Cruise Ship experiences??
mark hooper
cruise ships? What's life on board like, what should you take with you, what
is a 'day in the life of' a bass player, who do you not upset etc.??
amp_noob
I once had a teacher who worked on a Cruise Ship as an entertainer. She said
it was a constant source of anxiety because they had no qualms about giving
people the axe if they didn't like them. And they had no qualms about
dumping people at whatever port they felt was convenient.
Of course, she wasn't a bass player.
John Shaughnessy
I'll start with this: a cruise ship gig is just about dead center between
your dream of playing great music for a living and working a crappy day job.
Typically, an agent for the cruise line (who may or may not work for the
company) you are under contract for anywhere from 3-6 months with the option
to renew at the end of the contract. Your first call will be a last minute
affair where you have to answer right away and leave within 2 weeks to
ANYWHERE on the globe. Usually this is because the guy you are replacing
either walked out on the gig or got fired (a drug bust is the #1 reason for
getting fired. #2 is because he couldn't read music.)
You will NOT know any of the band members or their abilities, nor will you
have any prior rehearsal or opportunity to practice the charts beforehand.
You will basically fly hundreds of miles (with the greatest number of
transfers), show up on the boat exhausted, get handed a stack of music the
size of an unabridged dictionary, and be shown to your room. If you are
lucky, the band leader will come by and tell you what the show is for that
night. If you are even luckier, he will have a tape or CD of the production
shows for you to listen to.
Depending on the size of the ship, the type of band and the ship's
clientele, you may be doing anything from full Broadway or Vegas-style
production shows (with a click track ; ) ), to big band and soft rock
charts, to a bebop combo, to reggae and Top 40, to backing music for
magicians and jugglers. Sometimes, you do all of this in the same day.
In short, the first week or so is complete hell as you adjust to life on
ship, get familiar with the music, and try to play without throwing up.
Oh, did I mention that on most ships, you play 7 days a week without a
break?
A typical day for me was: 10:00AM rehearse the new act's material (if
needed), 12:00-1 Jazz Combo(2-3 x's a week) ; 5:00 light big band set; 8:00
1st show 8:45 another big band set 10:00PM 2nd show (same as the first)
11PM-12:00AM late night Jazz set/Jam session. Some days and ships I played
much much more; others, much less.
Now, it's not all endless drudgery. Usually, you will be able to get off the
ship when the passengers do, and are free to roam around until dinnertime.
Also, if you make friends with the Shore Excursion people, they can hook you
up on some of the better tours.
Once you get into the routine, it will get much easier, but your days will
have huge chunks of downtime. Yeah I know, you'll be practicing (that's what
they ALL say...). Seriously, the best thing you can do is read, keep a diary
etc. These days I understand they even have onboard internet. Take my
advice - DON'T decide to take up smoking, see how many bong hits you can do
before dinner, see how fast you can drink a quart of 151 and still play,
etc. Trust me.
Anyway, I could write a friggin' novel about my cruise ship experiences, but
I'll end with a few quick pieces of advice:
Pack light: 2 basses (1 carry on/1 check), a couple sets of stings, wrenches
for the basses, a suit, a tux, 2 white dress shirts, 2 neutral ties that go
with anything, black shoes, cheap sneakers, 2 changes of casual clothes that
you won't mind leaving behind, any toiletries or meds you absolutely have to
have now. If you can pack this stuff into your bass case, so much the
better. Anything else, you can buy on ship or shore and sell to the next sap
when you leave.
The ship is a quasi-military environment. No discussion of policy or
dissention is allowed. Also, shit rolls downhill.
The captain is God and the cruise director is a Demigod. The less you have
to do with either, the better.
The assistant cruise directors hate their bosses guts, but will tell him
anything you say about him.
Try to get a written contract that states your working hours AND hours per
day of playing time. You may not be able to get one, and if you still want
to go, you'll have to take your chances. I learned this the hard way.
Wages are negotiable, especially for reading bassists.
Last, never, EVER, go through Pro Ship Entertainment. You WILL be sorry.
And y'all wonder why I'm so bitter?
--
Learning funk bass? visit www.js3jazz.com/store.htm
"Speaking the Truth in times of Universal deceit is a revolutionary act." --
George Orwell
"mark hooper" <ml...@hooper3241.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:clrk8n$pd5$1...@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk...
Yvon
> Last, never, EVER, go through Pro Ship Entertainment. You WILL be sorry.
Almost did once, they are here in Montreal.
Can you tell us why they are so bad?
After talking to a few people of went on cruise gig I dicided it was not a
good idea!!
Larry Shaw
free board etc.
But you may end up as a kids entertainer, general dogsbody etc. when not
playing - get onto the MU website and look up the new agreements from '03 -
it's not all pushing obese pensioners around the decks all day ;)
"mark hooper" <ml...@hooper3241.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:clrk8n$pd5$1...@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk...
John Shaughnessy
overlook most other aspects of musicianship. In other words, they tend to
hire orchestral guys who can sight read well, but have no clue how to
improv styles or interpret rhythm section charts.
Image spending 3 months playing jazz with a drummer who's swing feel sounds
like a bad 70's rhythm box, or a keyboardist who slams 10 finger chords
(with basslines) on EVERYTHING, and you get the idea. I should say that not
all players they hire are like that, but that is what they look for, and
there is at least one in every band.
In addition, their business practices suck. They generally trade out bands
all at once to save money on air fare. This means that there is no one on
board to coach the new guys thru the shows.
They also make you buy their crappy overpriced dance books, which no one
uses anyway. And instead of taking their cut off the top, the band leader
collects it directly from your pay, making it harder to negotiate.
But the real kick in the balls is this: They used to have a clause in their
contracts that said in the event of your getting fired, you have to pay your
own airfare home PLUS the airfare of the person replacing you! You gotta be
f'ing kidding!
I had a MAJOR go-round with them involving a bandleader on one of their
ships that's too long and complicated to go into here. And as it turned out
the ship itself was horribly unsafe, almost blew up, and was seized by the
Coast Guard; another long story.
So let's say I definitely am biased against them. It's been a good while
since I dealt with them, so who knows now? If it weren't for many similar
stories from Pro Ship refugees I've heard over the years, I wouldn't
believe me either. If you want other PS stories, I suggest combing the brass
or sax NGs.
--
Learning funk bass? visit www.js3jazz.com/store.htm
"Speaking the Truth in times of Universal deceit is a revolutionary act." --
George Orwell
"Yvon" <y_gr...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ROdgd.32890$5t4.2...@wagner.videotron.net...
John Shaughnessy
Best bet is to call the big lines - Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian,
Seaborn (an upscale, ultra-exclusive line), Disney (if you can stomach tons
of kids and going nowhere). Most of the others are owned by these giants.
Find the contact number of the entertainment office for the line(s). Send
them a package featuring your playing in different styles and a resume. Call
them incessantly until you talk to a real person in the office. Call that
person at least once a week to remind them of your interest.
Eventually you will get a "panic call" where they need you NOW
(translation: no one else is available, and we've reached the bottom of the
list.) Do well on that contract and you will be in the loop for life. I've
been out of it for almost 10 years, yet I still get the occasional call to
go to Alaska or the Bahamas. Like I said, there may or may not be a written
contract, so you'll have to decide how to cross that bridge on your own.
Generally, I've found the majors to be pretty reputable.
If you want to go on as featured entertainment or as a band, You may also
need a presskit, including some video of your set. Unless you are strictly
background music, your set will need a serious entertainment component.
"sequencer duos" are the preferred bands of choice for small lounges, but
they also book larger acts. Entertainment generally makes more than the
Showband guys, so don't be afraid to ask for it. Also, don't include "perks"
like rooms and meals - these are gratis anyway. Do try to negotiate a
shipping allowance for your gear as well.
--
Learning funk bass? visit www.js3jazz.com/store.htm
"Speaking the Truth in times of Universal deceit is a revolutionary act." --
George Orwell
"Larry Shaw" <la...@local-angle.com> wrote in message
news:clrs04$1nv$1...@titan.btinternet.com...
John Shaughnessy
advice:
SAVE YOUR MONEY!!!
You will probably get paid in cash, and with few expenses, you will have A
LOT of discretionary income. More often than not, this leads to a spending
spree on shore excursions, booze, drugs, clothes, expensive trinkets, etc.
Suddenly your three months is up, you have no cash and no job prospects.
Nothing to do but re-up. Again and again...
The FIRST thing I would do stash away enough cash for a plane ticket home
from your farthest port of call. This gives you insurance in case they
decide to fire you and dump your ass off at the next port (happens VERY
often), and "FU money" if you decide to bail.
Next, I would save 1/3 to 1/2 of your weekly pay in the safety deposit, or
open an account at your main port of call. This is from a guy who normally
can't save a dollar.
Like I said, the temptations to part with your money are numerous. If you
get that cash out of your hands and into the bank, you will still have some
left to play with. Save up a few grand so that you will have something to
live on when you go back home, or move somewhere else.
No, you might not be able to rent a Jaguar and drive the local brothel every
week like everyone else, but you won't be stuck playing "Girl From Ipanema"
every day for the next 10 years either.
ktone
"mark hooper" <ml...@hooper3241.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
Y'know we all have different experiences. I did three winter tours on
three different ships. I gotta tell you there was no experience like it.
I had a ball.
The bit about reading well is indeed true but not being a good reader I
was still called back because I had a good feel, new lots of tunes or
knew what they were suppose to sound like and played the BASS part. They
seemed to always have trouble with the Berkeley boys that new what a
rest was but couldn't seem to find one. You don't need to be a hot dog
but (as in any band) play good bass and you'll be OK.
The advice about saving your money is good. Do it. Go easy on the
drinking (buy your booze duty free when in port). Go easy on the drugs
(best to avoid them altogether).
Keep a low profile. The bit about the captain, staff captain and cruise
director is quite true. Stay away from them unless you are lucky enough
to have a CD who is a good guy. There are a few. A military environment
is a little harsh but it is definitely a little monarchy. We may not
like it, but this really is the only way to handle a container that has
1000 passengers and 400 crew, staff and officers. Not getting fired, as
long as you can cut the gig, is easy. It's just the usual common sense.
Understand that there are some people who can't stand ship life - this
is not for everyone. What we called ship kink is what leads to drugs,
too much drink, thoughtless rebellion, psychosis and I think this is the
No 1 reason people get fired. Some personalities crumble under the silly
rules, tight spaces and small town gossip. You can't take it too
seriously. Two of the guys in my band had a hard time periodically and
we had to go to some small bar in port and play therapist over many
beers. If you can stay laid back, stay above the petty shit and know
when and where to blow out your ship kink (we all get it) then it is a
good gig.
The fun part. Worked with a lot of fun people from all over the world.
Stayed up late with the other musicians, magicians, shop girls,
groupiers, comedians, DJs, photographers, bartenders, and had a fuck of
a good time. Some of these people are nuts after years of cruise work
and it was never dull. The road (cruise?) stories were amazing and after
a half year of cruise life you'll have them too. I could tell you a
quite a few myself.
Got laid a lot. Bring your boots. On the ships I worked there were
usually more women passengers than men and we were constantly encouraged
to meet and entertain the passengers. Some of the musicians and
entertainers were always sleeping with passengers which I don't
recommend. You've got to have a heart of stainless steel to do that. I
always seemed to meet a nice Brit girl and get my heart broken only when
it was time to go home.
Over all I had a really good experience. Really got some good chops with
all that playing and a few hours practice every day. I learned to play
"Emphasema" a million different ways but always within spec to keep it
interesting. I brought a good camera and pretended I was Cartier-Bresson
all over the ports to keep the creative juices alive and got some great
shots. I brought a basic synth, sequencing gear and a small multitrack
and wrote a few nice pieces which we even played. This alternative
creative stuff really turned out to be important. Even with all the
little tricks your musical growth can only go so far doing lounges,
shows, calypso parties and captain's cocktail parties over and over
again.
I say go for it.
--
your know the routine - remove nyetspam kt...@nyetspamchitown.com
Rhythm City - Chicago's Premier Rhythm and Blues - http://www.rhythm-city.com
Nigel Goodwin
<ml...@hooper3241.freeserve.co.uk> writes
>Has anyone got any useful information on what is involved in working on
>cruise ships? What's life on board like, what should you take with you, what
>is a 'day in the life of' a bass player, who do you not upset etc.??
My older cousin, who's been an entertainer for years and years, plays
guitar, sings, does impersonations, jokes etc. wanted to go on cruise
ships.
Both he and his wife learned to ballroom dance first, as they were
required to dance with the customers, this took a few years as he had a
double-hernia operation part way through.
Anyway, they got the dancing sorted, and went on a cruise ship - my
cousin threw up, all day, every day, for the entire cruise - needless to
say, his first cruise was his last.
On a sadder note, his lovely wife died a few weeks ago - she had been
fighting cancer for many years :-(
--
Nigel Goodwin
C.Farmer Ltd.
Matlock
John Shaughnessy
years. Last time I got tendonitis and came within a hair of a nervous
breakdown. Each time I swore I would never do another one. But then the
phone would ring and I'd look at my stack of unpaid bills...
But I guess I should mention my positive experiences:
Basically, a ship gig is like boot camp for musicians. You will learn how to
play almost every style of music you can think of. You will read notation
better than you ever have before. You will look at a page full of scribbles,
coffee stains, arrows and highlighter markings, and be able to make a
bassline out of it without question or complaint. You will learn how to
massage egos.You will learn how to transpose at will because the singer
"doesn't feel like hitting the high notes tonight". You will learn how to
cover mistakes professionally.
But mostly, the experience of a daily gig will raise the bar on your playing
immensely. Even today, I can go weeks without touching a bass and never fall
below a certain level.
Second, you will go places and see things you never imagined. And since you
are crew, you can explore places the tourists would never be able to go.
Seeing what the REAL culture of a place is like as opposed to the face they
put on for tourists can be a real eye-opener. I've climbed mountains in
Alaska, got shot at (multiple times) in Columbia, drank the best beer EVER
in Curacao, went to multiple Carnivale celebrations, and saved a passengers'
life, among many other experiences.
Also, the people you work with on ship come from all over the world. I
learned a lot just by talking with other crewmwmbers.
And since your room and food are comped and you don't need a car, you can
save a lot of money or pay off a lot of bills.
As for the sex and drugs and what not - it's all there if you want it. just
be careful.
--
Learning funk bass? visit www.js3jazz.com/store.htm
"Speaking the Truth in times of Universal deceit is a revolutionary act." --
George Orwell
"ktone" <kt...@see.sig.below> wrote in message
news:ktone-8F50DB....@news1.east.earthlink.net...
Todd H.
>
> Rhythm City - Chicago's Premier Rhythm and Blues - http://www.rhythm-city.com
Wee--more Chicago folks. :-)
Cool band.
And your vocalist is friggin' gorgeous too..which I'm sure doesn't
hurt y'all. :-)
Best Regards,
--
/"\ ASCII Ribbon Campaign | Todd H
\ / | http://www.toddh.net/
X Promoting good netiquette | http://triplethreatband.com/
/ \ http://www.toddh.net/netiquette/ | "4 lines suffice."
jeffb
working the night club until 04:00 maybe a cruise ship gig is for you.
If you like sharing a cabin that's too small for one person with a
bandmate that you WILL learn to hate below decks where the Haitians
hate the Philippinos who hate the Chinese who hate the Jamaicans
who'll shank you if you look at 'em wrong and the steward you pay to
"clean" your cabin really keeps your stuff from getting ripped of
maybe a cruise ship gig is for you.
If you like plooking chubby mid-western secretaries who think an
Archie comic book is a book maybe a cruise ship gig is for you.
If you like the fact that between playing, eating the endless supply
of free food and drinking the almost free booze your hands never stop
moving maybe a cruise ship gig is for you.
If you like getting back to town after several months and finding your
gigs have all been scooped by other players maybe a cruise ship gig is
for you.
I would deal crack to grade school kids before I ever took another
cruise ship gig.
jeffb
Tom Paterson
>getting up at 06:00 to man your fire drill station after
>working the night club until 04:00
Yeah yeah yeah, room too small, roommate from hell, no security, turf wars,
Midwestern secretary porkers, blah blah blah--
*you* left out TALENT NIGHT.
And you left out playing behind Headliner George "Trini's brother" Lopez
(nothing personal with George; however, I only saw him once).
But seriously, folks-- I went to a woman's house who had a picture on the
mantle or wherever of her dad's Dixieland band whose gig was playing a certain
(Norwegian IMS) cruise ship. His "retirement gig", he did something else in
real life first. "He loves it". Of course, they probably never had to back
George "Trini's brother" Lopez. Or TALENT NIGHT. --TP
jeffb
>*you* left out TALENT NIGHT.
I thought if the other stuff didn't scare 'em off they deserved to
find out about Talent Night on their own. I remember one where we
backed up no less than six passengers who each sang in her own
inimitable way the classic show tune "MacAurthur Park". (Actually
years later while at a NAAM show in downtown LA while walking past
that famous park I saw a statue of a noble gentleman with two boys at
his feet and the hand written inscription "Where Da Weed At?" Take a
cruise gig and you will ask that same question. It's a natural self
defense mechanism.)
>And you left out playing behind Headliner George "Trini's brother" Lopez
>(nothing personal with George; however, I only saw him once).
I thought that was one of the perks. You should see my resume dude.
jeffb
John Shaughnessy
I didn't want to scare the newbies by bringing that up.
The worst is when the assholes can't sing, can't stay in key, and have no
rhythm - yet they have the balls to write a nasty comment card about how the
BAND couldn't follow them!
The band then has to have a bullshit meeting with the cruise director about
the negative comment, and come up with ways we can help the talent show
passengers better follow the music.
Ugh! just thinking about that shit puts a knot in my stomach again.
--
Learning funk bass? visit www.js3jazz.com/store.htm
"Speaking the Truth in times of Universal deceit is a revolutionary act." --
George Orwell
"jeffb" <jeff...@REMOVECAPSshaw.com> wrote in message
news:3ov8o0l9tagsajo3b...@4ax.com...
Boom
<johngoogle...@carolina.rr.com> wrote:
>Ah, the weekly talent show *shudder*
>
>I didn't want to scare the newbies by bringing that up.
>
>The worst is when the assholes can't sing, can't stay in key, and have no
>rhythm - yet they have the balls to write a nasty comment card about how the
>BAND couldn't follow them!
>The band then has to have a bullshit meeting with the cruise director about
>the negative comment, and come up with ways we can help the talent show
>passengers better follow the music.
I would have a great idea...BAG THE FUCKING TALENT NIGHT!
I have done 3 or 4 cruise ship gigs in my life, and the only reason I
did them is because we were backing Bowzer and I made twice as much as
the average cruise ship band member for half the work, and I got
passenger status and a cabin of my own.
Here are the reasons I will never do a regular cruise ship gig (boy,
I'm in a listmaking mood tonight!):
1. I can make twice the money for half the work on dry land.
2. I would never be on a ship without passenger status.
3. I would be dangling from a rope after having to back those awful
shows for 3 months.
4. Most entertainment directors are fags whose idea of entertainment
is show tunes from the gayest Broadway shows ever, choreographed as to
look even gayer than the original productions. And the entertainment
directors who aren't fags don't last very long because some fag who
wants the job finds ways to fuck them over.
5. Rooming with strangers in a tiny little box of a room is fine for
21 year old college dropouts looking for a little adventure or
homosexuals looking to score, but it's not so good for 40-something
men with wives and children and nothing to prove.
6. When you have a legitimate complaint, being reminded that you can
be replaced by Indonesians who will work for 1/5 of what you make is
kind of a bummer.
7. I have to take so much dramamine to keep from getting sick that
I'm asleep 14 hours a day, and life is too short to sleep that long.
8. TV reception sucks on ships and internet connections are either
non-existent or $10 a minute.
>Ugh! just thinking about that shit puts a knot in my stomach again.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot:
9. Talent night.
Tom Paterson
>I thought if the other stuff didn't scare 'em off they deserved to
>find out about Talent Night on their own.
There is some justice there, and you are still a pretty cold human being <g>.
>I remember one where we
>backed up no less than six passengers who each sang in her own
>inimitable way the classic show tune >"MacAurthur Park".
I take it they didn't find that recipe, again? And again, and again, and again,
again, and again? Oh nooo, oh noooooooooooo?
I bet there were children in the audience, too. Right?
[on backing George Lopez (nothing personal but as my 9-year-old daughter loudly
exclaimed: "This guy SUCKS")]:
>I thought that was one of the perks. You >should see my resume dude.
Point taken. --TP
Kloka-mo'
retire, in the back of my head. Starting to re-think that. :-)
--
-rob
O
A
O>
( -)-* ..\\..
>_^_^_____ {_^_^_}
jeffb
>I gotta' say, I always had this idea of doing a cruise ship when I
>retire, in the back of my head.
I thought you had already retired to the back of your head...
jeffb
Kloka-mo'
Quite the opposite. I've been outside of my head for some time now.
(Back and to the left)
John Shaughnessy
The Pursers on some ships used to keep a huge bottle of Marizine (sic) under
the counter. We could go up there and suck them down like candy whenever we
needed to. No sickness, no drowsiness.
And I'm with you - there's no way I'd ever go on ship again with anything
less than full passenger status.
...That is unless I got divorced, and lost my house, my day job, all my gigs
in town, and wanted to hide my meager income from my ex-wife and the kids -
in other words, just like every bitter middle-aged alcoholic showband guy.
And I'd be sure to take my self-hatred out on the fresh-faced Berklee and
Indiana grads.
--
Learning funk bass? visit www.js3jazz.com/store.htm
"Speaking the Truth in times of Universal deceit is a revolutionary act." --
George Orwell
"Boom" <m...@nnn.com> wrote in message
news:eg99o050lutmk5ju6...@4ax.com...
John Shaughnessy
If your motto in life is "go along to get along", you have no sense of
personal space, you don't mind living like a college kid in the cheapo
dorms, you have no illusions about creating "art" on this gig, and playing
the same 20 cliche showtunes every week doesn't bother you - then you'll do
great.
Seriously, if you want to get your feet wet (ha ha), you could always get a
gig on the Delta Queen right out of NO. I know guys who have done it, and
they say it's not too bad:
--
Learning funk bass? visit www.js3jazz.com/store.htm
"Speaking the Truth in times of Universal deceit is a revolutionary act." --
George Orwell
"Kloka-mo'" <robzon...@removeYahoo.com> wrote in message
news:10oa20b...@corp.supernews.com...
Boom
<johngoogle...@carolina.rr.com> wrote:
>No argument on anything, except for #7.
>
>The Pursers on some ships used to keep a huge bottle of Marizine (sic) under
>the counter. We could go up there and suck them down like candy whenever we
>needed to. No sickness, no drowsiness.
Marizine, you say? I have never tried that. Thanks for the tip...I
can't stand taking Dramamine. I had to do a gig on one of those
little gambling ships recently and nearly passed out onstage from the
drowsiness ;)
>And I'm with you - there's no way I'd ever go on ship again with anything
>less than full passenger status.
>
>...That is unless I got divorced, and lost my house, my day job, all my gigs
>in town, and wanted to hide my meager income from my ex-wife and the kids -
>in other words, just like every bitter middle-aged alcoholic showband guy.
>And I'd be sure to take my self-hatred out on the fresh-faced Berklee and
>Indiana grads.
That's what they're there for! Nothing I like better than seeing some
fresh-faced young music school grad and watch his face turn
incredulous when you let him know that the cruise ship gig is about as
good as it's going to get. But even better, I like seeing them 10
years later when they've realized you were right.
But I kid the music business...for the most part I have a great time
and make a decent living. Besides, if I ever got famous and rich with
it, I'd probably have spent all my money on dumb stuff and been right
where I'm at right now after I got washed up ;)
Jón Fairbairn
> jeffb wrote:
>
> > So Kloka-mo' <robzon...@removeYahoo.com> says:
> >
> >> I gotta' say, I always had this idea of doing a cruise
> >> ship when I retire, in the back of my head.
> > I thought you had already retired to the back of your
> > head...
> > jeffb
>
> Quite the opposite. I've been outside of my head for some
> time now. (Back and to the left)
Presumably that's so there's room for the cruise ship?
--
Jón Fairbairn Jon.Fa...@cl.cam.ac.uk
http://www.chaos.org.uk/~jf/Stuff-I-dont-want.html (updated 2004-10-13)
Kloka-mo'
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/pharmclips2.cgi?keyword=%20Meclizine
--
-rob
Kloka-mo'
> Sorry, did we scare you?
>
> If your motto in life is "go along to get along", you have no sense of
> personal space, you don't mind living like a college kid in the cheapo
> dorms, you have no illusions about creating "art" on this gig, and playing
> the same 20 cliche showtunes every week doesn't bother you - then you'll do
> great.
>
>
> Seriously, if you want to get your feet wet (ha ha), you could always get a
> gig on the Delta Queen right out of NO. I know guys who have done it, and
> they say it's not too bad:
>
> http://www.deltaqueen.com/
>
>
You scared me, and don't be sorry. It's a reality check. It sounds
like I'd rather be the greeter at Wal-Mart. Part of the reason I didn't
become a musician for the Navy (aside from my wrist giving out just
prior to the audition) was that I was sure I would have hated doing what
I loved as a job, and feared I would then hate my "happy place."
Medical billing... that's my plan.
jeffb
>And I'm with you - there's no way I'd ever go on ship again with anything
>less than full passenger status.
Are you nuts?
Full passenger status makes up for all the other bullshit???
>...That is unless I got divorced, and lost my house, my day job, all my gigs
>in town, and wanted to hide my meager income from my ex-wife and the kids -
>in other words, just like every bitter middle-aged alcoholic showband guy.
Even then...
>And I'd be sure to take my self-hatred out on the fresh-faced Berklee and
>Indiana grads.
Yeah, that's one positive aspect but even full passenger status
wouldn't compensate.
All youse cruise ship cherries gettin' the picture here?
jeffb
Nigel Goodwin
<jeff...@REMOVECAPSshaw.com> writes
>All youse cruise ship cherries gettin' the picture here?
My friends eldest daughter is a beautician on cruise liners, she really
enjoys it, and has done for a number of years - she certainly lives a
different life style!. Perhaps it's different been a band member?.
Boom
<Ni...@cfarmerltd.co.uk> wrote:
>In message <3i4ho0dimv2ljlte9...@4ax.com>, jeffb
><jeff...@REMOVECAPSshaw.com> writes
>>All youse cruise ship cherries gettin' the picture here?
>
>My friends eldest daughter is a beautician on cruise liners, she really
>enjoys it, and has done for a number of years - she certainly lives a
>different life style!. Perhaps it's different been a band member?.
I would bet dollars to donuts that the pay for a beautician is a lot
better than for musicians.
Kloka-mo'
>
> Should have went the Air Force route....20 years of good gigs all over
> the world...great musos....retired at 38....now I do what I want with
> a nice "cost of living" adjusted pension.
> Its like being a "Trust Baby" :)
>
>
Good deal! I'll retire at 44, being a medic. Not to bad.
--
O>
/(\)
^^ Slidell, LA