MAGICal DLP News, Rumours & Thoughts

[marni1971]

It is actually due to contractual / legal reasons. Not even because it’s cheaper.
In France, you cannot have a fixed term contract for an open-ended job. In other words, if the shows were running year long without any breaks, Disney would have to offer permanent contracts to its performers. It would therefore impede them from refreshing the cast or even replace shows by new ones.

Is there a minimum break they need to take (or rather could the downtimes be shorter)? UK has similar rules for contracted people.

 

[marni1971]

Better late than never !

 

[wdrive]

It is actually due to contractual / legal reasons. Not even because it’s cheaper.
In France, you cannot have a fixed term contract for an open-ended job. In other words, if the shows were running year long without any breaks, Disney would have to offer permanent contracts to its performers. It would therefore impede them from refreshing the cast or even replace shows by new ones.

I know. Although I’d argue on the point that it isn’t cheaper.

They used to have permanent shows.

 

[walt-e]

Is there a minimum break they need to take (or rather could the downtimes be shorter)? UK has similar rules for contracted people.

Not sure how long it should be but even if it was just a day, they need a couple of weeks to rehearse with the new cast. That’s why most breaks are usually around 6 weeks if I’m not mistaken.

I know. Although I’d argue on the point that it isn’t cheaper.

They used to have permanent shows.

They used to, indeed, but these shows could either be performed by “anyone” (= no role specific requirements), such as Animagique and Cinemagique, or stayed forever often with simplications overtime such as Moteur Action and the Wild West Show.

Nothing the level of The Lion King and Mickey and the Magician.

 

[wdrive]

Not sure how long it should be but even if it was just a day, they need a couple of weeks to rehearse with the new cast. That’s why most breaks are usually around 6 weeks if I’m not mistaken.

They could rehearse with the next cast while the current cast performs. I don’t think we should pretend here that they have show breaks because they have no other option. Money would fix it.

 

[marni1971]

 

[walt-e]

They could rehearse with the next cast while the current cast performs. I don’t think we should pretend here that they have show breaks because they have no other option. Money would fix it.

That’s the thing, they legally can’t in France. If there isn’t a period of time without a hired cast, they couldn’t hire the cast with fixed term contracts.

 

[wdrive]

That’s the thing, they legally can’t in France. If there isn’t a period of time without a hired cast, they couldn’t hire the cast with fixed term contracts.

What’s the minimum period? A day? A week? They leave it for quite some time sometimes.

 

[ToTBellHop]

What’s the minimum period? A day? A week? They leave it for quite some time sometimes.

As long as it takes the next performers to clear EES at CDG. So…4 weeks, it seems.

 

[marni1971]

As long as it takes the next performers to clear EES at CDG. So…4 weeks, it seems.

I’ve got to say we flew through (pun intended) 2E inbound and outbound. It seems 2D has issues.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I’ve got to say we flew through (pun intended) 2E inbound and outbound. It seems 2D has issues.

Fingers crossed!

 

[walt-e]

What’s the minimum period? A day? A week? They leave it for quite some time sometimes.

As said before, I’m not sure about that. But I guess what takes more time is rehearsing with the new cast. So depending on the show and it complexity, it takes more or less time. For example:
- The Lion King was on hiatus from 4 May to 12 June (6 weeks)
- Mickey and the Magician is on hiatus from 15 June to 31 July (7 weeks)
- Minnie’s Dream Factory is on hiatus from 6 July to 31 July (4 weeks)
- Together is on hiatus from 3 August to 30 September (8 weeks)

 

[wdrive]

As said before, I’m not sure about that. But I guess what takes more time is rehearsing with the new cast. So depending on the show and it complexity, it takes more or less time. For example:
- The Lion King was on hiatus from 4 May to 12 June (6 weeks)
- Mickey and the Magician is on hiatus from 15 June to 31 July (7 weeks)
- Minnie’s Dream Factory is on hiatus from 6 July to 31 July (4 weeks)
- Together is on hiatus from 3 August to 30 September (8 weeks)

So you just hire the next cast earlier and rehearse them while the show is still playing then keep the show dark for the minimal amount of time for it not to be a permanent show.

Also in terms of the Pixar Together show, would it really be all that bad giving the musicians and dancers in that show a permanent contract? They could be moved to anything else when they decide it’s time for the show to end. It’s not like a specific character typecast singer in Mickey and the Magician.

 

[walt-e]

So you just hire the next cast earlier and rehearse them while the show is still playing then keep the show dark for the minimal amount of time for it not to be a permanent show.

Also in terms of the Pixar Together show, would it really be all that bad giving the musicians and dancers in that show a permanent contract? They could be moved to anything else when they decide it’s time for the show to end. It’s not like a specific character typecast singer in Mickey and the Magician.

But that’s exactly what I’ve been saying with my last couple of posts, they can’t legally do that. What’s mandatory is to have a break between the contracts of one cast and the other cast if they want to stick to fixed term contracts and not a break of performances. Having a cast rehearsing while the other is still performing doesn’t give that contractual break…

As for Together, the characters are already on permanent contracts. The dancers and musicians are on fixed term contracts and Disney doesn’t want them permanent.

 

[nickys]

So you just hire the next cast earlier and rehearse them while the show is still playing then keep the show dark for the minimal amount of time for it not to be a permanent show.

Also in terms of the Pixar Together show, would it really be all that bad giving the musicians and dancers in that show a permanent contract? They could be moved to anything else when they decide it’s time for the show to end. It’s not like a specific character typecast singer in Mickey and the Magician.

There are several different types of employment contracts in France.

The most common example for theatre / entertainment workers is the short term CDDU, which gives good protection for periods of unemployment and enforced pauses, rest periods, maximum working hours etc.

Employment laws in the EU and UK are very strict. It’s not comparable in any way with the US.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I presume summer is one of the busiest times of year at DLP. If shows must close, this feels like an odd time to do it. They also are a bit unlucky with the weather this summer. Guests would certainly appreciate every air-conditioned theatre when it’s 100 degrees.

 

[walt-e]

Well, to be fair, I’m not sure if there is anymore high or low seasons at DLP. And these breaks are happening every 9 months approximately I’d say so it is not often happening at the same period of the year. For example, there wasn’t any show on hiatus last summer.

 

[wdrive]

But that’s exactly what I’ve been saying with my last couple of posts, they can’t legally do that. What’s mandatory is to have a break between the contracts of one cast and the other cast if they want to stick to fixed term contracts and not a break of performances. Having a cast rehearsing while the other is still performing doesn’t give that contractual break…

As for Together, the characters are already on permanent contracts. The dancers and musicians are on fixed term contracts and Disney doesn’t want them permanent.

Yes I know. What I’ve been saying is make the gap as small as possible. They don’t want to do that though to save money.

I know the Together characters are already permanent that’s why I didn’t mention them. Clearly Disney doesn’t want the dancers and musicals on permanent contracts. There’s no reason they couldn’t be though, again other than to save money.

 

[wdrive]

There are several different types of employment contracts in France.

The most common example for theatre / entertainment workers is the short term CDDU, which gives good protection for periods of unemployment and enforced pauses, rest periods, maximum working hours etc.

Employment laws in the EU and UK are very strict. It’s not comparable in any way with the US.

I’m aware

 

[marni1971]

For example, there wasn’t any show on hiatus last summer.

That seems to be poor planning for the extra crowds this summer specifically at DAW. Although there is a lot of money juggling for extra entertainment going on already (thats why there’s no music festival in DL this year for example)

TWDC is calling all the financial shots now. There’s more to come.