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How to Get Work as a Guest Entertainer on a Cruise Ship Part I
By: Paul Romhany When I first started working on cruise ships with my act it was a very daunting task. For many years after watching The Love Boat on television I would dream of one day becoming a headline act on cruise ships and finally when it became a reality I was very nervous and didnt know anything about what to expect. I wish there had been a book that could answer all the questions that were lingering in my mind. For me it all happened rather quickly so before I knew it I was on a ship and thrown in the deep end so to speak. Fortunately in my case on that first contract there were other guest entertainers on the ship who took me under their wings and showed me the ropes and helped me get my head around the world of cruising. To this day I still work on ships with these wonderful people and I have developed some good solid friendships. Most of the work for variety acts has moved out to sea with their fully equipped theatres and the ever growing need for good entertainment. Most ships have production shows plus guest entertainers which usually consist of a magician a comedian an instrumentalist (banjo harmonica guitar etc.) and a ventriloquist. The production shows on ships today are lavish Las Vegas style shows with ten to sixteen dancers and singers. You will become part of one of the last bastions of entertainment for Variety Artists a place where we get a chance to have an audience and perform our full evening shows. I plan to lay everything out for the entertainer who wants to work on a ship so that by the time you get to your first ship you have some idea of what to expect making your life that much easier. There are things that you learn only by experience which is why I have included extracts from my personal journey. From reading it you will quickly discover what type of life we live on a ship. I suggest that you start writing your own journal once you get work because the stories you will collect will last you a lifetime. Invest in a good digital camera and take lots of photos because you will get a chance very few people in this world have to travel to almost every country on earth and get a taste for other cultures food and lifestyles. If I was to give one bit of advice it would this: make sure you are ready! You will only get once chance at working on a ship so dont rush in to it before you feel you are ready. Read this book and any other book that may be out there on the subject talk to people who are in the
industry and ask for their honest opinions. Cruise ship work didnt happen for me overnight I wanted to do it for many years but was glad I took my time and developed an original act that has lasted me well and kept me employed for many years. Ask yourself are you in a position to be away from home away from your family for long periods. Are you healthy enough to withstand the travel and lifestyle that comes with working on a ship Of course do you have the right type of act to work on a ship As with any type of performance know your limits and be prepared. These articles are written from my own personal experience and I am offering information that I have come across and collected over the years of working ships. Included are personal stories and experiences that I hope will shed some light on working on cruise ships and make it a little easier for those of you wanting to get in to this industry. Finally you have one of the best jobs in the world certainly one of the best and highest paid on a ship. I never take what I do for granted and everyday am thankful for what I have. Cruise ships have been great to me and helped me financially and also the place where I met my wife Natalie. You are a Guest Entertainer this means you dont have any extra jobs you are simply there to perform your act once a week and entertain the passengers. In the past several years that I have been working on cruise ships I have had the privelage to travel around the world at least a dozen times visiting almost every country or port in the world. As I write this I have just left South America in the Amazon Jungle four days ago and today am in Dakar in Africa. Next week I will be in St. Petersburg Russia how many jobs are there where we can see so much of the world. Paul Romhany is a professional comedy magician who has worked as a Guest Entertainer on cruise ships for the past six years and continues to work for the top cruise lines as a headline act and also tours the world with his original comedy magic act. He is also author of several books including his new book on How To Get Work on a Cruise Ship. He has performed in over 50 countries and in over 17 National TV specials with his incredible act considered to be one of the most original and funniest acts in magic today. His act has been desribed by many cruise directors as the most original act on cruise ships today! visit his website at http://www.chaplinmagic.com
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