Comments on: How Good Do You Have to Be? http://www.musicianwages.com/cruise-ship-musician/how-good-do-you-have-to-be/ The Community for Working Musicians Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:30:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: David J. Hahn http://www.musicianwages.com/cruise-ship-musician/how-good-do-you-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-6228 David J. Hahn Fri, 12 Nov 2010 01:41:43 +0000 http://www.musicianwages.com/?p=295#comment-6228 Hi Cat - Yes, I think there are. You should submit your material to the agents and cruise lines. Try this: http://www.musicianwages.com/cruise-ship-musician/how-to-get-a-cruise-ship-musician-job/ Hi Cat –

Yes, I think there are. You should submit your material to the agents and cruise lines. Try this:

http://www.musicianwages.com/cruise-ship-musician/how-to-get-a-cruise-ship-musician-job/

]]> By: Cat http://www.musicianwages.com/cruise-ship-musician/how-good-do-you-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-6227 Cat Fri, 12 Nov 2010 01:38:43 +0000 http://www.musicianwages.com/?p=295#comment-6227 Hi Dave, I've been doing solo gigs using backing tracks, singing and playing keys over them....are there positions available for this? My vocals are very strong, and I love entertaining....my rep. includes dance music, easy listening, and rock/pop. Hi Dave,
I’ve been doing solo gigs using backing tracks, singing and playing keys over them….are there positions available for this? My vocals are very strong, and I love entertaining….my rep. includes dance music, easy listening, and rock/pop.

]]> By: Arie Van der Ende http://www.musicianwages.com/cruise-ship-musician/how-good-do-you-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-5296 Arie Van der Ende Sun, 24 Oct 2010 21:55:04 +0000 http://www.musicianwages.com/?p=295#comment-5296 Hi. I'm probably the great exception to most postings here. I would love to perform on cruise ships. I am 80 years of age, I play the Tyros 3 keyboard. I read well, but only from "fake books". I've performed many times, but mostly at Retirement homes, where i always get many compliments. I have always played solo, and would love to play solo in a lounge setting, etc. I play the songs "you grew up with", meaning a lot of them dating back to the early part of the 20th century, although I will also play songs from the 60;'s, 70's and 80's. Is there a chance for someone like me? Hi. I’m probably the great exception to most postings here. I would love to perform on cruise ships. I am 80 years of age, I play the Tyros 3 keyboard. I read well, but only from “fake books”. I’ve performed many times, but mostly at Retirement homes, where i always get many compliments. I have always played solo, and would love to play solo in a lounge setting, etc. I play the songs “you grew up with”, meaning a lot of them dating back to the early part of the 20th century, although I will also play songs from the 60;’s, 70′s and 80′s. Is there a chance for someone like me?

]]> By: Julian http://www.musicianwages.com/cruise-ship-musician/how-good-do-you-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-4286 Julian Wed, 06 Oct 2010 03:42:19 +0000 http://www.musicianwages.com/?p=295#comment-4286 Hi, I am guitarist and I am thinking of doing a cruise ship gig. I saw how small the crew rooms are and I assume you don't want to spend very much time there. I am wondering, what is the situation in terms of being able to practice? I know that for a drummer or horn player this is a complicated question, but as a guitarist I don't take up much space (physically or sonically) when I am practicing. Is it reasonable for me to be expect to practice a decent amount in my free time? Are the crew rooms big enough to accommodate that, assuming I can get some time alone in there each day? Thanks. Julian Hi,

I am guitarist and I am thinking of doing a cruise ship gig. I saw how small the crew rooms are and I assume you don’t want to spend very much time there. I am wondering, what is the situation in terms of being able to practice? I know that for a drummer or horn player this is a complicated question, but as a guitarist I don’t take up much space (physically or sonically) when I am practicing. Is it reasonable for me to be expect to practice a decent amount in my free time? Are the crew rooms big enough to accommodate that, assuming I can get some time alone in there each day? Thanks.

Julian

]]> By: John http://www.musicianwages.com/cruise-ship-musician/how-good-do-you-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-4222 John Sat, 25 Sep 2010 00:35:36 +0000 http://www.musicianwages.com/?p=295#comment-4222 Dave, Great info! I've been considering this as an option for when I have summers off during medical school to earn some extra money for the family, but don't see that working out based on everything I've read. However, the info you've provided still applies to other gigging situations and I was wondering if you had any recommendations on which Real or Fake books to get. There seem to be several these days and I'm having a hard time picking which one to get as a "standard." The last time I used one was in the 80s and it was the wink-wink-nudge-nudge kind that everyone had, but no one would admit to having! Dave,

Great info! I’ve been considering this as an option for when I have summers off during medical school to earn some extra money for the family, but don’t see that working out based on everything I’ve read.

However, the info you’ve provided still applies to other gigging situations and I was wondering if you had any recommendations on which Real or Fake books to get. There seem to be several these days and I’m having a hard time picking which one to get as a “standard.” The last time I used one was in the 80s and it was the wink-wink-nudge-nudge kind that everyone had, but no one would admit to having!

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.musicianwages.com/cruise-ship-musician/how-good-do-you-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-4071 Jeremy Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:02:38 +0000 http://www.musicianwages.com/?p=295#comment-4071 Hi Dave, I've read most of the articles you've posted about being a cruise ship musician, and I have a few questions. I've been playing and studying guitar for several years (I'm 21), and after having graduated university with a degree in Economics from Boston Universty, I've began studying at Berklee (after studying privately for a long time). I'm an excellent sight reader, and though I mostly concentrate on Jazz, I've been a member of a backing pop singer, and played in big bands and pits for musicals, as well as placed into higher levels of theory and arranging classes. However, I have not finished MUSIC school yet, and I'm only 21. Do you think this will hurt my chances, if I wanted to begin, say, in late December/early January? Can you describe the average guitar player in the show band? Additionally, is there ANY way to get in decent shed time? -Jeremy Hi Dave,

I’ve read most of the articles you’ve posted about being a cruise ship musician, and I have a few questions. I’ve been playing and studying guitar for several years (I’m 21), and after having graduated university with a degree in Economics from Boston Universty, I’ve began studying at Berklee (after studying privately for a long time). I’m an excellent sight reader, and though I mostly concentrate on Jazz, I’ve been a member of a backing pop singer, and played in big bands and pits for musicals, as well as placed into higher levels of theory and arranging classes. However, I have not finished MUSIC school yet, and I’m only 21. Do you think this will hurt my chances, if I wanted to begin, say, in late December/early January? Can you describe the average guitar player in the show band? Additionally, is there ANY way to get in decent shed time?

-Jeremy

]]> By: Joe http://www.musicianwages.com/cruise-ship-musician/how-good-do-you-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-3498 Joe Fri, 14 May 2010 17:50:30 +0000 http://www.musicianwages.com/?p=295#comment-3498 Thank you. I was wondering about that for a while (because of the bars and such..) What about the main genres? Is there one style that sticks out, or one style that is played more than others? Thanks again! Thank you. I was wondering about that for a while (because of the bars and such..) What about the main genres? Is there one style that sticks out, or one style that is played more than others? Thanks again!

]]> By: David J. Hahn http://www.musicianwages.com/cruise-ship-musician/how-good-do-you-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-3497 David J. Hahn Fri, 14 May 2010 15:39:41 +0000 http://www.musicianwages.com/?p=295#comment-3497 Hi Joe - I'm very glad you've found the info useful. Thanks for reading. I'm not sure of the youngest...but it was under 21 and over 18. Somewhere in that range. Just as a sidenote, though, I always recommend that people finish college before taking the gig. Or at the very least, be legal drinking age beforehand. Hi Joe –

I’m very glad you’ve found the info useful. Thanks for reading.

I’m not sure of the youngest…but it was under 21 and over 18. Somewhere in that range.

Just as a sidenote, though, I always recommend that people finish college before taking the gig. Or at the very least, be legal drinking age beforehand.

]]> By: Joe http://www.musicianwages.com/cruise-ship-musician/how-good-do-you-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-3480 Joe Wed, 12 May 2010 19:37:30 +0000 http://www.musicianwages.com/?p=295#comment-3480 I really appreciate everything that you've published on this site. It's extremely helpful for one who is interested in this field. Out of curiosity, what is the youngest musician you've seen or played with on a ship? Thank you! I really appreciate everything that you’ve published on this site. It’s extremely helpful for one who is interested in this field. Out of curiosity, what is the youngest musician you’ve seen or played with on a ship? Thank you!

]]> By: Brendan http://www.musicianwages.com/cruise-ship-musician/how-good-do-you-have-to-be/comment-page-1/#comment-3221 Brendan Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:58:06 +0000 http://www.musicianwages.com/?p=295#comment-3221 You wrote that you have to be a good reader to play in a show band. How good? I am a e-bass player who graduated from the Berklee College of Music with a reading rating of 6 out of 8. Is that good enough? How complex are the charts that they throw at you? You wrote that you have to be a good reader to play in a show band. How good? I am a e-bass player who graduated from the Berklee College of Music with a reading rating of 6 out of 8. Is that good enough? How complex are the charts that they throw at you?

]]>