I’m in my early sixties and still performing at the top of my game, is this factor in being A guest entertainer on cruises ?

Hi everyone! Hi Martina. I have been thinking about something as I refine my scripts for the 2 shows. What do you do, if for whatever reason, there is a technical glitch for example, and some precious time out of the 45-50 minute show is passing without you singing? Do you signal the band to skip a song, for example, and rearrange the order with a song cut out of the set, and adapt the script and banter in real time? Do these lost minutes get added at the end and you just continue with the show, even with the delay? Has this happened to you before, or do you know if it happens from time to time?

Our member @Brian Rodgers asked: "I'm trying to estimate potential earnings for 1 year of cruise contracts. I know it can vary. I'm trying to see how many cruise contracts can be done in a year, on average. What is the typical length of a contract for a magician? Let's consider Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Virgin Voyages and Norwegian" Great question, Brian! The typical range is around $2,500–$3,500 per gig, depending on the cruise line, the itinerary, and how long you’ve been working with the company. For the sake of estimating, let’s use $3,000 per gig. The standard agency fee is usually around 20%, which would leave you with approximately $2,400 per gig after the agency takes its fee. A lot depends on the length of the itinerary and how often you’re booked, which can vary based on your ratings, demand, and relationship with the company. As a general estimate, I’d say an actively working headliner in the system could average around 2 gigs per month. At 2 gigs per month: $3,000 × 2 = $6,000/month gross $6,000 × 12 = $72,000/year gross After the 20% agency fee: $72,000 − $14,400 = $57,600/year So, using that example, you could be looking at approximately $57,600 per year after agency fees, assuming you consistently average two gigs per month. Some ships also offer short-term residencies, which can take up a significant portion of your available dates and change how often you’re able to go out. Headliners who have been established with the companies and consistently receive strong ratings and demand may potentially work 3 times a month or more. As far as the average length of a gig, that’s a little harder to pin down because it varies quite a bit. A lot of cruise lines do 7-day itineraries, while I’ve personally been on some that were 3–5 days. I also know performers who do 10-day engagements, whether that’s a crossing or an arrangement where you’ll perform for the first group of guests and then stay onboard for a couple additional days to perform for the beginning of the next group.

What constitutes a Guest Entertainer ? What if you mainly perform as a Duo does that still work? like 2 Tenors or Soprano and Tenor? Is this the same ?

Our member @John Saw asked: “How long should the reel be? Or could we have several short clips as well?” In my opinion, your reel should be around 2 to 2.5 minutes max. Honestly, we usually know within the first 30 to 45 seconds whether your reel makes a strong enough impression to keep watching. My own ship reel was three minutes long, and even when I look back at it now, I find myself losing interest around the 45-second mark. 😂 Now that I’m on the other side of the table, I understand why. You want to showcase your strongest moments, make an excellent first impression, and then let the viewer move on. Lead with your absolute best material and keep the momentum moving forward. You can definitely include short clips from each song in your show within one reel. However, I would not send an agent a bunch of individual clips or separate links. They want to see the whole package in one sitting. We receive a lot of submissions every day, and realistically, we don’t have time to click through five, six, or ten different links to piece together who you are as an artist. Make it easy for them: one link, one strong reel, your best moments, and a great first impression ☺️