Yesterday was my second day of face training.

In the morning we had a short test to see how much we'd learned the day before about how to react in certain situations, topics we're not allowed to talk about etc. then went on a break so Donna could mark our tests.

Afterwards, we all went through the test going through difficult questions and things we didn't quite get right. Then we had an early lunch til 1 where we would meet outside costuming to get our various costumes.

After getting into costume (not make-up though) we went back to the training and started with our physical training and learning how to walk, how to stand, pose for pictures and greet and exit. This training was harder because we have to use our voices for face characters so we have to try and emulate the voice as well as thinking about everything else. We had another trainer with us called Laura who was helping Donna, because after a quick break, we acted out scenarios with Donna and Laura playing different types of guests. my scenarios were a very shy child, and a child who wouldn't stop talking. Because my character is a villain, I found it difficult to be kind to the guests without being too nice and retaining my villain air. Donna and Laura said that I responded well to each scenario which was good.

Because The Queen is a villain, I have to turn it around and make her funny in a scary way. For one exercise we had to do our entrance and speak to Donna and Laura like a chat show. So they asked interview questions and I had to answer. One question was "what's your favourite food?" to which I replied "Apples of course" and then I was asked what my favourite recipe was, and I missed the opportunity to say "I know a recipe that's to DIE for!" so I was really disappointed. It's hard to think of appropriate and funny things while not being mean or taking too long.

At the end of the day, once we'd taken our costumes back, we were called in to the training room individually to debrief. Donna and Laura said that I'd done really well with my physical characterisation, but needed to use my eyes more to seem mysterious and also not smile when I talked. I found it hard to be interactive with the "guests" and not smile because I had to be pleasant but I understood what they meant. Hopefully when I actually go out to guests I'll find it easier to be in character, especially with the make-up on too.

Unfortunately, because my opticians appointment for coloured contact lenses isn't until the 7th October and it might take a few weeks for them to arrive, I won't get to be that character again for about a month for my approval. Donna said that as soon as they've arrived then they'll book my approval into my schedule. So for now I've just gotta be the characters from before (Tigger, Sheriff of Nottingham and Gepetto) while I'm doing sets and then I've got quite a few Parade rehearsals which is exciting. I can't wait to see what I'll be doing! In a few weeks I'm also scheduled down to do Café Mickey so I think I'll be Tigger for that, going around the restaurant at the Hotel during breakfast for the "Eat and Greet".

I've had today off, but the water has been cut off in my building while some work has been going on so I've not done much. I received a letter about my French bank account but it was in French, so I was going to go to the local branch and speak to someone but it rained just as I started getting ready to go. I would go now but I realised I don't actually know where it is or its open times. I'm not working til 2 tomorrow so I'll go to Val d'Europe early tomorrow because there's a branch there and then I can catch the train to work.

I've got SET and REP on my rota tomorrow which is character sets and parade repetition (rehearsal) so I'm excited to see who I'll be and what I'm doing in the parade! Someone said that you sometimes learn parade stuff for your face character before you're approved so it might be that. Tigger is also in the Parade so I might be doing that. We shall see. I'll let you know tomorrow!! :D

A bientot!

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