For all of you curious about the guitar player clip, watch this 😂. ukposts.info/have/v-deo/eWR0nYKjnaGAsX0.html

Having the ability to sight read music and play it exactly as written with almost no rehearsal time is a true gift. I've always been amazed by musicians who could do that well.

First indicator this isn't a good idea - stoked to return to Cleveland

When some guy parallel parks a cruise ship better than you can park a car

I remember from my Disney boat days. I had saved up over $12,000 cash during a 4 month contract. Meanwhile, most of the rest of the band members blew their pay at casinos and high end excursions, and only had their last paycheck left to their name. So when the contract ended, they were all desperate to jump into something else right away, while I took some time just traveling around the country for a couple of months.

Did the ship gig for 4 years. It's a completely surreal lifestyle once you're in it. You do a really great job of highlighting to pros/cons of it all. I think you have to be in your 20s to fully appreciate the gig for everything that it is, and that it teaches you about "professional" life as a musician. After rehearsing so proficiently on the ship all those years, rehearsals on land all feel painfully long now. I had the pleasure/displeasure of knowing a lot of older guys who did the gig for too long and got very dark about ship life. Your time there largely depends on the people you're surrounded by, and if you surround yourself with positive people it's easy to also be positive and happy all the time, instead of getting dark on the gig. Everyone wants to care about the music, and call "Bolivia" at the open sessions, but you learn to cater the guests and read the room (VERY important entertainment skill). It's a gig for young people to get their chops together and move on to something bigger and better.

That dude playing guitar at 6:40 freaking killed me!...I actually thought it was a comedy sketch at first...

For anyone considering a cruise gig you have to take the size of the ship into account. This dude works on a huge ship with tons of musicians and so he doesn't have to work very much. I'm currently on a small, luxury line with only a few musicians and we work 5+ hours a day.

"Got a nice steady beat goin..." enter guitarist.. "...The Beatles!" guitarist plays like he is just learning the song.... God I laughed out loud so hard my dogs were all like wtf??!! LOL!

You've effectively convinced me. I wouldn't tolerate this crap for a New York minute. Great video, bro.

David nice video, thanks for sharing. I worked on cruise ships for 5 years, and this brings back all the great memories (and the bad), the travel, the people, and the crew bar...wow good times. The money you can save is outrageous. I started out as a photographer, then worked in the gift shop, and finally a few years as art auctioneer (with passenger status). I met my wife on one of the cruises (she was a passenger), and we've been married 12 years now with 2 delightful daughters. Again, great video. You remind me of a few people I was friends with on the ships. Travel safe mate.

I was a vocalist onboard for Celebrity in the production cast. It was a lot of fun, and I always had a ton of sympathy for y’all as musicians. You’re a fantastic drummer. Congrats on finishing your contract, and good luck to you❤️

Lol nothing like a background 4/4 with a song gala of songs from a guy trying to show every one he can play all their favorites. But you kept it going.

David you are such a talented guy, numerous styles, different shows and artists. To read through, rehearse for an hour and play...that's Incredible

You're a fine, well-versed drummer. Enjoyed watching your playing clips! Best of luck with a continuing successful career!

cool video. thanks for posting. it brought back memories when i did the ship gig myself years ago.

Fascinating, thank you David, I have always been curious about how this worked.

Good drummer. I knew a guy who played on ships. Wild man and he loved every minute. Crazy guy. You also sound like you are having fun too.

Thank you for posting. This is good preparation for my planned retirement gig - "cruise ship gigolo".

MY MAN! Haven't watched this yet but i'm so stoked you made this!

Great video! We've played with tons of cruise musicians over the years and you guys are awesome and generous performers! It's nice to know what you go through when you're not around the shows!

Solid, descriptive and fun video man!

I was a regionally touring musician for some time and gave up music all together about 5 years ago. I can totally relate to your positive attitude about the experiences you're getting. Thanks for sharing your story, it's refreshing. (also a Cle native myself)

Dude, you are a GREAT player. Can't wait to see how far you go with this. Good luck to you. Really nice playing!

Great vid David, I worked about 6 ships as the ships DJ back in the day, you pretty much nailed it, look forward to more of your vids;

Did it for 5 years... was a great experience.

Not a drummer "guitarist", but I must say this was awesome to see how things work for musicians. You are living a fantastic experience as I'm sure you know already. Definitely beats playing the same venues in the same ol town for the same ol pay then sitting on the couch watching life pass you by. Well done.

Great post!!!! You are a fantastic musician and deserve all the perks in the world.

You are really talented. I love your passion and ability to play a variety of styles well.

So in other words... you got drunk and thought it would be a good idea to play drums at 4am TWICE! LOL

Lock this man up!!! He absolutely murdered that kit!!

Thanks for covering the basics I asked you to on another video but this was great thanks for sharing

Awesome video, please keep them coming. Fantastic drummer as well.

Nice job. I am also a drummer and worked several cruise ships starting when I was 18. This was before the internet. There were 4 or 5 bands on the first ship I was on and we would start a jam session after the last main show. We would play until 5-6 in the morning. Have breakfast and sleep until noon or 1 and then go out in port and rent motorcycles etc. Most of the time was spent with beautiful girls that were passengers and there were different ones every week. Playing jazz, traveling the world and making new friends. You are right! Great experience for playing shows. The only thing is there are not too many gigs like that on land now as there were years ago. I was fortunate to have my own cabin. So I could listen to jazz all day. One time on the way to get on the ship in Florida, I stopped at south of the border. They sell fireworks and they were in South Carolina. I bought a bunch of bottle rockets m80s etc. well 4th of July rolled around and the whole showband went on deck and we lit off all the bottle rockets from the top deck. Well.... at least 50 boats came to rescue us as they thought it was a distress call. We all got fined and confined to our cabins for a week.

so i found your channel from Gabe (drum beats online) and I have to say david that i have a ton of respect for you and A LOT of props to you for being able to sight read music and doing that with different genres all the time. that is flat out TALENT!!! no other way to put it. idk how you don't have atleast 100k subs!!! i love your channel and love the content!!!

You went straight metal on "Let The Sunshine In". I respect that.

Wooooooooooow, such a wonderful life experiences. Congratulations David!

6:41 That one friend you have that thinks he can play the guitar, but really he knows like 2 or 3 riffs and plays them completely off beat

Great vid and very accurate run-down of what the gig is generally like. I'm a drummer from Cleveland originally and worked on ships about ten years (several on Celebrity). I've seen your vids playing with big Mike and really like your playing. Wish I could have gotten a chance to hang in Cle with you. Looking forward to hearing what your next gig is.

Hey David that’s pretty cool. Thanks for making this video, I’ve always wondered what life would be like for a musician on a cruise ship. I’ve heard different horror stories about life on a cruise ship for a musician throughout the years but I just wondered how much of what I was hearing was true but seeing your video I got a much clearer perspective of what life would be like on a cruise ship for a drummer. Thanks for posting this again and I just subscribed. I look forward to seeing more of your videos in the future. 🥁

My wife and I took our first cruise this past summer. I was AMAZED how TIGHT the band (aka "Cruise orchestra") was for the different shows/genres that were played. With playing all the genres, styles, unexpected changes (when you may have committed your bloopers) REALLY gave you a solid all around background in not becoming a great drummer, but an ACCOMPLISHED percussionist. Good luck to you, I believe you are onto a very interesting and successful career!

DAVID!!!!! I'm so stinkin' proud of you!!! How sweet of you to include me in your vid!!! I love watching your life and career evolve!!! Love you!!! ❤️😘❤️

Great video, enjoyed it ! I'm a guitarist and always wondered what it would be like to play on a cruise ship. Now I know I never want to do it, lol. Way to go, You Rock !

Thanks for this post David. I was on the 'Mariner of the Seas' as part of a cocktail band, played with the same guys for 4 months and no need to sight read. However the perks were that, even though we were classed as crew, we weren't restricted as to where we could eat and got staff discount. great times.

Cheers David , thanks for the great video

Nice video - I've only done 4 contracts and they were nice and short on quite a posh ship. Enjoyed the clips from your gigs. Nice editing! And playing, obviously!

Excellent video and nice playing. Been a solo entertainer for RCCL, Norwegian, and Disney for years. Can't believe they pay us to do this. Lol. Subscribed. You've probably seen his channel but check out Where is Danny Black.

Hey David, thank you for this video. I just found you not too long ago on a video playing Church gigs. Later I watch one when you were at Berklee school of music. Then later I came across your other cruise ship video... Thank you for all your specific and detailed sharing. God bless you, you are a great drummer, take care, JCT:)

That cabin would be paradise for me. 😊 I need it dark for sleeping. Great vid. You’ll be working steady with your drumming and being a quick study.

You're such a good drummer!!

That Beatles, stones medley was blood curdling 😂

Great insight as to what a musician's life is like aboard ship. I spent 33 years in the Canadian military and had friends encourage me to do cruise ships after I retired. One of my good friends is a drummer and Berkley grad but much before your time. Another has been doing cruise ships as a drummer for years. Wishing you the best!

VERY GOOD OVERVIEW! I have seen several of these but yours seemed very accurate and thorough. Thanks. I do wish I had done this when I was younger. Now I am a passenger instead! Great playing, BTW.

First time watcher. Dude, sweet beats! We want you to come to Oregon and replace our drummer. You can break the news to him when you get here. Tell him you saw bigfoot outside and then point to the woods. He will run out to see and then you come inside and lock him out. Deal?

My buddy does a "dueling pianos" thing on ships - you may have run into him, Tommy Orr. He also just finished a Balkan and a Mediterranean cruise. Anyway, he says it is how you say it is but he gets out more. Maybe it's the cruise line but I'm pretty sure he can use anything the guests are using (the crowding issue stands, of course). But a deck chair outside or by the pool or hanging out with guests seems to keep him tanned.

David... loved the insights of your cruise ship experience as a musician... also thanks for the gift @8:39 of a brief view of the Baha'I Gardens and the bay from the slopes of Mt Carmel, Haifa, Israel... :>)

I really enjoyed this a great deal. Thanks for doing it.

Fuego❤️

Cool and informative. I was a contract bassist on Disney and Princess ships. But in the party bands, not the orchestra. I cant read a note...but I have a heck of an ear! You stressed the same things I would. Musos can eat at the buffet, and use the guest gym, except when crowded. Its all common sense stuff. It can be a lucrative gig if you are smart, and dont blow your paychecks at casinos and fancy restaurants in port. Eat on the ship, its FREE! Sheesh!

Excellent video, very informative-- seems like a cruise gig is an excellent way to build general drumming skills (beyond merely tech chops) like sight reading, real-time adaptability (e.g.: locking-in quickly with new musicians (or decoupling from them as was the case with the guitar guy). Great stuff man. Also-- I like the way you play.

Your Very talented brother. Thanks for the inside look.

Did you say Galactic!? Damn...they are righteous

You smile a lot when you talk

Wow! Your subject was far from my thoughts, but when I clicked on your video looking for a completely different subject, and began hearing you speak about your life as a musician on a cruise ship, your manner and personality grabbed my attention, I wanted to hear more and I did...very interesting life my friend, very interesting indeed, I don't even know you and I felt proud for you doing what you love, thank you for sharing...

FANTAstic video! Thank you, I'm a drummer an a great info! Big hug

You know why you work three hours a day?? Because you have a TALENT that nobody else has. And you should be proud. Sightread through for an hour and play 2 shows? Not many could do that.

My first cruise was with a mat. We did it on the cheap and had an internal cabin. It’s amazing what you don’t know about people until you share a small enclosed space with them, like, oh I don’t know, he has really bad guts and farts constantly. I swear he was the root cause of my asthma....

David Cola, I'm Arnie Odell, and I play the drums. This is this first I've heard/seen of you but I'm already a fan. You seem like a really cool dude and this video was fascinating. Thank you for sharing this insight into what a cruise ship musician goes through day to day. I come from a punk/metal background and I've never even thought about this side of a "touring musician". Truly inspiring man.

Bad ass for sure bro! Just got my first cruise ship gig, definitely following you for wisdom!

If anyone's interested in taking a contract with Carnival Cruise Line, I'll be posting some vlogs in the coming weeks and months about their cover band position. I'm in rehearsals right now so I am able to cover the entire process from start to finish.

I don't even play drums and I watched both videos. Fascinating.

What a great vid...Amazing blend of Music and Vlogs. I remember seeing that vid of the snare head breaking on Insta way long ago 😂😂

snare really POPS bro! Great chops and feel...sight reading spot on is killer...great job.

Oh my gosh as a musician 7:05 was the funniest thing Ive seen in a while. Im still laughing.

My name is David Cola, and I play drums *weird dab*

Hey David. Love your video of your cruise escapades!

You’re blessed David🤙

Man, your experience is exactly like mine. I played drums on NCL for a while, and had the time of my life! Can’t believe it’s been almost 10 years since my last contract. You’re lucky you got 10 days of rehearsals before your contract! I got zero rehearsal and got thrown into the show that most of the cast already had been playing for months on my first day! I have a wife and kids now, but it would be awesome to do another contract sometime. Keep it up David! I’m subscribed now.

Really informative video, man. And your playing sounds great. Did you go through one of the staffing agencies, or did you audition for one of the lines directly?

Just discovered your UKposts. I'm a music photographer on a major vacation destination on Maui & I meet a lot of cruise ship workers including musicians. Really great video. Looking forward to more. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 🌴 📸

Nice vid. I learned more about the differences between jazz, Latin, and rock drumming in that one section of your video than I've ever understood before. Nice work.

HAHAHA i used to work for celebrity ! When i saw Dom i laugh so much !!!

I had that gig in my late twenties, got laid a lot. Great memories.

I was performing on NCL Spirit for the last 3 months! Glad that you are taking other musicians into the world of a cruise musicians. Greeting from Texas! ✌🏼

Interesting video the fact that you play so many genres so effortlessly is cool.

I just subscribed to your UKposts channel. Really cool video!

Was Kimberly Nichole there? People usually work 11 to 12 hours in a ship. Incluide myself. To work 4- 5 hours it would be perfect.

again, I really dig your videos.....this is Greg from "The voice of the ocean' Alaska cruise September 20ish 2019......You do such a great job ....keep up the good work

Great video, I've had friends that have done this. And I've met drummers on cruise ships. Great insight. And Stanton is top notch! Great drum skills man.

DavidColaDrums Let's talk about...your ears. Do you wear ear plugs? Professional or just cheap foam ones? I looked for them, but couldnt see any. (But, I realise that they can be invisible in some cases.) I hope you do, because, if you have 3 hours of loud drumming EVERY single night, and do that for years, you will be pretty hard of hearing by the age of 35. You'll be straining to hear sibilance. (Also- look after the liver with milk thistle)

Worked for Royal Caribbean in the 90's. Your description sounds pretty accurate. It was crazy. Heinekens were seventy cents. The musicians are given a lot more liberties than some of the other employees. I wish I had taken it a bit more seriously.

It obviously takes a lot of talent, patience, and work to handle a gig like this. I've always been curious about how it works for the contracted ship musicians, so it's cool to hear it first hand from a drummer actually doing it. I'm sure it has it's moments but it appears that you're having more fun than not, so keep it up and enjoy your travels. Great drumming!

You keep saying "no sunlight" like I am not a vampire that loves conplete darkness in my room 24/7 Lol

Being a drummer is playing anything and everything. Starting with listening. But that's a hard lesson.

Thanks for the great post. I just want to tell you that I think you’re a hell of a good drummer. Thanks again.

Awesome your cool man lots fun around the workd God bless u I leave near Berklee

You have to learn 20 new songs a day? That's crazy.

7:00 guitar player is thinking "its the drummers fault."

I've played drums since 5th grade, in multiple hobby bands (nothing serious), and always wondered what it would have been like if I had applied myself seriously to a career. This video pretty much convinced me that (a) I had a long way to go to be qualified for it; and (b) the grind would have killed me. I got seasick just seeing the windowless room you're in -- seriously. And I probably would have walked offstage during the dude you're backing at 6:40. Wow. Anyway, great video man -- thanks for posting it up.

Thanks for sharing a bit of your life and life on a ship. P.s. you're an awesome drummer!