Cedar Point Entertainment
- Thread starterbcronenwett
- Start date
bcronenwett
Member
Well I have a boat the is only 15 mins away... so housing is taken care of... Now when you say run a spot..... do you mean a spot light? I have tried to look into this as much a possible however I can't find much... I wasn't sure if they had companies program their shows or if it's the actually employees. If so than the employees must just be button monkeys?
Anyone familiar with Cedar Point from 1976-2007 should sense something suspicious.:neutral:
Link to 1991 article from Toledo Blade.
Link to 1991 article from Toledo Blade.
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bcronenwett
Member
not sure im getting it...
Chris Chapman
Active Member
If you are working their shows, you will be a button monkey and fixture focuser/relamper. You will not be designing or programming. You can meet their designers and programmers, but at this point in the Season, it is unlikely.
I'd say it's good work experience though. The grind of a Theme Park gig is unlike any other, except maybe Cruise gigs. Cruise gigs are nicer though.
I'd say it's good work experience though. The grind of a Theme Park gig is unlike any other, except maybe Cruise gigs. Cruise gigs are nicer though.
shiben
Well-Known Member
Am I missing something? All I noticed is that their weekly rates are about 1/6th of peoples I know working in technician jobs for real companies around where i work...
bcronenwett
Member
Ha ha Ha .... thanks for the stats!
Ahh yes, Marje! I got the pleasure of running into her several times this summer at the Huron Playhouse. I worked at CP a few years back as a production assistant and it was a lot of fun. As was mentioned, the housing was rather lackluster but I with 6 other Live E! people sharing an apartment style type of housing that they offer. The pay was also rather disappointing.
The major draw back to Cedar Point, and Cedar Fair as a whole, are that they are WAY behind the times in pay rates. As an entertainment manager, I only made something around $6.50 an hour. I think it has gone up but it is still nowhere near where it should be. They also do not pay you time and a half overtime. If you get approved for overtime, it is only at your normal pay rate and nothing more. I worked at Busch Gardens the following year on their big show as just a normal tech and made double the money AND time and a half for overtime.
What is invaluable about it though is the experience. There is nothing else out there that can match running the same show 5-7 times a day for 6 days out of the week like they do there. The talent level is usually pretty high up and Cedar Point is known for its quality shows, having won several Big E awards at IAAPA.
Having said that, the park is feeling the economy just like any other park. Losing Marje to her retirement has taken it's toll on the department. She was extremely well respected around the park and as such, I think she got special treatment (which she deserved as I'm sure Derek would agree). Budgets have been slashed considerably since she retired and the show quality has suffered, such as no more live band at the Red Garter Saloon which has been a staple of Live E! It's has only been little things like that but who knows what might happen next.
All that being said, it is still worth the experience. Where else can you get the chance to work quality lighting equipment, they rent from 4 Wall out of Vegas, on a daily basis and then get the opportunity to hit a world class roller coaster before going back home? The shows are a lot of fun and so are the people. My only real complaint while working there was the pay, but then again it counted as my internship so that I could graduate.
The major draw back to Cedar Point, and Cedar Fair as a whole, are that they are WAY behind the times in pay rates. As an entertainment manager, I only made something around $6.50 an hour. I think it has gone up but it is still nowhere near where it should be. They also do not pay you time and a half overtime. If you get approved for overtime, it is only at your normal pay rate and nothing more. I worked at Busch Gardens the following year on their big show as just a normal tech and made double the money AND time and a half for overtime.
What is invaluable about it though is the experience. There is nothing else out there that can match running the same show 5-7 times a day for 6 days out of the week like they do there. The talent level is usually pretty high up and Cedar Point is known for its quality shows, having won several Big E awards at IAAPA.
Having said that, the park is feeling the economy just like any other park. Losing Marje to her retirement has taken it's toll on the department. She was extremely well respected around the park and as such, I think she got special treatment (which she deserved as I'm sure Derek would agree). Budgets have been slashed considerably since she retired and the show quality has suffered, such as no more live band at the Red Garter Saloon which has been a staple of Live E! It's has only been little things like that but who knows what might happen next.
All that being said, it is still worth the experience. Where else can you get the chance to work quality lighting equipment, they rent from 4 Wall out of Vegas, on a daily basis and then get the opportunity to hit a world class roller coaster before going back home? The shows are a lot of fun and so are the people. My only real complaint while working there was the pay, but then again it counted as my internship so that I could graduate.
If you were working more than 40 hours per week, then they were likely breaking the law
As I understand it, until recently (2007?) under Ohio law, "seasonal" employees were exempt from minimum wage and overtime.
Yes. I thought Theme Parks still fall under an exemption from that law though? I seem to remember CP employess being upset when the laws changed.
I was thinking of Federal regulations... but since Theme Parks don't generally participate in interstate commerce, then the state laws would apply.
(Interestingly, emplyees who handle the mail, or answer the phones might be covered by FLSA, as those can be "interstate" activities.)
-Fred
(Interestingly, emplyees who handle the mail, or answer the phones might be covered by FLSA, as those can be "interstate" activities.)
-Fred
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