Life as a Cruise Ship Drummer

[@210caulfield]

Enjoying the chat about playing drums on a cruise ship as I played for 5 years from 1973-78 with Royal Caribbean and Commodore. We did 9 month contracts with RCCL and 6 mths on Commodore. This was when ships were 18,000 tons (not 200,000+!!). On my first gig I played in the duo with an organist that I shared a cabin with so it was very hard.

[@Rockin_Ross]

As a fellow drummer, I played with a bassist that did a cruise ship gig. Loved the first 3 months of it, but bailed after that. Pressure was rough & they kept switching up cabins with no notice. He's grateful for the experience though.

[@JCurtisDrums]

Yes, not something I could do, I think. I have a young family now, but even before, sharing a cabin would be really tough.

[@andrums93]

Hello , I been trying to be a cruise ship drummer but the sight reading is just something i been struggling with so much... I dont think would be able to do this one day .... maybe one day . Who Knows !!!

[@A.Man..]

Great stuff, prefer not to have it edited, be nice to hear the full unedited chat

[@paraflamdragonruff9487]

Thanks so much guys! I really appreciate it. I think I would hate night 1 maybe 2 but night 3 or 4 Im loving it! As long as I could just play simple until I got my feet on the ground, then I think Itd be ok.

[@JCurtisDrums]

You’re very welcome. I don’t think I’d like it, especially now with a young family. Mike always said it’s a single man’s game, because you’re away for months at a time. Nice name, too. I love dragon ruffs!

[@paraflamdragonruff9487]

@@JCurtisDrums thanks, ya i made up some goofy sounding mish mashed rudiments. Dragonruff came from "drag and ruff" paraflam i thought was just funny. When i came up with it it was obviously a goof, but now there probably really is something named that! Lol.

[@JCurtisDrums]

@@paraflamdragonruff9487 drag and ruff, that’s really clever. I’m going to try and create a hybrid rudiment called a dragonruff that combines the two, and dedicate it to you.

[@paraflamdragonruff9487]

@@JCurtisDrums ok make sure you teach it to me!

[@squamishfish]

I really believe every drummer wants to develop his or her own style , Neil Peart Rush , Joe Morelo,, Taylor Hawkins Kieth Moon , but to do that you have to starve a bit,