Responsible for developing and maintaining a customized onboard headliner entertainment and live music experience that will differentiate the brand in the cruise industry. Responsible for maximizing guest satisfaction (ensuring optimum value for money vs. our annual budget), maximizing onboard revenue opportunities as it pertains to guest entertainer products and leading the charge in driving global entertainment vendor awareness and interest in our brand, and expanding our reach with agents and performers worldwide. Responsible for the annual budget, scheduling, sourcing, curating, and booking of our brand differentiating Headliner & Live Music Program and leading the team that supports these tasks for the Royal and Azamara Fleet. Responsible for writing SOP and SQM documentation to support the fleetwide Headliner and Music operation. Communicate with internal departments shipboard and shoreside for the required support of the various strategies and initiatives that are put in place. In addition to maintaining already existing relationships, the position is responsible for establishing and building new relationships with theatrical agents, partners and vendors. Needs to build strong internal relationships to ensure support to enable successful implementation of both existing and new entertainment programs fleetwide.
Career Snapshot
Customize a successful, brand differentiating Headliner and Live Music Program for the Royal and Azamara Fleet.
Create the overall schedule based on itineraries, ship class, voyage length and guest demographic.
Source, cast and schedule all guest entertainers including Variety, Headliner, Comic, Specialty, Vocal, Tribute, Aerial, Instrumental, featured cast acts and live music acts and oversee the team that support these tasks.
Responsible for monitoring shipboard and guest feedback via the EMS and Medallia reporting systems and regularly distributing trends, feedback, and per agency share of our business.
Manages the Entertainment Management System (EMS) to develop the plan for the $40M annual budget to ensure each ship exceeds guest satisfaction targets and meets financial budgets.
Oversees all EMS database enhancements with software developer.
Communicates directly with shipboard management teams including Cruise Director, Cruise Producer, Stage and Production Manager and Musical Director to maintain the integrity and quality of all entertainment programming across both programs.
Responsible for the overall contracts, insurance, travel, documentation and logistics for all entertainers and musicians and the team that supports these tasks.
Create efficiencies, processes and systems that streamline and enhance the overall entertainment and live music programming.
Develop strong relationships with theatrical agencies to maximize all resources in order to curate a brand differentiating, first-in-class Headliner and Live Music Program, establishing new alliances and industry-first partnerships to enhance this goal.
Drive and hold responsible all agents for delivering value for money, a high level of customer service (RCI being the customer), and increasing their accountability to our brand for the quality of the performances (and the behavior) of the respective artists that they represent.
Travel to ships to provide support and control quality as needed and to review Headliner and Live Music Program on a per ship basis.
Also required to set up and/or attend entertainment showcases, festivals, shows, auditions etc. as part of the strategy of sourcing brand differentiating talent with the goal of enhancing and innovating the Headliner Program.
Will participate with other entertainment leadership members in the overall development of new concepts that relate to any and all areas of entertainment, not limited to the Headliner and Live Music Program.
A minimum of five years in Show Business is required.
Talent sourcing and/or casting or talent scheduling experience is required.
A deep understanding and experience in theater and/or studio environment is required.
Proven success in relationships with leading theatrical agencies must be demonstrated. Bachelor¿s Degree in Entertainment, Theater, Production, Event Planning, Leisure Studies, Recreation, and Communication is preferred.
Shipboard managerial experience in the Entertainment Department is preferred.
Experience as a performer, in front of live audiences (and therefore having a profound understanding of the complexities and idiosyncrasies of the performing arts) is preferred.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Excellent interpersonal and written skills.
Computer skills
Travel required
