Costumed Characters are not slam-dunk role
When children think about a trip to Orlando, what immediately comes to mind? Is it not the iconic characters that theme-parks like Disney World, Universal, Seaworld bring to life?
It's unimaginable the level of fantasy and excitement that these characters bring to the life of a child. Yet most of these characters will experience being harassed, kicked, punched - all in a days work. Most of the time, the people wearing the costumes overlook the indignities and injuries that occur on the job.
Even recently, in a case against a Pennsylvania man that inappropriately touched a costumed character, while prosecutors found him guilty, he stated that it was all in good fun.
There are many positive and negative aspects behind playing characters such as Chuck E. Cheese, Tigger, Betty Boop, Minnie Mouse and many others. While cast members are confined to a costume, they must exaggerate the antics of the character they are playing like a mime. Sometimes these roles attract individuals with unscrupulous behavior.
With nearly 2,000 costumed workers at Disney and hundreds more at Universal, these characters can be subject to any number of uncertainties during the day. Some of these talented individuals share their experience about the limitations associated with their costumes.
One such experience includes that of Chuck E. Cheese recounts one performer. Often, the cast members vision is impaired and it's hard to maintain balance under the custom.
Kids like to push or shove the character causing the actor to loose balance. In this particular instance, the performer lost her footing and tumbled down some stairs. During the perilous journey down the steps, the head of the costume unsnapped revealing the true gender of the performer.
That day, bystanders witnessed Chuck E. Cheese take a big fall and were shocked to see that the role was being performed by a female!
Most performers agree that the trouble that they've experienced was all in good fun. But whether a good or bad experience, the real payoff is when an ecstatic child comes running to give their favorite character a big hug..
It's unimaginable the level of fantasy and excitement that these characters bring to the life of a child. Yet most of these characters will experience being harassed, kicked, punched - all in a days work. Most of the time, the people wearing the costumes overlook the indignities and injuries that occur on the job.
Even recently, in a case against a Pennsylvania man that inappropriately touched a costumed character, while prosecutors found him guilty, he stated that it was all in good fun.
There are many positive and negative aspects behind playing characters such as Chuck E. Cheese, Tigger, Betty Boop, Minnie Mouse and many others. While cast members are confined to a costume, they must exaggerate the antics of the character they are playing like a mime. Sometimes these roles attract individuals with unscrupulous behavior.
With nearly 2,000 costumed workers at Disney and hundreds more at Universal, these characters can be subject to any number of uncertainties during the day. Some of these talented individuals share their experience about the limitations associated with their costumes.
One such experience includes that of Chuck E. Cheese recounts one performer. Often, the cast members vision is impaired and it's hard to maintain balance under the custom.
Kids like to push or shove the character causing the actor to loose balance. In this particular instance, the performer lost her footing and tumbled down some stairs. During the perilous journey down the steps, the head of the costume unsnapped revealing the true gender of the performer.
That day, bystanders witnessed Chuck E. Cheese take a big fall and were shocked to see that the role was being performed by a female!
Most performers agree that the trouble that they've experienced was all in good fun. But whether a good or bad experience, the real payoff is when an ecstatic child comes running to give their favorite character a big hug..
posted by michael at
7:43 AM
