Applying for a cruise ship gig

Gawd · #1 12-21-2010, 06:33 PM

So I came across a listing for a cruise ship gig looking for an electric bass player for covers. Does anybody here have experience working on cruise ships? What do they look for in musicians who audition?

Jpeachbass · #2 12-21-2010, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gawd

So I came across a listing for a cruise ship gig looking for an electric bass player for covers. Does anybody here have experience working on cruise ships? What do they look for in musicians who audition?

What line? Are you going through priorship? You need to be able to read. Have good chops. And can you handle being on a ship for 3 months. Hit me back, ill help you any way i can.

Cycho · #3 12-21-2010, 06:45 PM

I have never played a cruise but I have been a passenger on a cruise. I'll tell you the truth the musicians looked pretty bored to me. Nobody seems to applaud (except me!) which has got to be a downer. The musicianship was damned good on my cruise.

lowstrung5 · #4 12-21-2010, 06:52 PM

It depends on the position you're going for. When I auditioned for the showband position it consisted of a videotaped audition. They asked me to play a 12 bar blues in a couple of keys/tempos. Next they asked me to play a few jazz standards by ear. Last was the sight reading of a few charts. The most difficult chart was a show medley that changed tempos and keys several times. I had to listen with headphones to an automated director that gave cues as needed. If the position is strictly for a cover band, I'd contact whoever put the ad together and get specifics. Good Luck!

Jpeachbass · #5 12-21-2010, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cycho

I have never played a cruise but I have been a passenger on a cruise. I'll tell you the truth the musicians looked pretty bored to me. Nobody seems to applaud (except me!) which has got to be a downer. The musicianship was damned good on my cruise.

Yea we get bored. But think about it. We live on a cruise ship. We get paid well. We can, by contract, only work 5 hours a day max. We have our own bar where drinks are about 1 dollar. Just to name a few of the perks. Its a great gig.

Jpeachbass · #6 12-21-2010, 07:10 PM

Some other stuff. The best way to start out is to go through priorship entertainment. They hire for a lot of lines. This way you only audition once. They help handle your paperwork, tell you what you will need and send your audition out to the cruise lines. They do take some of your money when you work for certain lines. But its not bad and its worth it. I also suggest asking for holland america line. They have good crew treatment and pretty high moral on most of their ships. Ive heard horror stories about crew treatment on other lines.

Rudreax · #7 12-21-2010, 07:36 PM

Check out this site, tons of info about the job and the people that have done them:

http://www.musicianwages.com/blog/cruise-ship-musician/

Gawd · #8 12-21-2010, 10:12 PM

Thanks for the great info Jpeach. It is with Holland America. I'm not sure about the specifics yet, I'm going to message them to find out more.

SactoBass · #9 12-21-2010, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gawd

So I came across a listing for a cruise ship gig looking for an electric bass player for covers. Does anybody here have experience working on cruise ships? What do they look for in musicians who audition?

The ability to swim.

pasta4lnch · #10 12-21-2010, 10:26 PM

I recently went on my first cruise . . . was chatting w/ a guitar player. it sounds like an awesome thing!! I'd be psyched to do it. though w/ newly married and now w/ a bun in the oven I doubt I could. but it sure sounds fun!!

Jpeachbass · #11 12-21-2010, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gawd

Thanks for the great info Jpeach. It is with Holland America. I'm not sure about the specifics yet, I'm going to message them to find out more.

Cool. I know there are only two gigs for holland on electric bass. One with the show band. This band does covers for the dance lounge, the deck by the pool and on half moon kay island bahamas if your in the Caribbean. The main function of this band is to back up the guest entertainers and the dance cast. On certain ships you actually have spots in the show where you move around with the dancers. Nothing hard though. With the guest entertainers vie had to play anything from classical to chick corea's spain and got a match. You must be able to read well. And will be given time to improve your reading. And this band has less work than the other usually. Most days that you have a show you will work 3 hours spread out. One rehearsal and 2 shows.
The other gig is with a lounge band. You only have one stage to play on with a trio. Bass, drums and keys. This band works 5 hours every night usually. 50 min set and a 10 minute break. Reading is not as important but you need to know a lot of standards.

Jpeachbass · #12 12-21-2010, 10:50 PM

And the rules you must remember.
1. don't bang the passengers.
2. dont loose your id.
3. remember your rank.
4. don't be late.

There are others, but these are the big ones.
Also the band leaders can be pricks as well as your cruise directors. Read your contract and when you get on board read the "mom". Keep a copy of your travel letter, contract, letter of employment and your passport handy while traveling.

Are you going through pro ship or direct to holland. You get more money going direct but pro ship gives you a safety net.

pasta4lnch · #13 12-22-2010, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jpeachbass

And the rules you must remember.
1. don't bang the passengers.

bummer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jpeachbass

Also the band leaders can be pricks as well as your cruise directors.

I gotta know - cuz this would be a deal breaker, when I was on the cruise the director was over the PA every 10 seconds (even in our room) to the point I wanted to rip the speaker out of the ceiling

still would like to do it ... just seems like fun. play and hang guilt free. nothing else to do . . .

Hoover · #14 12-22-2010, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jpeachbass

Yea we get bored. But think about it. We live on a cruise ship. We get paid well. We can, by contract, only work 5 hours a day max. We have our own bar where drinks are about 1 dollar. Just to name a few of the perks. Its a great gig.

Based on my experience (three month gig with the show band on Crystal Cruises in 1991) I would say that is pretty much spot on

...except for the "Its a great gig" part.

If you're young & looking for some genuine "professional" experience, it's great. If you live at home with the parents, or can give up your abode, it's a really lucrative way to spend a few months. It's a fabulous way to see parts of the world (at least for the first time in every port). But the thing that prevents it (ime) from truly being a "great gig" is this:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jpeachbass

remember your rank

Even if your particular cruise line doesn't officially "rank" musicians (Crystal didn't at the time I worked for them) there is still a hierarchy amongst a ship's crew, a pecking order. And musicians are pretty darn close to the bottom. Not as low as the Fillipino kid who scrubs your toilet, probably not as low as the sailor who mops up spilled diesel after a refueling stop, not as low as the dishwasher in the crew mess... but you're low. And every single crewmember who's above you in this ranking system knows it, and treats you like it.

In other words, "Its a great gig" ...unless you have some self-respect.

(Okay, I'm exaggerating. Slightly. It is a great way to get your chops together...since there's not a whole lot else to do. I'm really glad I did it, wouldn't give up the experience for anything. But I can't imagine ever wanting to do it again...unless I was on the verge of becoming homeless, I guess.)

Jpeachbass · #15 12-22-2010, 12:14 PM

. But the thing that prevents it (ime) from truly being a "great gig" is this:

Even if your particular cruise line doesn't officially "rank" musicians (Crystal didn't at the time I worked for them) there is still a hierarchy amongst a ship's crew, a pecking order. And musicians are pretty darn close to the bottom. Not as low as the Fillipino kid who scrubs your toilet, probably not as low as the sailor who mops up spilled diesel after a refueling stop, not as low as the dishwasher in the crew mess... but you're low. And every single crewmember who's above you in this ranking system knows it, and treats you like it.

In other words, "Its a great gig" ...unless you have some self-respect.

This only happens if you let it. Ive never worked crystal but ive heard its not everyones favorite to work on. For me my first month was this way. Being talked down to an such. The one day my south texas balls arrived after they must have gotten on the wrong plane or something. I walked, with my back strait, strait to a Dutch officer who was giving me **** and told him what i thought of him. Then i shook his hand and bought him a shot of tequila. Never had a problem after that.
BTW Dutch officers are sometimes the worst, and the english.
Its because Americans are seen as stupid, un-cultured and ignorant. If you don't prove them right you'll do ok.
One last thing. The Philippino kid that scrubs your toilet. Is called a cabin steward. And he can make your contract more miserable than the captain. Remember he controls the flow of toilet paper and bath towels. Ive even seen them turn the hot water of in the wall. So tip them and learn their names. Hell I even learned how to speak some of their language. And through one a party once. Not to make him stock more tp just because he was cool.

PJSShearer · #16 12-22-2010, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jpeachbass

And the rules you must remember.
1. don't bang the passengers.

Depends on the line you work for, of the six ships I worked on over the years, this one never came up, in fact one contract I had stated:

"You are expected to fraternise with the passengers when not working...".

Banging them in their cabins was not allowed, you had to take them to yours, which as you shared mean't walking the decks late at night if your room-mate was "busy"!!.

Becasue of this awkward situation, I did once have a "returning passenger" who brought a letter from Head Office stating that I had their permission to stay in her cabin when she was on board .....

PJSShearer · #17 12-22-2010, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pasta4lnch

bummer

I gotta know - cuz this would be a deal breaker, when I was on the cruise the director was over the PA every 10 seconds (even in our room) to the point I wanted to rip the speaker out of the ceiling

My Cabin Mate unscrewed the grill, dropped the speaker out, disconnected it and put it all back together again.....

pasta4lnch · #18 12-22-2010, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJSShearer

My Cabin Mate unscrewed the grill, dropped the speaker out, disconnected it and put it all back together again.....

Nice!! I was very close to doing the same . . .

Jpeachbass · #19 12-22-2010, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pasta4lnch

Nice!! I was very close to doing the same . . .

I had a mate get canned and left in mexico for that.

robwren · #20 12-22-2010, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pasta4lnch

Nice!! I was very close to doing the same . . .

I met my wife 20 years ago while I was working on ships as a trombonist. Last year, we took a cruise with the kids to celebrate our twenty years together and renew our vows at the place we met in St Thomas. The *very* first thing I did when we got to our cabin was disable the speaker.