JWhllr Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 As a young and pretty mobile unattached musician, I've been thinking about doing some cruise ship work potentially next year, see what happens. Has anyone here had experience in this? Interested in the sight reading requirement, if people have particular agencies they'd recommend, any advice people have for preparation. Viscount Legend, Leslie 142, Nord Stage 3 HA88, Rhodes MK1 1977, Moog Sub 37, Dave Smith Rev2, Juno 106, DX7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PianoMan51 Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 "young and pretty"? You'll do fine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWhllr Posted September 13, 2016 Author Share Posted September 13, 2016 I was wondering whether to "accidentally" misuse a comma there... Viscount Legend, Leslie 142, Nord Stage 3 HA88, Rhodes MK1 1977, Moog Sub 37, Dave Smith Rev2, Juno 106, DX7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outkaster Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 My buddy did the Carnival line in the late 1990's and Royal Caribbean Line in the early 2000's. He is a schooled jazz trumpeter and said he had a lot of negative experiences with guys that couldn't "swing" or feel the parts they were playing. There was a lot of posturing by the musicians. He said the first year or 6 months is fun but after awhile it sucked. He told me if there is a relationship with someone and it goes sour it's awkward because you are locked in that environment. He says substance abuse is rampant also. He would know as he did this for almost 20 years on two different cruise lines. "Danny, ci manchi a tutti. La E-Street Band non e' la stessa senza di te. Riposa in pace, fratello" noblevibes.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CowboyNQ Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 Mate, not personally, but... I was on a Carnival cruise with my family earlier this year, and there was a good covers band that played every night. They intrigued me because they were from different parts of the world. Guitarist was British, one singer was Canadian, the other was from the US, the keyboard player and band leader was from another part of the US, etc. I got chatting to the guitarist and he said he simply applied for the gig through Carnival's website and they asked him to audition over Skype. Through this process they gathered all the musicians for this band, then brought them together for a few weeks for some intensive rehearsal and building their set list. Then, they were off on a six month contract. They were all running off charts on iPads, which the keys player was selecting as the spirit moved him. Hope that helps a little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Song80s Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 As a young and pretty mobile unattached musician, I've been thinking about doing some cruise ship work potentially next year, see what happens. Has anyone here had experience in this? Interested in the sight reading requirement, if people have particular agencies they'd recommend, any advice people have for preparation. prepare for... http://www.character-shop.com/images/cougars2.jpg they also rove in packs fueled by alcohol Why fit in, when you were born to stand out ? My Soundcloud with many originals: [70's Songwriter] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthoid Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 Oversize photo alert! When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Song80s Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 Oversize photo alert! I thought everyone had a big screen for ' important ' photos Why fit in, when you were born to stand out ? My Soundcloud with many originals: [70's Songwriter] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 I've never done it, but some more stuff I've heard second hand: You usually don't just play once a day or whatever, but float around to different venues on the boat and play the same stuff multiple times a day every day. You have quarters that are not the same as the guests, in the bowels of the ship with the other employees, and are not supposed to mingle with guests. From most of the people I've talked to, similar to what was said previously, if you're free and unattached without commitments, it's fun for a while but gets old in a hurry. The money is decent mainly because you don't have a lot of expenses. Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CEB Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 [video:youtube] "It doesn't have to be difficult to be cool" - Mitch Towne "A great musician can bring tears to your eyes!!! So can a auto Mechanic." - Stokes Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 [video:youtube] Something to consider when deciding on a keyboard stand. Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outkaster Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 I've never done it, but some more stuff I've heard second hand: You usually don't just play once a day or whatever, but float around to different venues on the boat and play the same stuff multiple times a day every day. You have quarters that are not the same as the guests, in the bowels of the ship with the other employees, and are not supposed to mingle with guests. From most of the people I've talked to, similar to what was said previously, if you're free and unattached without commitments, it's fun for a while but gets old in a hurry. The money is decent mainly because you don't have a lot of expenses. Yes that is true and you can get in trouble for being in certain areas that are reserved for guests. My buddy felt his degree was not going to good use and had to get out of it after awhile. "Danny, ci manchi a tutti. La E-Street Band non e' la stessa senza di te. Riposa in pace, fratello" noblevibes.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWhllr Posted September 13, 2016 Author Share Posted September 13, 2016 All great info. I graduated about a year ago from my degree, keen to travel a bit, play lots and save up some dough, hoping to move to a larger population centre in the nearish future (6-12mths). Figured cruising might fill a gap, so I'm not looking at it as a long term thing, no way. Viscount Legend, Leslie 142, Nord Stage 3 HA88, Rhodes MK1 1977, Moog Sub 37, Dave Smith Rev2, Juno 106, DX7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EscapeRocks Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 [video:youtube] Every time I've watched this over the last couple years I still expect to see Leslie Nielsen, a cow or two, and maybe a police car go flying across that floor David Gig Rig:Roland Fantom 08 | Roland Jupiter 80 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DulceLabs.com Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 If you can "entertain" and sing, the absolute best job is the piano bar. You only work in the evenings, you often have a guest room, you get tips and the customers buy you drinks. One our last cruise, we were fortunate to have Ron Good, one of the absolute best piano-bar entertainers I have seen. Hands-down. His tip jar and his drink was constantly being topped-off by patrons. If you aren't a solo act, check out http://ProShip.com for placement opportunities in the cover band. If I were young and unattached I would absolutely go for at least one contract for the experience. The crew bar is cheap and the women... well I've heard stories. BTW- Fooling around with guests is an absolute no-no, but you won't need to go there. And watch out for the spa girls. They are all crazy. You've been warned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MathOfInsects Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 Same input as others: not a bad "first" job, and you will get to see some cool places. But you'll be in tiny (probably shared) quarters on the lowest deck, not allowed to hang out with the hot drunk cougars under penalty of termination, and pretty much ready to be home after the first tour is over. I do know a singer who still does it full time. But he was also in the Navy first, so this probably seems like luxury to him. All others...sure, do it to say you did, but then get back to sanity as soon as you can. Now out! "Mind the Gap," a 24-song album of new material. www.joshweinstein.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real MC Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 Hire out the gear, don't use your own. It will get abused by guests when you are not around, count on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bourniplus Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 I've done two contracts about 15 years ago. One was pretty much around the world during six months - pretty cool experience. I keep very good memories from that time. I got booked through Proship. I'd say do it! "Show me all the blueprints. I'm serious now, show me all the blueprints." My homemade instruments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksoper Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 I worked with a guest artist for a total of 16 weeks on Norwegian Cruise Line. Everything everyone has said is true. I was lucky, in that our band was not considered crew. We mingled. Struck up some friendships with crew musicians and medical staff. We were allowed to drink inexpensively in the crew bar and eat ramen at 3am in the Korean mess hall. Personally, I'd try that angle--try to get in with an act that does semi-regular ship bookings. You'll be treated better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmammal Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 A few years ago we took a 4 day cruise and of course I checked out everybody. The piano bar guy was good and when he took a break we chatted a bit and he said go ahead and play something so I did. He then asked if I was ok for 15 minutes or so and I said sure so he left to do whatever. This was in a small lounge that had maybe 15 people in it so I did a couple tunes, took a request for Take 5 and got a few tips which of course I left for him. Later he told me he was also part of the big musical review in the main room, not as a player, as a singer so we checked out that show too. The main room was huge, 6-700 people with Eon's all over the place, the stage, the celing, the side walls. He said the same thing everybody is saying. Basically a good gig with sucky shared quarters down below with lots of corporate restrictions. That ship had 4 separate places with live entertainment that we had access to. One was a 4 piece with 3 cute chicks and one guy doing covers with some tracks, another was a guy and girl duo also with tracks, the main room review with a bigger all live band and the piano bar. There were a couple more places the first class ticket holders could go so I didn't see those. Young and single? I would have done that in a heartbeat except for the fact I was already in a good Vegas style show group at the time. Bob Hammond SK1, Mojo 61, Kurzweil PC3, Korg Pa3x, Roland FA06, Band in a Box, Real Band, Studio One, too much stuff... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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