Provided Backline Equipment

By David J. Hahn
New York, NY

David asks:

What is the backline like? Do they use in-ear monitors?

David is referring here to the sound gear that is provided by the cruise ship for it’s performers – amps, monitors, etc.

Usually, cruise lines have great gear. After all, they can afford it. As a keyboard player, I usually find top-shelf keyboards (Roland, Korg) and Roland keyboard amps.

Cruise ships make generous use of “hot spot” type monitors (small, powered speakers usually placed close to a performer), especially for lounge acts. These speakers have their strength and weaknesses, but usually work well enough for the venue.

I’ve never seen an in-ear monitor system specifically. Shared headphones amps and cheap over-ear headphones is more like it.

You will find headphone-based monitors if you are in the showband and you are playing with a click track. If you are in this situation I recommend bringing your own headphones, as the quality of the ones you’ll be given can be suspect. I also recommend using an open-ear design, such as the Sennheisers pictured to the left, as it allows you to wear both headphones on your ears and also hear the sound of the other performers around you.

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About the author

David J. Hahn is a music director and pianist in New York City. He co-founded MusicianWages.com with Cameron Mizell in 2008. His writing have been published in the International Musician, union trade papers and featured on the Huffington Post and About.com. Find out more at his website and follow him on Twitter.

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