[Question] Fantasmic performer questions.

[Vivtasmic]

I just want to know how much do Fantasmic performers get paid?

[1stStarIC2nite]

Re: Fantasmic performer questions.

I just want to know how much do Fantasmic performers get paid?

Way, way more than they should. And this goes for all of entertainment. Hence why entertainment is so expensive to run, and why it gets cut first and never updated.

[Linus]

Re: Fantasmic performer questions.

^ Agreed.

But it also probably depends on which characters. Peter Pan probably gets payed more because of Stunts and being a face character.

[KingEric]

Re: Fantasmic performer questions.

Way, way more than they should. And this goes for all of entertainment. Hence why entertainment is so expensive to run, and why it gets cut first and never updated.

Ummm I disagree.

Ok so here is what the pay for Fantastmic used to be circa 2009
Fur: 9.75 hr guaranteed 4 hrs of pay
Face: 10.50 hr guaranteed 4 hours of pay

If someone has better information please update.

---------- Post added 06-30-2012 at 06:17 PM ----------

^ Agreed.

But it also probably depends on which characters. Peter Pan probably gets payed more because of Stunts and being a face character.

They real expense for the show are the few stunt performers, the pyrotechnics and the quantity of the performers.

[PSUMark]

Re: Fantasmic performer questions.

^ Agreed.

But it also probably depends on which characters. Peter Pan probably gets payed more because of Stunts and being a face character.

Since the question was asked in the WDW forum, I assume they're asking about the WDW version of Fantasmic. In that case, Peter Pan isn't a stunt performer

[DancinBelle]

Re: Fantasmic performer questions.

It depends on if they are Equity or regular Entertainment. I don't know what they rates are, but Equity always makes WAY more because of their contracts. Most of Disney's stuntmen and singers are Equity.

[Linus]

Re: Fantasmic performer questions.

Since the question was asked in the WDW forum, I assume they're asking about the WDW version of Fantasmic. In that case, Peter Pan isn't a stunt performer

Woops didn't see that!

But you know what I meant, stunts in general I guess.

[KingEric]

Re: Fantasmic performer questions.

It depends on if they are Equity or regular Entertainment. I don't know what they rates are, but Equity always makes WAY more because of their contracts. Most of Disney's stuntmen and singers are Equity.

Fantasmic doesn't have Equity performers. Just some stunt and tech, with hourl CMs who are paid the Parade rate.

[SpectroMan]

Re: Fantasmic performer questions.

Parade performers (which is what Fantasmic performers would fall under) receive the same starting wage as a merchandise/attractions/food host would, so whatever that rate currently is in FL. In CA, it's in the 9.50-9.75 range right now. Stunt people or unionized performers would be quite a bit higher.

[1stStarIC2nite]

Re: Fantasmic performer questions.

Parade performers (which is what Fantasmic performers would fall under) receive the same starting wage as a merchandise/attractions/food host would, so whatever that rate currently is in FL. In CA, it's in the 9.50-9.75 range right now. Stunt people or unionized performers would be quite a bit higher.

Completely false.Entertainment cast members start out at $9 something an hour; almost $1.50 more than host/hostess jobs. For meet and greet characters. Premiums are then stacked up on top of that. What's really sad is that the starting wage of an entertainment cast member is higher than the hourly wage of an assistant supervisor position (coordinators).

[SpectroMan]

Re: Fantasmic performer questions.

Not false at all - however, I was basing my data off Disneyland, not WDW. I have no idea of WDW's rate structure.

[Pattymelt1957]

Re: Fantasmic performer questions.

For those who are maligning the pay of the entertainment cast members, please remember these people are working very hard and they have passed up opportunities to work on cruise ships or in theaters where they'd be making three times what they make in the parks.

My daughter was one of these cast members many years ago. She had a lifelong dream to be a part of Disney and to entertain all the families who went to the parks. She made a VERY modest wage compared to what friends of hers working on cruise ships or even regional theaters make. But she did it because she wanted to be part of the magic.

I don't think entertainment cast members should be paid what people working in food service or selling merchandise make. The skills needed to be an entertainer came at a high cost: all the money invested in schooling, in dance and acting classes, and in everything else spent in getting to the level of perfection required to work as an entertainment cast member.

I just do not agree that someone working food service, who did not go through all this expense and training, should make the same as someone providing singing, dancing, and other entertainment in the parks.

You just can't get anyone who walks in off the street to put on a costume and sing and dance or to be a face character. That takes magic that is not required of those working retail or food service.

[Bill]

Re: Fantasmic performer questions.

What's really sad is that the starting wage of an entertainment cast member is higher than the hourly wage of an assistant supervisor position (coordinators).

Although it may be sad, there is a good reason for this. Coordinators are not assistant supervisors. Coordinators are simply Cast Members who have elected to take on some extra responsibility in their role and get paid an additional dollar an hour to do it. They are not part of any leadership team, nor do they rank above their non-coordinator peers. Furthermore, a being a coordinator is not necessarily considered to be a stepping stone on the way to management at all.

I'm not saying it should be this way, but, in the words of Walter Cronkite, "That's the way it is."

---------- Post added 07-03-2012 at 12:58 PM ----------

Not false at all - however, I was basing my data off Disneyland, not WDW. I have no idea of WDW's rate structure.

SpectroMan, the reason what you said was deemed to be false is simply because WDW's pay rate structure does not resemble Disneyland's in any way, shape, or form. Furthermore, what you have said isn't even completely true at Disneyland, where starting wages are in fact different depending on the role. Even though you specifically mention the roles where it IS the same starting wage, it seems like you are inferring that it is the same across the board. Even in Disneyland, someone starting out working at the front desk of a hotel will make a lot more than someone starting out as a ride operator.

[MadActress]

Re: Fantasmic performer questions.

I don't know what the starting wage at WDW currently is for fur characters, but, "

New hire performers now receive $12.40 per hour when performing in Character look-alike roles. " That's from the auditions website. I would assume that although Fantasmic performers are in a staged show, they probably still have the same starting wage as all other performers. For face characters specifically this is $12.40 per hr. I would assume that fur characters would most likely be somewhere along the same lines. However, the information is not readily available on Disney's entertainment website and if it is supplied anywhere else then it very well could be outdated/ simply a speculation or rumor.

[GhostHostJeff]

Re: Fantasmic performer questions.

Way, way more than they should. And this goes for all of entertainment. Hence why entertainment is so expensive to run, and why it gets cut first and never updated.

This made me LOL! I'm going to take a guess you've never performed for Disney or for a salary at all. Actors don't get paid very well, and most of us have degrees. I started performing at Disney at $7.50 a hour in 2008.