Paging ANYONE who is an expert on the CEC costume!

[MatHat13]

Alright, I'm gonna get straight to the point.

Does anyone here from corperate...or anyone that works for a CEC have a costume reapir kit manual or similar for the current days, like only for the Chuck head though..

Our head is in ****ty condition, so fragile that the whole head is on the edge of breaking down whatsoever, of coarse our mangers will not order a new head though no matter how broken it is.:rolleyes:

So help me out here, need some good tips, good knowlage, good thinkers who know about cleaning a repairing the costumes...cause I am concerned about ours from the abuse it has recieved.

Help out!:cec_thumbs:

[menutia]

One way to get management to replace something is to give them no choice. I have been in a few instances where the only way something was replaced, was only AFTER it was destroyed, BEYOND repair.

By repairing it over and over you are only prolonging it's existence and it's replacement. Let the damn thing fall apart. Pay a kid to head but CEC. Heck, play kick-ball with it during a break.

That may be the ONLY way you will get a new one.

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

Wise words.

Matt, Burlington has had CRAP costumes since time immortal! I remember we used to talk about it before you worked there...i see nothing has changed. They are probably still using the same stinkin' worn out head as they were back in 2002 when i was covering shifts there! That is pretty sad, considering "B" has better sales then some of the surrounding Stores. If Danvers can get new stuff ( and we know what their situation is) then there is no reason why Burlington can't my friend.

I have restored and repaired numerous costumes both In-Store and outside for private collections. I can help you fix/clean just about anything related to costumes, but like Menutia says....by doing so we are only encouraging the prolonged overuse of something that seriously needs to be put to rest as it stands now. "B" needed a new head ages ago....so a part of me says let it fall apart.

Don't you guys have an extra head? Most locations have 2 heads ...one is used all the time and the other is usually for a back up.

Tell me more about what your problems are with your head and i can advise you what to do if you want to bother. In many cases i think it is best for "B" to just bite the bullet and invest in a new head.

Come on, it's not like they can't afford it! It's only $850+ for a new CEC head......

[MatHat13]

We don't have an extra head, but I believe Everett does, and I am willing to ask the GM who is def. always been cool with me to trade heads.

More problems you say, well the hat has flipped over during live shows a couple times...all the showroom hostess would say is 'Chuck, stop being silly', while the other hostess would look at her like an idiot and help me out.

The teeth are in there with a bunch of glue on it, and to get them straight you have to twist the nose quite a bit.

The hat just broke off, it's not off completely but the back snapped off.

Sometimes I wonder why they still even use, or trust people to use costume characters in stores...they don't give guidelines on how to keep it good looking anymore, and they get alot of abuse. I'd say, either bring back professional training for the characters, or junk and phase out all costumes if they are not taken care of seriously or properly...it's not like they are even used much anymore anyway.:earl:

[ChuckECheese383]

I know how that is, we have a head that is in terrible condition as well but it still useable as they claim. The ear on one is completely coming a loose from the head as well as the hat keeps falling off, our manager says they are way too expensive to buy, so right now we wont be getting another one, we just recently pushed him to get new walkaround hands, which are 4 days old today and are already starting to get wear and tear from guests! we dont really have a manual at our store, at least ive never seen one! we have glue in the store which we repair broken parts for, like on one of our heads the tongue often keeps getting knocked out by guests. no problems with the teeth just yet though.

[CEC478Worker]

The reason they will not buy one is that it is BIG BIG BIG BUCKS!!! trust me I have tried to get one for Danvers.

[FanOfCEC]

Just last week one of our CEC heads lost the teeth. Don't ask me how it happened. When one my cast members approched me with the teeth in hand, I knew I was in for an unplesent surprise. I've asked the crew not to use the head because obviously it doesn't quite look right. At this time I have not yet figured out how to repair it so if anyone has suggestions for me that would be awesome.

[chucki233]

While we're on the topic of walk-arounds does anyone have any knowledge on how to clean a new style head, tuxido suit walk-around? It's my personal one and all the training tapes on youtube are for different wal-arounds.

[harveytwoface999]

While we're on the topic of walk-arounds does anyone have any knowledge on how to clean a new style head, tuxido suit walk-around? It's my personal one and all the training tapes on youtube are for different wal-arounds.

I think I heard in a different thread that the cleaning procedures haven't changed. ;)

[raebigc]

How rare are the walkaround costumes? I was thinking about adding a 90s CEC costume to my collection.

[chucki233]

I think I heard in a different thread that the cleaning procedures haven't changed. ;)

Thanks :cec_smile:, but I don't know exactly what they are. In the video it says to machine wash hands, but it wassn't to clear on the clothes. It didn't mention feet either! Maby i'll ask my store if they have an extra manual :)

[Shiney Happy Jenn]

The reason they will not buy one is that it is BIG BIG BIG BUCKS!!! trust me I have tried to get one for Danvers.

Last time i ordered costume parts there, a full CEC costume ( head, cloths, bodysuit, and shoes complete) it was listed as $1800. The head ALONE was listed as $800, but that was back in 2002! I am sure as with everything else in today's world, the price has gone up more then once already.

Someone was asking for suggestions/help earlier:

Tips for fixing pulled CEC teeth.

Naturally the best thing to do in a case with the teeth is to order a new one ( about $8 to $12 last i knew..). If your Store will not part with such a small sum, you can refit the teeth in by drilling new holes in the pvc plastic away from where the originals were ( that are probably now split and can no longer be used..thus why his teeth fell off!).

Drill new holes, about the size of a standard screw. Place teeth over where the originals were fitted, being sure to remove any left over broken off plastic and remove the original screws used for holding the teeth in place. You can do this easily be removing the black mouth screen from Chuck's gaping mouth ( it comes off via Velcro). Remove it and set in a safe place.

Take your teeth and place where they originally were, being sure to line up the screw holes as best you can. Re-screw then in place. To better ensure they last longer in place, and to avoid the new holes you made crack/split again...fill the edges of the holes with hot glue. DO NOT, i repeat, DO NOT totally cover the entire area where you have placed the screws through as it will make it next impossible to remove the teeth in the future if you should need to take them off again for repair or replacement.

Now as far as cleaning the "new" heads....i would assume the same way you have cleaned all the other heads though CEC History: Good Ol' foaming carpet cleaner.

Spray it on, rub it in with a scrubbrush or cotton towel, then let it dry, Brush out with a plastic bristled brush ( not the common metal "dog brush" that comes with the Costume Care Kit). Wha-lah.....your head should now look like new!