Anyone here in Costuming?

[felinefan]

I just was going through the job listings on Caljobs, and found a listing for Costuming Hosts at Disneyland. As long as I don't have to work anywhere near guests, I could give amusement park work another try. Besides, my unemployment benefits will dry up in early October. Anyway, if you can give me more detail about working in costuming (and what constitutes proper attire once hired), the highs and lows, details, union or not, please let me know. Thank you.

[Main Streeter]

As long as I don't have to work anywhere near guests, I could give amusement park work another try. >Anyway, if you can give me more detail about working in costuming (and what constitutes proper attire once hired), the highs and lows, details, union or not, please let me know. Thank you.

Will give you a few details as a very close friend of mine is a CM in Costuming. Starting pay is abt $8.20 so I heard. Could be higher now. There are 3 costume locations & I believe CMs usually work all 3 until they have some senority. Main Issue Costuming is the largest & hrs. are the longest. During peak hrs. they close at 2:30 a.m. Think they may open at 5 a.m. Paradise Pier has a small costume issue & their hrs. are the shortest. PP Costuming only handles the very south area of the park. There is a costume issue opposite TDA which is for F L & ToonTown. Think they open abt 6 a.m. & close at 12 a.m. The tram at Harbor Point will take CMs to & from this TDA costume issue until 7 p.m. There is CM parking nearby both PP & TDA costuming. Main Issue parking is in K Lot. Costuming CMs do not work with guests. Their guests are the CMs in both parks. Costuming CMs must join the union. Dues are taken out of check. I know one must be able to climb, bend, stretch & lift with no problem. At one time I heard costuming CMs had to be able to lift 40 - 50 lbs. This was in 2000 so weights may have changed. A CM can request preferred hrs. but there's no guaranty unless one has senority...then we can never be sure. Proper attire is dark blue navy pants, black belt, short or long sleeved polo type shirt &/or sweat shirts. These costumes are issued to Costume CMs 3 per time along with a light or heavy jacket. CMs must buy black leather type shoes with a non skid sole. Was told non skid, yet this has changed too. Cumputer skills are needed but CMs are taught the costuming computer use in OJT. The lows would be working with CMs like me who always need buttons buttoned & ties tied or M S bowties hooked round my neck. I firmly believe I may be Main Issue's worst night mare, though non have ever had the courage to tell me. Costume CMs are great!! They all go out of their way to help us & display fun, sharp humor. Main Issue ALWAYS makes my day. :)

[felinefan]

Thanks! The only downside I see is the union. No offense, but I don't trust them. Have you seen that commercial where workers give honest replies to working for a union--"I'm so glad to be working for a union that discriminates against minorities!"/"I love supporting union bosses' fat cat lifestyles!"/"I'm proud to be forced to support politicians that don't support my values!"? I have shoes left from Knott's. The weight thing might be a bit of a problem, as I'm out of shape--my last employer had me get my back and lifting ability assessed as part of a pre-employment physical, and I came in borderline to lift 50 lbs.. And I'm aware that Disney cleans your costumes and has a rideshare program (I don't drive--the bus that goes by DL is a "Night Owl", but the bus I take to get home isn't.)--Knott's made you launder your own costumes, and only made token efforts to get a rideshare program going. The fact that Knott's was non-union had nothing to do with it, it's just the place is run by a pack of two-faced, self-serving assholes! But the helping person I am, I would have no problem helping you with your costume. Or anyone else. But I'm not sure EDD accepts my getting part-time work; I know they don't accept you going into business for yourself (because you're not paying into the system). But just in case I do bite the bullet and go down there to apply, I need some help in how to answer certain questions that are bound to come up in the interview: I'm sure they will ask why I left Knott's. The story is that in April of last year I was on the train and at two seperate times asked a child to not play on the turnstyle or chaingate for wheelchairs. I was thinking of their safety, as well as protecting company property (the turnstyle is beyond repair, but maintenence kept jury-rigging it for us because they know Knott's will never buy a new one); because of the high noise level, it was necessary for me to shout in order to be heard. The parents thought that I was being mean to their little darlings, and complained. I was put on a 6 month final for my trouble. No sooner had that expired in October, I needed to go to the bathroom really bad. I called my shift leader, begging for a relief, but my SL said he didn't have anyone to relieve me. There was hardly anyone in the park, and no one on the train. I was promised a lunch break at 1:30, but it came and went with no relief. I was in a lot of pain by this time (I believe my SL deliberately kept me from having a timely bathroom break, because of his sick sense of humor.), and finally I couldn't hold it any longer. I told the engineer I needed to go really badly, and ran to the nearest bathroom. Fifteen minutes later, my lunch breaker arrived. Later that day, I was in the process of closing my ride, and again needed a bathroom break. Try as I might, I couldn't hold it, and again told the engineer I needed to go to the bathroom. When I got back, I was put on another 6 month final. Five weeks after that incident, I was opening the train with a co-worker, when an attack of diarrhea hit. You can't hold that back! I told my co-worker I had a bathroom emergency and to call our shift leader (And I'm sure that when she did, she made me look as bad as possible), and it was the same shift leader as the last time. When I got back, I was sent to Camp Snoopy, where I stayed for about an hour before being sent on break. After coming back from break, I was told to go to the Rides Office. I was put on a 3 day investigative suspension, and when I called 3 days later to inform them I was picking up my check and to ask what the status of the investigation was , they said they needed another three days. After the next three days, I called again because I had to pick up my pay check, and they again were stalling. So I quit and turned in my costumes. But everyone I tell this to can't believe Knott's would do something like that--put someone on suspension for going to the bathroom. The labor board basically sided with Knott's. So what do you recommend that I say if and when I apply, and they ask why I left Knott's? If I say too many bad things, it'll make me look bad to an interviewer and I won't get the job. Another question: If I go in and ask for a job in Costuming, will they actually give it to me? Because when I applied at Knott's, I asked for a job in Park Services, and they fast-talked me into Rides. I'd also like to know what exactly to expect in the interview, as the ad mentioned that in addition to the usual things like ID and a resume, to bring anything else that would be needed, in the event I would be interviewed the same day. The thing with Knott's is, if you're smart they will try to get rid of you by fair means or foul, and they seem to prefer foul. I understand that most of management there are high school dropouts, and here I have two college degrees. But I checked the DL employment site, and Costuming is $8.20/hr., but all it says about the job is that you'll be handing out the costumes. But I appreciate the fact that the crew in Costuming are nice, because mean people suck! Thanks again for the info!

[pixiedust]

There are 3 costume locations & I believe CMs usually work all 3 until they have some senority.

There is actually a 4th small costuming location behind the maintenance garage on the side of the M&F Parking structure. It's Maintenance Issue Costuming (also known as the N7 building), and has their costuming, as well as the costuming for Resort Transportation & Parking.

[Main Streeter]

There is actually a 4th small costuming location behind the maintenance garage on the side of the M&F Parking structure. It's Maintenance Issue Costuming (also known as the N7 building)

Oh, thanks pixiedust. :) Had no idea what the N7 bldg was. After I began thinking abt costuming I wondered where parking, transportation & maintenance costumes were. Appreciate the info.

[Gwene65]

Costume CMs are great!! They all go out of their way to help us & display fun, sharp humor. Main Issue ALWAYS makes my day. :)

Your joking right? Everytime I go in there it takes me so long to find anyone who can help that I usually get pissed off before getting the correct costume. And why do those things always smell? I don't always have time to wash them before I wear them and they stink.

There is one girl in there who is always very cheerful and eager to help. She had to tie one of my ties for me before and has shown me the correct costumes many times. I should get her name and see if I can do a cast compliment on her.

[Main Streeter]

I should get her name and see if I can do a cast compliment on her.

Me? No, am not kidding. Complimenting a Costuming CM would be great. Sure can't hurt you. I complimented a CM (later was told my comp went into her pers. file) because she called my manager & told her I was late due to a Costume Dept. error, then she had me clock in at Costuming. Hey, she really went out of her way for me. Learn some Sign Language also. Sure helps in Main Issue. The smell is probably lye.

[Main Streeter]

Thanks! The only downside I see is the union. >So what do you recommend that I say if and when I apply, and they ask why I left Knott's? If I say too many bad things, it'll make me look bad to an interviewer and I won't get the job. Another question: If I go in and ask for a job in Costuming, will they actually give it to me?

Have read & reread your post. My info may not be the best. Worth what you paid. ]

[felinefan]

Thanks for the info; however, I've decided to go for a position elsewhere. I've thought over the union thing, and I have seen what unions do to their companies. While in the East for a few years, there was an 18 month long strike at Caterpiller, and everybody ended up losing their jobs because the plant was forced to close. My boss at the time once worked for UAW, and he gave us a presentation on what unions do for you--nothing! From what I've read on this forum, there have been times when guests have attacked CMs and neither the company nor the union did anything for the CM; the one where an African-American cast member was subjected to verbal abuse, physically attacked, and had racial slurs hurled at him, and nothing was done for him, disturbs me. My mom worked in aerospace as a machine operator, for two differant companies, and one place was union and another place was non-union. She preferred the non-union place to the union one. Going back to the East Coast union thing, I remember seeing a photo in the local newspaper of a woman who, according to the caption, had just recieved her first check for doing 40 hrs./wk. of picket line duty; her check was for $44. She had just bought a Porsche, had house payments to make, food and other expenses, and she gets the equivalent of $1.10/hr. when she got $16/hr. when she was working--this was at Caterpiller. She had her face in her hands from shock, grief, disbelief and betrayal. Sorry, no can do for me. But I appreciate your help, anyway.

[leftcoaster]

So I guess the woman didn't sell the Porsche, eh ?