I am NOT sailing .....

hotpickups

I just wanted to put this out there in case ask any of you who have done this. I maybe mad but I’ve always fancied the idea of working the cruise ships. Even to go away for a 3 month stint. However, I have no idea how to go about it. I certainly don’t want to build a band just for this as it’s hard enough building bands on an amateur basis let alone a band that is only for making some money

So my questions are, as I still have to pay a mortgage:-

1. What would one expect to earn a week on such a cruise ship?  

2. How does one get involved?

3. Does one HAVE to build a band first before applying or can you just apply as an available guitarist to be put in a band etc?

4. Finally how advanced must you be? If it’s just learning a given set in a band’s chosen genre then no problem but I fear I might get asked to do material on the spot and have to improvise at a very high professional degree. Knowing all the theory etc

Any advice? Am I mad?

boogieman

No idea on the pay or logistics but I’ve been on a couple of cruises out of the US as s tourist. There have been bands and solo performers on board (soloists played piano or guitar, both sang as well.  Have you got a decent voice?) You will  get asked to play on the hoof so either have an arsenal of ready learnt favourites or make up a request folder of things you know. The hours seemed pretty long, one pianist guy we saw was performing from about 7pm till about 2 in the morning, every day, plus at boarding times .

Are you mad for considering it? Yes, probably. Unless being asked to play Living on a Prayer for the third time that night by a bunch of pissed tourists is your idea of fun. Also bear in mind that a lot of cruise ships  don’t dock for very long, so you won’t get a lot of shore time. The boat staff we spoke to (mostly Phillipinos and Indians) sign up for about six months at a time, no idea if that applies to performers though. 

Oh almost forgot. The guitarist in the band who was doing the music for the theatre shows, rather than in a band playing in the bar/casino, was extremely competent and was sight reading from sheet music. 

HTH. 

hotpickups

6 months? I'll be throwing myself overboard before then. 3 Months max I feel. I don't mind playing the same song repeatedly I guess as long as I am appreciated and adored LOL. Don't think I have enough material for 5 hours though so may have to repeat it if they like it or not

maltingsaudio

Not performing related but this thread about technical jobs onboard from another forum may give you some idea of what you could be in for https://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=8402&hl=cruise&st=0

hotpickups

maltingsaudio said:

Not performing related but this thread about technical jobs onboard from another forum may give you some idea of what you could be in for https://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=8402&hl=cruise&st=0

It's a mixed bag of frustration by the sound of it  

Musicwolf

 Having never been on a cruise I don't know what standard is required but I did read this article about live sound on cruise ships which may give you some pointers;

https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/mixing-live-sound-high-seas

hotpickups

Musicwolf said:

 Having never been on a cruise I don't know what standard is required but I did read this article about live sound on cruise ships which may give you some pointers;

https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/mixing-live-sound-high-seas

Oh blimey I think I'm going goff the idea I just want a job that I love doing that takes me overseas. I'm too old for the forces

Simon_M

Really long days; nowhere to be on your own; sharing a cell with someone else; talking to drunk people every night; away from home for 6 months at a time. Sounds great. ;-)

hotpickups

Simon_M said:

Really long days; nowhere to be on your own; sharing a cell with someone else; talking to drunk people every night; away from home for 6 months at a time. Sounds great. ;-)

Why do you think I want to be away from home for a long period. That sounds like my home LOL

Sassafras

Are you insane, have you not seen The Poseidon Adventure?
Or Titanic?

hotpickups

Sassafras said:

Are you insane, have you not seen The Poseidon Adventure?

LOL You don't see many ships go down than you do planes

yorkio

The bloke from Tasty Guitar did it for ages:

https://youtu.be/24Crv3-D8eg

hotpickups

yorkio said:

The bloke from Tasty Guitar did it for ages:

https://youtu.be/24Crv3-D8eg

Ok I’m out. What was I thinking of

ESBlonde

There are several YouTube vids of people that work or worked the cruise ships. You spend the first few days training on safety as you are expected to assist crew in an emergency. 
You need some sight reading because you will back cabaret and other artists. You need spares and tools on board to last the cruise. You will work most evenings but apart from rehearsing the visiting turns in the afternoon you are likely to just work evenings. You need to be versatile and constantly learn new material because you audience don't want Mr brightside night after night. 
It will improve your musicianship and you get to see some exotic places. Oh and access to wifi can be dodgy or suspect at sea.

horse

@geepers0677 might have some insights on this

koss59

If you join a band that already does it as a featured artist ( say a tribute act or known originals artist ) then you can go on these things and only do 2 nights in a week in the Caribbean then fly home. Roughly a grand a week.
Starting to apply for jobs in a tribute band is the first step. Only join th house band if you’re comfortable sightreading and want to work hard.

monquixote

I know a few people who've done it.

It's hard work and you need to be an excellent sight reader and versatile.

I had a bandmate who had a music degree and thought he was a good drummer, but he got absolutely chewed up in the audition.

EricTheWeary

One of the agencies we signed up with as a band occasionally advertises for bands for cruises. IIRC the fee is negotiable.
My son's friend works as a photographer on cruise ships. He'll be about 25 or so now and has done it for about three years, started on a temporary contract and kept going. Earns very little as I understand it but not much to spend it on apart from in the crew bar but he has a lovely time, sees nice places and dates a drop dead gorgeous dancer. 

ESBlonde said:

There are several YouTube vids of people that work or worked the cruise ships. You spend the first few days training on safety as you are expected to assist crew in an emergency. 
You need some sight reading because you will back cabaret and other artists. You need spares and tools on board to last the cruise. You will work most evenings but apart from rehearsing the visiting turns in the afternoon you are likely to just work evenings. You need to be versatile and constantly learn new material because you audience don't want Mr brightside night after night. 
It will improve your musicianship and you get to see some exotic places. Oh and access to wifi can be dodgy or suspect at sea.

I watched a couple of YouTube clips a while ago. There were different strata of musicians with different levels of expectation although that was the big Florida cruise ships. 

RandallFlagg

A cruise isn't a holiday it's a mode of transport. Count me out for anything that has a dress code for the inflight meal.

DulcetJones

About 20 years ago I applied to one of the major cruise lines as a solo instrumental guitarist(classical, pop renditions etc.).  Applicants had to submit a video of at least one hour of a live performance, a short set list and a long set list along with numerous other details.  About 2 and half years later I got a call offering a 3 month gig on a ship leaving a port about 700 miles from my home in a couple of weeks.    As mentioned above it was a shared accommodation but details beyond that were lacking.  I was a union member at the time so I spoke with my local AFM office and they said:  I should be aware that most cruises give rooms to "staff"(including performers) that are on the lower decks(as in possibly below the water line!?), and most musicians are not allowed above deck unless they are performing, and usually must be wearing formal attire whenever performing.  Travel expenses were not covered for the to and from ship on my end.  I declined.  It was also pointed out to me that the AFM(musicians union) had no jurisdiction on ships in international waters.

octatonic

monquixote said:

I know a few people who've done it.

It's hard work and you need to be an excellent sight reader and versatile.

I had a bandmate who had a music degree and thought he was a good drummer, but he got absolutely chewed up in the audition.

This.
You need to be able to read really well.
Most people who haven't gone through formal music training are going to get creamed.