Sharon, a singer, asks:
Can you tell me about the singers on the ship? Are they really good? Do they have to be able to dance? What are rehearsals like? Do you learn the shows on the ship or before?
By singers I think you mean the singers in the production shows. There are other singer gigs on ships, but I don’t think you’re referring to the lounge acts.
I don’t have any direct personal experience with the production cast gig, but I can tell you what I’ve heard or seen from my friends that do that gig.
Most production shows are put together with the same formula. There is a tall, blond soprano (called F1), a male singer that plays opposite her (called M1). Usually there is a shorter, brunette, alto (called F2) and also a guy opposite her (M2). F1 never has to dance, but F2 sometimes does (same goes for their male opposites). Behind these two couples are 8-12 dancers split evenly as male and female.
The shows are often revue based (one song after another), although I’ve heard of some cruise lines performing actually book shows (i.e. Smokey Joe’s Cafe). There are lots of flashy sets and lots of costume changes. The shows are usually performed to pre-recorded accompaniment tracks, but the band often plays along with the tracks so that the cruise lines can make sure the musicians hate their lives as soon as possible.
The singers and dancers on these shows audition for the job. The talent agency I’ve heard most about is Stiletto Entertainment, based in L.A. You can go to their Cruise Ship Entertainment homepage to find more information.
Cast contracts range from 6-12 months, with 8 months being about average in my experience. One month of that time is spent in a rehearsal studio (often in L.A.) learning and rehearsing the show. Casts perform 1-3 shows a week and sometimes have to perform other tasks on the ships like work the library or help with excursions. What other tasks you have to perform would be outlined on your contract when you get one.
F1, F2, M1 and M2 generally have a pretty sweet gig. They usually have their own cabin (no roommate), are paid twice what a musician makes and work very few hours. They are also sometime called “headliners” and don’t usually have to perform extra tasks like the library. The only gig that’s better would be a guest performer position.
Dancers on the other hand, are sometimes stacked 4 to a room and are often at the center of a great deal of drama and stress on a ship. That’s maybe a bit of a generalization, but prove to me it isn’t true and I’ll rescind. Dancers are often young, beautiful and party-ready. Combine that with cheap drinks, casual relationships and tons of free time and that’s where all the trouble begins. Still, dancers usually make more money than musicians.
As to whether or not the singers are very good: sometimes they are very good. Very, very good. And other times they are American Idol wannabe’s. There’s a great range – which is the case of every entertainment position on ships. Some people are very good, others should never have been hired. You’ll see this over and over on ships. How the bad ones get hired and stay hired is a constant source of astonishment for most ship performers.
I hope that answers some of your question, Sharon. Take this with a grain of salt, though, as this info is all from an outsiders perspective. If you need more info about the gig, drop me an email and I’ll see if I can get you in touch with some of my cast member friends – webmaster [at] preservationrecords dot com.
Can you tell me what songs the singers used for their auditions? What an audition tape should include? Is it better to audition in person? What advise do you have for a singer wanting to audition?
I have been working as a Cruise Ship singer off and on since I graduated from college. Here is my view of cruise ship singing. The F1, M2 (etc.) formula that is laid out in this article I have heard of with Holland, but I have yet worked with that formula. I have been on ships where I was the only female singer, and there was one male singer. I have also worked with a cast were we had a soprano and alto, but we were both park and barks (we didn’t dance). In other words the structure of shows varies greatly depending on the line. On some ships you learn the show before you get there, and they put the cast up in a hotel or apartments. You usually get put up near the home base of the cruise line, or the company who is doing the show. That could be LA, Florida, Canada, or anywhere. Some send you straight to the ship, and you learn from the cast that is leaving, but they send you the music and expect it to be memorized before you get there.
As far as what you should audition with, that depends on who you are auditioning for. I can’t answer this question with a blanket answer. You need to do your homework. If you are auditioning for Royal Caribbean, and you see they want you to have two contrasting styles research their shows. Royal only does contemporary. Don’t show up with a legit piece as one of your choices because you think it shows contrast. They don’t want to hear it, and it could have a negative impact on your audition. On the other hand, don’t show up to audition for PGT with only belting pieces, because they want to hear legit too. Just research, research, research. I can’t stress that enough. You can have a good voice, and show up with the wrong material and it could cost you the job. As far as what should go on a tape, follow their instructions, or just ask. Sometimes no one responds, but don’t let that discourage you. It happens often. Just follow your gut.
My advice…. Don’t give up. Audition for as many people as you possibly can. I don’t get every cruise line I go out for. Sometimes I have a really bad audition, or I can’t technically do what they want. I learn from my mistakes, and sometimes if those mistakes are fixable, I fix them and go back. You can audition for people as many times as you wish. Just because you don’t get the job the first time doesn’t mean you won’t get it the second (or third!). Also, just like any other area of entertainment you have to develop a thick skin. I have auditioned for people who have made me feel like s#%& about myself, and taken the EXACT same package to another cruise line a week later and gotten hired. I shit you not. Don’t be cocky (no one wants to work with that), but can’t let yourself get too down. You also can’t compare yourself with others. Some people go out and always seem to get the job (ESPECIALLY dancers). When you think about how many ships a fleet has, and the fact that there are at LEAST 10 dancers per show, and ONE or TWO singers of the same sex per show…… you do the math. I auditioned for 4 cruise lines before I got my first gig.
As far as the quality of the singers… there are good ones and bad ones. Don’t worry about that. Concentrate on finding your own niche in the cruise industry if you want it. Sorry I wrote such a long response, but I hope I answered your questions. Good luck and happy hunting!
That’s really a very good advice! I am presently on the process of trying out to perform on cruise ships. I used to sing before in a band but now I find easy to perform with a pianist singing standard songs. I just need to sing more of these songs of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and other crooners for me to memorize all the lyrics.
It is really my dream to sing as a source of income for my family, but performing here in the Philippines is really tiring and pitying. The talent fee is only good for my gasoline and food for one day.
Hello,
I am a Willie Nelson tribute singer and curious about any opportunities to perform as a solo tribute artist on a cruise ship.
Thank you,
Johny Wayne
This is a two parter but first… (okay, I lied – I thought of more questions while writing)
I’d like to thank David for the site and CruiseShipSinger for the additional info.
I’m a singer and would like to know more about the lounge gigs or “park and bark”, as it were. I’m not going to audition anytime soon as I need to build my repertoire (and my sight reading is awful) but I can do character voices (meaning imitate other singers) and have a decent and increasing list on acoustic – 60s/70s singer/songwriter material. This might sound cocky, but, I’m not bad looking, either… so I’m told. and have good stage presence/audience interaction.
So, what’s required or common for a lounge singer (repertoire/dress) and are there spots (gigs) for the latter form?
Oh, and one more question, would either of those qualify one to be considered a guest performer? Could one do a double gig of both? (and be paid more for two gigs?)
How much do cruise singers get said…compare both american and european cruises please.
Hi..just wondering if someone could tell me if its a neccesity,the ability to read music,sight read?I would like to work in a production show and i only ever learn my material from the song itself….will this make me less employable?? thank you, Ami
I have seen where Kerry Ellis ( UK West-End stage actress & singer, former lead in Wicked and original Meat in Queens’ We Will Rock You – WWRY West End, now lead in Oliver in the West-End ) claimed she made 100,000 pounds (sorry can’t find the symbol for pounds on my keyboard ?) in a year as a singer on a cruise ship back in 1999. She would have been 20 at the time and a nobody (She was straight out of a performing Arts College in London). 100,000 pounds back then would have been close to what $150,000 ? $150,000 a year for an F1 nobody in 1999 ? Granted, she has a monster mezzo-soprano voice, incredible one-in 10,000,000 vocal ability (she is actually better than Idina Menzel) but do UK Cruise lines pay that much for unknown F1′s ? I can see making that much money while doing some “extra’s” if you catch my drift – on a Cruise ship in 9 months (or less)(she is blonde and pretty) but as a Singer ? FYI – 10 years later the same Cruise Ship line hired her to sing at the party for the launching of the largest Cruise ship ever built – So she did actually work for them.
Hello,
I am an Amy Winehouse tribute singer and curious about any opportunities to perform as a tribute artist on a cruise ship. I’m also a guy but with a wicked set of pipes that get almost any crowd grooving. I can perform other artists as well such as Adele, Gaga and the like.
Thank you. Tenorfab17@yahoo.com
Well hi my name is melissa and I’ve been singing since I was seven and a friend of mines told me about this job and I’m a mother of two baby girl’s and I just realy need a job so if u like wat I’m saying u can just call me at this number 267-531-8234 thank u.