Legoland entertainment layoffs

I missed this... Apparently Legoland let go of hundreds of entertainers in favor of using a third party called RWS Global. My understanding is that they have a poor reputation for working with creatives. There was a story about this in January:

https://floridapolitics.com...4-layoffs/

Does anyone have more context? Sounds ****ty and shady.

I always think laying off your own people to outsource stuff sucks, but it seems to happen across many industries. RWS has been around though and has done some shows for Cedar Point and I believe other Cedar Fair parks in the past. I am pretty sure the first year or two of Luminosity was them.

RWS is pretty big. They did do Luminosity. They have the contract for MSC cruise line, and a lot of parks. They're fine, I guess.

Their first step into large parks/projects was with Rock Band Live at Cedar Point in 2010, and the Rock Band Tour that stopped at other Cedar Fair Parks that summer. After that, they started getting more gigs and growing the company. They absolutely are not the best company to work with from a partnership standpoint, they care very little for their Cast, and will hold over you that they will keep you from working in the "business" if you don't agree with their creative vision. But if you want turnkey entertainment without having to do much, they can be useful I guess.

In this case, RWS absolutely has an advantage in the talent acquisition function. Finding the performers, choreographers, directors etc can be difficult for parks in small cities. I can understand why Merlin may not want that hassle, or why they think someone else can do the task better than they can. Although the linked article certainly reads like this is a cost-savings move too.

I can see where you'd have a hard time finding performers at smaller parks in the midwest. But I can't imagine there would be a shortage in Central Florida, even to make the drive down to Legoland. I feel like this is all cost savings, which is unfortunate. But I could be wrong.

Is the park eliminating the shows that these performers are in? If the shows, or whatever Legoland performers do, are still going to happen then maybe the performers that were let go can work for RWS.

BrettV:

But I can't imagine there would be a shortage in Central Florida, even to make the drive down to Legoland. I feel like this is all cost savings.

You nailed it. Many of my performer friends from Universal and Disney also worked at Legoland. When it comes to entertainment professionals, you are correct that there are no shortages in Central Florida. Cost savings for sure.

I think the quality of performers at Legoland will actually go down once RWS comes in. Those who were let go will likely not come back, and anyone else already performing in the Orlando parks will not travel to Legoland for the pay RWS offers. So RWS will likely either bring in college talent from the midwest, or hire performers who are fresh out of high school in the area.

Merlin is cutting to the bone worldwide. They are closing a significant number of attractions alongside the lay offs which are seemingly taking place in all divisions, alongside Legoland.

Shades:

If the shows, or whatever Legoland performers do, are still going to happen then maybe the performers that were let go can work for RWS.

For less money, yes.

I'm not sure what the supply/demand curve looks like. I know a woman who does character work the three big ones as well as Legoland. Either she's that good or there aren't enough good people.