talkmagic.co.uk

Hi there. Has anyone any experience of working on cruise ships (that is, working as a magician)? If so, any advice for someone (ie me) who's thinking seriously of taking this route?

Is it best to contact the line owners themselves to enquire about work, or do agencies handle the appointments? If agencies, do you know of any good ones? I guess it could be a bit pf a minefield to just approach agenices out of the blue (are they genuine agencies? how hard do they work to actually find placements? etc).

Any advice at all gratefully rceived. TIA.

Cruise ships are the BEST I remember performing on one with a couple of mates. The night was pitch black and the stars were the only things lighting the sky as the boat gently sailed across the misty waters
But anywayss i was invited to perform, so i cant really help you. I would however suggest you contact the the line owners themselves, seems more professional in my eyes

The Stage newspaper is an EXCELLENT place to start looking. You'll find that the summer seasons have been cast already, but cruises for the Winter will have auditions in the next couple months. The cruise liners themselves (P&O etc) hold auditions, as do the tour operators (actually, they may be the same thing...).

I hope some of that helps.

Good luck with your quest.

Thanks guys. I'll start subscribing to the Stage and see what comes up. I guess I should read the Stage regularly anyway to keep an eye out for more land-locked opportunities.

http://www.agents-uk.com/ for lists of agents. If you are really interested in cruise ship work you may like the RSVP DVD magic's biggest secret. This lists all aspects (and has some effects) about working on a cruise. Fantastic DVD

http://www.rsvpmagic.com/magic_dvd_magi ... secret.htm

I'm only guessing at this but, I would be a little careful about doing cruise ships. Isn't one of the rule of magic "Don't do the same trick twice"? Under normal circumstances this would be fine, but being on a cruise ship, you may have a repeated audience some of which may twig to some of them.
I don't mean to sound as if I'm dictating to you because if that is what you want to do then go for it by all means, and I hope you enjoy it.

That is why the ships book artists with a wide range of effects. It is no problem at all!

Thanks for the info Stephen. Lots to think about - not least leaving my family for 6 months at a time!

Very good DVD. Let me fill you in in case you don't know who the guy on the DVD is! Russ Stevens worked as the illusionist for the original Mystique show (Pleasure beach Blackpool) before Richard De Vere took over. He owns RSVP and works on the top cruise liners. He even goes out to Hong Kong. This man knows his stuff, i love this DVD and it is well worth a look! and another piece is triva is that my flash wholesaler builds all his illusions!