auditioning for an ice show

[avg_skater]

Has anyone auditioned for an ice show (Disney on Ice, Snoopy on Ice)? How good do you have to be? Any requirements?

[Schmeck]

You'd probably get more replies if you posted this on the On Ice forum

I know of two ladies (senior level skaters) that tried out for shows, one did Disney on Ice (or at least tried out and made it) and the other is now touring with Holiday on Ice.

[WeBeEducated]

I was told that males have a much better chance of making it than females, even with average skills.
Disney has a website that gives details.

[jp1andOnly]

thats true. They also use the lower level skaters on the North American tour. The higher skilled skaters tend to go overseas to Asia or Europe.

With the North American tour skaters often pay for things themselves. For example, your hotel room may cost you 10-20 bucks a night. Of course they cover most of the cost but you may have to pay something every night. Food is not included unless you do 3 shows a day. Then you get 2 meals I believe.

If you are going for experience, then go for it. If you aregoing to have a fun time and make some cash, don't bother. Yes, there are times you can have fun but when you skate 3 shows aday you are often too tired to do anything but sleep.

My brother is currently on the Asian tour and loving it. He's tired and it is costing more than he anticipated. Though he gets his hotels paid for, Japan was very expensive and the food cost him a lot. He'll be lucky to break even. But the experience is a once in a lifetime opportunity

[CanAmSk8ter]

I think I read several years ago that you had to have your Novice freestyle or Silver dances. OTOH, since then I've met a girl who tried out who I'm almost sure only had her Intermediate freestyle. Maybe when MITF tests started they made some changes?

[triple twist]

I know a few girls who have tried out but they weren't graduated so basically they weren't even looked at.
I've also talked to a lady who used to tour with disney on ice and she said that if trying out, you're putting yourself in a way better position if you have some gold tests. Also, you dont need to be a jumper, you can totally be an ice dancer or interpertive skater. But if you can do some simple jumps like an axel or double salchow and such then that's also pretty good for you. Having confidence and a great performing style is necessary!
This is what i got from the lady I talked to!

[iskater13]

For disney, they weigh you and give you some choreography....the faster you pick it up the better. they also give you a chance to skate around and do want you want, oh and there is an application. Big thing is weight and if you know someone that is good to. Tests are good too, but basically if you do not hold any titles, they want to see what you can do and if you can remember steps quick.
It depends which tour you try out for whether or not you go over seas(almost all of them rotate and you get there some day or another). I was lucky and stayed all over europe, mexico, puerto rico and the east coast of the states, It was a lot of fun, the experience of a life time. You do run out of cash because you want to go places, see things. If you get on a tour, have fun!

[peaches]

I auditioned for Disney in '89, and then all they wanted was a resume, to see what doubles you had, and how quickly you picked up on the steps. ITA that being able to pick steps up quickly is a big, big deal. Having Synchro or Dance experience will help if you're not a big freestyler. Weight is a huge issue.

[synchro4evr]

I'm a triple gold skater and have been skating synchro for three years, two of which were on a national team. Do you think my chances would be good? I'd love to travel and would just like the experience. I'm used to learning footwork and steps on the fly and have medalled at interpretive. How often do they audition in Canada?

Thanks

[dooobedooo]

I do know girls of around silver standard who have got into Holiday on Ice, and men of maybe inter-bronze standard who have got into Disney.

My impression is that skating in shows does require very high standards of control, which even quite accomplished solo skaters may not have. So they have had to take lessons specifically with the show audition in mind. This means perfecting all sorts of stops in any direction. Also working on fast footwork , and improving your ability to learn footwork and choreography quickly.

Holiday on Ice has a web site where you can send in an application.

[mary]

Does anyone know roughly what such a job pays? My husband said it can be in the six figures if say you're Snow White or a main character. Is this true? That would be great if it were.

[jp1andOnly]

haha.. No they do not pay that kind of salary. My brother is understudy in a couple of parts and also does a main role. He doesn't get paid anywhere close to that. He makes more than the skates on the North American tour though.

[mary]

I didn't think so, either. Hubby tends to exagerrate about EVERYTHING! He's told our daughter that.

[jp1andOnly]

Because tour's aren't a whole year there is no way i can find out a yearly salary. However from what I know (and this vaires ffrom skater to skater as their level and role in the production would differ) a skater on the Asian tour might make between 2000-2500 a month. This doesn't include your meals and some accomodation fees you have to pay for. If you are in the ensemble you might make less and if you skate the N. American tour it would be less.

Some skaters on the tour help with set up and take down as well as costumes to make extra cash.

[avg_skater]

Here's my situation: I skated ISIA competitively when I was younger (reached FS 8/9)and now 10 years later I've started skating again. I've been skating about 6 months and I've gotten my axel, 2 sal, and 2 toe back. I hear Snoopy on Ice (the show at Knott's Berry Farm) is auditioning starting February for the summer show. I'm nowhere near what my conditioning and weight should be. I really want to try out but I don't want to embarrass myself nor waste time training for it if I don't have a realistic chance. I have a decent sit and a flying camel. My footwork is weak as I am still not entirely comfortable on the ice. I doubt I'll be able to get any more doubles in time for the audition. I would love to be a character but I hear those parts are hard to get. Any advice?

[miss cleo]

Three years ago my neighbor was Snoopy at Knotts for Christmas and several summer shows. She was a novice level skater at the time. Skating in a "suit" as she called it is the lowest level of skating in a show. After a time, she was able to do an axel with a 20 pound dog suit on (quite an accomplishment!) but the heat in the summer and weight of the costume were killers. The "principals" do all the jumping and real skating in a show. The pay wasn't great but the experience - priceless.

[jp1andOnly]

Originally posted by avg_skater
Here's my situation: I skated ISIA competitively when I was younger (reached FS 8/9)and now 10 years later I've started skating again. I've been skating about 6 months and I've gotten my axel, 2 sal, and 2 toe back. I hear Snoopy on Ice (the show at Knott's Berry Farm) is auditioning starting February for the summer show. I'm nowhere near what my conditioning and weight should be. I really want to try out but I don't want to embarrass myself nor waste time training for it if I don't have a realistic chance. I have a decent sit and a flying camel. My footwork is weak as I am still not entirely comfortable on the ice. I doubt I'll be able to get any more doubles in time for the audition. I would love to be a character but I hear those parts are hard to get. Any advice?

I'd wait until next year until you are better trained. There are usually people there who just come for the experience but are never even considered.

If you want some criticisms on what you need to work on and what you have thats good..go for it. Just be prepared for some honest and maybe not so pleasant comments.

My brother, who is on the Disney tour was told "you are good looking and appealing however you need to work on..blah blah blah." He acutally tried out once just for experience and told them straight out that he wanted a critique this year as he was still competiting and next year he would be interested in joining. He sent in photos as well as a video of him doing his programs. He is a senior competitice skater who could land all his triples up to the axel. The one main thing he had to work on was stopping. He had to be able to perform various stops on both feet.

[plinko]

I'm curious, especially about the comment on stops, does your brother have gold skills, figures, dance? Do they look for different things in men (jumps) than women, does dance matter? I'm idly thinking of future employment possibilities for my son, maybe to tease him with one day "you need to pass snakes and ladders so that you can be a skating tree ornament " or some such thing. We already have the "must pass gold dances so to make money as dance partner" mantra going on.

[jp1andOnly]

my brother has his gold dances as well as gold skills and senior competitive free (gold free as well)

I don't know exactly what they look for. I know looks do matter (mostly size..height and weight) This goes for both men and women. A pretty face also does help :)

Dance probably does matter though my brother is sooo not a dancer. He hates it with a passion. Many of the stops were on both feet. A person has a strong stop usually on one foot but they want equal on both. He demonstrated all the different kinds of stops. I would look at some syncro moves as many holds and such are like syncro

When he went for his audition they had him do footwork and stops. He did jumps for the most part, as well as spins. The part he found amusing was they asked him to act out what he thought a monkey would be like, or a horse, tree, etc. I guess they were looking for expression and willingness to act out a part.

I would just encourage your son to get the highest level he can. It makes you far more employable than lower tests. Skaters with Senior competitive tests who can do several triples will make more and get more opportunities than lower level skaters. It also will bode well if he chooses to coach

[FSWer]

Your a Triple-Gold skater Synchro4evr!!!! That is soooo COOL!!!! I think as a fan myself that you deffenitely have what it takes. Go for it!!!!! You lucky GIRL!!!!!!