Ship Life: Musician
When I first decided I wanted to try cruise life, I wanted to be a musician. More specifically, I wanted to be a drummer. But I can't read music and I didn't know any other musicians at the time. To this day, this is a part of me who wishes I could have had the musician experience on ships.
So in order for me to know more about the cruise ship musician lifestyle, I have interviewed Jordan Martin. An incredibly talented bass and guitar player who has extensive experience as a cruise ship musician.
Also, please check out Jordan's channel. He is a great person and he is a super awesome guy. His channel is more than cruise ship information. He talks about life, chasing your dreams, and doing what it takes to be happy. Absolutely check him out.
If you have any questions for Jordan, don't hesitate to reach out to him:
www.ShipLife.Club
www.jordanfmartin.com
www.startinglinestudios.com
/ jordanfmartin
Пікірлер: 81
For anyone interested in playing for Carnival Cruise Line, I've started a vlog about what it's like including the rehearsal process. Come by if you want to see what it's like, I'll try to cover as many aspects of cruise ship musician life as I can.
Going through an agent helps a lot! I got with Lime entertainment a month ago and I'll be singing on the Carnival Ecstasy in the shows next month
@andym28
Жыл бұрын
What percentage cut to lime take? Did you get a percentage score on your audition?
Sean and Jordan, thank you very very much for this wonderful video. I'm planning on becoming a cruise ship solo guitarist and you have helped me so much. Cheers🍻
Almost it will be my time for cruise ships! Thank you!
Thank you. Both of you guys are helping a lot of us. A LOT. As I said earlier, I will holla at you guys from a ship the moment I get in. Thanks!!
Hey Jordan! Love his channel too!
Me and my GF are preparing to apply as a DUO. We are preparing popular songs, by now we have 16 songs ready, with solos included. But it seems impossible to learn a set list of 200 songs to apply for the cruise. Do you think 50 songs would do it? And then learning the rest on board?
@CoffeeWithSean
4 жыл бұрын
Unfortunately I do not think that will be enough. That’s only about 2-3 hours of music. And you may have 4 hour long sets every day. I knew musicians onboard with a list of 500 songs. I say get to 100 at a minimum before expecting any one to respond.
Very niiceeeee
Again let me say -THANKS!!! Your vids are the best. Cheers!
Hey Sean, if you have the chance, would you make a video like this, but about other positions, such as cooks or chefs, That will be great!! Nice channel bro!
Love your videos ! ❤️❤️
Very helpful. I can't sight read, but have a phenomenal ear and can learn almost anything. I also have a large repertoire, can play to click/tracks and 20+ years experience in clubs, wedding bands and casinos etc..Thanks for the help.
Love this! Very informative & very valuable to any musician thinking of joining the cruise life👏🏼
Hey Sean! So glad that this video popped up & I had the opportunity to watch it. Very cool & informative! I’ll be 44 on 8/3/20 & as soon as COVID-19 calms down & ships start cruising again, I’ll be embarking on my first contract as a drummer & band leader on the Norwegian Bliss playing in a country band. I’ve been playing drums all of my life. Semiprofessionally for the past 11 years while I worked a desk job full time. I know I’m quite a bit older than most who start the ship life but I’m totally stoked about trying a new adventure & career path. I don’t know what the future holds but I don’t want to look back and regret it later if I don’t take the opportunity! Btw, I do have a cabin to myself. (Saw the other video where you spoke about that) I’m supposed to share a bathroom but considering I’m going immediately post COVID-19 & social distancing being a concern, I just might get a bathroom to myself as well. Either way, I’m looking forward to it! Thanks again for doing this interview & video! Peace! ✌🏼
@CoffeeWithSean
4 жыл бұрын
Congratulation man. That’s awesome. You’ll really have fun playing music on ship. I’m jealous because I wanted to be a drummer on ships. I am definitely curious how the ships will handle social distancing. Let me know how the contract goes!
@djhicks1976
4 жыл бұрын
Coffee With Sean Thanks for the reply! Never give up man! If that’s your dream then don’t let nothing get in the way & go after those dreams! I’ve been chasing this dream for a long time because it’s what I love to do most & what I’m most passionate about. I don’t know where it will go from there but I’m gonna keep on keepin on! Yeah man! I’ll definitely let you know how it goes & how I like it.
Man as kid in my early 20s I struggle so much of trying to get gigs on land and I got really big gigs with independent and a major artists and it was a great experience and I became pro, but I wish I knew about cruise ships gig right out of high school. I was a good sight-reader. The cruise ship industry seems to be very steady because they need entertainers. Trying to land a gig in LA was always tough you had to hustle a lot. It seems landing a gig for cruise ship would be been more promising as a steady gig.
this video was very helpful thak you so much, also you asked like all the questions i could think of!
Very helpful....
Great interview ! thanks guys. I would bring a fractal AX8.
How many songs should a Rock/Pop one man band musician know?
@CoffeeWithSean
6 жыл бұрын
michelaser So I was told no less than 300 but really you should know about 500
@martinhablaespagnol
6 жыл бұрын
thats what I thought - before looking - I will count mine - I do believe I can make it
@JoseSanchez-bp7xz
6 жыл бұрын
michelaser I don’t know. I did that but mostly wrote my own songs, unfortunately Before youtube existed, and you dont get lots of views for original Songs.
@XX-lx4mr
5 жыл бұрын
20 down.... ok, I quit.
like the chat idea. Would recommend following Jordan's set background and throw up some branding pieces, ie signs with your name. Keep it going Peace
While on the ship are you and the crew of the band able to develop a name and tell people to find you on KZread etc. social media promotion is what I am asking ... there fore sell shirts / cd's / merch via my web presense ... 2) are you able to make the name only ... nice interview..
You said Landau and which else? I didn’t get it please let me know. Sumin?
Thanks for the videos. Helping me a lot. I’m going to Holland America Line this year as a sound engineer. Would you do one on this format with a sound engineer? Cheers
@CoffeeWithSean
6 жыл бұрын
Thiago Rodrigues I’ll do my best man!
@marujo.thiago
6 жыл бұрын
Coffee With Sean thanks very much. I’d appreciate a lot!!! All the best
I wonder about ups or fed ex for my 2 unruly but needed pedalboards to get them to the ship...
Loved the video. I am looking to join the whole cruise life style as a well deserved break from touring. I am a solo violinist and were there any non trio/duo violinists on board and if so what would be a good agency to go through? Many thanks!
@CoffeeWithSean
6 жыл бұрын
orgoth225 I personally didn’t see any solo violinists on my ships. But reach out to Jordan F Martin in his channel. He has way more info on the musician life.
@orgoth225
6 жыл бұрын
Coffee With Sean Thanks for the tip!
It's nice video thanks guys:)
Hey Sean. I am ready to work full-time as a cruise musician as I cannot stand to teach any longer. I love cruising as a civilian and have actually played a couple cruise ships years ago but I was just wondering what your thoughts are since COVID? Is it a bad idea? Love your channel!
Hi Sean, I'm starting my first contract soon. I was just wondering if you can do a video about transferring departments during your contract. Like what are the possibilities? Is it possible to transfer from culinary to entertainment?
@mseanprice
6 жыл бұрын
Sure, I'll put together a video about what I know about cross-training.
@nicolettarambharose36
6 жыл бұрын
Thank you so kindly, you videos are really helping me get prepared for my contract. Keep up the good work!
What happens if you break a contract in the middle of a voyage, are you thrown off the ship into the ocean?
I would like to play with a group but I'd be a free agent. Will they find people for you to play with or do you have apply as a group?
@CoffeeWithSean
6 жыл бұрын
Adam Luoma when you go through your audition; you will tell them to find you a group and they will place you
Very informative. I guess the question most musicians want to know, without disclosing your actual salary, what can a duo expect to earn per night on one of these ships. Without having a baseline figure it is pretty hard to negotiate. I guess many of us are taking all these valid points in but have no idea of a ballpark figure. Also, what are visa implications and flights? Who sorts these out? the agent or yourself?
@CoffeeWithSean
5 жыл бұрын
Jim Tall I earned 2000 per month as a broadcast tech. Email Jordan on his channel and see what he made in his first duo contract
@mariusandronake9748
5 жыл бұрын
@@CoffeeWithSean Hi Sean What abouth, page ori notw adress, With some kind of cruise line !!! I was before 2014 last time Great time with the big band In m.s deucthland ship( german) From 4 years I.am home with mt family in romania bucharest. I heard of you clearly, and also post of many musicians, and comment.a line.s cruise ships Sallary are not less ori up, then.2000 dollars, first time, that you meet them? I.am a pianist/keaboars player/vocalist to.. Please, I need a information ori more( scuze me ''') from you, because your experience is more than mine, shure ,100 proccent man .. Bether to loock for a piano player and vocalist to, Ori bethwr like you did 2016 Duo...band I have a girl, she is really singer, and she has 6 years experience with a cruise line.. I have respect for you, you great man, and the most principal think, is your heart, that you help us a lot, thank.s man, you are amazing kind regards Marius Bucharest !
hi. thank for the information. can you recommend legal good agency for DUO (party band)?
Where do i apply to work as a musician on a cruise ship?
@CoffeeWithSean
6 жыл бұрын
David Adonay Espinoza Garcia You can go directly to the cruise line website
@JoseSanchez-bp7xz
6 жыл бұрын
David Adonay Espinoza Garcia You wouldn’t like that.
Hi, i really like your videos, i was in so many cruises, and i meet some amazing people, i actually started to take dance leasons because i loved the dancers from theater , i made a friend who is a dancer on a ship, can you tell me more about dancers on ship?
@mseanprice
6 жыл бұрын
Ana Petruta I don’t know too much about the dancers on the ships I was friends with many but the performers live such a different life. If I have the opportunity to interview a dancer I definitely will!
@anapetreanu8550
6 жыл бұрын
Thank you, you are so kind
The Dealbreaker for me, is that ‘I heard’ at the end of the day, you have to _“share a cabin with someone”_ Is that true?
@CoffeeWithSean
4 жыл бұрын
Learn Something you likely have to share your cabin with someone. Unfortunately, Only officers and managers get their own cabins.
If you play keyboards, should you bring one of yours to practice in your cabin with headphones?
@mseanprice
6 жыл бұрын
pmwizard48 I would. Many keyboard players prefer to use their own keyboard anyway for live shows. But you def want to have something to practice with
Info on the flipside
What do you think is the best cruise line / cruise ship to work
@CoffeeWithSean
4 жыл бұрын
WhatsUPwithDJ I would go for royal Caribbean.
How many people fit in a life boat anyways?
I would think a steady and stable paycheck is an equally and important consideration. Musician is a part time job and pay poorly on land. Developing a following is an indirect approach since fans don’t hire a band. Anyways, you learn to live with the quirks of a corporation to keep the job.
So how much is the pay for a musician then? like how much as a total per month?
@CoffeeWithSean
5 жыл бұрын
J Dclt I would guess between $2500 and $3000 per month
@Axversum
5 жыл бұрын
thnx man... i’m about to apply.. i am based in europe tho.. wish me luck 🙏🏼
What is the procedure fr applyin on cruise ship?
@mseanprice
6 жыл бұрын
Kashish Madan All you need to do is go to the company”s website. You will either apply on the site; or you will reach out to a recruitment agency in your country who is used by the cruise line to recruit new crew. And I think you should be able to find a list of the agencies in your country on the cruise lines’ website.
What is life workin as a chef on cruise ship?????
@mseanprice
6 жыл бұрын
Kashish Madan Unfortunately I am not too sure. I was only I the entertainment department. I’m sorry I can’t be much help.
@kashishmadan5451
6 жыл бұрын
Sean Price Thats fyn if u get any info about it plz make a video
@mseanprice
6 жыл бұрын
Absolutely man!
@kashishmadan5451
6 жыл бұрын
Sean Price Thanx
@richf6111
5 жыл бұрын
Hi Kashish, a friend of mine had a contract as a chef. He said he had to do a lot of cooking.
nice cross promotion!
Next time start by saying how much you get paid. Then explain how you got the job.
You're body is lying to you, it should be telling you your 10