#78. Life as a Cruise Industry Production Cast Vocalist with Kayla Saunders and Dominique Petit Frere

This week’s guests are Kayla Saunders & Dominique Petit Frere. In July, A Voice and Beyond embarked on a “Beyond” adventure on a cruise ship sailing around the Mediterranean, but it wasn’t all play for me, as I had the pleasure of doing something that I hadn’t done before and that was to interview two guests simultaneously, in an in-person situation. Kayla Saunders and Dominque Petite Frere were two of the production cast singers performing onboard the ship, Celebrity Beyond, and they sat down and shared their own personal experiences as singers working within the cruising industry, in a tell-all interview. They explained the audition process, the gruelling rehearsal schedule, their work demands and performance expectations. We also discussed Kayla and Dom’s regime for maintaining good vocal health, but most importantly, how they take care of their physical, mental and emotional health and well-being while living in a pressure cooker environment, onboard a ship. Other important topics we delved into were how the cruising industry can provide support for its performers, for example, having a vocology team on standby to support vocalists’ healthcare needs, but also how the industry can further promote and create policy around inclusivity, belonging, equity and diversity. This is an eye-opening interview and I felt very privileged sitting in the company of both Kayla and Dom as they spoke so candidly about their personal experiences in an industry that can continue to improve support for its performers.

www.kaylasaunders.com

www.Domlepetitfrere.com

In this episode

05:35 — Kayla’s Musical Influences

07:44 — Dom’s Formal Musical Education

14:11 — Transitioning to life onboard a Cruise Ship

23:10 — Appointing a Vocal Captain

26:52 — What Is a Black Track?

31:10 — Impact of Manipulating the Voice

40:58 — Celebrity Beyond

54:21 — Responsibilities of a Vocal Captain

57:43 — Vocal Warmup Exercises

1:01:04 — Taking Care of Their Physical, Mental, and Emotional Health on the Ship

1:07:17 — Typical Production Show’s Schedule

1:13:58 — Things the Company Can Do Better for Artists

1:19:57 — Is There a Gender Bias in Terms of Pay?

1:24:47 — Being Black in the Entertainment Industry in Terms of Inclusivity

1:33:30 — Advice for Other Performers Coming to the Ship

1:36:39 — Kayla & Dom’s Next Plans

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/78

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