Curious Vocalists

#9 How to Become a Cruise Ship Musician

Listen Later

In this episode of the Curious Vocalists podcast, Grace Hancock shares her journey to becoming a cruise ship musician, offering valuable insights and tips for aspiring performers. She discusses the challenges of preparing for the role, including learning a vast repertoire of songs, building a showreel, and networking with agents. Grace also addresses the health challenges musicians face on board, emphasising the importance of vocal care and managing seasickness. Throughout the conversation, she encourages listeners to embrace their passion for music and take the leap into the world of cruise ship performance.

 

Takeaways

  • You don't need to be a master instrumentalist to succeed.
  • You need at least 150-200 songs in your repertoire to start as a solo musician on ships
  • You don’t have to read music to be a solo cruise ship musician
  • Store all your arrangements of songs as videos on a Google Drive
  • With the right incentive, anything is possible
  • Vitamin C and other health boosting products are crucial for performers on ships.
  • It’s not the motion that creates seasickness but your resistance to the movement
  • Invest in good equipment for practicing in your cabin.
  • Managing your voice and avoiding over-talking is key to longevity.
  • Confidence grows with experience; don't wait to feel ready.

    •  

    Chapters

    00:00 The Allure of Cruise Ship Musicianship

    01:29 The Journey to Getting Hired

    03:22 Building Your Repertoire by Ear, from Scratch

    07:07 Navigating Challenges on Board

    10:36 Tech and Packing Essentials

    16:27 Dealing with Seasickness

    18:00 Vocal Longevity Tips

    20:09 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Taking Action

    21:40 Outro

     

    Resources/Mentions:

    The relatively lightweight keyboard with weighted keys I first took onboard with me in my cabin: Casio CDP-S110 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og2OyW6G454

     

    My fold up Keyboard: OYAYO 88 key, semi-weighted, foldable keyboard -

    https://shorturl.at/Q8FbN

     

    Gator TSA 88 Hard Flight case that fitted the Casio keyboard: https://shorturl.at/Hojgl

     

    Agents:

    Hatch Box Talent

    Gary Parkes Music

    Suoni Music Management

    Sonic Artistes

    East West Entertainment

    Warshaw Entertainment

     

    About the Host

    Grace is a seasoned singer-pianist, vocal coach and composer. Over the past decade she has dedicated her life to music and creativity, performing aboard luxury cruise ships across the world and composing for theatre and short films. Her original compositions have been recognised by festivals such as the Paris Film Awards and Only the Best International Film Awards. She strives now to determine how to cultivate authentic expression in music and the importance of it for mental health and human connection.

     

    Contact Method

    [email protected]

    www.gracehancockmusic.com

    Instagram: @gracehancockmusic

    Facebook: @gracehancockmusician

     

    Keywords

    #cruiseshipmusician #musiccareer #performancetips #vocalhealth #showreel #networking #musicpreparation #travel #musicianlifestyle

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store
    Curious VocalistsBy Grace Hancock Music