Getting Their Attention -- Information request letter

You might as well face it. You are GOING to get a job at Disney, some way, some how. You should go ahead and begin thinking of the next steps, such as where you will live, and how you'll tie your current life with a bow before you move on to your new "on stage" career.

Don't believe you're destined for employment yet? Then let's do a test.

Contrary to what you might believe, there are hundreds of employees (er, cast members) working right now at Walt Disney corporate offices who are on the verge of sticking a knife in their eye rather than deal with their ordinary day-to-day responsibilities. Yes, for you and me, working at Disney can be a dream come true... but for others, it's a (gulp) JOB... with all the tedium and boredom that comes with a traditional job.

So, let's watch what happens when you change that person's day completely. I want you to write a letter requesting information on getting a spot on the Disney staff. Yes, a letter.

Letters are an ancient form of communication that involves scratching symbols onto a piece of paper with a special tool called a "pen". Those symbols are translated into a message by the recipient of that piece of paper. I say ancient, because letter-writing was a very popular form of communication in the 1980's and earlier.

The reason we are writing a letter is that e-mails are too impersonal and do not properly communicate your commitment and determination. Letters show that you are serious, and provided your letter adequately brightens your "target's" day, they will feel obligated (nay, pleased) to respond in kind. Anyone can send an email. You are not just anyone. You are Disney's next cast member.

(There are a lot more reasons for me choosing letter writing that has to do with the power of direct mail to evoke response and action by the reader... but that's not the topic of this post, so I'll not go into it.)

Also, the purpose of the letter is to get a name and to begin a relationship. As far as you know, the person who responds to your letter is your key to landing your dream job. They are the gatekeeper, and they can make or break you. Behind them may be another gate-keeper, but first things first, okay?

So, open your Word Processing program and draft up a letter requesting information. I know you're determined and eager to get a job, but try not to spend 2 hours here. How about 15 minutes, tops? Here are some tips:

1. Lighten Up - Your "target" likely gets tons of mail from poor schmucks who are kinda-sorta serious about getting employed by the Mouse. Make your letter stand out. Be entertaining. Tell a joke. Be charming. After all, YOU are not a schmuck. Your "target" needs to know that.
   
2. Do not beg. It's pathetic.
   
3. Yes, include humor. Your "target" needs to smile, badly.
   
4. Include a hand-written "P.S." that contains your bottom-line request. Stats show that the eyes naturally move to a diagonal hand-written portion of the letter first. Notes in the margin are also effective.
   
5. Give them an "out" -- a way to respond by email if they choose to. They are the gate-keeper. They can e-mail a response if they want. However, you will not.
   
6. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Make it easy for them to give you what you need.

Ok, all done? Now, just send your masterpiece to:

Walt Disney World Casting
P.O. Box 10,000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000

Think your letter is really good or even clever? Did it elicit a response as you hoped? I'd LOVE to see it!! Send your masterpiece to me, and I'll post it here and gush about how brilliant you are! My address is PO Box 3473, Burlington, NC 27217.