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Practice Tips Work on your chops and get paid!
Practice Tips Work on your chops and get paid!
PHONE: MELBOURNE (O3) 96999099 SYDNEY (02) 95500100 FREECALL 1300 729899
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 Jeremy Diffey - fresh off the ship Melbourne has a lot of smaller venues that are catering to the jazz public, and other niche musical markets, but if a musician wants to play every day, and not have to worry about where their next pay cheque is coming from, then one of the last professional gigs out there is the showband musician on a cruise ship. Having just returned from five years performing on board cruise ships throughout the world (being Musical Director and Bandmaster for the past few years) I thought I would impart some of the knowledge I have gained in my time with Celebrity Cruise, Renaissance Cruises (don’t look – they don’t exist anymore…) and the agency Proship. I’ll give you my advice on the audition process, and then give you an idea of what life is like onboard a cruise ship. First of all – to get a job on a cruise ship, you must be an excellent reader. This goes for all instruments. The standard show band includes drums, bass, piano/keyboard, and a horn section comprising trumpet, saxophone (sometimes 2 or 3 on the larger ships) and trombone. On some of the larger lines there is a guitarist, and maybe even the luxury of a 2 nd trumpet! All members of the showband must have flawless sight reading abilities, as there are itineraries where you will be playing a new act every day. The drummer must be able to play a variety of feels (including the standard ballroom dance grooves – rhumba, cha cha, waltz, swing, foxtrot etc) as well as read a Broadway style score with tempo changes, meter changes etc. The bass player must be able to read chord changes, as well as transcribed bass lines. They need to be able to “walk” and play the ballroom styles as well. The piano player should also be able to play keyboard, and obviously must be able to read 2 or 3 staves. They need to be able to interpret a score and play in the style required. Chord changes and written out lines are standard… The lead trumpet must have an excellent range. Too many times I have played with a “lead” player who is unable to play the required range – it is not uncommon for a chart to extend up to high E, F and even G (written). It is also good if the trumpeter has some improvisational skills, as jazz and big band nights are common. Trombone should usually bring a tenor, and not too large a bore, as they need to be the bass of the section, but are also often like a 2 nd trumpet… Usually the chart doesn’t call for much higher than a G or A, but it is not unheard of for the chart to have B’s or C’s. Soloing capabilities are also nice – in the audition you will be asked to play over an F blues… Saxophones – usually there will be one or two saxes. Obviously these will be alto and tenor. It is also necessary for the saxophonist to double on clarinet and flute. This isn’t optional – guest entertainers will often have charts that call for quick changes, and quite difficult clarinet or flute parts. For the flute – you rarely play higher than high A, and for clarinet it is unusual to play much higher than high D or E (although it isn’t unheard of). Obviously soloing ability is necessary for the jazz and big band nights. The audition process : I will detail the saxophone audition and also give a little info on the other instruments. At the beginning of the audition you will be given a book of charts. A cd backing will be provided to play with. The first thing you will do will be to play a couple of choruses over an F Blues (Concert). Then you will play a couple of Broadway style charts with tempo changes etc. on the sax. Next you will be asked to play a piece on clarinet and flute. Finally you will be asked to play a tune from memory, or by ear. They will be expecting a jazz standard. Possible tunes for you to pick would be “Take The A Train”, “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore”, “Autumn Leaves” or any other jazz standard you can think of. The drummer will be asked to play a variety of feels – Rhumba, Cha Cha, Samba, Foxtrot, Waltz etc. as well as read some charts. The bass player will be asked to play a walking bass line as well as read some charts. The trumpet and trombone will be asked to read charts and solo. Also – don’t forget mutes – Straight, Cup and Harmon are obviously the standard mutes involved – but plunger may also be called for… On the website for Proship (one of the main musician agencies for cruise ships worldwide) it states that a sideman must know a large repertoire of tunes by memory – it gives an example of what this repertoire might include. In my five year experience on cruise ships, we almost always played with charts (for the jazz nights we would usually use charts from the Real Book 5 th Edition). The only charts we ever really faked were “Take The A Train” and “Girl From Ipanema”. There are always charts around for the band, and the big band book has a lot of standard big band charts in it. If you get through the audition – you’re on your way! You will require a special visa for all of the itineraries that involve the U.S. This is called a C1-D or Seamans Visa, and allows you to enter and exit the U.S often while with the ship. You won’t be able to apply for this until you actually have a letter of employment from Proship (or other agency). It shouldn’t take too long to organise, however, and isn’t too expensive (but it’s obviously necessary…). You will also require a couple of white dress shirts (possibly one or two with wingtip collar), a tuxedo, black shoes, black socks and bowtie. A lot of lines are also now asking you to bring a black shirt and black tie, as on the more informal nights the band often wears “all black”. During the day, if in public areas of the ship, you will be required to wear uniform – all you need for this is a black belt and black shoes and socks – the rest of the uniform will be provided. Some nights you may be allowed to wear a suit in the public areas if you aren’t performing… Ship life can take some getting used to… You live where you work, and are unable to escape your workmates and work environment. A lot of people use their “off” time to practise, study a language, explore the various ports of call etc. Food and accommodation is all covered, and your cabin has a private bathroom (including toilet and shower). Most cruise lines have the musicians in bunk beds – two musicians to a room. You will be supplied a bar fridge, and a tv/vcr combo. A lot of guys bring their own dvd player and audio equipment for in their room… It’s a small, cramped environment, but doesn’t take too long to get used to. There are usually one or two bars for the staff and crew, where you can buy alcohol and other snacks/soft drinks. This is relatively inexpensive. As a musician you usually have the privilege to drink in guest areas – always in some kind of uniform, and always on your best behaviour! There is usually a crew gym as well, but on some lines musicians have the privilege of using the guest gym at certain times. Oh the whole, being a showband musician allows you to save money (or spend it in ports if you wish!) and really work on your playing. It’s great for your reading and soloing chops, and gives you great skills for working on land. If you need any more information, feel free to stop by www.proship.com and read their material on the subject. You can also apply for an audition on the same website. Good luck! Returning in May 2006 from five years performing overseas, Jeremy Diffey is finally bringing his original jazz project to his homeland. Over the years he has led a number of funk and jazz bands in Melbourne, and most recently has been musical director for Celebrity Cruises. His arrangements are performed worldwide by many singers, magicians, comedians and instrumentalists. In the last few years he has honed his skills in both performance and composition, and the current band he is performing with showcases his original works in a small group setting. Drawing from influences ranging from Coltrane and Adderley, to Stevie Wonder, Kenny Garrett and Courtney Pine, his music takes modern jazz and gives it a distinctive groove. His current quintet features:
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Home Practice Tips Work on your chops and get paid!
Practice Tips Work on your chops and get paid!