It isn't six months if they're supposed to be hired by April.
Others have rebutted the comments you're referring to. What would be the point?
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Festival of the Lion King closes January 5th
- Thread starter drew81
- Start date
It isn't six months if they're supposed to be hired by April.
Others have rebutted the comments you're referring to. What would be the point?
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
Disney, top notch - wrong company, expensive yes definitely
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
That is so wrong on so many levels, But so typical of the money grubbing TWDC that we have come to despise, Actors Equity ought to tie them up in court for years over this one forcing Disney to spond every dime they 'saved'
LL2WDW
Well-Known Member
It isn't wrong on so many levels. It is how the entertainment world works, the world over. They are closing the show for six months so they can strike, rehab the floats, and then reinstall and program the new theater. That takes time, whether you want to believe it or not.
You don't keep AEA performers, when the show they are contracted for closes. You just don't. Plain and simple. If you're hired to play Kiume at FOLK, and FOLK closes, what are you then to do?
If a Broadway show closes for six months, they don't keep the entire company on.
Equity performers (and any contracted performer at any show, anywhere) take that risk when they sign the contract. You know it is only for a specific amount of time, and you have no guarantee that you will be selected again at the end of your contract.
Does it seem unfair? Sure! But that's show biz, kids. This is not a case of Disney firing a bunch of performers just so they can save money.
Sorry to come out swinging, but I couldn't read anymore posts that were completely off base, without giving the insight that I have (with regards to show contracts).
You don't keep AEA performers, when the show they are contracted for closes. You just don't. Plain and simple. If you're hired to play Kiume at FOLK, and FOLK closes, what are you then to do?
If a Broadway show closes for six months, they don't keep the entire company on.
Equity performers (and any contracted performer at any show, anywhere) take that risk when they sign the contract. You know it is only for a specific amount of time, and you have no guarantee that you will be selected again at the end of your contract.
Does it seem unfair? Sure! But that's show biz, kids. This is not a case of Disney firing a bunch of performers just so they can save money.
Sorry to come out swinging, but I couldn't read anymore posts that were completely off base, without giving the insight that I have (with regards to show contracts).
mm52200
Well-Known Member
Exactly, that's just the business not Disney. Most of the Equity performers at Disney are only on year contracts even if their show isn't on the verge of closing. I don't know how it works for every show but I definitely know the Citizens of Hollywood only have year contracts and may or may not be renewed each year. That's just the entertainment business in general, from Broadway to WDW.
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
I know that in the entertainment world contracts are annual, However the stated reason for the show closure was that Disney wanted the entire cast to 're-audition' in short - Don't let the door hit you on the way out so the entire point of the exercise was to bring in a new cast at minimum scale.
How much does Disney pay to defend the indefensible - If you want to astroturf I'd recommend getting an account with a bit more history than yours.
kap91
Well-Known Member
That's actually not true. While Disney skimps in many areas...on most occasions as far as sound and lighting systems Disney does go with the higher end and subsequently more expensive product, certainly more so than that other company you're referring to.
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
Thanks - that is most surprising.
Cesar R M
Well-Known Member
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
willtravel
Well-Known Member
I wonder if this means the main singers will all have to re audition?
LL2WDW
Well-Known Member
You're just putting your own spin on things. There is no proof that Disney closed the show for six months to have the existing AEA performers re-audition. Yes, that is part of the fallout, but not the deciding factor. And who's to say that Disney won't hire back the same cast? And AEA contracts are negotiable.
Disney closed the show for this amount of time, because it takes a while to move and rehab a show that was not meant/designed to be moved.
When the Christmas shows close, those dancers don't have jobs. I don't see any uproar for that.
And nice cheap shot about my posting level. I didn't realize you needed at least 500 posts to be able to make a valid statement.
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
FoTLK is a long running show and the cast has been with the show from the beginning and they appear to really enjoy their roles in the show. It's quite different for a temporary annual show where one does not expect that the talent will return year after year.
If you are NOT shilling for WDW, You might find that there are a fair number of us on this board who are sick and tired of Disney constantly degrading attractions and cheapening the experience we call out Disney in social media like this board, write letters and complain to GR in the real world.
You will also find that when you have a new account and DEFEND Disney's actions many of us will assume you are part of Disney's social media brigade and show no mercy to anyone who thinks that Disney's current management practices are acceptable.
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
As part of the announcement it was stated that the entire cast would need to re-audition so don't expect current cast to be back, As we all know they will be replaced with cheaper new cast after all the rubes will never know the difference.
Who cares about SHOW quality when you can save a few bucks.
willtravel
Well-Known Member
If you think about it, why would they after re-auditioning, not hire back same performers?
Cesar R M
Well-Known Member
Probably they will put a "pay" limit in the audition process?
example, let's say current guys get 15,000 a month now due of their time working nonstop for disney on these years.. (and let's say they started at 10,000$ )
when they do the the audition process, they will do the same "we ask this XXX for this XXX position getting paid 10,000 a month!"
I dont think the older cast would want to go with a huge payment cut.
To resume: They close up, force new audition process, but at the original payment price and not the increased one the older crew was receiving for working many years in the show.
(NOTE THAT I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH THEY EARN. I'M JUST EXPLAINING WHAT I THINK THE COST CUTS WOULD BE )
(ps, in my country they do it even worse.. some companies are so dirty, they rehire you after 6 months so you dont get a) into an union since you cant build time b) into the business insurance by law.
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willtravel
Well-Known Member
I guess what I was trying to say was if they don't hire the same cast back, since they have been fine all these years. But if they don't hire them back it is to make pay cuts. And that is ssssaaaddd...But yes, I agree with you.
ford91exploder
Resident Curmudgeon
its better than nothing - but honestly i don't think the current cast has a snowballs chance of being in the 'new' show.
unkadug
Follower of "Saget"The Cult
This is WDW we're talking about here...not Broadway. Nobody makes $15,000 a month at the park.
Tigger1988
Well-Known Member
If they're making 15k a month they need to get the boot, that's way too much for in park singers...