[Question] Not Tiana. Not Amused...

[heffalumpy]

This is a rant so excuse me while I let rip...

So I went for a character/parade performer audition back in July and was lucky enough to get told that I had been successful!!! BUT WAIT! This is Paris isn't it? Along with everything else you guys know, the casting falls into the same category i.e. PANTS. So being "successful" means I was put on a waiting list for 6 months for a job to become available as "character only". The optimism waned after about two weeks...
Last week I got an email from the casting director saying they were recruiting for two new additions, Princess Tiana and Mulan. Great, I asked them to consider me for Tiana being as I am black and female ...so I get a reply saying "no we can't consider you because you don't have the dance level required for this role but thank you for being so patient and understanding while waiting for a position to become available".

Right...does that make sense to any of you? People who are interested in working and semi-eligible for working there are overlooked...and for WHAT??? Why don't they try hiring some of these people and teaching them what they want them to know??? The irony is...when you read the job/audition description part of it says "no experience required"

If he had said I was too fat and ugly(sadly I don't have pics on micechat to prove it) I wouldn't have minded but that I have to dance?????
I wasn't aware the princesses danced vigorously in such bulky dresses, to me, the thought is laughable! If you're Ariel how the hell do you dance at all, she has a TAIL/FIN(maybe not in parades)?

Even if they told me I was ugly I wouldn't believe their nonsense-make up works wonders for some of these people after all, they're being made to look like a CARTOON. I don't mean to sound big headed(I'm no stunner)! Just that for me, I thought the introduction of this new girl meant it would have been a good chance for me to work there as it would have added another potential role for me to play and opened up my options a little bit...

I really want to see who they take. Not that I'm saying it should have been me but it seems they take the p**s with employing people in general byt frequently advertising, auditioning and not actually hiring people. Its a waste of time and money. Don't try telling me it has anything to do with recession either, they're a multi billion dollar company and it seems they've treated people like this long before a crash in the economy.
Anyone ever tried out for it? Anyone ever heard that before that the Princesses must be able to dance? Is it the same at other parks? Have you witnessed any dancing among Princesses? Mind you they're a much smaller park so perhaps they're costcutting by recruiting an all-singing, all-dancing Mickey Mouse-come-Cinderella who can "bust a groove" like Michael Jackson.

I guess I will end up joining you all in finally thinking that DLRP...is a load of b******s...the tramps.

By the way if any of you feel you fit the description and are up for their ridiculous recruitment process, take a look at their website and send them your pic/CV(or PM me and I'll send you the adverts they sent). I hope to God someone out there at least gets lucky, seems you have to be GOD to work there...GOOD LUCK!

[poppy the monkey]

Re: Not Tiana. Not Amused...

Hey, I can understand you being upset.... I was put on the waiting list for 6 months before being offered a contract.

I had the same thoughts as you at the time... but after working in the parades for 2 and a half years: I can see their point. Whilst we don't do swan lake on the parade route... there is a "dance level" required to work here.... 85%+ of the cast in the parade have trained and graduated in dance etc....

The thing is... as for any of our princesses this is just a TINY part of the job... you spent most of your time in a character costume or dancing in the parades in other roles. Before you are hired they need to make sure that you are not "just a pretty face" and can also be used for other things - if you can't get approved for Flower Girl, Octopus, Mary Poppins show etc.... you'd not be as useful to the company as another girl, (perhaps less pretty, and dedicated.... however with more experience in dance)

It's unfair and frustrating... but it is a professional job, its not Butlins or Pontins and casting is a part of Disneyland Paris where the standards have, in general, been kept high.

Don't give up though, if you really want to work here, take some dance lessons, do other auditions for experience.... and if they offer you a "character only" contract take it - its a good way to get your foot in the door, and although you'll spend most of your time in Cafe Mickey and Lucky Nugget - its still alot of fun!

Good Luck!

[heffalumpy]

Re: Not Tiana. Not Amused...

Hey, I can understand you being upset.... I was put on the waiting list for 6 months before being offered a contract.

I had the same thoughts as you at the time... but after working in the parades for 2 and a half years: I can see their point. Whilst we don't do swan lake on the parade route... there is a "dance level" required to work here.... 85%+ of the cast in the parade have trained and graduated in dance etc....

The thing is... as for any of our princesses this is just a TINY part of the job... you spent most of your time in a character costume or dancing in the parades in other roles. Before you are hired they need to make sure that you are not "just a pretty face" and can also be used for other things - if you can't get approved for Flower Girl, Octopus, Mary Poppins show etc.... you'd not be as useful to the company as another girl, (perhaps less pretty, and dedicated.... however with more experience in dance)

It's unfair and frustrating... but it is a professional job, its not Butlins or Pontins and casting is a part of Disneyland Paris where the standards have, in general, been kept high.

Don't give up though, if you really want to work here, take some dance lessons, do other auditions for experience.... and if they offer you a "character only" contract take it - its a good way to get your foot in the door, and although you'll spend most of your time in Cafe Mickey and Lucky Nugget - its still alot of fun!

Good Luck!

Thanks Poppy I am annoyed but I totally accept their decision obviously I've never worked for them before and I don't really know what they look for and I've never tried for Butlins or Pontins. I don't really have a lot to complain about lol. Besides, I failed an audition last year so I do feel a little better knowing I passed this year even though it seems unlikely they'll give me a call back(!) I'm definitely not the prettiest face but not having dance experience probably doesn't work much in my favour either. Of course, I wouldn't mind to work and be friends with the costumed characters(lol at least you don't have to speak). I know its not easy to keep quiet though.
So if you're not a dancer and you get hired is there an opportunity to try and practice and improve your dancing so you can be considered suitable for parades? I hope you enjoy working there otherwise and continue to have loads and loads of fun
Thanks for your reply! x

[pluto_39]

Re: Not Tiana. Not Amused...

Good words of wisdom Tom!

But do remember, 'characters only' will be allowed on the All Star Train next year, so it's not just Lucky Nuggets and Cafe Mickey.

Ps Tom don't drink, I don't like you when your drunk!

Hey, I can understand you being upset.... I was put on the waiting list for 6 months before being offered a contract.

I had the same thoughts as you at the time... but after working in the parades for 2 and a half years: I can see their point. Whilst we don't do swan lake on the parade route... there is a "dance level" required to work here.... 85%+ of the cast in the parade have trained and graduated in dance etc....

The thing is... as for any of our princesses this is just a TINY part of the job... you spent most of your time in a character costume or dancing in the parades in other roles. Before you are hired they need to make sure that you are not "just a pretty face" and can also be used for other things - if you can't get approved for Flower Girl, Octopus, Mary Poppins show etc.... you'd not be as useful to the company as another girl, (perhaps less pretty, and dedicated.... however with more experience in dance)

It's unfair and frustrating... but it is a professional job, its not Butlins or Pontins and casting is a part of Disneyland Paris where the standards have, in general, been kept high.

Don't give up though, if you really want to work here, take some dance lessons, do other auditions for experience.... and if they offer you a "character only" contract take it - its a good way to get your foot in the door, and although you'll spend most of your time in Cafe Mickey and Lucky Nugget - its still alot of fun!

Good Luck!

[heffalumpy]

Re: Not Tiana. Not Amused...

Good words of wisdom Tom!

But do remember, 'characters only' will be allowed on the All Star Train next year, so it's not just Lucky Nuggets and Cafe Mickey.

Ps Tom don't drink, I don't like you when your drunk!

Ok believe me I'm over it(kinda), the best girls will get the job .
Any dance lessons you guys recommend? Not ballet obviously am too old and heavy...I used to do salsa. I can dance to Thriller ...
Is this All Star Train in prep for the New Generation Festival?

[davewasbaloo]

Re: Not Tiana. Not Amused...

Sorry to hear that Heffalumpy, but Poppy is right. In California, being a character is a right of passage of many professional stage performers for West End shows and movies. Therefore the standards are the highest in the industry.

My uncle used to date a number of the princesses when he was younger. Traditionally their training was ballet, jazz, tap, and contemporary dance, vocal and singing lessons, and stage school.

I do not think Paris is as vigurous as California is, but those couldn't hurt if you are serious about this ambition.

[pussnboots]

Re: Not Tiana. Not Amused...

First, you have my sincerest sympathy, Heffalumpy. They do have a history of being vague in their job descriptions ("no knowledge of French required" — except that you have to be able to do a job interview in it) and for leading people on for long periods of time. It's an awful company, I don't care what anyone says, and you should curse them for wasting your time.

Second, as nice as it is to hear that they're so selective, it doesn't really come across in the parks. I mean, here you have a Juilliard-trained ballet-dancing, opera-singing, Shakespeare-acting thespian, and she gets to sit on a parade float lip-syncing and waving.

It's like getting Sir Laurence Olivier to play an elf at Macy's.

[heffalumpy]

Re: Not Tiana. Not Amused...

Lol an elf at Macys. That was exactly my point-why should you have a PhD in any type of dancing to just stand and wave from a float.
I understand now there is a lot more to it than that but still, people are not born doing these things. I think they should honestly try giving people a chance and teaching them what they want them to know, there are plenty out there willing and enthusiastic enough. Some skill works but they'll teach you the rest. Thanks for the sympathy(no I will get over it I promise). Lucky for me I was not one of the lucky 1 or 2 out of over 100 that day so I didn't have an interview in either French or English. I did French for GCSE and remember some of it...I don't see how useful it would be there though if practically the whole entertainment cast are British.
Considering you need to have a degree in dance to work there I would be annoyed. For the money they pay, in my opinion their staff are definitely being conned, they can afford to give them more especially if they make all that money and insist on high standards. Then again, maybe I've got it wrong and they're not making all that much money...

[Ice101]

Re: Not Tiana. Not Amused...

Too be honest, it just seems like you are bitter because you didn't get chosen and are taking your anger out on them....

[pussnboots]

Re: Not Tiana. Not Amused...

Too be honest, it just seems like you are bitter because you didn't get chosen and are taking your anger out on them....

She's venting on a forum. She hasn't gone to their main office with a chainsaw and demands.

[heffalumpy]

Re: Not Tiana. Not Amused...

She's venting on a forum. She hasn't gone to their main office with a chainsaw and demands.

Thanks PussinBoots!

My dear ICE101...Well yes, I was cross but like I said, the best girl will get the job. OBVIOUSLY I am not their best girl and believe me I can take a hint. I won't be bugging them again and again and again. There's women out there who think they are Gods gift to Disney and who tirelessly attend every princess audition going, maybe to their success I don't know. Besides, have you been to a DisneyParis audition? Their process is a bit frustrating I have to say, so sadly for me you who read it you got anger dating way back beyond this. I only wrote on here to get advice from people like Puss and Pluto39 who understand and have worked in entertainment. If you know more about it, I would love you to enlighten me.

Imagine you go to McDonalds/Starbucks wherever, you give them your application form and perform well at interview, they tell you you've been successful but they're waiting for jobs to become available. You wait and wait for up to 6 months. About 6 weeks after your interview you see more jobs being advertised and more interviews being conducted but you can't go. They then inform you they have supervisor positions available so you ask them to consider you. They say they can't because your interview wasn't at a supervisor level(or whatever)...

So...would you not get a little annoyed that you want to work, you've been told previously you're suitable to work there but they're still bypassing you and hiring other people FOR THE SAME JOBS anyway?

[nathan detroit]

Re: Not Tiana. Not Amused...

My uncle used to date a number of the princesses when he was younger.

Some sort of fetish?

And commizzes Lumpy. I am sure its all for the best.

[heffalumpy]

Re: Not Tiana. Not Amused...

Some sort of fetish?

And commizzes Lumpy. I am sure its all for the best.

Lol thats quite a fetish, it is for the best I now agree

[ElleWoods19]

Re: Not Tiana. Not Amused...

On a slightly different note, what exactly is the audition/interview process like? I may be auditioning in December in CA... :blush:

[heffalumpy]

Re: Not Tiana. Not Amused...

On a slightly different note, what exactly is the audition/interview process like? I may be auditioning in December in CA... :blush:

I don't think the audition I went to is the best example really but anyway, I went to an one where they were looking for everything basically. First we had our height taken(without shoes). Then we got talked to about the job, the parks, number of staff and types of contracts and money, accommodation etc...all that stuff.
THEN, the first part of the audition you had to act out different types of character to counts of music(cowboy/pirate/dwarf/villain/villain/princess) all to counts of 8. Then they cut people. If you're lucky enough to stay you learn a silly little dance-if you are not a dancer then just do your best, I'm not and I didn't get cut after this stage, I was lucky. Then they cut more people but that was the end of the audition. The few left over were the ones who were successful. We were split then into categories-character only, character and parade or face characters. If you get to try on wigs and makeup and they think you look good you'll walk with the job the same day. Or if you have some rare dance skill(this guy could do some spinny thing which impressed the director) so you get hired the same day also. The rest had to fill in their availability and then just go as there were "no jobs for us that day" and will get called if anything matching our ability comes up within 6 months.
I think your audition might have a lot more direction to it and the ones who pass will almost all get jobs straight away. It is California.
My friend's advice was to make your actions really big and to smile , they should explain all of this to you when you go...
oh anyway good luck I'm sure you'll do fabulously

[SnorkletsMom]

Re: Not Tiana. Not Amused...

I understand you're feeling angry, heffalumpy. Bear in mind that although the advanced dance skills may not be visible, Disney wants them to be there for their own reasons, which might be as simple as the fact that they want a person 'qualified' for more than one role so that they can have understudies and the abiity to have someone already familiar with everything who can move between roles.

But it's an unfortunate fact that in the entertainment industry, rejection is a way of life and often there's no reasoning why. You might have a better look or have done a better read or have a more impressive resume, or all of the above...and still lose the role to someone who seems much less qualified. Casting is done by humans and is subject to allllll the obvious problems like nepotism, personal prejudices, likes and dislikes.

Keep trying and try to not let it bother you too much.

[ElleWoods19]

Re: Not Tiana. Not Amused...

I don't think the audition I went to is the best example really but anyway, I went to an one where they were looking for everything basically. First we had our height taken(without shoes). Then we got talked to about the job, the parks, number of staff and types of contracts and money, accommodation etc...all that stuff.
THEN, the first part of the audition you had to act out different types of character to counts of music(cowboy/pirate/dwarf/villain/villain/princess) all to counts of 8. Then they cut people. If you're lucky enough to stay you learn a silly little dance-if you are not a dancer then just do your best, I'm not and I didn't get cut after this stage, I was lucky. Then they cut more people but that was the end of the audition. The few left over were the ones who were successful. We were split then into categories-character only, character and parade or face characters. If you get to try on wigs and makeup and they think you look good you'll walk with the job the same day. Or if you have some rare dance skill(this guy could do some spinny thing which impressed the director) so you get hired the same day also. The rest had to fill in their availability and then just go as there were "no jobs for us that day" and will get called if anything matching our ability comes up within 6 months.
I think your audition might have a lot more direction to it and the ones who pass will almost all get jobs straight away. It is California.
My friend's advice was to make your actions really big and to smile , they should explain all of this to you when you go...
oh anyway good luck I'm sure you'll do fabulously

Thank you so much for the detailed info. I've been to a few Disney auditions, and they all seem to be different. haha.
I made it to the very end of a Disney Cruise Line audition for face characters, and had a similar experience as you did. It's unfortunate, but sadly that's the name of the game. I never did get the call, but I'll probably try a few more times with Disney before I give up.

As for working at DLP, and the interview, I only speak very, very little French. It didn't specify on the audition info whether or not we need to be fluent. Is it a requirement?

[LovelyLocks]

Re: Not Tiana. Not Amused...

She's venting on a forum. She hasn't gone to their main office with a chainsaw and demands.

Hahahaha, that'd be quite a sight.









But I'm sorry :[
I never really liked how they looked mainly at dancers. With the exception of Princess Fantasy Fair, which actually stopped showing the princesses dancing, the princesses don't DANCE at all. Just stand there and look pretty. I don't know about Disneyland Paris (do they even have anything close to Princess Fantasy Fair?) but it can't be TOO different from California, right? Even Princesses in parades don't really dance that much (granted, they do in some, but it's nothing they can't teach you!), just wave and sway around.

Even so, I always see the description of the job always stating "girls will learn poise and elegance" or whatever it is they say. So I can understand your frustration, because they're not even giving you a chance :[

Hmm, but better luck next time! Just keep trying, (that is, if you still want to).
You obviously have "the look" since you got so far in the process! The judges always change, the ones next time might like you enough!

[heffalumpy]

Re: Not Tiana. Not Amused...

Thanks LovelyLocks and SnorkletsMom
As I am not an entertainer in any capacity I don't have to do a job like this to survive luckily so I didn't put my whole life on hold hoping I would get the job. The casting director told me that they like people to be experienced in Modern Jazz for dancing in their parades and shows. It always seems to be the same team of people casting for Disney Paris I don't know about the California or Florida park.
Lol its not even like I was primarily aiming for a face character role, I just wanted to be a character performer(the job where they say no experience required).
I might try again one day...so I'd better get shopping for my chainsaw in time for the next audition

[davewasbaloo]

Re: Not Tiana. Not Amused...

Lol. In the US parks, certainly back in the 80's, you had to at least be a member of the actors union (pro actor) to be any character.