A Cruise Ship Pianist Job: Is It For You?
You’re a pianist with experience and have wondered what it would be like to have a cruise ship pianist job. Virtually every piano player has at least been curious about going that route.
For some, it’s great. For others, not so much. We’re not here to stretch the truth. The fact is that it’s not for everyone. But if the kind of life that goes hand in hand with being a musician on a cruise ship appeals to you, it could prove to be a fantastic experience.
Ask & Listen
Our first piece of advice: get all the facts upfront and ask a number of people who have “been there, done that.” Your first gig on a cruise ship will offer a learning experience no matter what, but the more you can educate yourself ahead of time, the better prepared you’ll be for some of the surprises that may pop up once you hop on board.
A Few Things About Being A Cruise Ship Pianist You Should Know
A very significant fact about being a cruise ship musician that you’ll want to be prepared for is this: your responsibility goes beyond playing music.
Keep in mind that once you board ship, you are a member of a crew. That carries with it certain requirements that you may or may not warm up to.
How’s It All Add Up?
You’ll want to remember this when you negotiate your salary. Let’s say that, as a cruise ship pianist, the earnings you are promised amount to $3000 per month (that’s likely on the high side, by the way). If you are performing for four hours a day, six days out of seven a week (common), that comes to about $31.25 per hour on the surface… IF you only count performing.
In addition, you’ll be required to attend classes for ship safety, ship life procedures, and more. You’ll also be expected to take part in crew drills. Some of these drills are scheduled, some are impromptu. These drills consume many hours during the course of a month. Also, some of them can get you up pretty early in the morning.
You can also count on mandatory meetings. Some of these will be held by the music department bandmaster. Others will be conducted by the ship captain or other authority.
Cruise Ship Pianist… Plus
In short, your duties go well beyond assuming the role of a cruise ship pianist. That salary can start to seem a tad light when you weigh it against your obligations. If you can tolerate all that just fine, consider yourself to have a very flexible personality, and are up for adventure, it might work for you. Some people love it. Others board for the first and last time.
Your Home: A Bit Of A Squeeze
You’ll definitely want to get the facts upfront regarding your cabin situation. Usually, unless you’re a special act or a pianist and vocalist, you will be sharing that cabin with at least one other crew member. The quarters are tight for one, not to mention two or more. There’s very little walking space between the bunk beds, wash room, closet, and little desk.
As you might already have concluded, it takes a certain mindset to make the cruise ship life work for you. Yes, you get to enjoy the ports most of the time. Occasionally, you will need to stay on board for ship manning. You won’t have to pay for food, so that can add up to some savings.
Everything being said (though it hasn’t been here), life as a cruise ship pianist has some good points. But… it’s a job. It’s not all play.
Pianist Beware
This one might be very important to know. Cruise ship pianists often carry a burden not originally bargained for.
The pianist jobs most often available for cruise ship work are: orchestra pianist, bar performer (pianist who sings), and cocktail pianist. Cocktail pianist positions are much more rare these days.
Now, if you’ve been hired as an orchestra pianist, you’ll be performing with the orchestra for shows (usually two per night) and any other events called for. This may add up to about two hours a day of performance.
Buy One, Get One Free
Well, along with that, let’s say the bandmaster gets wind of the fact that you are a competent soloist as well. It’s not uncommon for this asset of yours to be taken advantage of. You just might find yourself playing those two shows with the orchestra AND playing cocktail piano in one of the night clubs.
Remember, a solo pianist (or cocktail pianist l) is a separate position. But it’s very unlikely that you will be compensated for that extra time.
Like we said, we’re wanting to give you the facts. The ship life doesn’t necessarily equate to a fair life. That bandmaster will often do whatever he or she can to look good in the eyes of the cruise director. You could be the one that pays the price for that.
Do Your Homework
As we already suggested, ask questions of those who have done the job you’re considering. Don’t take our word for it. Do your research and draw your own conclusions.
After you have done your homework and if you decide to take the plunge, make it a point to enjoy the adventure as much as possible. While there will be challenges to endure, you’ll be experiencing them based on a commitment you’ve made to yourself. You’ll be less apt to “make waves” while leaving that up to the vessel as it makes its way to port.
That’s a good perspective on cruise ship work. So many new people see the glory without considering the price necessary. It can be a good experience as long as all sides are looked at in advance so there are fewer surprises. 🛳️
I needs to spend some time learning much more about the cruise industry prior to thinking about applying for a pianist position. I appreciate that this post was rather objective without portraying the cruise line situation as being glorified. I can see that this is not necessarily the case.
I got a gig within my first couple of weeks : ) Thanks!