Reading Party Band.
Our fleet-wide party band. A demanding reading gig that rewards you with consistent, professional work alongside outstanding musicians.
6 MusiciansSight-Reading Essential4–6 Month AssignmentsLarge Repertoire Covered
[ 01 ] — About the Role
This is a principal live band — a six-piece reading party band deployed across an entire fleet. Every ship has one. It anchors the onboard entertainment programme, and Sonic Artistes has built more of its operation around this product than any other.
The repertoire is broad: pop, rock, soul, funk, R&B, and chart material, performed live from professional musical arrangements. This is a sight-reading gig. Musicians who can play anything from a chart in front of them — and play it well, night after night — are the ones who thrive here.
The ensemble rotates as a unit: you rehearse together, travel together, and perform together across a multi-month assignment. We assemble lineups carefully to ensure musical and interpersonal compatibility, because the quality of the band matters as much as any individual musician within it.
Band Leader Note: One of the four reading instrumentalists in each band also carries the Band Leader title. If you have leadership experience and want to develop in that direction, make that clear when you apply. We have a structured progression pathway and actively look for musicians ready to take it on.
[ 02 ] — The Lineup
Six musicians. The four instrumentalists all read from charts; vocalists perform alongside the band.
Bass
Drums
Guitar
Male Vocalist
Female Vocalist
[ 04 ] — What We're Looking For
All Roles
- Strong sight-reading — non-negotiable. This band performs from charts every night.
- Proven experience in a professional live band context across multiple genres.
- Interpersonal resilience: living and working in close quarters with the same people for months is part of the job.
- Versatility across pop, rock, soul, funk, and R&B — the repertoire is broad and changes.
- Willingness to complete the seafarer documentation and certification process. We guide you through every step.
- The professionalism to represent Sonic Artistes and the client at all times, on and off stage.
- Experienced with in-ear monitoring and working alongside a live sound engineer.
Keys
- Confident reading across multiple styles and keyboard voices — piano, organ, and synth.
- Strong comping; ability to support vocalists and soloists without losing your own voice in the mix.
- Comfortable with a professional on-stage keyboard rig, monitoring, and line-out setups.
Bass
- Rock-solid time and feel — the bass-and-drums relationship is the engine of the band.
- Confident reading across a wide range of grooves and styles, under live performance pressure.
- Experienced in the live context: responsive, adaptive, and stage-aware.
Drums
- Musical, controlled reading with dynamic awareness — from ballads to high-energy dance material in the same set.
- Ensemble sensibility: this drum chair listens and supports as much as it drives.
- Consistent quality across repeated performances over a multi-month assignment.
Guitar
- Comfortable across rhythm and lead guitar within a reading context.
- Versatile tonal palette — clean, crunch, and appropriate effects across chart styles.
- Strong rhythm feel; collaborative player who works with the rhythm section.
Male Vocalist
- Wide range with genuine power and control — fronting a full live band nightly demands both.
- Compelling stage presence; ability to connect with a diverse crowd.
- Strong harmony skills: vocalists in this band perform two-part and three-part harmonies regularly.
- Vocal stamina to maintain quality over a multi-month assignment.
Female Vocalist
- Range, control, stage presence, and harmony ability — all essential at this level.
- Comfortable as a co-lead: both vocalists share front-of-stage responsibilities and must lead and support within the same set.
- Compelling stage presence; ability to connect with a diverse crowd.
- Vocal stamina to maintain quality over a multi-month assignment.
[ 05 ] — The Deal
These are employed positions. You work directly for the clients employment entity, under a Seafarers' Employment Agreement — not as a freelancer, and not through Sonic Artistes.
Assignment Length
Typically 4 or 6 months onboard, followed by a rest period. Exact length depends on ship scheduling and your availability.
Pay
Monthly consolidated salary via PAYE. Tax and National Insurance handled automatically — no invoicing, no chasing payments.
Accommodation & Meals
Accommodation, all meals, and laundry included onboard — no living costs during the assignment.
Travel
International flights and port hotel accommodation arranged and covered.
Medical
An ENG1 (or approved equivalent) seafarer's medical certificate is required. The company covers pre-employment medical costs and renewals.
[ 06 ] — Detail
What Life on the Ships Is Actually Like
This is not a holiday. You'll perform multiple nights per week, travel between ports, and share your working environment with your bandmates around the clock. The ships visit some remarkable places — from the Norwegian fjords to the Caribbean — but you're there as a professional musician, not a tourist.
For the right person, this is one of the most consistent and rewarding reading gigs available. You'll play with talented musicians in a well-organised, professionally run entertainment environment. Pay arrives reliably every month. Accommodation, travel, and meals are sorted. At the end of your assignment you come home having played several hundred live sets.
Musicians who thrive on ships genuinely love performing, can adapt their energy to the room, and understand that professionalism extends beyond the stage. If you can tick all of those boxes, the lifestyle tends to take care of itself.
[ 07 ] — How the Process Works
- 01
Apply and submit your showreel
Use the application form on our site. We review every submission and will be in touch if we think there's a fit.
- 02
Discovery call (optional)
A conversation with our team to understand your background, availability, and what you're looking for. We'll give you a clear picture of what working with us involves.
- 03
Audition
Async video submission, live online session, or in-person — format confirmed once we've spoken. Reading ability is assessed as part of this process.
- 04
Roster approval and document compliance
If approved and an assignment is confirmed, we guide you through the seafarer documentation process — passport, ENG1 medical, Bermuda ID, Seaman's Discharge Book, vaccinations, and more.
- 05
Assignment
Roster membership doesn't guarantee an assignment, but it means you're ready when the right opportunity arises.
[ APPLY ] — Next stage
Ready to Apply?
We review every application and respond to every musician who fits the profile.