Cruise Ship Gigs?

Burton Lee · From: Denton, Texas, USA

Has anybody here ever played a cruise ship gig on steel? Do you know of any bands that aim to play that market?

Burton

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

i believe some of our Scandinavian brothers have been Steelin while at sea

Allan Thompson · From: Scotland.

Over here they call it " Piracy "

Bill Terry · From: Bastrop, TX

I haven't done it, but I met a steel player on a cruise out of Galveston that was doing it for Carnival Cruises and talked to him about the whole deal.

Apparently, for Carnival, you sign some sort of 6 month contract (maybe it was a year, don't remember for sure) and you work the same schedule as the rest of the crew/staff. That is you got out for 5 or 7 days at a time, you port in Galveston for one day while they restock the ship and discharge and board passengers, then it's back out again. There is no time off except every 90 days or something, I forget exactly. He said it could be a grind.

I don't believe the bands have the same accommodations as this guests, but rather stay in a 'crew area', but I'm not sure about that.

I've cruised Carnival twice and have yet to see a full band. Mostly duos, or solos with tracks. This steel player did the gig with his wife who played keys. He also swapped on and off guitar. They had a very balanced, well-rehearsed show, very pro, and did a good job.

He told me that during the day you're pretty much free to do what you want, including on-shore activities, and your 'gig' was generally evenings, pretty much like a sit-down gig anywhere else.

I didn't ask how much it paid, and he didn't volunteer that info. I would add that they (the steel player and his wife) were generally unappreciated, their club was pretty much empty, while the 'disco and karoke' club next door was packed every night.

I'd guess it's a way to make a buck playing music, but the impression I got from him was that it got old pretty quick, and was very unsatisfying from a musical standpoint.

Drew Howard · From: 48854

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum15/HTML/007507.html

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Drew Howard - website - Fessenden D-10 8/8, Fessenden SD-12 5/5 (Ext E9), Magnatone S-8, N400's, BOSS RV-3

Chris Schlotzhauer · From: Colleyville, Tx. USA

I've done a couple of cruises for 7 days where I played steel. The load in is a bear, because you have to have customs check all your gear before you load it on ship. Then you have to get your gear through narrow corridors, elevators, etc. Come to think of it, it's like load in at the Hilton. You know, up the elevator, through the kitchen, down the hall.......
I'm not sure I could do a full time cruise gig though.

[This message was edited by Chris Schlotzhauer on 25 July 2005 at 01:31 PM.]

Jim Eaton · From: Santa Susana, Ca

I did 3, one week "inside passage" trip's from Vancouver to Juno and back. We were an "extra added attraction" for the "Country Cruse" weeks in the summer time. The 5 piece top 40 house band played 6 nights & afternoon's. We did 3, 1hr shows during each week and spent the rest of the time as passengers.
It was a lot of fun to try and hit the right frets when doing a long slide and the ship was rocking and rolling in the waves because if the deck moves so does you steel!!! The singers had to watch out and not get smacked in the mouth by the mike's.
Got to see Alaska and had a blast.
JE:-)>

Ben Lawson · From: Brooksville Florida

We did two cruises, both on the Westerdam (Holland America). The load in was in a different location than the regular boarding area and they did sort of check our equipment but it was no big deal.
We were treated like the paying customers and had regular cabins. I think we played five of the seven nights for about two hours. We also got $500. and all other expenses paid. We were based in central N.J. and we left from Ft. Lauderdale.
I would do it again under the same conditions.

Jay Fagerlie · From: Lotus, California, USA

Looking for a gig?
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/muc/86857326.html

David Kurrasch · From: Royse City, Texas, USA

Back in February, I got to play on a 12 day Carribbean cruise with Johnny Lee. Since we were booked as a headliner, we were treated very well, we each got our own cabin, and we got to eat where the passengers ate, etc. It was a great time, and I hope we get to do it again. I did get to talk with the musicians who played on the ship full time, and it sounds like a pretty tough gig. They play seven days a week, usually double shifts, one from noon til 5 pm, and then again seven until midnight. They have to double up in tiny staff cabins, and they are not allowed to mingle with passengers when they are not working. They have an employee cafeteria, and are not allowed to hang out on any of the passenger decks. I'm not sure exactly what they are getting paid, but I got the impression that it's not much. I guess the up side of it is that if you sign on for 6 or 9 months, you don't need to pay rent on an apartment at home, plus all of your meals are paid for. I guess it would be great for someone who is young and single, and wants to get out and see the world. It does seem like a tough gig though, that probably would get old pretty quick.

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

The closest I came to a Criuse~Gig was in 1980, while living in Honolulu. This was just a (2)-hr. gig on Fri. nights that we called the “Booze~Criuse”! We would leave the dock and go out just far enough to still be able to see the Honolulu Skyline on the horizon and float around out there for approx. (2)-hrs. during which time we would attempt to entertain with about (3)-sets of Country~Music, and everyone drank their fill! It was always fun, except when a large wave would come up over the stern and nearly wash us overboard! We finally decided it was safer to play inside!
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“Big John” Bechtel
’04 SD–10 Black Derby w/3 & 5 & Pad
’49-’50 Fender T–8 Custom
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[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 26 July 2005 at 09:09 PM.]

Danny Naccarato · From: Burleson, Texas

Played a cruise gig with Janie back in 2000. Was a blast. Load-in was no problem as the crew handled it all. Instruments "showed up" at the theatre. We had our own cabins, full access, could mingle, etc. Best of all, we got employee pricing, where everything was 1/3 the normal cost. We only had to do 1 show, for 60 min. Obviously it helped that we were the headliner. Only downside is we had to get off in Puerto Rico to fly back. Shenendoah was flying in to do the 2nd half of that cruise.

Would do another in a heartbeat, like that....

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Janie Fricke

Burton Lee · From: Denton, Texas, USA

There was a line in the previous thread to the effect of: "..it was a good idea if you're an unemployed 21 year old trombone player..."

This part I get completely. Lots of musicians in school took these gigs. None of them described the experience as anything other than a surreal burnout show. It was regular steady work playing, though.

Wondering if anybody knows of country bands that regularly market to this scene... maybe one that needs a steel player?

Burton

Ben Lawson · From: Brooksville Florida

I was on the same cruise as Danny with Janie Fricke. I enjoyed Janies show not only because I'm a fan but the ship was rocking a lot and she had to use a mike stand to stand up while singing "Please Help Me I'm Falling".

Jim Phelps · From: Mexico City, Mexico

Although I haven't done one, David Kurrasch's post is what 9 out of 10 who have done them have told me. I had chances to do them and begged off. Kinda sorry I didn't do one, but probably would just get seasick now, so too late. If you want to do one, I say do it for the experience if nothing else.

Dr. Hugh Jeffreys · From: Southaven, MS, USA

Burton: I have the entertainment director's ph # (New Orleans) if you want it. ---j---

Dr. Hugh Jeffreys · From: Southaven, MS, USA

BTW: Carnival Line

Egil Skjelnes · From: Meland,Frekhaug

Hi
I did one 2-3 years ago in Europe on SS Norway.It was an so called Artist cruice,lots of artista and diff.shows.Cruice was 10 days,and we played 5 nights/shows.It was very fun,and durind daytime,we were just as the passengers,that means-having a good time.Will gladly do it again!
Egil.

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