Social Work Recruitment
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 didn’t 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 don’t 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 didn’t 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 don’t 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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