Cruise Ship Musicians’ Survival Guide

Here is some advice I would like to offer to musicians interested in working on a cruise ship. I worked four full contracts and one incomplete contract. The four contracts were playing with a jazz sextet, and the incomplete contract was working with the orchestra on board. Throughout my time there, I encountered many situations and faced challenges as I navigated the environment. The purpose of this guide is to help musicians make an informed decision about whether it would be worthwhile to explore. Full disclaimer: no one, nor the organization I worked for, will be mentioned, as the purpose of this guide is to give you a general sense of what I experienced and what tools you would need to survive. Without further ado, here are the suggestions and reasons why.

1. Get into a routine as fast as possible.

   1. What do I mean by this? Do not wait to get started taking care of yourself. It involves working out, eating well, and getting your priorities in order. The environment does not foster creativity unless it helps the company. After completing a contract, I had no mental energy to do anything else or work on another project—the experience, while fun, will simultaneously drain you.

      
      

2. Make Goals.

   1. When you get on board, you undergo a series of training. After the training, you might have constant drills and other company-related matters. With the musical group, you might have rehearsals and additional matters. But, after that, you have a lot of free time. So, if you don’t have goals (musical or non-musical), you will end up really bored and stuck musically. I found that whether you're studying something music-related or picking repertoire to work on, you need to have an objective by the end of your contract. This could be, I want to take an online course, or I am going to practice my instrument and get better every day.

      
      

3. Be careful with Alcohol.

   1. When I first got on, I was excited to immerse myself in ship life. However, part of that is the culture of drinking and doing things that end up being alcohol related. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a drink, and when you work on the ship, you will definitely experience the party culture. Be aware, though, of the easy access to booze on the ship. I had seen a few people lose their jobs because of negligence with it.

4. Band drama is inevitable.

   1. Whatever band I was in, there was always drama. The combination of being put together with random musicians is always a recipe for conflict. This is because, when you don't really know the people you're working with, you learn on the job who everyone really is. I found that when I was the leader, I never wanted to let it get to the point where people would fight with each other. When a group gets fired up, try to cool them down, listen to what's going on, or stay out of the way. That way, you can respond accordingly to the situations.

      
      

5. Do not take sides.

   1. A lesson I learned the hard way is not to take someone’s side when they have a conflict with another musician. Taking someone's side means you are a part of someone else's conflict, which had nothing to do with you. This can cause a situation where, all of a sudden, the people you work with become your enemies, or vice versa. It will happen when working for a while: everyone will get on each other’s nerves, and you may need to either clear the air or take some space. Waiting too long to resolve issues will make every day feel like the longest day on record, and you will do things to avoid others when it could be as simple as a conversation. Of course, if that doesn't work, then you will need to go to your leader or director if it is too much to handle.

      
      

6. It is not your company.

   1. I am grateful the company invested in me and gave me the opportunity to share my gifts with everyone on board. I say that to say that even if you love what you do, you are still doing a job, and I found that as the contract went on, they added things outside of it that didn't necessarily make sense. This made me rethink how I want to operate with people if I were in the employer's position. Unless it is written in your contract or stated somewhere clearly, do not do more than what is required of you to get the job done. I say this not to get caught in the cycle of being disempowered or limited by the environment, because doing more than is expected expends more energy and leaves less for yourself afterward.

7. It's okay to help your fellow musicians, but it isn't school.

   1. There were many musicians I worked with who came from different backgrounds and had varying skill levels. Some people had experience with the music I played, and others had of the last few years getting into it. It's okay to help the people you work with, but you are not there to give them a full education on what to do. The purpose of the gig was for everyone to come prepared to do the job. If you are not prepared enough, each day will be a struggle, so make sure you are on top of which group you will be involved in so you can stress less.

      
      

8. Have Boundaries!!!

   1. In this environment, you will see the same people day in and day out for a period of time. It can be a lot of fun to hang out and mix it up with the whole group, but sometimes, as a sensitive individual, I need some time to myself. It's okay to say, " You know what, I need to take a break, or Thanks for the invite, but I will pass. However, some people will push hard if they don't respect your boundaries, so stand firm.

      
      

9. Enjoy a little, but it is not a vacation.

   1. It's work, and although there are some nice perks, my advice is to use your time wisely so you can be free to go home and create the life you want to live. Some of the ports were dangerous, so never go out alone. Also, beware of wifi restrictions while working on the boat.

      
      

10. Overall, have fun, work hard, and be smart.

    1. At the end of the day, enjoy yourself and live in the experience. But don’t avoid the reality that someday the gig will be over. As musicians, we are in business for ourselves, foremost, and need to ensure we operate at optimal levels while working.

In conclusion, this information is just a guide as to what the experience entails. In addition, my health was at risk as I contracted the original COVID-19 virus in 2020 and have gotten sick a number of times subsequently on board. Drink plenty of water and move your body. Plus, rest as much as you can. If you have any thoughts or comments, please share below. I would like to know if someone agrees or disagrees with this experience or input.