Private Audition

for Showband Musicians only

- PLEASE READ CAREFULLY -

The cruise industry often needs Showband musicians on short notice. Therefore, we created a procedure called "Private Audition" that enables a musician to be auditioned in a hurry. However, for various reasons, not everybody is entitled to a Private Audition. Please read and understand carefully the following criteria.

To register for a private audition, you must meet the following criteria :

  • you play one of the following instruments: piano - bass - drums - guitar - trumpet - trombone - saxophone(s) doubling on clarinet & flute
  • you are a good sight-reader with professional experience
  • you are available to leave immediately or in the near future on very short notice for 3 to 6 months
  • you are ready to work at a starting salary of $400.00 to $500.00 US per week, all expenses paid.
  • you have a valid, current passport, or willing to get one in a rush (and for Non-US or Non-Canadian citizens, a “C1-D” work visa at a US Embassy)
  • you are in good health (no medical problems) and willing to pass a physical.
  • you are at least 21 years old

    • What kind of music will I be asked to sight read ?
Private auditions are what we, at ProShip, found to be an efficient way of auditioning musicians in a hurry for last minute contracts. It consists of sending you our audition material (sheet music and compact disc) via an overnight courier. Once you receive our package, you will need to call us before opening it and we will guide you through the audition step by step.

You will need to have the following :
  • a video camera to record the audition
  • a telephone so we can guide you through the process (land phone line, preferably)
  • a High-Speed Internet Access
  • a printer, and printing paper
  • a CD burner with CD burning software, and a blank CD
  • a CD player to play our audition CD
  • OR a good pair of speakers on your computer, loud enough for playback 
  • your instrument
The night before, you will receive an e-mail message giving you the instructions on how to download (high-speed) the audition material; this can only be performed one hour before your audition time! Once you printed and burned the material, we call you back at the audition time, then we perform the audition, recorded with your camera.

For loud instruments such as drums, guitar, bass and piano, if you need to wear headphones in order to hear the tracks, do make sure that the music still plays out of the speakers, so that your video camera captures both the track's sound AND your instrument's!

If you don't have high-speed internet at home, there is certainly somewhere nearby (or at a reasonable distance) where you can download, print, and burn the material (Kinko's, internet café, a friend's house) and then return home to do the audition. Whatever time and place it is, we're always willing to take the time to accommodate you as best we can!

Once the audition is performed and recorded, you send the videotape you recorded, the charts you printed and - if you did - the CD you burned, back to us for evaluation, and then, if your audition results are up to the cruise lines' standards, your phone should start ringing with job offers - provided there's someone to pick it up at the other end!

To Register for a Private Audition   Click Here