Character audition tips!

[SulleyanBoo]

Hey Everyone! Im auditioning this coming week for a face character or parade performer at the walt disney world resort in Florida. Does anyone have any audition tips or good advice?!
Thanks!

[TinaMouse]

Sing and dance well????

Just kidding! GOOD LUCK!!!!!

[wishiwasthere]

What cracks me up with disney is that you have to be able to sing to get a job with them as a dancer. The only people that actually sing though are the main performers. Everyone else mouths the words. They should have people do that at the audition instead.

Sorry for my rant!

Anyways have lots of personality and but not overly bubbly! You should go to their audition website and use the tips they offer as well. Good Luck!

[tappenfeat]

Ohh! Well smile a lot! Be charismatic...have that stage performance ready to go! I'm sure you'll do great! (but I'm sure you already know that...) Good luck! Break a leg!

My favorite story...I got into a tap dance challenge with "Bucky" in Hollywood Studios and I'll never forget it!

It was a street performance act who were looking for tap dancers...so my husband yells; "My wife is a tap dancer!" Next thing I knew...I was in the center of the circle dancing with "Bucky" He and I tap, tap, tapped away and the audience loved us! They thought it was a planned ahead routine but it was all improv!

[LOVE THE MOUSE]

Right off the bat, I am no expert on Disney auditions. My daughter has auditioned twice and I can only relate what I hope I can remember she told me.

First of all, Disney has specifications for each face character. Even if everyone else tells you that you look like a certain character, Disney may not. They look at all your features - eyes, mouth cheeks, etc. If they do not fill the Disney requirements, you will not even be considered for a face character. You must also meet their height requirements for that character. The people at the audition will take you aside if they feel you are a good candidate. I think you will then audition like everyone else. If you make the final cut and are extremely lucky, they will have brought costumes to the audition and will put you in full costume, makeup and all, to see if you really do fit the bill.

If you audition for a "fur" character, you need to meet certain height requirements. You also need to be able to fit into the costume - including feet. You will be asked to do a pantomime. Be very animated and smile. Make sure your gestures are large.

They will teach you a simple dance routine which you will perform with a group. I'm not sure how the selection goes here (my daughter never made it past this initial routine) but I think you may be asked to do an additional routine if they feel you have added skills.

I hope this helps. Like I said, this is to the best of my recollection of what my daughter told me after her auditions. You will be notified if you have made the audition or not. You may even be put into the "character pool" to be called at a later date if something opens up. That is my daughter's status now. If you do not make the auditions, I do know there is a time limit as to when you will be allowed to audition again.

Good luck and just have fun with it.

[wishiwasthere]

Love the Mouse- What did your daughter audition for? I'm interested to know how a dancing audition went, but never came across anyone who has auditioned for that.

[LOVE THE MOUSE]

She was doing a general entertainment audition. Her dream is to become a character or parade performer. She works in Magic Kingdom and knows all the routines in parades and shows by heart. Whenever you do an entertainment audition, there is dancing involved. As I said, I don't know how they separate those they want to continue with a longer dance audition since she was never asked to continue. She was a cheerleader in high school and took a dance class in college. There were those at her first audition who seemed to have had extensive dance experience and left when she did. Sorry I can't help you with the dance part. I would guess they will look at your application to see what type of prior experience you have had. I do remember her saying they rate you by number as to your dancing ability and depending upon that number, you are considered or not.

Don't know if this helps. Hopefully, there is someone out there who has gone through the entire process and can help you more.

[tappenfeat]

From a dancer's point of view: I'm sure they audition dancers that are very experienced...but if you look at the choreography it's simple and clean.

It's very appealing to an untrained eye. From the parades to the shows the dancing is simple and entertaining. It's nothing over the top but again repetitive and pleasing to watch. It's all in the way it's presented.

The costumes really add so much to the dancing as well as the singing even if it's lip synced.

All in all this is why I love to watch the parades and shows; it's just refreshing.

Good luck to your daughter...I'm sure she'll do great!

[wishiwasthere]

I sit there and watch and I just want to see them do a leap or something. I know they want it to be precise and clean, but sometimes I feel like they are too easy.

I still think they should have those that audition lip-synch. I can't tell you how many dancers I have seen in Beauty and the Beast barely lip-synching the words. There used to be this one performer in Beauty and the Beast that was fantastic and she was there for about a year and a half. She was great! She really looked like she was singing!