Updates….last night we played a show with Australian pianist Bernard Walz, and it was the most fun show we’ve done in a while. It was pretty challenging, and he is one of the best all-around musicians we’ve had in a while. He arranges his own music, writes for all the instruments, does a darn good job of it – his arrangements are really really good. Not cheesy at all. He’s been on the cruise since it began, so I actually got to know him a bit before we played his show. He’s a fantastic pianist, and I enjoyed talking with him during the cruise. The show was hard, and I definitely missed some stuff, but we did very well and had two great performances. I hope we get more shows like his – fun and challenging.
Today I spent the day with my Lake Arrowhead friends on board, walking around Rhodes for most of the day. It was a relaxing time – we did a lot of shopping. We also went inside the Grand Master’s Palace in old town, which I’ve never done. It was pretty cool. I’ve never been in an old castle that big before. It is all stone, with big arches and an inner courtyard, a whole lot of rooms to see, high ceilings, tapestries, the whole nine yards. What else….we ate at a nice outdoor garden café, and Dave found a kitten that had a hurt eye and cleaned it up a bit and gave it water…I felt really sorry for it. It was really cute though, except for the eye. Anyway, hopefully it will heal now. Maybe I’ll see if I can find it next time we’re here. See how it’s doing.
I came back to the ship a bit earlier than my friends did in order to rest, change, and get ready for my jazz set. I also went and saw the first of the cast’s Rock and Roll show so I could video tape my neighbor Megan – she is putting together a dance audition video. After that I ran straight to play my set – which might have been the best yet. It was really fun and I played alright. My jazz improv is slowly improving…ha ha. I will miss sharing sets with Marie. Maybe the new guy will share with me. But I guess its time I struck out on my own. Yikes! In between sets a lady came up and asked if her husband could play the piano. He is a blind man from Mexico who I’ve seen at our other sets as well. He sat down at the piano and destroyed it. As in, he was really really good. He just played from memory for about 20 minutes, and wow, could he play. We joked that we should just leave him there and take the night off. He was really amazing, and it was a great moment to watch him play, sunglasses and all. An Australian man also came and talked to me for a while after the set. It is always nice to have someone who takes an interest in us like that.
Well, it looks like we have the day off tomorrow, which will be great! We already have big plans, which hopefully will work out the way we want. I’ll let you know!
Mont Blanc
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Monday, October 1, 2007
A lot of changes
Hi everybody! I know its been a while since my last post, and people have been telling me I need to post more often, so I will do my best to comply! Starting today. :-)
This cruise I had quite a surprise - two couples from Lake Arrowhead are on board! Not only do I know them, but they actually went to my church growing up and have known me since I was about six. (Jim and Linda Underwood, and Mary and Dave Underwood) They had no idea I was on a cruise ship, and just recognized me during one of the shows. It was such a surprise to turn around after a show and see them there!! It is really cool to have people from home on board. I have eaten lunch with them and gone on a tour in Istanbul with them as well. Hopefully we'll get to spend a bit more time together before the cruise is over. At the moment they are over seeing Ephesus - I know they are going to love it.
I can't remember if I mentioned that we have a new cruise director, so forgive me if I'm repeating myself. Cruise Director is my highest level supervisor, and so having a new one on board changes a lot since he is the head of the entire entertainment department. He's doing fine so far, but it is a totally different atmosphere on board than with Stewart, who was here ever since I got on board. Stewart was more social and friendly, more like an entertainer, where Martin is much more business-like with the guests and crew. A lot of things that Stewart did Martin doesn't care to do, so its very different. Not bad, just different.
Another big change - the Miami office has officially canceled the Broadway show, on every ship. We played our last broadway show a few days ago. I thought I was going to play that show until my last day here. But it has been totally canceled, as in all the sets have been destroyed, costumes returned, the new cast hasn't learned it because they won't be doing it, it will probably never be performed again. I'm a bit sad, actually, because that was one of my favorite things to do. And it means that the orchestra won't have any connection with the new cast, because we won't do anything with them at all, except for the 5 minute demonstration number at the welcome aboard orientation. Its funny, because we are supposed to be the theatre orchestra, and we play none of the production shows now. Apparently on other ships the orchestra does play the other show, but our stage is too small for us to do that. So from now on it will be all guest entertainers and jazz sets, and of course Big Band.
At least a dozen times a day, Marie gives me an update on her countdown. Right now we're at 5 days left for her. She is going to start packing tonight. Last night was her last big band night. Yikes! I'm sad for me, but I can't be too sad, because she is so happy about going home. Now that we have gone to Istanbul and are on our way back west, she really is technically already on her way home.
This cruise I had quite a surprise - two couples from Lake Arrowhead are on board! Not only do I know them, but they actually went to my church growing up and have known me since I was about six. (Jim and Linda Underwood, and Mary and Dave Underwood) They had no idea I was on a cruise ship, and just recognized me during one of the shows. It was such a surprise to turn around after a show and see them there!! It is really cool to have people from home on board. I have eaten lunch with them and gone on a tour in Istanbul with them as well. Hopefully we'll get to spend a bit more time together before the cruise is over. At the moment they are over seeing Ephesus - I know they are going to love it.
I can't remember if I mentioned that we have a new cruise director, so forgive me if I'm repeating myself. Cruise Director is my highest level supervisor, and so having a new one on board changes a lot since he is the head of the entire entertainment department. He's doing fine so far, but it is a totally different atmosphere on board than with Stewart, who was here ever since I got on board. Stewart was more social and friendly, more like an entertainer, where Martin is much more business-like with the guests and crew. A lot of things that Stewart did Martin doesn't care to do, so its very different. Not bad, just different.
Another big change - the Miami office has officially canceled the Broadway show, on every ship. We played our last broadway show a few days ago. I thought I was going to play that show until my last day here. But it has been totally canceled, as in all the sets have been destroyed, costumes returned, the new cast hasn't learned it because they won't be doing it, it will probably never be performed again. I'm a bit sad, actually, because that was one of my favorite things to do. And it means that the orchestra won't have any connection with the new cast, because we won't do anything with them at all, except for the 5 minute demonstration number at the welcome aboard orientation. Its funny, because we are supposed to be the theatre orchestra, and we play none of the production shows now. Apparently on other ships the orchestra does play the other show, but our stage is too small for us to do that. So from now on it will be all guest entertainers and jazz sets, and of course Big Band.
At least a dozen times a day, Marie gives me an update on her countdown. Right now we're at 5 days left for her. She is going to start packing tonight. Last night was her last big band night. Yikes! I'm sad for me, but I can't be too sad, because she is so happy about going home. Now that we have gone to Istanbul and are on our way back west, she really is technically already on her way home.
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