Cruiseship Drummer

Cruise ships are a fantastic chance to make a living from your own playing and enhance your playing in a variety of designs while going to every corner of the world however you like, but be warned; maybe it's your dream job or a tedious and claustrophobic nightmare.GETTING THE GIGPeople spend huge amounts to savor a cruise and the entertainment is one of the major pulls. Consequently, audio standards are high requiring a thorough audition to complete. These in many cases are performed using a telephone and camcorder with audio records emailed towards the interviewee one hour ahead of the audition. You'll have to examine a variety of types plus a backing monitor and metronome.Phil Miller, musician spreading consultant of Royal Caribbean International claims, 'Show experience (musicals) is important, superb reading ability of notes and notation are essential and a background in Jazz is effective.' GOT THE GIG - NOW WHAT?The organization should give a pre-embarkation record explaining required items to pack for example proper suits and deck shoes. You will also require a medical examination, the expense of which should be returned by the business. It's advisable to keep all bills and find out just what the organization is ready to buy. This also pertains to flights and hotel expenses en-route to affix the ship, but double check this before travelling.Jonnie James has decades of rottnest island cruises knowledge and auditions candidates for the P&O business, having gone to many elements of the world. He provides, 'When loading, it's vital that you remember the little things like drum recommendations, branches, brushes, dampening resources (such as moon serum) and earphones. I pack a bass pedal too. A great deal of organizations supply the pedals and the stage managers should supply headphones but do not ever assume'! It's frequently non-negotiable on your own first cruise, with regards to transaction and what they offer might not look wonderful. But, you must bear in mind that you will have no expenses, which gives the chance to build up respectable savings. All meals and lodging are taken care of and you may perhaps enjoy a tax-free salary.LIFE ON BOARDThe first week is normally the hardest, adapting to life in a shared cabin, as Jonnie explains, 'I've had to generally share with everyone from an over-sized keyboard player who remained in bed at every possibility to an ex-Cuban military saxophone player who was up at 7am daily and kept the cabin pristine.' This first week can be active spending extra time on-stage studying the manufacturing display music.These are 45-minute Broadway-style medleys, each going through every conceivable flow and time signature. Do not try to impress by sight-reading this. Even when you are a great reader, there are many arbitrary time changes to get you out, so it is worth putting in the practice.Once you have relaxed into the displays and don't want to practice anymore, 'ship-life' really starts. This really is what makes the show what it's. Many MDs don't care how much time you spend ashore causing damage in rural Mexican villages or in the ludicrously low priced staff club, as long as you are on-stage able to perform well, whenever necessary.Like the people, the artists may use the cruise to complete as little or as much as they like. Generally only necessary to perform 4 or 5 hours per day (often only one hour), this leaves a lot of possibility to discover an island or village. But, this may cause indifference at sea when there's little to accomplish except watch TV, go to the gymnasium or relax on deck.But beware, as Jonnie has seen over the years,'Lateness is really the number one poor quality you could have. Not only does it irritate the others of the band but you also get yourself a bad name with the Cruise Director, not to say the late start of a show with a market waiting.' THE MUSICAs a drummer, you really only have two options on the cruise ship. You have access to a band together, discover 150 melodies and then audition to be one of the Lounge acts that play for cocktail events, dances, style times, an such like. As you're playing for between 4 and 5 hours an evening, every night!Alternatively, this really is a serious tough show mentally, you can perform in the band. This can be a far more diverse function often backing the guest artists that come aboard. This may be anything from supporting a singer (punk, Broadway, 50s, 60s, etc), to playing incidental music for a juggler. Also, you have to be ready for enjoying some'alternative' music. This can include foolish things like dressing as a pirate and playing sound clips for a 'crossing the equator' service or playing Filipino dance music for the crew show.THE GAMBLENo organization or cruise company can let you know this but there is a specific section of chance when joining a cruise. A number of the aspects are:? Your cabin spouse could be a problem. ?? Your band may possibly not be very good, auditioned by individuals with poor judgment. ?? Your schedule might be a little dull (visiting exactly the same several locations round and round for a complete season)? The staff could be difficult to get on with so if you aren't good at making friends, stay home! ?? You could get claustrophobic.However, if you fancy playing drums with huge difference in types to some high standard, making friends with good artists from around the world and visiting the pyramids, a Kenyan opera and Rio carnival in your spare time, then perhaps a cruise is for you.So be in that practice area, get sight reading and study your 'meringues' & 'cha cha chas.'