I’ve never seen this site before: www.artisthousemusic.org. It seems like a pretty good resource for musicians – especially for the business side of things.
Check out this video from that site. It’s an interview with the music supervisor from Carnival Cruise Lines about working on a cruise ship.
I’m not going to lie to you. There’s something I don’t like about this guy. First off, he’s just carrying the company line and not really saying anything. Musicians that are dug into the company that much make me nervous. You know that they are no longer one of you. This dude is a suit, not a worker bee.
Also, he’s exclusively positive about the gig in a way that makes me feel like the CEO of Carnival is standing in the wings holding his contract and a book of matches – about to put the two together if he says anything wrong. Cruise employment is great, but it’s not like going on vacation. It gets friggin’ boring, dude, just say it. I think cruise lines would have smaller personnel turn-over if they were more upfront about the realities from the beginning.
Everything he says is correct, but it’s a bland interview. It’s relevant to what we’re talking about here though, in it’s own bland kind of way, so check it out:
David J. Hahn
David J. Hahn is a Broadway conductor and keyboard player. He co-founded MusicianWages.com with Cameron Mizell in 2008. Visit his new project, Songwriter.fm and sign up for his songwriting newsletter.
One thing I hate about this video is the idiot in the background that keeps coughing. Did anyone tell him that the cameras are recording!?
Sounds like the same gamut of questions I get from my neighbors/relatives when I return home from a ship. I also like how they are sitting in those chairs like they are on Inside Edition or something.
Corporate BS. Treat people like people, not like numbers.
Music directors, as with most permanent CCL supervisors, are assholes, and know it. Look at them wrong, while they work you to death(Ladder-climbing for corporate,)Don’t take any of them for granted. They are like the guy in the room, whom draws you into a conversation, only to slam/fire you thru corporate. The canadians are the worst; arrogant selfless bastards who reap acolades off your back. Funny thing is; you’ll end up being lightyears ahead of their playing abilities, which torches them even worse.