Costume Malfunctions

[dreamfinder]

I agree that the other characters did a very good job of staying in character, but yet also helping their fallen friend. The other tweedle standing around tsk tsking later on fits well. And Tigger and then the Queen did a good job of helping to shield the fallen tweedle.

 

[TubaGeek]

Why should it be removed? There was a proper spoiler warning added before the link.

This forum is composed of many people, including adults that enjoy the knowledge of what makes WDW tick including the good, the bad and the ugly.

If you want to preserve the magic for the under 12 set that's fine and dandy, but don't try to convince everyone here that their aren't real people making the magic happen.

I'm with you on this one.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Ok, so here's a question regarding "bad show" vs. safety of the performers that I've always wondered about. At what point does the safety and well-being of the performer trump bad show? Suppose a costumed performer became seriously injured during a parade and required medical attention immediately. For instance, they sustained what might be a possible spinal injury, and therefore couldn't be immediately moved offstage? What would happen? Would they allow a character to be de-costumed (for lack of a better term) right in the middle of Main Street USA?

 

[mikeymouse]

I used to have a character head. It had a thing in it like a hardhat or a firefighters helmet. Had straps and adjustments. But yes, they are pretty heavy.

 

[Fantasmic]

Ok, so here's a question regarding "bad show" vs. safety of the performers that I've always wondered about. At what point does the safety and well-being of the performer trump bad show? Suppose a costumed performer became seriously injured during a parade and required medical attention immediately. For instance, they sustained what might be a possible spinal injury, and therefore couldn't be immediately moved offstage? What would happen? Would they allow a character to be de-costumed (for lack of a better term) right in the middle of Main Street USA?

Safety
Curtousy
Show
Efficency

In that order.

In other words, Saftey first.

 

[coolmark18]

Ok, so here's a question regarding "bad show" vs. safety of the performers that I've always wondered about. At what point does the safety and well-being of the performer trump bad show? Suppose a costumed performer became seriously injured during a parade and required medical attention immediately. For instance, they sustained what might be a possible spinal injury, and therefore couldn't be immediately moved offstage? What would happen? Would they allow a character to be de-costumed (for lack of a better term) right in the middle of Main Street USA?

If they couldnt be immediately moved I imagine they would acquire a medical-style screen to place around the area as CM's removed visitors from the area. (im basing this on no fact at all).

 

[Rob562]

If they couldnt be immediately moved I imagine they would acquire a medical-style screen to place around the area as CM's removed visitors from the area. (im basing this on no fact at all).

That would be my presumption as well.

I've also heard that if a character got sick during a parade but didn't require immediate medical assistance and there wasn't an easy way to get them backstage, some floats (at least in Spectro) have "hiding places" to put characters where they can ride out the rest of the parade inside the float.

Our Keys to the Kingdom guide gave the multi-segment fish floats in Spectro as an example. While the lead fish has the driver, the next one or two floats that it's towing are empty inside and can carry a CM if necessary. They'd jsut stop the float along the Liberty Square bridge (where there are no Guests other than possibly VIPs in that viewing area), and put the CM inside the float.

I presume the daytime parade floats have similar spaces, because I've seen photos of a float getting stuck in a torrential downpour and the character on top of the float eventually having to open a trapdoor and take shelter down inside the float.

-Rob

 

[coolmark18]

I presume the daytime parade floats have similar spaces, because I've seen photos of a float getting stuck in a torrential downpour and the character on top of the float eventually having to open a trapdoor and take shelter down inside the float.

-Rob

Oh, wow. Do you have a link to these?

 

[WDW Vacationer]

Great job to the CM. He put that thing right back on!
I hope nothing happened to this guy,it was an accident and he even quickly fixed it.

Also,the other CM did the right thing from a perspective if safety and show.

There are plastics(maybe metals) that give costumes shape and could hurt a CM. It is best to make sure nothing broke.

Also,obviously a costume adjustment was needed also,so one Tweedlw had to leave,the other had to leave to.

 

[friendofafriend]

I've been a reader of these forums for YEARS. These two posts have compelled me to create a user name. :lol:

Just for clarification from someone who worked in costuming, the character heads for the most part (there are a couple exceptions) aren't strapped to anything in the costume, most of the time they are just sitting on the heads.

Most heads, however do have headgear (a "halo") and a chin strap so it doesn't wiggle on the performer, there are heads however (Stitch is one that I know of) that aren't designed with chin straps or halos. Most heads also have a neck piece that is velcro'd to the costume, but that hardly keeps the head in place if one is upside down.

Usually the weight of the head is enough to keep it stable on someone's head, but if they fall over, such as in this instance, it's very likely that it will come off. Its actually somewhat surprising to me that this doesn't happen more often.

Did you work in character costuming? All heads have a halo unless they rest ontop of the performers shoulders, ie- a number of the very tall characters (brer bear, Sulley, beast etc.) Often cast will choose not to wear headgear or chinstraps attached to those halos, but that is not allowed- for the exact reason you can see in that video. Stitch absolutely has a halo and he is one that MANY cast CHOOSE not to wear a chinstrap. Its just a matter of time before you see a headless Stitch on you tube. The headgear is what keeps the head from wobbling too much and the chinstrap holds the head on. Most heads are very top heavy and would never stay on without headgear and chin straps.

Great job to the CM. He put that thing right back on!
I hope nothing happened to this guy,it was an accident and he even quickly fixed it.

Also,the other CM did the right thing from a perspective if safety and show.

There are plastics(maybe metals) that give costumes shape and could hurt a CM. It is best to make sure nothing broke.

Also,obviously a costume adjustment was needed also,so one Tweedlw had to leave,the other had to leave to.

Great job?! Seriously?! Its the performers responsibility to make sure that his or her costume is show ready before going on set. Included in that is wearing the proper equipment to make sure that something like that doesn't happen. That performer did not do their job appopriately, if they did the head would not have come off. I can't speak for Paris, but if a character looses their head and its shown that its because it wasn't attached properly and wasn't a malfunction (which in my experience is highly unlikely)- they would be fired (and rightfully so).

The heads are make of kevlar, not plastic. And again, if the costume is checked and secured beforehand there is no reason it would injure the cast member.

I know what I'm talking about I'm a former performer (for many years) that has recently left WDW to tour with a live production.

 

[tiaragirl]

Are you missing the fact that he completely wiped out and was obviously in a lot of pain?

Calm down.

 

[friendofafriend]

Are you missing the fact that he completely wiped out and was obviously in a lot of pain?

Calm down.

calm down? Sorry, didn't realize I was worked up. Obviously I hope that the performer wasn't seriously hurt- I'm sure it wasn't life-threatening. I was just trying to clear up some misinformation. :shrug:

 

[TheBeatles]

That video reminds me of a story one of my Entertainment buddies told me...

Genie was on-stage and the head fell off.

The performer yelled "poof! i'm human!" and ran off stage.

 

[friendofafriend]

I guess I shouldn't have created a user name. I've been an official member for under an hour and I've already stepped on some toes- I tend to do that in real life too :ROFLOL: . I'll bow out now, again sorry. :wave: I'll drop in again sometime if I have any entertainment info other than what Drew is so great to post. Other than that I'll keep my mouth shut :zipit:

 

[TURKEY]

I guess I shouldn't have created a user name. I've been an official member for under an hour and I've already stepped on some toes- I tend to do that in real life too :ROFLOL: . I'll bow out now, again sorry. :wave: I'll drop in again sometime if I have any entertainment info other than what Drew is so great to post. Other than that I'll keep my mouth shut :zipit:

Don't run off. :wave:


I think what the "great job" was is how quickly he/she got the head back on and the other characters came to the rescue to surround and limit the exposure.

 

[tiaragirl]

Don't gooooooo.

No one should listen to me anyway. I'm cranky because I have to read about quasi-experimental research and calculate chi-squares

 

[Laura]

OFF WITH HIS HEAD!

:lookaroun

One thing I don't understand about this video is why are there not mobs of people along the sides of Main Street? I don't ever recall seeing characters dancing down main street without anyone paying them any attention as in that video.

 

[drew81]

I've been a reader of these forums for YEARS. These two posts have compelled me to create a user name. :lol:



Did you work in character costuming? All heads have a halo unless they rest ontop of the performers shoulders, ie- a number of the very tall characters (brer bear, Sulley, beast etc.) Often cast will choose not to wear headgear or chinstraps attached to those halos, but that is not allowed- for the exact reason you can see in that video. Stitch absolutely has a halo and he is one that MANY cast CHOOSE not to wear a chinstrap. Its just a matter of time before you see a headless Stitch on you tube. The headgear is what keeps the head from wobbling too much and the chinstrap holds the head on. Most heads are very top heavy and would never stay on without headgear and chin straps.



Great job?! Seriously?! Its the performers responsibility to make sure that his or her costume is show ready before going on set. Included in that is wearing the proper equipment to make sure that something like that doesn't happen. That performer did not do their job appopriately, if they did the head would not have come off. I can't speak for Paris, but if a character looses their head and its shown that its because it wasn't attached properly and wasn't a malfunction (which in my experience is highly unlikely)- they would be fired (and rightfully so).

The heads are make of kevlar, not plastic. And again, if the costume is checked and secured beforehand there is no reason it would injure the cast member.

I know what I'm talking about I'm a former performer (for many years) that has recently left WDW to tour with a live production.

I agree with you. The chinstrap would have caused this not to happen.

 

[drew81]

I guess I shouldn't have created a user name. I've been an official member for under an hour and I've already stepped on some toes- I tend to do that in real life too :ROFLOL: . I'll bow out now, again sorry. :wave: I'll drop in again sometime if I have any entertainment info other than what Drew is so great to post. Other than that I'll keep my mouth shut :zipit:

What you posted is fine.

 

[WDW Vacationer]

I was told that some parts of the costume have plastic for shape...sorry...

Also,I do think that the performer did a good job.


Can someone describe the chin strap? What I'm thinking is an elastic strap that could come off if the performer fell.