cruise entertainer questions

[luckyinpa]

my friend asked me this question and i had no idea. i'm sure you do:

 

 

I have a question for everyone about the entertainment on the cruise lines.

I get that they have a staff of entertainers on board.

But they also seem to have lets say guest entertainment?? Example…I was on the NCL Breakaway and there was a woman who did I think 2-4 shows during the week. Some talking and singing.

She was not staff entertainment that was involved with everything. She wasn’t in the atrium as general entertainment. She seemed more like a guest entertainer maybe? She was in the main theater for her shows.

So my question is…if you have a talent…dance or singing or whatever and want to get involved with cruise lines to do your thing…like how a comedian goes around the states on tour or something…how do you get in?

They also were selling art by one artist I think. how did that person get their work on that cruise line?

Not to be a perm fixture for the cruise line but maybe a random one?

[AmberCascades]

Have your "people" call their "people". :)

 

From what I understand everyone has to audition through corporate. But if someone has an agent, I'm sure they could figure out how to get in front of whoever is doing the hiring.

[Essiesmom]

All of the performers are hired through an agency. Each cruise line uses a different agency. The bands you see are not hired as a group, but individually. Members come and go, have to be very versatile to pick up the arrangements. Dancers may come on as a group, but members may rotate out and be replaced. There are fly-in entertainers...those people you see sitting on the dock with luggage in a port when you pull in. they may play a few shows, then get off at another port and get on the next ship of that company that calls, sometimes the same day. A piano player may have a contract for a specific time, keep being renewed and sa l on the same ship or line for a long time. EM

[Hlitner]

Actually, sometimes bands are hired as a group. The show bands (on lines that still have them) are not a regular group and are contracted musicians who work under the ship's Music Director who is also a member of that band. But many lines also hire regular groups to provide various entertainment. Some lines might have a small Caribbean band (with a steel drum) or perhaps a rock group, etc. Piano bar players (on some lines) often have a long history with cruise lines and usually work through their agent/agency. There are also a few rare Guest Entertainers that almost write their own ticket with cruise lines. Perry Grant is a good example of one of these special guest entertainers. Perry has spent much of the last 25 years working on ships. There are actually passengers who book cruises because Perry is working the ship.

 

Hank

[OCruisers]

The Guest Entertainers have agents. They are hired by the cruise line through their agent.

[firegal2539]

About 15 to 20 years ago I saw and met Jeff Dunham, Ventriloquist. Some get their start on cruise ships. Most entertainers are booked through their talent agencies. All cruise line dancers and singers go through months of training before getting on the ship.

 

 

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[klfrodo]

Get an agent

[Cruisin' Chick]

there are the regulars on the entertainment staff and the professional entertainers who get hired through agencies as mentioned above. On one of our earliest cruises we were in the library on the ship and the crew member who was working there was one of the dancers. She said they have other duties in between rehearsals and the performances. they also have training (disaster drill/first aid type) to stay current on.

 

If you remember some of the non-crew performers' names, google them and you may find their websites...some will list where they're performing including the cruises they're going to be on.

[LHT28]

You can also check their websites under employment or careers

https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/about/careers/shipboard-employment

http://www.hollandamerica.com/about-best-cruise-lines/Main.action?tabName=Careers&legacy=true

[geduffer]

I think the best of the professional entertainers that I've ever seen on a ship were Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, twin sons of Ricky Nelson. They were terrific and really nice guys. If they are ever on your cruise go see them, they're amazing.

 

 

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[GUT2407]

All of the performers are hired through an agency. Each cruise line uses a different agency. The bands you see are not hired as a group, but individually. Members come and go, have to be very versatile to pick up the arrangements. Dancers may come on as a group, but members may rotate out and be replaced. There are fly-in entertainers...those people you see sitting on the dock with luggage in a port when you pull in. they may play a few shows, then get off at another port and get on the next ship of that company that calls, sometimes the same day. A piano player may have a contract for a specific time, keep being renewed and sa l on the same ship or line for a long time. EM

 

Some bands as booked as a group.

 

A band my brother played in was offered a gig at one stage, but as they all had good jobs and could get time off all at once they declined.

[luckyinpa]

there are the regulars on the entertainment staff and the professional entertainers who get hired through agencies as mentioned above. On one of our earliest cruises we were in the library on the ship and the crew member who was working there was one of the dancers. She said they have other duties in between rehearsals and the performances. they also have training (disaster drill/first aid type) to stay current on.

 

If you remember some of the non-crew performers' names' date=' google them and you may find their websites...some will list where they're performing including the cruises they're going to be on.[/quote']

 

i was assuming they had other duties but wasnt sure what. i do realize people like burn the floor need to practice but didnt think they did that 8 hours a day. nor did i think they were cutting up meat in the kitchen. but i did wonder how they fill their hours. i saw one of the burn the floor dancers at least 2 times last week but they walked so fast i wasnt even sure it was them until they were gone.

[luckyinpa]

do the artists have agents too?

[Hlitner]

i was assuming they had other duties but wasnt sure what. i do realize people like burn the floor need to practice but didnt think they did that 8 hours a day. nor did i think they were cutting up meat in the kitchen. but i did wonder how they fill their hours. i saw one of the burn the floor dancers at least 2 times last week but they walked so fast i wasnt even sure it was them until they were gone.

 

It depends on the ship, but it is common for the regular singer/dancers to have some extra duties. We have seen them work as librarians and sometimes help staff activities, and accompany excursions as the ship's representative. On most lines they are real crew members, are trained in all the safety procedures, have assignments to lifeboats, etc. Guest entertainers are contracted to simply entertain. They do not have extra jobs...however on some lines they are able to sign-up to be escorts on excursions...which is a nice benefit since they get a free excursion.

 

There are also requirements for a minimum amount of crew to be on the ship, even when in port. This is to comply with requirements that a sufficient number of crew are always available to handle any emergency. This can keep some entertainers on the ship, while in ports.

 

Hank