The Gig:
The Music Program Manager is instrumental in ensuring Virgins unique sonic design is carried out day in and day out. They are responsible for all elements of the vessel's music programming including Live, Electronic, and Background Music both on our lady ships and at our private beach club. They also supervise and mentor our team of LES technicians.
The Music Program Manager is in charge of an always rotating cast of musicians and DJs. They will build out the daily schedule (grid) with the assistance of Ship and Shore management. The Music Program Manager will spend time researching, listening to, and speaking with each musical act so they can pair them with the best venue/ time of day to enhance the Artist AND Sailor experience.
The Music Program Manager will hold the musicians and DJs accountable regarding time management, stage presence, and overall culture fit. In addition, the Music Program Manager will own all Background Music ensuring the correct playlists are playing at the correct volume throughout the day throughout the vessel.
What You'll Be Up To:
- Responsible for the daily smooth operation of the onboard music program including all musicians, DJs, and background music, per the direction of shoreside and onboard leadership
- Works with shoreside and onboard leadership to create live music and DJ schedules that align each artist's unique style with the proper time, venue, staffing, and programming needs of the ship
- Holds Musicians and DJs accountable making sure they look and sound their best on stage, show up on time, and maintain Virgins creeds when interacting with our awesome Crew and amazing Sailors. Documenting all discussions (topics including growth, corrective action, etc.) in the process.
- Actively present during soundchecks, installations, performances, call times, and changeovers to ensure the program is running smoothly
- Owns all Background Music ensuring the correct playlists are playing at the correct volume throughout the day throughout the vessel through a pre-defined schedule of BGM Walks
- Acts as the main onboard point of contact for all musicians and DJs advancing all technical, marketing, and rider information directly from the talent and Support Ship to the proper individuals onboard
- Calls Musician and DJ rehearsals, technical rehearsals, and put-ins as needed
- Sends show reports to shipboard and shoreside teams
- Supervise technical crew to ensure the Artist's needs are supported, our stages sound and look their absolute best, and our gear is in proper working order. Documenting all discussions (topics including growth, corrective action, etc.) in the process
- Owns all music equipment inventory onboard by maintaining the inventory list, monitoring equipment for damage and arranging repairs with the assistance of shoreside as needed, keeping track of items loaned to musicians during their time onboard, and oversees the supply and ordering of Music related consumables
- Assists in the scheduling of select shipboard venues for rehearsals, meetings, and other events
- Attends department meetings, as needed
- General safety duties, as dictated by the Safety Officer onboard
- Embodies the Virgin brand with passion and joy
- Other duties, functions, and responsibilities as assigned
Superpowers Required:
- Minimum of two years experience working in a music venue in production or audio
- Have a passion for music as well as an understanding of various genres and what they sound like in their most basic form. In the Live world, this includes Rock, Pop, Funk, R&B, Soul, Reggae, Latin, and Blues. In the DJ realm, the candidate needs to understand the differences between House and Open format Music. Additional knowledge of other DJ styles such as Balearic, Dance, and Reggaeton/ Latin will help in this role but is not required
- Understand various musical instruments, their place on stage, and the genres of music they represent including drums, guitars, basses, horns, pianos/ organs, loopers, guitar effects, percussion, and DJ equipment. They should be able to identify equipment that is not working properly and be able to bridge the gap between musicians and technicians to ensure all music gear is operational and performing/ sounding its best on stage
- Have a basic understanding of the technical needs of musicians including basic EQ, monitors (in-ear and wedge), cabling and direct input boxes, and microphone placement so they can easily communicate the Artist's needs with stage technicians at the very basic level
- Excellent organizational skills and ability to juggle several operations at once
- Strong knowledge of key business tools (MS Office, Google Apps, etc.)
- A self-starter, who can roll up their sleeves and make ship happen with little supervision
- Great energy and attitude of optimism
- Ability to move mountains without relying on others to do the heavy lifting
- Ability to move seamlessly between leading and being a member of a team
- Event management experience is a plus
- Cruise ship experience is an asset, but not required
- Work experience outside of the United States, in cross-cultural settings, preferred
- Ability to work in loud, disruptive spaces and outside in the sun
- Conversational English is required
What Matters to Us:
At Virgin, your personality matters as much as how good you are at what you do. We want you to bring it to our hang out spot and help make the place even better. So, we wont be surprised to hear that when people talk about you they say you are clever, on top of it, able to think ahead, intuitive, passionate and someone people respect and enjoy working with because you make things happen.
