Hi all
I have read all of the posts on this topic but none seem to answer my questions.
I live in the U.K so how do I get booked?
I don't want to use an agent so do I send my video to the cruise line directly?
How manny shows or how long does the show need to be?
Thanks

Dabek,

Go to

http://www.fredbecker.com/store.htm

Fred Becker, a veteran cruise ship magician, has written the real work on gaining cruise ship employment for magicians.

It details salary expectations, contract information, & how to get and KEEP the job. It even has direct contact information in it for cruise directors.

Tell Fred I sent you!

Lyndel

Thanks
Any other help would be great!!
Magical Regards
Dabek

As far as I know, cruise ships only book through agents. I may be wrong.

According to Fred Becker himself they book both through agents and directly with entertainers these days.

There are many threads on this particular subject but to answer your questions:

1.) You can send your video directly to the entertainment director for each cruise line. If they see something they really like, they will contact you. (It would likely have to have something very unique and original on it for them to contact you. They see videos constantly and know what are standard effects. That won't impress them - it doesn't mean you can't get hired by them, it just means a video tape is not going to be enough.)

2.) Each cruise line and sometimes each ship within the fleet have different requirements depending on the length of the cruises and the cruise director's preferences. I worked 7-day cruises for Carnival in the early 90s. Most of the time I did a 35-minute illusion show twice in one night (the same show repeated) and an occasional 30-minute Midnight Special. (Late night show in a smaller lounge.) On another Carnival ship (also a 7-day), I did a twenty minute spot twice for the review show. (Again, the same spot repeated. Two seatings for the shows.)

I have heard of performers having to do four different 30-minute shows on ships before so this will vary by line and ship.

To be more specific on the booking subject, the best way to get a cruise gig is for someone to recommend you who the cruise line trusts. It can be a performer who already works for them or an agent they work with regularly. The truth is that there are way more performers trying to get work out there than there are jobs. The entertainment directors don't have time to research each performer and they know that video tapes aren't always representative. (They know you can edit the tape to make yourself look better.) If someone they trust vouches for you, than you're in excellent shape.

Finally, in sending a video tape, do not send an edited promo tape as mentioned above. They want to see a full performance - unedited. These are experienced entertainment buyers and they know what to look for in a tape.

Dabek,

I was in the office of the entertainment director for a cruise line I worked, when he asked me ... Why didn't I hire you direct insted of going through an agent? I told him I didn't know. He then asked why I didn't send in a video of my show? Upon looking around in his overly busy office I notice my video & promo in the middle of a stack of video's and promos from entertainers all over the world and said ... "I did! The stack of promo's and video was one of many stacks that literally went from the floor of his office almost to the celling.

The above is a true story, and sorry to say if I didn't go through an agent I would have never had the great experiance of working aboard a Cruise Ship. Good luck, I hope you get it.

Robert Jones

PS. Do check out Becker's book as well as Michael Rappa's book on Cruising both are VERY well worth the time and money.

I have yet to work a cruise line...though I'd like to try it some day. But I do know marketing and how important it is to stand out and break through the wall of performer clones. I would imagine that entertainment directors for cruise lines are literally flooded with videos and promo packages. You really have to think outside of the box to even be noticed.

I recently heard about a talented magician who desperately wanted to work for a specific cruiseline. He found the name of the entertainment director and had it embroidered on the back of a director's chair. He packaged his video and promo kit in a professional, movie-style case. He added a pack of microwave movie-style popcorn and a gold movie ticket...packaged it all together and Fed Ex'd it directly to the executive. The idea: "Mr. Director...please sit back and enjoy the show!" It cost him a few extra bucks...but, can you imagine the impact it made? You can bet that his package wasn't gathering dust in the middle of some stack. Of course, it also helps to have a show that lives up to the hype.

Not only did he get his dream contract, but the story of his approach swept though the industry and he is still in demand. This worked for him...and fit his style. Try to find your own unique and novel way to push your promo video through the glut. Stand out and be noticed!!

Skip

Hey Skip,

That was Fred Becker. He told that story at a Dave Dee SuperConference and has been asked to repeat it many times when he lectures. (He was convinced to tell the story at a lecture he did for our Ring earlier this year.)

Michael

Thanks, Michael!! Eddy Wade used the story in a recent marketing lecture...the story stuck but the name slipped past! Now I know who to attribute it to! Guess I should dust off the ol' Visa and buy Fred's books!

Skip

Tomorrow morning some poor cruise director is going to get 28 fedexed directors chairs with popcorn and a goldent ticket!

Lowphat...you're probably not far from wrong...and it's a shame to see these cruise hopefuls waste their money. The point is not to copy what worked for someone else and is already an industry icon. Rather, they should make the effort to find a NEW idea unique to THEIR personality and style. Fred Becker and the other grand names in magic didn't get where they are by copying someone else's flash & style. I hope this is the lesson they take away from that earlier posting. Of course, we both know differently...no?

:o) Skip