I've played at Disney and Epcot for couple of years back in the early 80's. It's nice work if you can get it, but it's VERY competitive.

You need to be able to read extremely well, know a wide range of styles, and be comfortable playing with a clicktrack. For some gigs you'd need special skills like marching/rudimental drumming, dixieland, etc.

Do some digging and find out who books their talent - they probably have an Entertainment Director or some such thing. Then make contact with him or her, and try to find out exactly what they need. You'll need a resume and a good demo CD, too, I would imagine.

Be aware that it's a union gig. Sometimes they post audition notices merely as a formality, having already decided who's going to get the gig.

Also be aware it's a very strict environment in terms of your personal grooming and appearance, as well as your behavior when you're onstage. Some musicians find that constraining. But it can be a great gig. Good luck!

I've played drums for a living, and I've played drums just for fun, and from my experience, playing drums just for fun can be more fun than playing drums for a living - although usually playing drums just for fun doesn't pay very well, and sometimes playing drums for a living can be great fun! 

I guess what I'm trying to say is do what you feel is best for you at this stage of your life, and whatever you do, have some fun!

Best wishes!

Yeh Chris, "Fun" can be overrated and sometimes deadly! I think sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll went out with the movie "Spinal Tap" didn't it? 

I'm actually speaking of pursuing contentment, satisfaction, happiness in one's work and life -- however we define those things for ourselves.

If someone likes doing the Disney gig, more power to 'em! I admire and respect their skill and professionalism. Playing in that chair requires versatility and very high level technical skills. It could also be an outstanding stepping-stone to other opportunities, as with Mr. Acrolite.

However, personally, I'd suffocate doing that gig! Like Rick Nelson sang in "Garden Party" -- "I'd rather drive a truck."

Anyway Adam, I'd just say be really clear within yourself on the reasons you want the gig, and if you really want it, go for it! 

In addition to Mr. A's suggestions, you could try contacting Disney's HR department (Human Resources); they should have specific requirements and qualifications for every job in the park, including musicians, as well as a list of materials you will need to submit, e.g., resume, bio, audio and/or video clip, etc..., and proceedures to follow for auditioning.

Best wishes

Hey Chris, yeh, I realized you were kidding  and just for the record, I was intentionally repeating the word fun just for fun. 

I appreciate all the advice.

I would hope this gig (if I should be so lucky to get it) would be a stepping stone to greater things, but I'm not sure the direction that I'd want to go after that.

I haven't totally nixed the cruise ship idea.  The reason that I'm not doing that yet is that I'm in a very serious relationship with a registered nurse.  Her career goal is to work as a nurse on a cruise ship, however, they usually require you to have anywhere from one to three years of experience...and her first day as an RN was yesterday.  I guess the Disney gig could be a stepping stone to the cruise ship gig, but that would probably be more of a step to the side (or back even...)

I'll probably be contacting the HR department at Disney in the next month or two to see what it is I'd have to do to audition.  I'll keep you all posted if anything comes of it.  I sincerely believe that I'm qualified (eleven years of marching band, fifteen years of constant private lessons on drumset and orchestral percussion, four years of high school jazz band and five years of college jazz band)...and this has been a dream of mine since high school.

Even so...wish me luck, I'm sure I'll need all I can get.

--adam--

Actually Adam, your plan sounds fine.
If you and your partner were both employed on the same cruise ship, I don't think that would be a sideways step.

I was in a position like yours a couple of years ago sans girlfriend, and I opted to do ships because I was tired of plugging away at 2.5 day jobs just to pay Toronto's exorbitant rental rates and pick up what gigs I could. So now I'm in the opposite position - I've been working on ships for awhile, I now have a girlfriend who also works ships, but I'm completely at a loss for what I'm going to do when we stop working ships. The money's good, the life is easy, I get to play everyday (though I don't get to shed as much as I'd like) and frankly, I'm not sure how I'm going to adjust to life on land. I'm finding out just how difficult it can be to use this gig as a stepping stone. The problem is simple - it's 1000 miles away from everywhere....

I don't know what it's like now, but quite a few of the best musicians I was at college with (in the UK) did a couple of years cruising early on.
I don't think it lead to anything, but it was great experience for them, learning to be professional, reliable and getting to play every day. Being from the UK, they also found it great experience to check out the cream of local musicians on the Caribean islands (Jamaica, Cuba etc), plus they hung out in jazz clubs in Miami and New York on their days off.
I learnt a lot about solid pop drumming in my time in a dance hall covers band.
At the time we might play anything out of the top 40, like Boston, Gary Moore, Clapton, Chic, Stevie Wonder etc.
I mean, you just don't get that wide a professional experience playing in a local originals band or jamming with friends.
I like Mr Acrolite's take on the California Disney gigs. If that caliber of drummer has emerged from a gig like that, imagine the other musicians you might meet (keyboard players, guitarists etc).

In my previous post, I didn't mean to suggest that I thought the Disney gig would suck. It's just not something that I personally would enjoy. And, frankly, I would never have even passed the audition; I never was technically good enough or versatile enough, or a good enough reader for the demands of that gig. And yes, there are great players who've done the Disney gig, but it's only one of an infinite number of paths one could follow, and whichever path one chooses will have upsides and downsides.

This topic -- making career choices -- strikes close to my heart, so I thought I'd share a little of my experience. For better or worse, my choices led me away from drums and music for @ 15 years.

Playing seriously from the age of nine, in my late teens I was in an originals rock band, going full-out pursuing the dream of touring and recording. We got some interest, but long story short, it didn't take off, and disbanded after a few years. (One of my bandmates went on to eventually become a multi-$millionaire as a producer, with several number one pop hits, but that's another story.) From there I went into a top-notch cover band and played clubs all over the western U.S., and up into Canada. For a few years it was good, but I grew to dislike playing cover songs, plus, there are "issues" that arise as a working club musician on the road... again, that's another story....

So after a lot of soul-searching, I quit playing and went to college; earned a degree and went to work in a corporate life; got married; had a child; bought a house and two cars... ya-da, ya-da, ya-da....

Fast forward... I'm now in my late 40's and only began playing drums again just a few years ago, after my Dad passed away.

Like everyone, I have a few regrets, but much more for which to be grateful. One thing's for certain: my life didn't turn out as I had planned when I was a young man. Which reminds me of an old line: "If you want to make God chuckle, tell him YOUR plans!"

What I'm trying to say is we should enjoy the journey while we pursue our goals... work hard... be reliable and professional... be good-hearted and generous... find joy and have fun along the way. That way you will have a good life, wherever your road leads -- whether it goes through Disney or not.