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Special Semi Private Sailings?


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Buddies of mine in a Bruce Springsteen tribute band. Actually prefer them to Bruce... More accessible and no politics...  Any way... They are booked to be on an Oasis 7 night  next year as I take it a "private group" attraction.  They have been asking me about cruises and the stuff to do in the ports we visit in general. That I can help with. They sound blown away when I describe the size of Oasis. Their head man , Willy, is business savvy but asking certain questions I don't have answers to. The event must be booked through a specific agent. They are a little more than if guests booked themselves but they provide three nights worth of exclusive shows,  meet and greets, etc. On Matt's blogcast on FB tonight he explained that this is normal and provided explanations that I felt were very sound ones. One thing I didn't discuss with Matt that I was asked about by the band guys maybe you could answer. The booking agency is adamant that general public will have no access to any of the shows. I get that it keeps the "private part of this package exclusive" . It however limits exposure not only for the band but for the booking agents themselves...  Thoughts? Input? Info? 

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A friend of mine has had their sons do something like this on Liberty (country music sailing).  They have done it now for 3 yrs running.  Their fan base has increased ALOT from this exposure!  This past yr they were invited to sing at the Grand Ole Opry (prior to Covid).  

Just like anything else in life, people get curious about anything tied to "special" events.   Passengers will talk at Schooners, WJ, Solarium, etc. about the "special" show and meet/greets.  Other passengers will wonder how they got that opportunity and about the band.  Many passengers have Voom.  They will than look them up on line.  Hence, even if they are not seeing their show, their social media exposure will increase.   

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10 hours ago, deep1 said:

... They are booked to be on an Oasis 7 night  next year as I take it a "private group" attraction...The event must be booked through a specific agent...

Your buddies’  business relationship is strictly with the group organizer, the agent. It’s essentially a large group booking on Oasis, with extras thrown in for the agent’s clients (partial charter). This specialty group needs to be sold by the agent, not the cruise line. The agent has a deadline by which it must make a firm commitment to pay for the cabins it booked. It’s still too early for that. If the agent cannot sell the cabins that they’re hoping to commit to, they will cancel the group booking.

Given the cruising industry uncertainties moving into 2021, what does their contract with the agent say about cancelling the gig (both sides)? The agent may have a hard sell to meet the needed numbers to fill their cabins, especially if the cruise is scheduled for the early part of the year.

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When groups like this come on board, there is a lot of equipment, special events, swag, and probably the band is sailing for free (cause those going are paying for it in those higher prices).  Most groups centered on something like this would have a higher price.Total;y opposite of how Matt does a group.

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1 hour ago, Pima1988 said:

Just like anything else in life, people get curious about anything tied to "special" events.   Passengers will talk at Schooners, WJ, Solarium, etc. about the "special" show and meet/greets.  Other passengers will wonder how they got that opportunity and about the band.  Many passengers have Voom.  They will than look them up on line.  Hence, even if they are not seeing their show, their social media exposure will increase.   

Nailed it.  

If the band is concerned that these private events may limit their exposure, then they need to talk to their manager to make sure that their branding is at least obvious.  While Royal will have the venues marked as closed for a private event, there's no reason why the band can't attach a poster to that sign.  They may want to consider giving everyone that is part of a group an exclusive T-shirt, give them lanyards for their SeaPass cards that have a "VIP" pass attached with the band's name.  These little things will get noticed by other passengers and some of them will do a little bit of online research.

My question is that what does the band/booking agent want to gain from this?  A tribute band is a little bit different than a band that has their own original music that they are promoting.  

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Nailed it +1

Not to worry, if there is something I'm told I am not allowed to participate in my curiosity is peeked! I don't like missing out, so yes make it special, I will be on my voom searching like crazy.

For me being of a certain age, a great deal of the concert venue shows are cover bands as the real one's are not performing anymore. The years march on...

I recently saw Dennis Deyoung with his entourage as well as Don Henley, Joe Jackson and Deacon Fry, oh my word I felt like a teenager again. But if your group was say a great Eagles cover I would be researched and in search of the promotions person on the ship, most likely booking before I left the one I was on. Just speaking for me for the love of music, the exposure would pay off big time,

Signed,

I miss my music!

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1 hour ago, AshleyDillo said:

Nailed it.  

If the band is concerned that these private events may limit their exposure, then they need to talk to their manager to make sure that their branding is at least obvious.  While Royal will have the venues marked as closed for a private event, there's no reason why the band can't attach a poster to that sign.  They may want to consider giving everyone that is part of a group an exclusive T-shirt, give them lanyards for their SeaPass cards that have a "VIP" pass attached with the band's name.  These little things will get noticed by other passengers and some of them will do a little bit of online research.

My question is that what does the band/booking agent want to gain from this?  A tribute band is a little bit different than a band that has their own original music that they are promoting.  

They have been selling places out for 40+ years... Frequently doing casinos or big nightclubs...  Big following. There will be vip lanyards and stuff from what I gather...  It was the adding posters or things that mention them being aboard that I didn't know about... Wasn't sure if it was a "sterile" Private function only allowed to be displayed or if there could be little ways to let it be known they are there...

 

 

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On 7/8/2020 at 11:03 AM, deep1 said:

Wasn't sure if it was a "sterile" Private function only allowed to be displayed or if there could be little ways to let it be known they are there...

I'm sure they wouldn't have an issue with putting a poster up under the private function sign.  I doubt they will be allowed to put up posters anywhere else, so that's why I would suggest T-shirts and other things that are visible so other guests see the name over and over again.  You may want to suggest to the band that as part of the lanyard package for group members, that they get magnets for their cabin doors as well.  It will help the group more easily find their doors in the long hallways where doors look alike and it will also yet again be an advertisement for the band.  It doubles as a nice keepsake for those that go on the cruise as part of the band's group.

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1 hour ago, AshleyDillo said:

I'm sure they wouldn't have an issue with putting a poster up under the private function sign.  I doubt they will be allowed to put up posters anywhere else, so that's why I would suggest T-shirts and other things that are visible so other guests see the name over and over again.  You may want to suggest to the band that as part of the lanyard package for group members, that they get magnets for their cabin doors as well.  It will help the group more easily find their doors in the long hallways where doors look alike and it will also yet again be an advertisement for the band.  It doubles as a nice keepsake for those that go on the cruise as part of the band's group.

I have no problem wearing their band name t-shirt proudly... Gonna have a time with Hyperhot Fiancee doing the same... ?

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