A #1 Bestseller on Amazon! "Wow, you are really living the dream life!" Piano bar entertainers on cruise ships constantly hear those words and are considered to have one of the best jobs in the music business. That's because it's true! It's like every day is a Jimmy Buffett song with margaritas, island beaches, and blue seas. Who could ask for more? Cruise Ship Piano Bar Entertainers make great money, travel to exotic locations around the world for free, work with talented and attractive people, have food and lodging provided at no cost, and receive medical care without being billed. If that's not enough, these same lucky entertainers spend days relaxing in the equivalent of 5-star hotel resorts and hang out with friends every night being offered free drinks. And let's not forget that people drop handfuls of cash in the tip jar every night to hear their favorite songs! If you are a pianist-vocalist who dreams of having that kind of life, Dr. Gregg Akkerman has written the "how to" book you've been waiting for. The Author Walks the Walk! After a lifetime of working as a musician/educator/author, Akkerman is handing over all his prized experience for exactly what it takes to prepare for, obtain, and keep an awesome job as a piano bar entertainer. He's performed on hundreds of cruises for thousands of guests and knows every detail of the job. Now you can learn from the best, known among cruisers as Piano Dude Gregg, and start on your way to an awesome music business career. IT'S ALL HERE: How good you have to be to start How much money you can make Contacts at booking agencies A review of all the cruise lines What life is really like in the crew-only decks. You'll be provided a list of the exact job skills cruise lines are looking for as both a pianist and vocalist. But, more importantly, Akkerman gives you his secrets to winning over the crowd as not just a musician, but as an entertainer. There's also a list of over 300 songs you should know including the "Never-fail" top-50 and "Must-know" Big-10. You'll be shown easy-to-learn steps to learning songs faster, incorporating technology, what you need in your gig bag, and notated accompaniment patterns to create your own arrangements. To top it off, there are dozens of PROTIPS based on battle-tested years sitting at the piano bench surrounded by smiling fans having a great time. Even Non-Musicians Love It! There're pages of "behind the scenes" dirt on what it's actually like to live on a cruise ship and what the crew members really think of all the guests. You'll be the only one in the piano bar who knows what the entertainers truly feel about having to play "Sweet Caroline" for the millionth time! Your Career as a Piano Bar Entertainer is Waiting! Whether you're a beginning pianist, amateur performer, salty old pro, or a cruiser who simply loves the piano bar, you'll find all you could hope for and many unexpected surprises in this one-of-a-kind "how to" manual. Don't wait another minute to click the "BUY" button and begin your journey to the best job you'll ever have.

A comprehensive guide to finding the best paying gigs for musicians and singers, from their local area to the international stage. A music business veteran gives the inside track to creating a profitable career in the performing arts, from local bars to cruise ships. Includes interviews with successful musicians and enter-tainment directors who share their secrets in landing the best paying gigs. Also includes directories of resources for further research.

Bruns spills the dirt--or in this case, the dirty water--on those romantic, fun-filled vacations at sea in this hilarious chronicle of the year he spent working for Carnival Cruise Lines. In this breezy expos, readers go below the waterline, where the crew lives, eats, wars, and parties.

Whether you’re a veteran cruiser or have never set foot on an ocean-going vessel, this is the book for you. Up-to-date and comprehensive, it will guide you through everything from choosing a cruise to clearing Customs on your return. Cruise Vacations For Dummies 2005 includes information on: Getting the best deal (few people pay full boat; consider the brochure price like a “sticker” price) Choosing the best cruise for your interests, schedule, and budget Ways to make your cruise more romantic Planning a family-friendly cruise What to expect onboard—from cabin size to spas, sports, entertainment, and gambling Popular cruise destinations, including the Carribbean, Alaska, the Mediterranean, and more The major cruise lines and their vessels Mainstream ships, luxury ships, and alternative and sailing ships Cruise Vacations for Dummies 2005 was written by Jerry Brown and Fran Wenograd Golden; cumulatively, they’ve been on more than 100 cruises. Fran is a columnist for concierge.com and the Boston Herald travel section, and co-author of Frommer’s European Cruises and Ports of Call and Frommer’s Alaska Cruises and Ports of Call. With their vast cruise experience, the authors give you tips and tidbits on: Travel insurance, packing tips, passport requirements, tipping, and more Top attractions and best shore excursions at major ports of call Wining and dining (a main attraction in itself) Activities onboard The “Quick Concierge” appendix and comprehensive index help you find what you want to know fast.

This valuable guide assists you in selecting the ship best suited to your taste, advises you on how to prepare for your cruise, and explains what to expect once you are onboard. Stern discusses every major port of call worldwide, listing details on attractions, beaches, hotels, restaurants, shopping, sports, and other recreation. He also includes guidelines on how to make the most of an eight-hour stay in port.

Anton and Nina met in fairytale fashion while each was preparing for a highly regarded international competition in Moscow. They fell in love at first sight, engaged in an impulsive romance and were married in a matter of just a few months. After their graduation from the Moscow Conservatory, they soon discovered that the road to success is slow and has many perplexing hurdles. What becomes of Anton, a talented young pianist, when the bright artistic future that has been promised to him since childhood, fails to materialize? What surprises does life have in store for Nina who is a beautiful and talented young singer and an aspiring classical vocalist? Two years of drudgery, playing in small Russian cities for a modest salary and living close to the poverty line, convinces Anton that enough is enough. He decides to emigrate to Canada, where he is confident that the life of a musician would be much easier and vastly more rewarding. He eventually persuades his reluctant wife to abandon her own vocal career in Moscow and to emigrate with him. The new Canadian immigrants soon learn that the roads are not paved with gold in their adopted country either. Will they finally achieve artistic success in Canada or might they be forced to return to Russia? Will the couple's marriage endure? Music of the Wandering Stars is a tale of discovery, romance, and destiny. It reminds us all of the inner battle we all face with love and what it does to us.

Provides a comprehensive guide to careers in music, covering over 150 job classifications that contribute to the production or dissemination of music.