Cruise ship gigs....

[millsbass5]

This is something I've always been interested in,but never found out any details of this type of gig.
Have any of you fellow TB'ers out there had a job playing music in a band(or know someone),on a cruise ship(For example:Carnival Cruiselines)???If so,what was the rate of pay,living quarters,club atmosphere and fun-factor like???In a nutshell,what are the pros and cons of this type of gig??

[two fingers]

I did a last minute deal a few years ago. The pay wasn't any more than I could have made at home. And they were really tight about where you could and couldn't go on the boat. It's not like I was a passenger during my time off. I was "the help" and made to understand that. The shows were really request based. We were told to keep them happy. So we would "hack out" songs we didn't really know in an effort to keep the very picky and snooty crowds happy. All in all, I didn't really enjoy it. I got off the boat and went for a walk at a couple of ports and that was my favorite part of the trip.

[millsbass5]

That's one of the things I was wondering about.Did you have to, "Swab the deck,or walk the plank.Arrghhh!!Matey..."Even when you were "off duty"you were restricted from certain parts of the ship??I guess you're gonna tell me hired help wasn't allowed hook up with a chick on the ship,too.Bummer.

[J. Crawford]

Originally Posted by millsbass5

That's one of the things I was wondering about.Did you have to, "Swab the deck,or walk the plank.Arrghhh!!Matey..."Even when you were "off duty"you were restricted from certain parts of the ship??I guess you're gonna tell me hired help wasn't allowed hook up with a chick on the ship,too.Bummer.

As he said, he wasnt allowed on certain spots of the boat, but they didnt make him clean or anything.

I have a friend, known as Guitar Zacky, who played blues on a cruise ship and still does. He really enjoys it.

It seems like a hit and miss experience, but I would try it once, if the opportunity was presented.

[millsbass5]

BUMP......

I'm really interested in this type of gig.Anyone???

[jimb213]

I went on a cruise with my family a few months ago, and the house band didn't have a bass player... and the "broadway-style" shows were all tracks (the actors/singers were singing live, though)...

[mtto]

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f30/cruise-ship-gig-24494-post7268095/

Here's an old thread that has some more recent posts, too.

The stage band is a good gig. The lifestyle is not for everyone. You live in a little room with a roommate. If you are youngish, and used to living in dorms, no problem. Alcohol is very cheap in the crew bar, too cheap for my own good back in 2001. They drug test. You get to see parts of the world you wouldn't otherwise, but in bits and pieces. Lots of down time for practice, reading, the gym. You are restricted as to where you can go when, and what you can wear (uniform) in passenger areas. They Broadway shows w/ cast were with tracks and click tracks. The notation way poorly prepared, and the volume in the click jumped in weird ways too. We would back up guest performers and that was generally really cool.

[John Wentzien]

I had the time of my life working for NCL in the early 80's. We had complete run of the ship as entertainers.
Started off as a top 40 band...ended our 3 month stint as a reggae-ska carib band.
It's really easy to lose track of reality..and I know people that are "lifers" on these cruise lines because they just couldn't go back to being a "landlubber".

[John Wentzien]

Had to "double-up" as part of the lifeboat crew and run drills at port in Miami.
Out of 300+ crew members, there was only about 20 Americans.

Made some life-long freinds and got to back-pack Europe a year later with some good "tour-guides" that put up with me when I went to visit!

[SoComSurfing]

I'm the home-port agent for a cruise ship in Carnival's line, so I get to see all the crew changes and a lot of the "inner workings" of the ship. Their turnover rate on musicians is astounding. These guys usually sign up for 3- or 6-month contracts, but I rarely see them last more than a handful of voyages. When I first started working with them I thought it would be cool to try to get my foot in the door through my day job, but after seeing and talking to quite a few of the crew members, I REALLY don't think its something I'd want to give any serious time to.

[MNAirHead]

I did a few of these.. part of it depends if you're assembled or hired as band.. and how good you are at managing management

[mrpackerguy]

That prior thread was interesting. Is it totally unrealistic to think that my cover band could even look into the possibility of a 7-10 day contract during the summer just for something different and unique even if didn't pay well?

[PJSShearer]

As I recall the pay's not too bad - you've got free board and lodging remember! - as long as you don't drink all of it.

When I worked for NCL back in the 1980's I was in the Show band (Dinner Jacket, read music, back cabaret - watch "Dancing with the Stars" to get a hint), we did a 12 month contract with a 6 week break in the middle!!, the "Cover band" generally did 3 - 6 months at a time (unless they got fired first!!). Most lines (and I've worked for a few) don't require you to wear uniform as such - but there will be a dress code*, and you generally have full run of the ship - as long as you understand that the passengers always come first.

I would doubt they'd be interested in booking you for what would be a single cruise - the hassle would be simply not worth it for the ship, but you won't know until you try - get in touch with cruise lines and ask!!.

*you do have Dinner Suits (Tuxedos) for the formal nights don't you? :-).

[cassanova]

I've done fill in work for a few 3 - 7 day cruises back in the late 90's and early 2000's and several one night cruises on the Casino ship.

The Pros:
Good pay
I got to work with some very talented musicians
Made new friends
Got to visit Mexico a few times

The Cons:
Cramped quarters
A lot of down time
Restrictions on where you can go & what you can do while on the ship.
Dress Code in the down time.

All in all, I think it's still a good experience and if you have the opportunity you should at least try it once.

I particularly liked playing on the casino boat here. Much less restrictions and its more like playing a regular gig.

The only major down side was all the commuting involved. The ship runs for about 16 hours. We had to be at the port at shift change to load up and do a sound check, then I drive 30 minutes back home, then make the drive back out to the port, then from there take a shuttle out into international waters to get on the casino. But it paid well so at the time I didn't complain.

Originally Posted by mrpackerguy

Is it totally unrealistic to think that my cover band could even look into the possibility of a 7-10 day contract during the summer just for something different and unique even if didn't pay well?

The only reason I've ever gotten work on the single 3-7 day cruises is because the bassist for the house band was going to be incapacitated and couldn't make the dates. As far as I know the bands on the ships are under contractual agreements for a set period of time. You should still look into it try., I think you might actually have better odds of being booked as the house band on the weekends for a ship that runs one day cruises like the casino one I described above.

[BahamaBass]

some Philippine friends of mine have a band and they play on a cruise ship. they work like every night for like 2 weeks straight sometimes before a day off. They work 6 month contracts. move around from cruise ship to cruise ship.

I had the pleasure of playing with them once. They are the best band I have seen live and really great guys. They were very professional and it was a real pleasure and honor working with them.

They have been together for over 10+ years.

That's pretty much all I know about working on the cruise ships. its sounds like very hard work and you have to be extremely competent on your instrument. They said they really enjoyed working on the cruise ship but I guess its not everyone's cup of tea.

[Craig_S]

Originally Posted by millsbass5

BUMP......

I'm really interested in this type of gig.Anyone???

Do you site read? If so, contact Scott or Mike at M-One Studios and tell them Craig sent you. I'm sure they'll answer any questions you might have. I haven't heard any cruise ship horror stories from either of them.

[Rick Auricchio]

Originally Posted by PJSShearer

...you've got free board and lodging remember!

Those are just paid expenses, not pay for your actual playing.

Since you're still paying your rent or mortgage at home, you're not making anything on the lodging. You're saving some money by not buying food at home.

[PJSShearer]

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

Those are just paid expenses, not pay for your actual playing.

Since you're still paying your rent or mortgage at home, you're not making anything on the lodging. You're saving some money by not buying food at home.

I lived with my parents then - as I was on board for 11.5 months of the year I gave up my apartment - it didn't make sense to do otherwise.

By British Standards, I was making only slightly less than I would have got paid doing a similar residency back home - in fact my first ship paid 65% more than what I got paid on land!!! - in 1979 I was paid GBP55.00 for a five night week at a nightclub and the ship paid GBP85.00 for a seven night week!!.

Also, working on a Norwegian, or Italian, or Greek, or Russian!! registered ship, employed by a company domiciled in Grand Cayman (which paid cash) and sailing out of Miami, or Genoa or Puerto Rico - the Tax situation was "ambiguous" - I was non-resident in the UK and so owed no UK Tax.

if you are single and have no ties - it's a great lifestyle - I lived it for several years.

[John Wentzien]

+1 I had a bank account in Nassau.. The interest I made whilst on the "money-market" bought me a new Steinberger XL2!
The only day-off I had was in Nassau...Miami I had no time to make it to the bank before we sailed.

[John Wentzien]

You didn't have to pay US income tax either..
All of your necessities are paid.
You could get a case of Heineken for about $5 at the duty-free shop and keep it on ice in your cabin.
I made VERY good money also.