Hi,

I'm a harpist based in the UK, and wondering if there are many jobs for harpists as lounge musicians on cruise ships? You only seem to have info about pianists and guitarists on the site.

Thanks!

Marco, thanks for a ton of great info.  I have been reading your site for a couple of hours and still have a few questions.  Hope you can give a little more specific info.  I am a solo pianist/entertainer, pro since age 12, lots of experience solo, bands, trios, ensembles, worked with TOO MANY chick singers, huge tune list, many styles, 10-years featured pianist at a local 5-star hotel (Fairmont), featured in solo pops concerts, musical-director for famous folks, conducted a few symphony pops concerts, blah blah, etc.  And I am fairly charming and non-offensive!!!

Back in the late '80s, early '90s I used to get phone calls from ships (agents) looking for a solo pianist.  The jobs usually paid $600/week, which is about the same as I was making then.  Too many obligations for me to leave for no price increase.  Around 4-5 years ago, some of the same folks called me, but now they wanted me to also sing and the price had fallen to $400/week.  

WHAT???  At this point in my life, I would rather just do the cocktail piano thing, no vocals and not a regular part of the band (which I could do).  Are there many jobs for just a plain ole cocktail pianist who doesn't sing?  Can you give me an idea of what the $$ is for cocktail/intermission pianist?  Do you always have to share a cabin?  Any idea of CD sales on board?  What about the opportunity as the headline act eventually?

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Don
www.calldon.com   <--My ego-filled, self-serving web site.

Hi Marco,

I've been trying to look at podcast 17, but it won't open on my computer or laptop. Can you please write up the info here?

My main question is about the sightreading, is it typical musical orchestra stuff, or more cover band/solo entertainer music?

Cheers

Hi,
I am a soloist; Singer/songwriter/guitarist. I am very interested in cruise performance but  am not sure if I fit what they are looking for. Is there any room for original songs? Or bar/lounge performance as a singer/guitarist? I also have a large number of covers I play as well. I play many styles such as rock, folk, soul, world music and reggae...

Thanks
~Kerry

Hi Marco, On the blog you have an article regarding custom built cases for Sax players. The one there is an ATA case. I was just wondering is the case in the picture a case built to fit Alto/Tenor/Clarinet and Flute, or is it talking about having four different custom built cases?

Thanks

Great, do you know from which company it was made through?

Hi, I'd like more information about solo guitarists. I'm curious to know if they have to make people dance of if it's for relaxing with easy listening music. I have a repertoire of many styles but mostly Top40 songs that I rearrange as instrumental with a more jazzy/latin/ballroom style (for example, I have a bossanova version of 'Sweet child o'mine' that works really well), obviously I play guitar over sequenced tracks. I can sing but I don't qualify as a lead singer, so all songs are instrumentals.
I know some standards but I don't want to play just that, I like to be original, so is it something that could give me a job on a cruise. By the way I'm currently working on a video of me playing and a repertoire list, I know I'll need that anyway.
Thanks,
Martin

Marco - Admin wrote on Aug 31^st, 2010, 8:38am:


Thanks for the reply. Are there more opportunities as a solo guitar/vocalist, is there a big difference in the their repertoire?