Hey Guys!
New to the boards here. And I'm sorry if this ends up being long winded. I grew up in Pasadena, California and then the Florida Panhandle, so Disney parks were always a big magical part of my life growing up. For the past couple of months, I've gotten it into my head that I want to try to audition to be a Disney CM. So I've been lurking boards, reading blogs by hardcore Disney fans & ex-Cms, watching youtube vids...anything I could get my hands on to give me more information about the audition process and life as a CM. And what I have found has been interesting, but maybe not exactly as thorough or encompassing to satisfy my curiosity.
So I suppose I should go more into about myself and my experiences as a performer...because that's where I'm wondering if I may or may not be a good fit as a Disney Cm. Apparently looks are important so I'll get those details out there first...I'm of Filipino descent, 5'5, and 130 lbs. I have been afflicted with a rare neurological condition called transverse myelitits since 6 months of age. I'm no doctor, but the best I can describe it is a condition that affects the body quite like polio. So I have a bad back, a limp with my right leg, suffer chronic back and knee pain, limited sensation or feeling from the waist down, (and as embarrassing it is to admit this to strangers on the internet, but this would be relevant to the job tasks) issues with going to the bathroom, and hearing loss for other unrelated issues I'll go into further in a bit.
Now despite all of my 'issues' I have never let my disabilities stop me from pursuing my dreams of wanting to be a performance artist. I've been acting in various formats from school plays, community college, improv theatre, voice-over acting, and even professional wrestling. I've also been a touring and regularly gigging musician for ten years. I'm a completely self-taught musician (absolutely no formal training. I just like picking up instruments and learning by hearing and natural feeling.), originally played various horns until hearing loss made that too much of a challenge to continue doing, and now focus on various folk instruments like ukulele.
I'm only 25, but wow how I lived them! I'm interested in ultimately becoming a Disney Face Character, because it looks like something of a new challenge for me as a performer yet is a culmination from various things I've done in the past. It's like the ultimate form of guerrilla street improv with possiblities to let my musical talents shine! But not only that, Disney was a fundamental part of inspiring me to do what I've done. I want to recreate that magic I felt as a kid meeting my favorite characters.
Can any former or current CMs give me any advise on the process? How it is on the 'frontlines' day in and day out? Or even any blunt recommendations that maybe this may not be the best career path to chase given my circumstances?
New to the boards here. And I'm sorry if this ends up being long winded. I grew up in Pasadena, California and then the Florida Panhandle, so Disney parks were always a big magical part of my life growing up. For the past couple of months, I've gotten it into my head that I want to try to audition to be a Disney CM. So I've been lurking boards, reading blogs by hardcore Disney fans & ex-Cms, watching youtube vids...anything I could get my hands on to give me more information about the audition process and life as a CM. And what I have found has been interesting, but maybe not exactly as thorough or encompassing to satisfy my curiosity.
So I suppose I should go more into about myself and my experiences as a performer...because that's where I'm wondering if I may or may not be a good fit as a Disney Cm. Apparently looks are important so I'll get those details out there first...I'm of Filipino descent, 5'5, and 130 lbs. I have been afflicted with a rare neurological condition called transverse myelitits since 6 months of age. I'm no doctor, but the best I can describe it is a condition that affects the body quite like polio. So I have a bad back, a limp with my right leg, suffer chronic back and knee pain, limited sensation or feeling from the waist down, (and as embarrassing it is to admit this to strangers on the internet, but this would be relevant to the job tasks) issues with going to the bathroom, and hearing loss for other unrelated issues I'll go into further in a bit.
Now despite all of my 'issues' I have never let my disabilities stop me from pursuing my dreams of wanting to be a performance artist. I've been acting in various formats from school plays, community college, improv theatre, voice-over acting, and even professional wrestling. I've also been a touring and regularly gigging musician for ten years. I'm a completely self-taught musician (absolutely no formal training. I just like picking up instruments and learning by hearing and natural feeling.), originally played various horns until hearing loss made that too much of a challenge to continue doing, and now focus on various folk instruments like ukulele.
I'm only 25, but wow how I lived them! I'm interested in ultimately becoming a Disney Face Character, because it looks like something of a new challenge for me as a performer yet is a culmination from various things I've done in the past. It's like the ultimate form of guerrilla street improv with possiblities to let my musical talents shine! But not only that, Disney was a fundamental part of inspiring me to do what I've done. I want to recreate that magic I felt as a kid meeting my favorite characters.
Can any former or current CMs give me any advise on the process? How it is on the 'frontlines' day in and day out? Or even any blunt recommendations that maybe this may not be the best career path to chase given my circumstances?
