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If you’re looking for steady work—but don’t mind slightly unsteady footing—try a gig on a cruise ship.
by Diedre Johnson
All aboard! Have you ever thought about a job on a cruise ship? It would allow you to work steadily while trying a new lifestyle. For years the cruise ship industry has provided room, board, and a paycheck for those who want to work in an idyllic vacation setting. Despite recent economic turndowns, this is still true, and opportunities abound. Since January 2003, many of the cruise ships have added lines, and entertainment agencies representing performers have added clientele.
This year, Cunard, Princess Cruise Lines and the Los Angeles–based Stiletto Entertainment booking agency, which represents Holland America, have added ships, creating higher employment potential. Other cruise lines and agencies are increasing their entertainment rosters and show schedules, allowing for more variety in singing and dancing jobs.
These sea-based gigs allow performers to see the world, get the kind of work experience most won’t get on land for years and, very important, save money, according to Jerry Stiletto, president of Stiletto Entertainment.
“You’re going to travel. We have worldwide itineraries,” he says. “We’ve got a cast coming in that’s getting ready to go on a world cruise where they will be gone for 180 days seeing a different, fantastic world port, all through the South Pacific, Australia, all the way around, back up to India and Asia.
“You really do get to hone your craft, because you’re performing almost on a nightly basis,” he adds. “On the one-week cruises, you’re onstage at least three nights a week. A lot of ships encourage you to work with musicians and put together your own cabaret.” Stiletto explains that these singing vignettes are not like the improvised New York–style nightclub sets. “It’s more like you do a song night, like an evening with Cole Porter, in one of the piano lounges. That’s a chance for the singers to work on their craft or act, putting together their own little show.”
“The dancers, of course, have the opportunity of paying off their student loans,” jokes Stiletto. “It’s a cake gig. Your room and board is taken care of. You get a weekly paycheck. All you have to pay for is your beverages onboard. Other than that, there are no expenses. So it’s a great way of saving some money and putting it away for the duration of the contract.”
Leo Arsenault, director of recruitment for Proship Entertainment Booking Agency in Quebec, Canada, agrees. “The biggest incentive is traveling and the fact that a person can save money,” he says.
Payments average $3,000, depending on the job, according to booking agents.
The possible downside is that once one is onboard, there’s little chance for backing out. Ship performers can visit ports when ships dock but cannot leave the ship’s employ except for the most dire of family emergencies. Romances will definitely be long distance or have to wait.
Getting Onboard
As with almost all entertainment performing jobs, the audition is the key that opens the door. Most cruise lines work with booking agencies that regularly hold auditions for singers, dancers, musicians, magicians, acrobats, and even bungee jumpers. Booking agencies regularly ask for audiotapes, videotapes, and DVDs of the performers’ work. And most agencies are very strict about their requirements: if they say they want audio, they mean it, and if they want it done in front of an audience, do not send something from a studio.
Arsenault estimates that he auditions 30 hopefuls to hire three.
Says Linda Raff, president of Branson Booking Agents in New York, “We still need very polished entertainers. It’s not a place where people who are not very schooled entertainers are going to get a job. I think it’s different if you are doing production work for the cruise lines, putting on a revue company.”
Some cruise lines and agencies hold quarterly auditions in major cities such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, or in various countries all over the world. Others conduct tours to scout for new talent. However, most cruise lines and agencies will accept the required audition material year-round because they do not know when they’re going to need another performer.
Learning the Ropes
Before you even set sail, you will be required to sign a contract. The contractual period can be as short as one week or as long as one year, but the average is three to six months. Most are for one trip; however, those who work hard and want to continue after their contract is up may be able to renegotiate for another trip to sea.
“Once a performer completes a contract, we like to offer them a little break and then immediately move them to another ship which offers new challenges,” says Joanne Maiello, vice president of Florida-based Jean Ann Ryan Productions.
After you have auditioned and signed with an agency, a short-term contract can come in at a moment’s notice. This usually means that a ship needs to quickly fill a position, so you must be prepared to hop a flight quickly.
“[A contract] benefits both parties. For the performer it’s long-term career planning,” says Bret Bullock, vice president of Crystal Cruises in Los Angeles, adding that Crystal offers one-year, not months-long, contracts with paid vacations. “We encourage people to do these one-year contracts, then get a paid one-month off, then come back for one or even two or three more years,” he said. Once the line has trained the performer, it doesn’t want to have to retrain. “Our shows are very complex—nine to 12 weeks of training. Once we’ve made that investment, it benefits us as a company to keep that person,” says Bullock.
Most cruise lines attract a broad range of passengers, so the entertainment remains middle of the road. Expect to be familiar with music ranging from jazz, Broadway, and Broadway-style revues to rock and country—but very little else.
Being a performer onboard still means that you have to be on your toes at all times, even while not performing. Downtime might entail chatting up passengers, taking them on tours of the ship, teaching dance classes, or having coffee or ice cream with them or their children. But it also means having time to catch up on reading, tanning, or working out. “The cast members are allowed to go up in passenger areas when not on duty,” says Stiletto. “Believe it or not, that is a major perk. There are no cruise staff duties.”
Bullock observes that there had been a downward spiral in hiring because of 9/11, but things appear on the upswing. “We were very busy [last year],” says Arsenault. “I thought it would take five or six years before things bounced back.”
“The bookings are coming back,” agrees Bullock. “There’s definitely a positive trend in the industry. Even when there was a downturn, we remained strong behind the product and continued to hire a lot of performers.”
So check out the following lines, be sure to follow their application requirements, send them your polished résumés and updated headshots—and send us a postcard from your favorite port.