The Changing Cruise Entertainment Industry

[Jim Coston]

I got an email from my agent this morning regarding Princess Cruises.

Currently Princess is using their Production shows over two nights in order for the full passenger compliment to be able to see the show. To balance this out, they also have the variety acts performing over two nights in other lounges. This creates a little issue for any act that needs the band since the Production shows use the band.

With upwards of 4 production shows on a given cruise performing almost every night, the band is not usually available for other acts. So what the line is using are acts who are basically self contained - such as comics, jugglers, comedy/magic, etc or musical acts who have backing tracks.

This probably goes a long way in explaining why my Princess bookings have tapered off in recent months.

I am currently getting backing tracks done by Green Room Forum Member Jeff Fabischek (www.chartsandtracks.com) and the work is excellent!

While I hate the idea of not having a live band, the industry is changing rapidly and it appears that we either adapt or go the way of the Dodo Bird.

[John Macdonald]

Yes Jim ..quite sad really ..yes like you I cherish a Live band ..makes your show complete I always think!! ...Regarding the changes in Princess Formats...well We all found out about that quite some time ago down here in OZ with so many Princess Ships passing through..the last Princess Ship I worked recently was the Diamond .. and they did exactly what you stated ..and after me bringing roughly about 15 kilos of 8 piece arrangements......I found that I worked the Explorers Lounge self contained....it's lucky in one way a lot of us can adapt to backing tracks......and in my particular position I do a lot of my own tracks ..that way I can NEVER sack the band !! Although some nights I'm tempted lol !
I wonder now whether we will see these changes across the board with maybe RCL and HAL and the rest looking at similar formats ??
Interested to hear your views
Cheers
John