Mean Disney Girls

This Rocks. Like Glen Coco.

audition

So this is a bit backwards, but as I was writing about my role yesterday, I thought maybe I should write an audition entry. I know that before I went to the auditions, even though I wasn't taking it that seriously, I still tried to read up on what to expect, so maybe this will help future auditioners.

Preparing for the audition:
I didn't do anything extra special to prepare for the audition. I read a lot that people were doing stretches and practing their animations (ill talk about this later) but I didn't do anything special. I am not in fantastic shape, but I do go to the gym so I did have some physical stamina. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to work out more, do extra streches or practice animations, but its not something to entirely stress about.



Clothes for the Audition:
I put a lot of focus on what I was wearing to the audition. I wanted to look good, while being comfortable, approiate and able to move. Here's what I went with:


-Yoga Pants from Aerie. These were perfect! They are super cute, but form fitting to show off my moves, not too hot, and affordable. I am an aerie enthusiast, i love everything they make, and this is no exception. I wear these pants all the time since because they rock.
-Striped Tee. I didn't wear that striped tee exactly, but I bought a form fitting one from XXI forever. It was like $8 or something ridiculously cheap, and if was long enough so I didn't have to worry about it riding up while dancing, but tight enough as to show my shape without being too clingy. It was a perfect choice, although I wish I had brought something a bit brighter because the black was a bit much for a disney audition.
-Jazz Shoes. I bought these specifically for the audition because I was stressing out a lot about shoes. I got them for $17 on ebay, so it wasn't bad..but it wasn't at all necessary. Sneakers will sufficice, and a lot of people there were wearing them. If you have jazz or dance shoes, I would recommend wearing them, but I wouldn't buy them just for this.

One girl at my audition was actually wearing a tinkerbell dress! Most people were in sweatpants, a tee and sneakers, but she deffinitly stood out. Just make sure your comforatble. And DO NOT wear jeans.

Getting to the Audition:

Leave plenty of extra time to get to the audition. I left for the train 2.5 hours before check in, when the train ride is only about 25 minutes. However, you never know what delays you might have no matter what mode of transportation you are taking, and you still have to find the place, so better early than late. By time I drove to the T, got on the train and made it to Boston, I had an hour before check in. However, this place was hidden and I walked back and forth with my phone GPS over and over unable to find it. It took me 45 minutes, but eventually I found this hidden jem and headed in. So make sure to leave time for these mishaps.

When I actually got the audition space, everyone was cluttered in a waiting area, taking turns changing. Talk to the people around you. I spoke to a couple girls who I hung around with the whole audition, and it made things a lot easier having someone to talk to, practice with during the audition and end up in your group at the end.

The Audition Itself:
The Audition began by everyone filing out brief paperwork, just basic info. Then we took the papers up to a cast member at a desk who gave us a number, and got in a second line to have our photos taken and heights measured. Then, we were told to by 2 Disney Cast Members to sit down while they made a few announcements. They welcomed us, and pressured us not to be nervous. They explained the process of the audition. This particular one would consist of animation - acting out certain scenarios, and a dance routine. Other auditions can vary, and some include costume try-ons for certain people, but this did not. We would practice animation for a bit as a large group, then in groups of 25. After, we would learn the dance routine as a group, then in groups of 25. After, we would all be sent out of the room and brought back in in groups of 6 to actually audition.

Everyone stood up and we were given different scenarios to act out. I'm not sure I am allowed to disclose what the scenarios were, so I won't. But I've heard different ones of meeting a characater, being a character, shopping in the Magic Kingdom and stuff like that. So we did that to music a few times as a large group and then as smaller groups.

After that everyone, there were 75 people at my audition, took to the floor again to learn the dance routine. It was taught in counts of 8, and there were about 8 counts. The dance starts off very easy but gets faster and harder, and a lot of differnet types of dance styles are included. After a few runthroughs we were told to line up against the walls of the room and groups of 25 came to practice with more room (this is all done by number).

Then, we all lined up on the stairs by number and were taken in to audition in groups of 6. The audition itself consisted of 2 animations going right into the dance (no break), a 30 second rest, then back into round 2 - the same thing all over again. If anyone was chosen to learn the advanced dance they would be asked to stay (no one in my group was) but everyone else was given a thank you and a piece of paper that said we will know within 4 weeks.

Audition Tips:
-Don't worry so much about the actual choreography. People were practing and stressing about it left and right, but the truth is that the cast members dont really expect you to know every move after just a few times.
-SMILE and HAVE FUN. Thats the most important thing. If you are enjoying yourself, it doesnt matter if you mess up, your happiness will show.
-OVERANIMATE. in the animation portion, make everything big. If you don't feel silly, your not doing it right.

Seriously, I cannot stress enough that the most important thing is to have a good time. I didnt know the routine well, I didn't do it close to perfect. I am not a theater major nor do I have lots of experience. I didnt bring a headshot or a resume (or have one), but I still got the role. Just do your best and have fun doing it.


The Post-Audition Experience:
It took about 3.5 weeks to hear the results of the audition. You will hear either way by e-mail, but it won't be right away. Auditions have to finish and then everyone must be evaluated. The cast members take notes during your 6 person audition, but you dont get to read them or know what they thought. I got a call about 2.5 weeks after my audition from the casting department saying I did a great job and if I would be wiling to swtich to fall advantage to further my chances, as there are more roles for that season. This might not always happen though, so don't stress if you do or do not get a call.


Like i've said a few times, the audition isn't something to stress over or to spend hours upon hours prepping for. Just have a good time and you will be okay.

Hope this helps!

-Allie

role

I think I'll talk a little bit about my role - character performer!!

I got accepted for the role over a week ago, and the shock still has worn off...how in the world did I pass this audition? I haven't performed since high school, and even then I was never the lead. I'm a freaking history major in college, and I don't really see myself as the outgoing go-for-the-gold type. How in the world did I get this opportunity? I feel so blessed, but still, so suprised.

So here's what my job entails, according to the cp website.
Character Performer
Responsibilities may include:

• Portraying specific costumed character roles
• Working in hot, confining, heavy costumes with limited range of vision
• Communicating non-verbally to Guests
• Signing autographs and posing for photographs
• Interacting with Guests outdoors and in dining establishments
• Potential to perform in parade and/or puppeteer roles
• Must pass audition for this role.

So I went to the auditions in Boston on March 24th. At that point I was on restricted rehire for the comapny and hadn't even heard if my status had been lifted. I'm from a Boston suburb and didn't have class on the day of the audition, so I kind of just figured what-the-hell? I'll hop on the T and check it out, it will be a fun experience. A few weeks later I got a phone call saying I did a great job and would I like to swtich from Fall to Fall Advantage. I planned on studying abroad in Spain this summer, but I said if there were no other options I would take it. And now I'm Fall Advantage. I'm not going to Spain, but I'll spending a semester at sea, so I'll be okay, and i'll be a character at disney!!

Characters at Disney are based on height. Although I am 5'1, the Disney cast members running the auditions measured all of us and the heights, like the costumes in Orlando, varied. So, although I didn't hear what my actual height was at the audition, I was given a mouse height upon acceptance, which means I was measured at 5'0 or below.

Mouse height characters can include:

• Mickey
• Minnie
• Donald
• Daisy
• Lilo
• Stitch
• Piglet
• Brer Rabbit
• Dopey
• Pinnochio
• Jimminy Cricket

and more. It's hard to find a definite answer on what characters I may be, but this seems to be a pretty solid start. Anyway, its really exciting and I can't believe I am getting this opportunity. I just decided I was doing to CP though, so I'm really behind on the whole prepping process..and I haven't really met anyone yet which is kind of unforutante, but hopefully i'll meet a bunch of people in the next month and when I get there!

That's all for now,
-allie-

an introduction

Hi! I'm Alisa, and I am a 21 year old college student from Boston. I've lived at home my entire life, not even dorming at college...but I'm about to branch out and have an amazing ten months. I recently got accepted to the Disney College Program in Orlando as an attractions cast member, but I found out only a few days ago that I was accepted as a charceter performer based on my audition in Boston!! I never expected to be offered this role...I haven't performed in years and I went to the audition simply becasue it was in Boston this year and I figured it would be a fun experiecne...and it was, and I feel so blessed to have gotten this opportunity. I was originally a fall participant, arriving 9/1, but got switched to fall advantage when I got the role of performer, arriving 6/14. I don't have roomates yet, so if anyone reading this is 21+ and arriving june 14th and wants a roomate, let me know!! Anyway, I will be staying at Disney until January 3rd...but part two of my journey starts very soon after. I haven't figured out the specifics yet, but by January 12th I will be in the Bahamas boarding the MV Explorer to spend a semester at sea. Aboard the explorer, I will be visiting (not in this order) the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Japan, South Africa, Ghana, China, India, Vietnam, Maritius, Singapore and Hawaii, eventually disembarking in San Diego on April 24th. Obviously, being away from my home school the semester before studying abroad is causing A LOT of problems...even already...but I am determined to make this work no matter what it takes...this is too amazing of an opportunity to give up. I was supposed to graduate from college a semester early, in fall of 2010, but these opportunities are worth staying longer, and at this point I probobly will end up graduating a semester late, in fall of 2011. However, it's worth it for the experience.

I had some hesitations about doing these things, and heres why.
(A) I brielfy participated in the CP in fall of 2009. And I mean briefly. Like, I didn't even make it out of training. I was very, very, ill, and because of that my whole experience was tainted and I was miserable. Also, my heart was still in Boston, at this wonderful place called Jordan's Furniture, where I have been lucky enough to be employed by since March of 2008. So, I left Florida and happily skipped back into the wonders of Jordan's.
(B) Like I said above, my heart was in Jordan's. I fully planned on graduating in December and making a career there. However, I recently applied for a management position, and did not get it...making me re-think my options.
So now here I am. I dont have a plan of where I want to go with my life anymore, and I am spending a year longer than I planned to in school. But I am getting two of the most amazing experiences anyone could ever wish for, and I feel so lucky for all of it.

So my blog will be about the next year of my life. One year from now, to the day exactly, I will be arriving in San Diego finishing my journey with SAS, so what a perfect time to start my blog. This blog will chronicle my experiences in Disney, and with Semester at Sea. Thanks for reading!!
Alisa

--And I'm sorry for the bad design. I'm working on making it nice, but I suck at this stuff!!!
--And, if anyone is interested, i write a gluten-free blog as well (http://glutenfreesaugus.blogspot.com/). I'm pretty sure no one has ever read it as I've never advertised it or anything, but why not start now.