<p>D is auditioning for Busch Gardens next week. Any info on it and/or other venues? What about housing, etc? How is summer work with Disney? DisneyDirector, is it hard to get? How does it compare to Summerstock? I always feel so inexperienced when I post, and I always get such helpful info! Thanks. </p>
<p>BTW I did look at the summer thread, but the posts are a little outdated!</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>My students often work at Busch Gardens in the summer. The pay is generally higher than summerstock, but employees must secure housing for themselves, and feed themselves (many summerstock companies will house you, and quite a few will also feed you). Hershey Park, Dollywood, Kings Dominion parks, and many others will hold auditions at regional locations to cast performers for the summer. From what I understand these all work the same way in terms of securing your own housing... although I think most will help put you in contact with other employees who may be looking for roommates, and will point you in the direction of property management companies that will offer short term leases. </p>
<p>In terms of schedule both summerstock and theme park will be rigorous... particularly if one is doing two week stock where you rehearse one show during the day and perform another at night. The theme park performance schedule can be grueling... often performing 4 - 5 shows per day, if not more depending on the length of he show. I have seen more students come back to school with significant vocal fatigue and/ or bad vocal habits after a summer of theme park than a summer of summerstock.... however, many come back just fine. I think it may depend on the show, and the student.</p>
<p>Both can be very valuable experiences, and I encourage my interested students to audition for both, and see what offers come there way.</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>That is very helpful info. (I love this place!) Any advice from others about about Disney, which I imagine is another world altogether!</p>
<p>Thanks againKatMT</p>
<p>In addition to what's already been written, Busch Gardens Williamsburg offers voluntary classes in dance, improv, etc. throughout the season. Disney is pretty much the same as other theme parks - you are responsible for your own food and lodging. Disney also has an intern program which offers credit for a variety of activities from hotel management to performing. A summer spent at a theme park is a good experience - but maybe not good as a steady diet - some time could be spent in summer stock or regional work to get a well-rounded experience through your four years in college.</p>
<p>Snoggie,
My D worked at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City this past summer (she was involved in a production and was unable to attend MWTA auditions in February). She had a great time and felt it was worthwhile. Going in both she and I had concerns about her voice holding up to 26 30-minute shows a week. That worked out fine although she feels she has some issues with voice fatigue at this point - to be evaluated when she gets home for Christmas break. However, the rest of her body kind of fell apart. She danced in a very rigorous show - lots of quick steps, gymnastics, flips, etc., sometimes in cowboy boots no less. She suffered from horrible shin splints and had a flareup of bursitis in her hip! One of her friends suffered a broken rib and chipped a tooth on a microphone. That being said, she felt it was a valuable experience and was happy to be performing over the summer. Be aware that all are very rigid with attendance, she worked six days a week x 10 weeks and missed only one day of shows due to her injuries because she wanted her bonus at the end of the summer!</p>
<p>I know Six Flags Great America here in Illinois has their auditions on site in January. Worlds of Fun goes to University of Kansas, Oklahoma City University and I think University of Nebraska as well as has on-site auditions. Busch Gardens does travel around a fair amount too as I know they come to OCU. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Jordansmom -- thank you for sharing your Ds and friend's experiences. I chipped my tooth on a microphone years ago -- when working on the Spirit of NY performing. I never have heard of another person who has done this. At least workman's comp paid for my two new front teeth... :) I am sure your Ds friend was also covered.</p>
<p>So great to have this all shared... hope folk will continue to add stories as well as info. It's so helpful AND interesting!</p>
<p>KatMT, </p>
<p>I was very impressed with the Workman's Comp coverage provided by the park. They took great care of their performers and we never saw a bill!</p>
<p>I have had many voice therapy patients who have done summer theme park work. This kind of work is one of the most vocally strenuous there is, for three main reasons: often the venues are outdoor amphitheatres, and it is hard not to push vocally in such a setting unless the singers' monitors are truly excellent (science has proven we will all try to match background noise unless we are carefully monitoring); performers are generally fatigued due to the number of shows and the physicality of those shows; and worst, performers often push through vocal fatigue and/or illness. When anyone sings through vocal fatigue and illness, the body quickly develops compensatory muscle tension to "push" the voice out - and these compensatory habits can linger long after the fatiguing situation or illness has ended and most often have to be corrected with speaking voice therapy and/or singing voice therapy. </p>
<p>Theme park work is definitely good performance experience in many ways, but each performer has to CAREFULLY weigh his or her own vocal stamina and technique before taking on this type of work. My strongest recommendation is that anyone who has experienced regular vocal fatigue NOT take on theme park work - and that anyone who begins a theme park job and starts to feel bad vocally get immediately evaluated and stop that work if needed. An end-of-the summer bonus can't make up for damaged vocal folds whic, if they become scarred, will never work the same way again.</p>
<p>I agree with CoachC. We know a few kids who have done theme park summer work and their experience is much as CoachC describes. The pressure not to miss performances is evident at many of these parks, and often the kids end up performing when they really shouldn't. The outdoor venues (and the heavy performance schedule) are difficult on a young performer's vocal health, and can have lingering effects. Even when professional tours stop at the few favorite outdoor venues across the country, they often 'swing in' their swings for some of that week's shows so that no one has to strain to reach everyone in the audience night after night. Theme parks vary, and the working conditions and expectations vary, too. There's a lot to think about and research before taking one of these jobs.</p>
<p>My S did Disney for a year and it was definitely vocally tiring. Six or seven shows a day in heat and humidity can do that to you even with a superb amplification system. But they did not push him to perform when he wasn't feeling right - in fact they have on-staff doctors who would put him on vocal rest when needed. He did not feel at all that he had to perform if his voice was strained. They had backups and subs so he could take the time he needed. That being said, he did go back to school last year with a tired voice and he had to ease back into things first semester. </p>
<p>As far as summer work, I don't know what kind of jobs are available. S had to take the role for a 12 month contract. But it was an EPA role - there may be non-union summer roles. Disney Director would know about that!</p>
<p>Disney has Equity as well as non-Equity contracts. The non-Eq are the character level performers who are actually Teamsters believe it or not. Now, character level does not necessarily mean fuzzy costumes. There are many character level dance roles - High School Musical, parades, etc. They dont sing, though. They only dance.</p>
<p>It is a demanding and tiring job and many get enamored by the pixie dust without realizing how difficult the job is. It is many shows a day in the heat. If performers come and party too much and not take care of themselves they will be worn out - physically as well as vocally. On the other end of things, many kids come down not realizing how demanding it is and, basically, don't do their job. They develop bad attitudes because they are on their own with good money and new friends and it's more about fun than being professional (this happens more than you can imagine). Disney's expectations are high. They want performers who have done their research and know what they are getting into and are willing to live up to the investment that the Company is making in them.</p>
<p>It can be very rewarding working for a theme park like Disney. It was one of the best times of my life and I have never regretted the decision to do it. I know that my wife and I took advantage of our time performing there to learn all we could and develop the skills that would carry us on outside of the theme park world.</p>
<p>Don't count it out as a viable option. Just know what you're auditioning for and be willing to do the gig to the best of your abilities.</p>
<p>to OP: my D has worked her last 3 summers as, in order, summer stock, Disney Florida character seasonal, and Disney character under contract. Summer stock: auditions are usually regional, housing is usually offered, a small stipend is paid to cover food. Its hard work and you had better be a very versatile performer because you will be used in 5-8 shows in one summer. You better be tough too, because you rehearse all day and perform until 11pm every night but Mondays and twice on Saturday.You make little to no money but the experience is great and you are doing professional resume building work. </p>
<p>Disney Florida characters is done by audition. First you have to interview in HR, then if they like you for a character performer they will set you up for a Thursday performer audition which takes something like 4 hours. I think all that's done in FL and you definately do not need to be union to work seasonally. Summer time only characters are called "seasonal" or "casual", they work varying shifts, make OK money, might be able to work lots of OT, and they have to pay for their own housing and everything else. There is no help from the company in finding housing either. (I found a place to sublet for my D via Craig's List) My D also went down over her christmas break, worked an insane number of hours for 3 weeks, like 80hrs a week or something, stayed with a friend from the summer, made a bit of money to save for college, and came home on New Years Day.</p>
<p>They do hire seasonal parade dancers (tho not many or often) but I don't think they do for singers and other special performers at all. (Tho I could be wrong here. D never knew any) Usually singers and dancers are fulltime, parttime, or contracted performers that audition under a seperate audition schedule which you can find on Disney's website. They get paid somewhat more than characters and also have no help finding housing etc.</p>
<p>You can do the Disney Florida college program for a spring semester and extend thru the summer OR the summer and the fall semester. You get college credit, go to some Disney University classes, work full time. The company provides housing (tho you are deducted for it on your paycheck I believe) and they provide transport to/fr work but you pay for your own food etc. Everyone my D hung out with last summer LOVED the program and LOVED their time there. It was, shall we say, lots and lots and lots of fun. I have no idea what Disney California offers.</p>
<p>Right now my D is overseas on contract with Disney and that is yet a whole other situation, but it doesnt work well with school because the contracts run March - Sept and Sept thru March, thereby messing up two semesters. Thus why she is taking a gap year.</p>
<p>DisneyDirector is right about it being hot, heavy, grueling work. But D had the time of her life and still is this very minute as a matter of fact. She loves Disney, tho the Disney Kool-Aide has worn off (finally). </p>
<p>Also, as DisneyDirector says, be sure you are going there with your big-kid pants on. If you are cast, a lot of people are counting on you to act like a grown up and be responsible. They are not too interested in unprofessional behavior and have no issue letting you go if you don't behave like an adult at work. They will also blackball you, which is not something anyone ought to aspire to..its a pretty big company with lots of fingers in the entertainment world so as an entertainer you might not wanna make them mad at you, ya know?</p>
<p>Hope this was helpful. Message me if you want more detail about costumed or look-a-like character work.</p>
<p>gapyearmom,
Is that summer stock you are describing with Disney or someplace else?</p>
<p>Wow! What great info... I will send it on to my D. How did she get the Disney college gig? Web site, etc? I think she would be VERY interested! Thanks!</p>
<p>ttmom..the summer stock work was with a profesional theatre in the midwest. It had nothing whatsoever to do with Disney. There are regional auditions twice a year (if your D is a performer I am sure she knows of them). My D went to one in St Louis in Feb. Lots of casting agents are there doing open calls. This is where she auditioned. </p>
<p>snoogie: DisneyDirector posted a link, and your D can also find out info from her colleges career center. Disney recruits at most college campuses for the program. The kids get paid and get college credit and a great work experience. And something to put on their resumes, too. But, just to clarify, my D has not been part of the Disney college program. She's not in college yet, so she had not qaulified. Her work with Disney has been on a professional, contracted basis(in Hong Kong) and as a casual, temporary employee in Florida.</p>
<p>(I'm not a Disney plant, even tho its sounds like I am. They have done very well by my D and I appreciate all her good experiences with the company)</p>
<p>Hi All,
This is my first post to this site. I'm seeking feedback on colleges with good theatre programs on the east coast. I got to this site because I queried, "senior college NY showcase" and picked up a previous dialogue between "Disney Director" and others on the lack of importance of these showcases. Obviously, the schools are using this as a marketing tool, i.e., Yale, Fordham, NYU. Due to the competitive nature of getting into any of the aforementioned schools, I'm seeking some smaller but still good quality theatre programs for consideration for my son who is a junior in high school. He will start visiting schools in 2009. I am not that concerned with the showcase aspect since he already goes routinely to NY for auditions and has a NY manager and free lances with several agents and has been doing so for about one year. He has yet to land anything but is gaining invaluable experience on the process, the business, and is meeting top casting directors in the process. I'd appreciate any feedback.</p>
<p>Welcome, vjay. There is a ton of information on this site, and many people who will be happy to help you with suggestions. Meanwhile you might try going to the top of the page and clicking on "Musical Theater Major". You will see a list of schools at the top of that page. Below that you'll also see "FAQ Link". It's a very good place to start sifting through that afore-mentioned "ton of information". Good luck! My daughter is currently a student at Syracuse, and I'm also a coach with students at various other schools, all in the Northeast. Please feel free to send me a Private Message if you would like more specific and detailed information.</p>
<p>By the way, I don't necessarily agree that showcases are unimportant. I have a number of friends who are casting agents and directors in NYC, and all of them attend showcases on a regular basis to look for new talent.</p>