Page 1 of 2

Charactor Performers, Audition Tips?

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 11:31 am
by Mayonnaise
I've been unemployed since last February, and am still looking for a job, and it seems that Disney is having a Character Performer Audition in my area. I want to give it a go. I have amateur musical theater experience for over a decade, some classes in corporeal mime that I think well help. I love performing and being able to do it as a job would be awesome (yes, even in a head.)

Any tips on doing well in the auditions?

-8^)

Re: Charactor Performers, Audition Tips?

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 1:03 am
by Amphigorey
I'm sorry to hear about the unemployment!

My audition was seven years ago, so I don't have the most up to date information. I can tell you a little about what we did.

They taught us a basic dance routine that started easy and got harder as it went along. They teach it quickly and you all perform it together right afterwards. You don't have to do the whole thing perfectly, but you'll want to at least try, and you want to look like you're having a good time.

They also asked us to do a mime (they call it animation) segment. They gave us a general theme (ours was "On the Farm") and had us come up with our own stuff. You do the animation to music. The music they picked was FAST and kind of caught me off guard, but I did fine anyway.

With your background, it sounds like you'll pass easily. The next most important thing is height: short or tall is good, because there are fewer costumes available for the middle ranges.

Have fun, and good luck!

Re: Charactor Performers, Audition Tips?

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 11:58 am
by Mayonnaise
I'm told, at 5 foot 1, that I'm Chipmunk Sized. Is that a good short size?

8^)

Re: Charactor Performers, Audition Tips?

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 1:16 pm
by Amphigorey
Yes, 5'1" is a great height! There are a lot of characters in that range.

Re: Charactor Performers, Audition Tips?

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 5:18 pm
by DonutGoddess
Amphigorey wrote:Yes, 5'1" is a great height! There are a lot of characters in that range.
I had a friend who was 4'11" who auditioned to be a performer and was invited to be Mickey Mouse instead. He did that for a while and I think he also performed before eventually leaving Disney.

Re: Charactor Performers, Audition Tips?

Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:23 pm
by delsdad
DonutGoddess wrote:I had a friend who was 4'11" who auditioned to be a performer and was invited to be Mickey Mouse instead. He did that for a while and I think he also performed before eventually leaving Disney.
Not possible. Ther is only one Mickey Mouse ! Perhaps he was invited to be Mickeys "friend" ?

Re: Charactor Performers, Audition Tips?

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:25 am
by DonutGoddess
delsdad wrote:Not possible. Ther is only one Mickey Mouse ! Perhaps he was invited to be Mickeys "friend" ?
He was definitely a character and I will leave it at that.

Re: Charactor Performers, Audition Tips?

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:51 pm
by Mayonnaise
Ok here's a question, I interviewed for a mundane job actually in my area yesterday. If I wind up getting an offer and declining it, (in the event I get the mundane job, which I wouldn't have to relocate for) would that hurt my future Disney Employment prospects?

8^)

Re: Charactor Performers, Audition Tips?

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:46 am
by Mayonnaise
Pretty sure I didn't make the cut. They say there's actually no roles open right now for full timers, they're just putting us in a pool, but then they didn't call my number for the second round of auditions...

And now I have the Hip-Hop version of "It's a Small World" stuck in my head.

8^/

Re: Charactor Performers, Audition Tips?

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 1:08 pm
by WEDFan
Sorry to hear that, Mayonaise.

And *really* sorry to hear about the hip hop version of Small World. :eek: