Your height is also important....depending on your height....it would determine if you have a better shot or a competitive shot at being a character (sorry if im scaring you)

Im 5'2 so not in the height range really. :/ Iv been a cheerleader and gymnast all my life.. and have had some dance experience. What should I do to prepare like dance wise? What steps should I know etc?

What roles should i practice before hand and should I bring a resume or head shot??? What shoes also should i wear?? Sorry thats alot of questions.