Let me begin this post with a very sincere apology.  It's been nearly a month and I am sorry if you felt I left you hanging.  The excuse, er, I mean my alibi is I was doing quite a bit of research on how to submit your audition packet.  A bit of traveling as well.  But a lot of research.  I promise.

The research paid off though!  A lot has changed since I last submitted an audition video.  Without taking too much time explaining it, let me just say my last submission was recorded on VHS tape.  Remember those?  I had to write all the address labels and return labels by hand.  With a Sharpie.  And go to the post office to have them weighed and stamped and mailed.  The good news is I got the job.  The even better job is how much easier the process to submit is now.

Indeed the world of auditioning via video tape has evolved dramatically since then and for the much, MUCH better I might say.  Everything, for the most part, is done online.  It is efficient, effective, and most important costs you little if not nothing to submit a complete package.  Also, your audition video won't get stuck in the VCR, won't warp, won't be erased, won't break, won't get lost, etc. etc. etc.

Hopefully you're working on your video because now that it has become so simple and easy to submit, you will and should want to send it out to anyone and anything you hear takes video submissions.  Even if you are able to attend a live audition, submit your material online.  I've yet to hear someone say they didn't get hired because the casting folks saw too much of them.

Let me reiterate the importance of going to a live audition.  Now more than ever, I believe the live audition is still the best way to be seen and be heard.  As easy as it is to submit now, you can bet everybody and their cat or dog or in my case, puppet (it's another story for a different blog) is auditioning on the world wide web.  I'm not suggesting that all of these people who are submitting are necessarily qualified for the job, but you can imagine the influx of submissions that casting people are receiving on a regular basis now days and how their inboxes are about to explode from the overload not to mention their brains from watching video after video after bad video. Therefore, I repeat, your best bet is to attend a live audition.

First step is to visit the cruise ship's audition/production website.  Find out if they are holding live auditions and when and where.  Then find the link that explains how to submit your video, head shot and resume.  It's that simple!  A click of a button and Boom! you've just auditioned.

***Be sure to read all of the material on these various websites before hitting 'submit' because each site is different in their audition submission procedures.  Some may only need you to download your video.  Some may require an online application to be filled out along with submitting your video.  Just be thorough in your reading and you'll be fine.***

Here is a brief list of web addresses you can check out:

Carnival Cruise Lines
www.carnivalentertainment.com

Royal Caribbean International
www.royalcaribbeanproductions.com/auditions

Princess Cruise Lines www.princess.com/employment/onboard_employment/information/entertainment/info/production_cast_members.html

Stiletto Entertainment (Holland America Cruise Lines) stilettoentertainment.com/cruiseship/videoaudition.htm

These are great sites to continually check out for audition information as they are constantly being updated.  Cruise ship companies can hold several auditions over the course of a year so stay up to date and be ready to audition when they come to your hometown or a town nearby.

Also, if you happen to have a friend, an acquaintance, maybe a family member, who works for a cruise ship company, be sure to mention to them your desire to perform at sea and your plans to submit your stuff to their company.  If they're comfortable giving your name or best case your video directly to the dude or the dudette who hires the talent, awesome!  You're best bet, whether auditioning live or submitting an audition video, is to know somebody who knows somebody who knows the guy or gal who hires talent.  It's like any job anywhere.  It's all about who you know.

Have fun!