If we are going to dream here at this site, let's dream big! If you could get your "dream job" at Silver Dollar City, what would it be, and why? Craftsman? Ride Operator? Would you be in a show? Would you play a character? Maybe you want to work with a crew that maintains rides, or perhaps you want to have an office job and plan new park development...perhaps you want to take care of the thousands of plants and flowers on the park, or put up lights at Christmas. Go ahead and dream big! What job would you take?
I would be in a show. Doesn't matter which show. In fact, I wouldn't even mind working the technical side. I almost tried for that after high school, but decided that I would go to college and then move to Branson and do it. It never happened. LOL
Public Relations - more specifically dealing with events and large groups.
Probably public safety. Security or EMS. I am an EMT and love to help people.
Heck...if I'm going to go big....I'd say CEO! ;D
I'd be a character and/or a ticket-taker.
Maintenance and Construction!! Ive tried but no one wants to quit to open a spot up for me. ;D
Train robber or cave guide. I've already got the beard, so callin' me ugly would be funny. Plus i like to make people laugh. Cave guide would just be cool.
Parks designer. shows/attractions/rides
Something in entertainment or.....The Parson of the Wilderness Church (of course)!
Worker/ Craftsmen- Wood Carver or Basket Weaver-both artforms I worked with in college, and both I still do in what little free time I have.
Behind the Scenes- Something on the design/ theming side of the attractions. Not necessarily the big piece, but the atmoshphere, and creative elements that bring in some of the history of the area/ park. Since I know a few things about the park...I think I'd do allright with this one!
I think I would be the ride operator in the tower at FITH! It would be like I was 5 years old again playing with my electric train set, just on a larger scale.
I would like to do craftsman (woman) like glass blowing or blacksmith. Not sure back then if that would be allowed but sure would be fun now! ;) Or remember when they had the log rolling contests? That would be cool too!
Great question, Junior. Hmm....let's see.... Top Ten Jobs I would...nah, I'm just kiddin' ;)
I would say "train robber", A craftsman (if I had a skill to do so), or maybe night security (can you even begin to imagine the serenity of THAT?!)
Quote from: SDC#1fan on April 14, 2011, 03:30:52 AM
Maintenance and Construction!! Ive tried but no one wants to quit to open a spot up for me. ;D
x2
Umm..Junior, I know you have worked there, but you need to let us know where you would work in case we see a job posting!
Hmmm...I never had the chance to be a robber/conductor at the train, and I'd lilke to try that. If I could make up my own job description, I'd probably like to work as a character on greeting lines on the town square side of the Hospitality House (maybe bring back "Junior" as a middle aged guy?) and do some ad-libbed street entertainment around the square or mid town area, perhaps around the Riverfront again. I also really like what the park has done with the Homestead Ridge thing, with characters performing there, and the living history stuff. If I could have an office in the HH, I'd write some descriptive brochures or booklets about the historical structures on the park and a brief history of the park and the White River region, and have them printed up and sold in the HH, General Store, and Ozark Marketplace. After seeing the Saloon show on my last visit, that would be fun, too...being a part of that group. (I worked with many people who also performed at the Saloon, but did not work there myself.) Plus, there are the shows. As a former radio broadcaster, I could put my announcing and performing skills to work in one of the big production shows they have, it would be fun. I would not mind being an area manager with the attractions, helping supervise the folks working at different rides, as long as I could put on a costume and be a character...ya know, a "citizen" again! :)
Creative Consultant! ;D
I'd want to be the manager of an all new building located just off from the homestead--the SDC History Museum! It'd be great to be able to chat with passionate SDCFans about the good ole days! Even though all I've seen of them are the wonderful pictures.
But otherwise, I'd want to be part of SDC's creative team. I'd love to have a hand in fixing up the Plunge and other things around the park I remember so well from my childhood that need a facelift.
I could be the park's dedicated Civil Engineer. ;)
I'd love to have a hand in designing some custom rides for the park, custom coasters even. I realize there are numerous advantages to buying rides from manufacturers, but I feel like the park could really make a name for itself it they reverted back to the days when they built their own top attractions such as the Flooded Mine, FITH, Waterboggin, etc...
STREET PERFORMER!!!! I would have to have an outlandish role most definatly. Besides physical therapy, theater is my 2nd love!!!
Easy one for me, Corporate Architect...
Since I am already registered and all that business.
Sheriff and bring back the gun fights and robberies they use to do
Street performer, Computer tech (I actually applied when they had an opening last summer) street sweeper, musician, whatever I wouldn't care.
prop and animatronic designer and builder!
Resident veterinarian for the animals at the petting zoo!
Gosh darn. I missed my 200th post.
Congratulations!
I agree with Rube- I'd love to work in theming the rides and different attractions, festivals, shows, etc. Not that they don't do a great job of this right now. At least, for the most part... :)
I would like to take over their sand art concession that they have, since that is what I do at crafts festival on the side, but I would like to be able to take the time and demonstrate that you can actually make picture with the sand in a bottle. this probable would not happen not happen because the company would just want to sell the bottle and let the kiinds put sand in them as fast as the can and move on. Got to turn that profit.
Wow, this has always been a dream of mine. I think that I would be a roving entertainer, someone who could enhance the experience for as many people as I could. You know, give back some of what I have received in coming to SDC over the years. Putting a smile on someone's face and lightening their load would make me feel a part of this great park.
I want to be the guy on the back of the tram
Driver when you're clear
Please stay behind the white line, etc etc
Theme Police, carrying a big stick with which to correct those who would violate Miss Mary's dream.
KB, I think that job was held for years by long time employee Sue Pratt. Sue was an excellent character actor on park, and she was the "theme police" for several years.Don't know if she's still around. We would have to ask one of the insiders at the park to respond to this one!
If I get to be creative consultant, SDC could save a lot money by not hiring all of you. ;D We wouldn't need a theme police department, ride designer, or any of these things, because if I'm the CC (with authority), all would be perfect in the world...well...anyway, all would be perfect in the city. ;)
That, or you could just read Junior's posts and let him find the theming errors for you!
In all honesty I think the best job at SDC has got to be Uncle Gene's. I mean being able to just pretty much stand or sit behind the counter and visit with all the visitors as they walk through would be pretty sweet. Talk about a company taking care of one of their employees (deservedly so I might add, 30 + years). The only drawback is that it just might get a little boring, but it sure would be nice to give it a try. Again there might be more to it than meets the eye.
Gene has a great story in his 29/30 seasons
He went looking for gold in San Francisco
Retired @ 55 from a Kansas Company
Grew tired of retirement and began working at SDC in 1981
After 17 years at SDC, Bortner was named Missouri's 1998 Outstanding Older Worker of the Year.
"Whole dadburn state!" he laughs. "That was sumpin'!"
Uncle Gene 85 years old? Wow! I would have guessed somewhere in the 75 year range. I can only hope I am in that good of health and look that good if I get to be his age.
I remember Gene from his early days at SDC. He helped build log cabins! He was always great working with the visitors. When he got to a certain age and could not handle working full time out in the summer sun, they moved him indoors. SDC management moved Miss Bonnie Jean into the school house when she got too old to be Ma Hatfield, and kept her on the payroll until retirement time. Even Shad Heller in his later days at the park sat in a chair at the blacksmith shop, signing autographs, getting his photo taken, and just visiting with guests. This is a wonderful and blessed thing that SDC does in this regard. Just cause somebody is a little old, you don't throw 'em out...as they have decades of experience and can share their time in a meaningful way with the guests who have come to look for them, visit with them again, and enjoy their day a little more at SDC because they got to see someone on the park they have had past experiences with. These folks like Gene are the beloved "citizens" of SDC! ;D ;D
preferably train conductor any ride position or craftsman would be fine..O ya cant forget i would love just to work at SDC so I cant be picky
I would love to work with the Signage and Props purchasing team. Make the place look vintage like it was back in the day.
on missouri career souce website they show that in Taney County that someone is hiring for a ride mechanic........I dont know who cuz I dont have the credentials to look at who but I gotta hunch who it is......... ;D
Maybe it is somewhere on the strip? no clue who it would be! ;)
I would love to be a street performer... completely out of my comfort zone. If I was younger and thinner then maybe a saloon gal.
I would love to be a saloon gal, but alas I have a tall definciancy. I could so be Miss Tilly!!!!
oh! you telling us your vertically challenged? ::)
hon, there are days i feel vertically and horizontally challenged!!!!! sigh, I am no gisell.
;D :o
If I was honestly presented with a dream job opportunity at Silver Dollar City it would definitely be along the lines of park management. It's the smorgasbord of everything at Silver Dollar City. Sure I would have a desk, and an office which I could decorate 1880's style, but there would be no time for sitting around all day!
First order of business is to rid out all of those mischievous "out of theme" items. Next, I would have even more trees planted around the park to hide, and conceal outside parking lots, storage areas, and back lots. Then I would trash the basketball games, and cheesy toys, and replace them with something more traditional. Perhaps something that would expose young minds to how children played, and had fun in the 1880's.
Finally, I would make sure all of the rides, and attractions live up to the old gold standard that Silver Dollar City once lived by decades ago. As busy as I would be, there is still time for planning Silver Dollars City's newest high-tech attraction, "Return of The Diving Bell - Rube's Unfinished Business!" :D
OzarkBBQ...go fill out a job application TODAY! ;D
I would want to be the "Fire Cheef" at "Fire in the Hole"!!!!
There are so many good and fun jobs at SDC...what would I like to do....hmmm?
Really Zephon? ;)
Ozark!! your hired!. Need any assistants?
I'll take it! So long as everyone else on this website gets hired too. Oh, could you imagine the possibilities? ;D
I'd like to work at the Pork Rind stand, that is if I could sneak a pork rind or two every so often.....The train conductor if the pork rind thing didn't work out.
Back in '79 I worked at the main funnel cake stand on Main Street...that was always fun, even in 90 degree plus weather. Just loved the look on folks faces as we cooked up those funnel cakes right in front of their eyes! Plus, "mistakes" were ate by the employees when nobody was watching!