One of the easiest ways to get your foot in the door as a ballroom dance couple on cruise ships is to sign up with an entertainment agency. You should choose an entertainment agency that specializes in booking entertainment for cruise ships. In the U.S. there are several notable agencies that will invite you in for an audition and interview session. These include Bransom Entertainment (630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 203, New York, NY 10036, 212-265-3500), Broadway Bound (830 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10003, 212-674-8631), and First Class Entertainment (483 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood, NJ 07040, 973-763-0591). Please visit www.cruiseshipentertainment.com for additional agency listings.
To get started with a talent agency, send a resume and performance tape/video to the agency. If the agency likes what it sees, it will invite you in for an audition and interview, so be prepared to perform. If they decided to sign you to the agency, they will discuss possible positions with a number of cruise lines. You will have the opportunity to select the cruise lines that appeal to you and the agency will make contact and submit your information. While some cruise lines prefer to deal with agencies, some don’t mind dealing directly with dancers.
To submit your resume and video, you should contact the cruise lines entertainment department directly. It pays to contact the cruise line and ask for the contact persons name. If you can’t reach a live person at the cruise line, send your information to the cruise line headquarters which can be found on the cruise lines official website. Address the package to the “entertainment department” and be sure to include the position you are applying for.
Salaries for entertainment positions on cruise lines vary, but you can expect to earn a minimum starting salary of $550 per week for dancers with several years experience. For seasoned dancers, the salary may start at $2,000 per week. In addition to a handsome salary, cruise ship entertainers travel free to exciting destinations. They also receive free accommodations and meals. Cruise ship entertainers are eligible for health insurance and free air travel to and from the ship.
If you plan to search for ballroom dance couple positions on your own, visit Cruise Ship Jobs online. Here, you can download the 2010 cruise ship employment guide; you can read through cruise line profiles; you can find out which ships are hiring and for what positions — and you can even apply for a cruise ship job right online. Please note that this website charges a fee. You can avoid paying “fees” by locating your cruise line of choice by using the Ships and Cruises Directory. The Ships and Cruises Directory offers a list of cruise lines around the world, official contact information, and official email and website information.