Praca dla muzyka na statku

 

Przedstawiam garść informacji na temat poszukiwania pracy dla muzyków na statku czy w hotelu dla zespołów różnego typu. Chodzi o długotrwałe kontrakty.

Z materiałów wynika, że potrzeba:

– zespołów z wokalem (czyli wokalno instrumentalne)

– solistów z własnym show, nutami dla showbandu (feature instrumentalist)

– większych showbandów (od 5 osób w zwyż)

– pojedynczych muzyków, taki muzyk też ma szansę na wejście do showbandu – gdzie musi czytać nuty a vista i na bieżąco przygotowywać zmieniający się materiał muzyczny.

 

Przeczytasz (po angielsku – można skorzystać z translatora po prawej stronie strony u góry) :

• jak przygotować profesjonalne demo (package) zespołu

• dowiesz się ile zarabia muzyk na statku

• jak i gdzie szukać pracy na statku

• jak wyglądają przesłuchania muzyków (często przez telefon)

 

Samemu szukam możliwości dla niezależnego instrumentalnego składu jazzowego Cadillac ’58 Jazz Trio, który może pasować do takich przykładowych wymagań:

– You play with a versatile musical group that is ready to travel? Your duo, trio, quartet or big band was assembled a while back. Your group concentrates on covering lounge, contemporary, top-40, classical, Broadway, jazz or Latin repertoire?

Your matching: 93%

Need very classy exp Jazz trio for top class hotel in China

Required Skills: any
Required Genres: Jazz
Time Frame: Within one week

Praca na statku dla zespołu muzycznego przez polskiego pośrednika

UWAGA MUZYCY!
ROMAN BRZOSTEK Musicians & Cruise Line Entertainment
OGŁASZA ZAPOTRZEBOWANIE NA NASTĘPUJĄCE SKŁADY:

1) Zespoły wok.-instr.: duet, trio, kwartet, kwintet (propozycja własnego show – muzyka taneczna,swing,pop,disco,soul, Broadway, muz. filmowa).
2) Show bandy- czytanie nut a vista: kwartety (sekcja + saksofon*), kwintety (sekcja + saksofon* + gitara ,ewentualnie trąbka).
3) Duety skrzypce+fortepian (akordeon). Lekka rozrywka, lekka klasyka-szeroko pojęta światowa muzyka popularna, Broadway, muzyka filmowa.
4) Kwartety smyczkowe – 2x skrzypce, altówka, wiolonczela. Repertuar jak wyżej.
5) Harfa, repertuar jak wyżej.
6) Gitara klasyczna, repertuar jak wyżej.
7) Muzycy indywidualni (do show bandów) – czytanie nut a vista. Fortepian, bas, perkusja, saksofon*, trąbka, gitara elektryczna.
8) Wokalistki z własną propozycją repertuarową.
9) Artyści indywidualni na dużą scenę z propozycja własnego, ciekawego show.
10) Inne ciekawe propozycje.

*Uwaga! Saksofonisci powinni miec opanowany również flet i klarnet. Obowiazkowa umiejetnosc porozumiewania sie w jez.angielskim.
Współpracujemy z sześcioma największymi kompaniami, ponad trzydzieści ekskluzywnych statkow pasażerskich, cały świat.
Zapraszamy do współpracy muzykow z dużym doswiadczeniem….ALE NIE TYLKO! Jesli z racji młodego wieku brak Ci jeszcze nieco pewności siebie, NIE CZEKAJ AŻ SIE ZESTARZEJESZ! Ta propozycja jest rownież dla Ciebie!
Materiały reklamowe-zapis koniecznie wizyjno-dźwiękowy (DVD,videoCD lub video. Krótkie fragmenty utworów, dynamika, calość demo ok.10 min.)+CV prosimy wysylać do końca grudnia 2003 r. na adres:

Paweł Twardoch ,
05-825 Grodzisk Mazowiecki
skr. poczt. 33.
Kontakt: rbrozrywka@yahoo.com
Tel.:+(48) 501 024340

Opis dla solisty

Feature Instrumentalist (solista – gwiazda grająca z showbandem)

The Featured Instrumentalist performs a Feature Show in the theater accompanied by the Show Band. You should have between 1 and 2 hours of material fully arranged for a 5 to 12 piece band, unless you are a solo concert pianist or a classical instrumentalist who brings a piano accompanist. Your show should be entertaining, humorous and of the highest quality. Musical Theater music and American popular music are both very well received on ships. Your show should be tailored for the over-50 crowd, although some cruise lines cater to a younger crowd.

The Feature Instrumentalist is usually one of the following:
* Banjo player (with or without vocals)
* Pianist (Liberace Style) (with or without vocals)
* Trumpet Player (with or without vocals)
* Violinist
* Clarinet Player (with or without vocals)
* Harmonica Player (with or without vocals)
* Other outstanding instrumentalist

(Please note that there is limited availability in this style of entertainment at this time. However, feel free to send us your promotional material and we will contact you should there be an opportunity in the future)

 

Feature Instrumentalist   Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is an outstanding performer or group with many years of experience in such different venues as the circus, private functions, Theme parks, Las Vegas and television. You must have excellent skills, clean material, and be able to entertain a mature audience. Conversational English and a pleasant disposition are compulsory. You should enjoy performing and you should *look* like you do! Ship experience is a plus.

Feature Instrumentalist   Performance Schedule

A Variety Act usually performs two nights a week. The Magician/Illustionist may also be asked to perform a Close-up Magic Show. One night you will perform the same 45 minute Feature Show twice (once for early and once for late seating). On the other night, you will perform the same 20 minute show twice (once for early and once for late seating) as part of either the Welcome Show or Farewell Show. On 10 day cruises, you may need to perform two different 45 minute feature shows and a 20 minute show. Some acts, except for Feature Instrumentalists, may also be asked to perform a Late Night Adult Show.

Feature Instrumentalist   Performance Schedule

A Variety Act usually performs two nights a week. The Magician/Illustionist may also be asked to perform a Close-up Magic Show. One night you will perform the same 45 minute Feature Show twice (once for early and once for late seating). On the other night, you will perform the same 20 minute show twice (once for early and once for late seating) as part of either the Welcome Show or Farewell Show. On 10 day cruises, you may need to perform two different 45 minute feature shows and a 20 minute show. Some acts, except for Feature Instrumentalists, may also be asked to perform a Late Night Adult Show.

Feature Instrumentalist   Salary & Benefits

Your salary will be indicated on your employment contract along with the method of disbursement: weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. Salaries are always paid in U.S. currency and range from $1,000 to $3,000 per person per week. Meals, accommodation, air fare and excess luggage or Air Cargo charges for your equipment to and from the ship are included at no extra cost to you. Depending on the Cruise Line policy, you may be able to invite friends and/or family to cruise with you at discount rates, after a certain period of employment.

Feature Instrumentalist   Instrumentation

Variety acts planning to use the Show Band must provide the musical arrangements for their play-ons and play-offs, as well as for any other musical sequences needed for the show. If you work with pre-recorded music, you need to provide the sound engineer with audio tape, DAT tape, CD, or mini-disk.

The different types of instrumentation available on board are :
5 piece band: Trumpet, Saxophone (alto, tenor, clarinet, flute), Piano, Bass, Drums
6 piece band: Trumpet, Saxophone (alto, tenor, clarinet, flute), Trombone, Piano, Bass, Drums
7 piece band: Trumpet, Alto Sax (Clarinet/flute), Tenor Sax (Clarinet/flute), Trombone, Piano, Bass, Drums
7 piece band: Trumpet, Saxophone (alto, tenor, clarinet, flute), Trombone, Piano, Bass, Drums, Synthesizer
11 piece band: 3 Trumpets, 1 Trombone, Alto Sax (Clarinet/flute), Tenor Sax (Clarinet/flute), Baritone Sax (Clarinet/flute), Piano, Bass, Drums, Guitar
12 piece band: 3 Trumpets 2 Trombones; Alto Sax (Clarinet/flute), Tenor Sax (Clarinet/flute), Baritone Sax (Clarinet/flute), Piano, Bass, Drums, Guitar

 

Heres a comment to David (komentarze z forum)

The gig you want is actualy called “showband” . There is the “orchestra” wich is actualy a show band but what they call “showband” is basicly a 4 pc band in the lounge you play on average 2 hours a night for 6 nights a week with royal carribean average is $500-$600 US a week and they are 14-24 week contracts and also with that cruise line the showband is status as : “guest entertainer” so u can eat anywheres the guest can

 

Mail and Shipping Packages to Your Cruise Ship

I’m not really sure, actually, how to get booked as a guest performer act. I never did that directly. Perhaps start with contacting all of the cruise lines and researching talent agents that deal with cruise agencies. That shouldn’t be too hard to find.

If you are a guest performer you’d definitely get your own cabin.

I guess it’d be feasible to make more money if you worked more. I know magicians that do extra acts for more bread. Maybe you could negotiate that into the contract. Try Norwegian Cruise Lines – that’s where I saw magicians doing extra shows on the side.

Pay attention to Standards and Broadway — if you find yourself on traveling route, rather than a party itinerary(or Fun Ship), be aware that the passenger list may be more international, older, and like American baby-boomers they may have a wider frame of reference. There’s a reason why Rod Stewart has sold so many standards recordings.
Standards = what some youngster call ‘classics’. No, They are Standards.

Sometimes the piano bar can be a romantic spot, so you need to know how to play “As Time Goes By”(CASABLANCA), “Moon River”, “At Last”(big band OR R&B), and “It Had to Be You” and a good helping of classic Broadway. BY HEART !!
Be aware that a huge percentage of the Sinatra/standards repertoire is Broadway showtunes – “The Lady is A Tramp”,”I Get a Kick Out of You”. Do not tell older passengers you don’t do any Cole Porter/ Gershwin/ Irving Berlin/ Johnny Mercer, etc….
And I don’t see “Over The Rainbow” on this list. Astonishing.

Perhaps “Piano Bar” is a wilder, drunker, dopier thing than I learned to do 30 years ago — but those songs I’ve mentioned are highly requested in my shipboard experience, even from younger patrons on the Holland America Line, which is known for an older clientele. (I should say that I myself prefer travelers to partiers.)

So do not ignore the boomers, they are becoming what is known as the Mariners – older folks with some money. Some of them do report avoiding cruise ship piano bars.

Thanks for a good site, David Hahn.

How to put a promo pack together

April 20th, 2011

I have been working at Proship Entertainment for over 8 years and many of you already know me. I started in January 2003 and although I came from an accounting background, I was also a drummer in a band for many years. I knew what I had to do to get good paying gigs: Make a very good promo pack! The better the promo pack, the better the job. I did not know anything about the cruise ship industry when I started but have learnt a lot during the years.  Enough to know that this is a gig I would like to have!  Travel, see the world and save money?  That doesn’t happen on land gigs and we end up spending money somehow.

Since 2006, I have led the Band department of Proship Entertainment, which is everything that is not showband: Piano Bar Entertainers, Duos, Trios, Quartets etc, you get the idea. Through the years I have received numerous emails and phone calls asking the age-old question:

What do I need to get a job on a cruise ship?

1. You need a really great video of you or your band; ideally a live video would be best but not 100% necessary. “I don’t have a video” is a common refrain, well make one since you will not get a job without one. Avoid videographers, it is better just to have a fixed frame, so a tripod will do and it is much cheaper. Try to run the sound through the board and use the stereo outputs to connect to the camera. Always do a test before making the video so you can get the best sound. If it sounds distorted, or it is clipping, try again. Make sure the balance between voice and instruments is done properly: we want to hear a good mix between your voice, harmonies and the band. If you cannot do this you can use the sound from the camera. Just make sure it sounds good! The best advice before making a video is have your agent take a look at your song list to guide you into making the best video to submit to clients and getting you on a ship.

Party bands and duos should know harmonies are a must, more than one singer is best. Also be able to do Theme Nights, anything from Country, Island, 50′s 60′s night even Rockaroake, Motown, Classic Rock, Disco, Top 40, you have to be able to do it all! If you do not know all these styles learn them and 4-piece your band will get more work. Be entertaining and energetic!

Piano Bar Entertainers must be entertaining! Please have personality! The piano bar entertainer must be a very good pianist and an excellent vocalist. A PBE must be able to start the evening with standards and kick it up with party music, sing-along, theme nights keep a party going in the piano bar! A promo pack should show that you have energy, that you are fun! Your video should reflect all the above.

2. Your song list should be separated by styles. This allows a client to get a good overview of what you are capable of providing stylistically. One thing I do hear a lot is: “I have about 200 songs”. Well, that is a good start but try to increase to about 400 to 600. You should be adding to you song list all the time. As passengers get younger remember you have to be on top of everything new and able to take requests. You should know every one of the songs you have put on your song list. Do not put songs on it that you do not know. If you join a ship without knowing many songs and keep repeating the same stuff every night, the passengers will complain soon enough.

3. A resume or biography. Don’t fudge, be truthful! A biography mentioning your musical education and experience or the band’s experience will catch the client’s attention. Previous cruise ship, hotel or casino experience will get you in the door faster.

4. A great photograph showing off the style and quality of your band. Be somewhat conservative. Remember your audience is luxury cruise ship operators. Forget piercing and visible tattoos.

Feel free to call me anytime before starting to prepare your new promo pack.

 

How to Create an Effective Promotional Package

There are 3 parts to any good promo: video, songlist, and bio. Video promotional material is an absolute must for getting booked as a band or solo entertainer. Because of the accessibility of high quality audio editing software, the days of audio promo are over because it is impossible to know how authentic the performance is. Here are some tips to make sure your package is as strong as it can be:

Video

• Absolutely no longer than 10 minutes. In fact, around 5-7 minutes is ideal.
• Do not include whole songs. Each clip should be no longer than 1 minute. It is usually best to include the most recognizable part of the song.
• A selection of 7-10 songs is best. It is important that the songs are as varied as possible. If you are a party band, make sure you have contrasting songs from each genre you perform to show your versatility.
• Interact! If you record in a live venue, make sure you have moments of talking to the audience, or urging them to sing a long. If you record in a studio, make eye contact with the camera and show how much fun you are having.
• NO MUSIC STANDS! It is very difficult to interact with an audience with your face in a music stand. A lot of bands and entertainers use stands and sheetmusic as an aid on live gigs, which is ok if done discretely. But for video promo to a potential new client, first impression is vitally important and having no music stands is much more professional looking.
• YouTube and other video hosting websites are a great way to easily market your video. We highly suggest using this resource instead of mailing hard copies.
• If you would like to be represented by a booking agency such as ours, it is helpful to have an “agent friendly” video that contains no contact information.
• Concerning attire, it is important to look nice. Avoid jeans, sneakers, sandals, and t-shirts.

Songlist

• Include the name of the band or performer at the top of the song list.
• Divide the selections based on genre, not by artist or alphabetically.

Biography

• Use correct grammar! Remember, first impression.
• Avoid long lists that make the biography excessively long.
• A bio of around 200-250 words is best. This comes to about 1-2 paragraphs.
• If possible, include a band photo or headshot on the bio.

Downloadable PDF of our promo guide.

 

Average Pay for Cruise Line Musicians (Zarobki muzyka na liniowcu)

By David J. Hahn · 47 Comments

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Estimated salary range: $450 – 2,000 a week

When I was employed as the keyboardist in a show band, I made $350 a week, or $50 a day with Holland America. I understand Holland America pays near the lower range of salaries for musicians, but I did hear that they have raised their minimum salary to $65 a day ($455 a week). If you had been with them for many years, you could expect to max out at about 150% of minimum, which these days is probably just under $100 a day.

I can tell you from experience that $50 a day doesn’t go very far. I didn’t save anything (but I did have a good time).

Headliners and guest performers can make much more income, between $800 and $2,000 a week, and probably more. Guest performers also typically work less hours than musicians in the house band or lounges and are housed in single passenger cabins.

There are other aspects of cruise ship employment that add value. Cost-of-living at sea, for example. Say, on land, you spend $100 a week on food – you no longer need to pay that $100, as all food will be provided for you. Also, you live rent free. Same for utilities, gas for your car – maybe you put your cell phone service on hold because you’ll be out of the country. In my opinion, you should factor those savings into your cruise ship salary. Let’s be conservative and say you save $200 a week by living at sea. To make the same value, then, you’d have to find a job that makes $800/month more on land.

In this way we see a cruise job that pays $27,000/year ($75/day) is similar to a job that makes $36,000/year on land.

Whether or not you are able to save money on your job depends a lot on where you are cruising. If you are in Alaska, you will have a hard time finding somewhere to blow your money. In Europe, especially with the current exchange rate, forget about bringing any of that cash home. The Caribbean and Mexico are still cheap – you get the picture.

Little luxuries really add up on a ship, and its typically little things that add up to crew members not saving money. Partying can become an expensive habit, souvenirs for family and friends add up, “cheap” electronics in the Caribbean or Asia are still big purchases – again, you get the picture.

But if you are frugal, you could come off of a cruise ship job with a lot of money saved up – even if you make near the low end of the salary range.

 

How to Get a Cruise Ship Musician Job (Jak dostać pracę na statku)

By David J. Hahn · 209 Comments

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There are two ways to get a cruise ship musicians job – first, through a talent agency and, second, directly through the cruise line itself. There are benefits to both.

Talent Agencies

The talent agency will find you a job faster and, assuming you do well, keep you working for as long as you would like – and for that service they will take a percentage of your paycheck. The standard agency fee is 12-15%.

Some talent agencies claim that they don’t take percentages from your paycheck – but, of course, that’s nonsense. The agencies perform a valuable service and they are paid accordingly. Whether it comes out of your paycheck before or after you see it is not important.

Always remember – talent agencies are not necessarily on your side. They make money because of their positive relationships with the cruise lines, and it’s in their best interests to keep those relationships positive. Expect your talent agency to give you a reasonable amount of support – but don’t expect them to take your side if things go sour on your gig.

Talent agencies get you a job, and when you’re done with that one they’ll get you another. That’s what they are best at and that’s what they do to earn their fee. They aren’t (necessarily) there to make sure you are comfortable and happy.

The Cruise Ship Talent Agency Directory

The Cruise Ship Talent Agency Directory ( $14.97 via PayPal, immediate download, PDF) contains lists of all of the talent agencies in the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand and directions how to apply. 107 companies are included.

The largest talent agency in North America is Proship Entertainment, headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Other major agencies include Landau Music, Oceanbound and Stilleto.

The easiest way to get a job would be to apply to one of these agencies, complete and audition and take a gig. But The Cruise Ship Talent Agency Directory allows you to really do some research and shop around if you feel like it.

Proship and the other large talent agencies spend a lot of their resources stocking ships with the showband and lounge musicians on ships. If you are a guest performer you should dig deeper into the list of talent agencies and find a smaller, boutique agency that can give your act more attention.

Cruise Lines

Applying directly to a cruise line for a musician job allows you to circumvent the agency fee, but that does not mean they will give that agency fee to you – you might make the same amount as you would through a talent agency.

Also, it may take much longer to get a job directly through the cruise lines. The major cruise lines are all large corporations, and things move slowly in large corporations.

There are perks, though – if you show yourself to be valuable to the company, it’s likely that they will continue to employ you after your first contract ends. And because you are part of the company you might be able to choose your itinerary, your ship, and maybe other perks.

The Cruise Line Entertainment Directory

If you want to try this voyage solo and skip the talent agencies, The Cruise Line Entertainment Department Directory ($24.97 via PayPal, immediate download, PDF) contains a list of 50+ cruise lines and the information about how to apply directly to their entertainment departments.

This is a great option for guest entertainers or musicians looking for long-term career relationships with cruise lines.

Buy both lists for  $35.97 (immediate download, .zip files containing two PDFs with over 150 leads). Start your new gig right away!

Auditions (przesłuchania muzyków)

Getting a job through the cruise lines will also require an audition – sometimes in person, but increasingly, over the phone. The audition will include a lot of sight-reading if you are auditioning for the showband position, and the sight-reading portion of the audition can be quite difficult.

This video, filmed in the summer of 2011 by guitarist Lance Vallis, is a great example of what your audition will be like.