What do Performing Characters do the rest of the day

[jjb1974]

Everyone,

My wife asked me this question as the Trip Planner, and I had to admit I didn't know but found it fascinating, hoping someone can shed some light on it:

Let's say you're the 'main' Mickey at Fantasmic! You've got a performance at night, but what do you do for the rest of the day? Do characters in a show like that pull double duty elsewhere in the parks or are they performing talent that just does that show? I guess same question for the minor characters in that show, including the two other Mickeys that we see (and the assortment of costumed characters): are they all just there for a brief performance or do they have other duties?

 

[hiroMYhero]

Everyone,

My wife asked me this question as the Trip Planner, and I had to admit I didn't know but found it fascinating, hoping someone can shed some light on it:

Let's say you're the 'main' Mickey at Fantasmic! You've got a performance at night, but what do you do for the rest of the day? Do characters in a show like that pull double duty elsewhere in the parks or are they performing talent that just does that show? I guess same question for the minor characters in that show, including the two other Mickeys that we see (and the assortment of costumed characters): are they all just there for a brief performance or do they have other duties?

Character performers who are trained for shows are scheduled throughout the parks performing a variety of duties.

My CM friend can be out coordinating entertainment in AK and then move on to perform in Fant that night.

Her main role used to be Padawan by day and then befriending a mouse in Fant that night.

Disney ensures that their full-time show CMs are scheduled their hours and they utilize them wherever they are needed.

 

[ww52]

Wait - what are you implying about the characters? That somehow they aren't ....
Noooo!!!!

 

[ClapYourHands]

It seems like this would be dependent upon whether they are AEA or not, though. In the case of the characters, such as the Mickey in the OP's scenario, they wouldn't be Equity, so they could be used elsewhere pretty easily. But there are performers (like Festival of Lion King, Nemo, etc.) who are covered by the AEA contract. I can't imagine Disney wants to pay them Equity wages to float to another area of the parks. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, as I'm just going off what little I know about AEA.

 

[yesdnil]

There are also rehearsals, plus the time it takes to get in and out of costume, especially if wigs/makeup is involved.

 

[mom2rtk]

Let's say you're the 'main' Mickey at Fantasmic! You've got a performance at night, but what do you do for the rest of the day?

I think that's how Characterpalooza was born.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I used to know...ummm..a friend of Tinkerbelle's who was also a choreographer for entertainers. DS was...umm..Eeyore's friend, but he also played the trumpet in the flag retreat ceremony (back when they used live performers). A friend of his performed in the Festival of the Lion King show and worked backstage feeding animals when not performing. You'd be surprised at some of the working combinations.

 

[kimmar067]

....my DSs ex was Snow White, Rapunzel, and occasionally Chip for almost 3 years at WDW.....THERE WAS NO REST OF THE DAY! She usually put in 12-14 hour days.....

 

[GirlDreamer]

I think it all depends on their contract as well. I'm sure it was during the KTK tour they told us that Tinkerbell that flies in the fireworks at night (at least during Wishes) was the best paid performer on the park and that was all they did. The would come in, put their costume on, fly down the wire and go home and I think they said they get paid something like $400 per night. And some of them isn't exactly spring chickens either.