A floating festival

Tod Elmore is a partner in Sixthman, which produces music cruises. Here is some useful info if you want to do it yourself

Charlotte Observer | 01/07/2007 | He joins bands with fans, then sets sail:

Q. With megaships, can you do megabands?

The business model doesn't lend itself to superstar acts. There are only so many beds on a boat.

If Dave Matthews played Charlotte's Verizon Amphitheater, they'd probably gross $700,000 to $900,000 and net half a million.

On a ship, for a band to net that kind of money, we'd have to charge $3,000 a head.

Also, a cruise takes three to six days off their working calendars plus travel days to get to the ship and back. All that time, they could be elsewhere making money.

Q. On the ship, are the musicians your employees?

They're hired talent.

...

Q. What's the hardest aspect of pulling this off?

"We like to work a year in advance: It takes 14 to 16 months to pull this off right. We're already three months into January 2008 -- we picked the ship, looked at destinations and so on.

"The one thing we haven't done is secure artists: Most simply can't do that 14 months in advance.

...

Q. Who exactly goes on these cruises?

We know the Rock Boat audience well; when we get home from the cruise we survey them, and get a 70 percent response rate.

The average dude is 34 and single and in some regards is white collar. The "dudette" is 29 and single and in middle management -- an administrative assistant or a schoolteacher; there aren't a lot of Donald Trumps in this crowd.

music festival
live music
cruise