| Maiden Voyage: November 21, 1999 Passenger Capacity: 3,114 (But somehow we have over 3,200 this cruise...hmmmm) Godmother: Katarina Witt Gross Tonnage: 138,000 Length: 1020' Max Beam: 156' Draft: 29' Cruising Speed: 23.7 knots Tonight marks a very special occasion for me. I will perform for the first time in a real orchestra pit. It seems funny that I've never actually had the opportunity to do so before. The show is called Music in Motion, and during our tech run this morning I concealed my excitement from my more experienced fellow musicians as I opened the door to the pit, a story below the theater floor. It is exactly like the one that I remember at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles, which I used to lean over and look in admiration at the musicians below. I almost got a little emotional today. Much to my shock a few minutes into the opening number the pit began to rise....we are alternately rasied and lowered during the show, so we are at times in view of the audience right on center stage. There is a strip of stage a few feet wide at the very front of the stage, making a half circle, so the performers are there in front of us, and also a strip of stage that comes up when we do so that the singers actually walk right in between the two halves of the band, when just our heads peek above ground level. At times there are performers all around and above us. It is something to see, I'm sure. The show is probably the most professional looking (set and choreo-wise) that I've done on ships - I guess bigger can be better. I can hardly wait for tonight. I know this will probably get old, but tonight I will be savoring the moment. |
Mont Blanc
Friday, October 9, 2009
Ship Specs and Second Show
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
First couple of days
Hello everyone - just letting you know that I've arrived in one piece to the ship, and have made it through my first couple of days here.
The Voyager is HUGE and beautiful. I have hardly even seen any of it yet, but I've been impressed by what I have seen. The band is 9 piece - two trumpets, 2 saxes, piano, bass, drums, guitar, and me of course. Its already been fun to play with such a big band. I won't go into detail about the players yet, because I haven't really gotten to know them yet. I did get to go out for pizza today in Naples with a few of the guys, though, my first real social interaction since I've arrived. I've been a bit busy with training and settling in, but I know I'll know everyone well enough very soon. I am the only girl in the band again. Apparently I just missed a girl drummer, but her replacement signed on when I did. So I'm roomed with a girl named Sandra, from Colombia, who is the Spanish Hostess on board. She'll be here until we stop sailing from Barcelona, which means I get the bottom bunk in December - Yes!!
Other fun things about this ship and the band in particular - we get personal Aviom systems (expenisive equipment which means we each have control of a personal mix in our own headphones, no need for moniters), and I have a little mic that clips on the bell of my trombone, so I don't have to worry about playing into a mic or arranging a mic stand so it isn't in my way. Working in a real theater is nice as well, the theater was make-shift on the Majesty. Its also a nice change from Continental tour to be able to show up to the gig and have everything already be set up for you, music stands, mics, avioms, stand lights, etc...even a spit rag is there waiting for me (aren't the techs thoughtful?). :-)
So far I've played a welcome aboard show, a big band set, a broadway show, and tonight a vocal impressionist. Since we have week long cruises, things will soon settle into a routine, so I'll explain more about all that later. I've also been told that we almost always have a night off every week. Hooray!
Well, thats all for now. Myfingers are tired from pushing the keyboard letters so hard on this ship's computer. :-)
The Voyager is HUGE and beautiful. I have hardly even seen any of it yet, but I've been impressed by what I have seen. The band is 9 piece - two trumpets, 2 saxes, piano, bass, drums, guitar, and me of course. Its already been fun to play with such a big band. I won't go into detail about the players yet, because I haven't really gotten to know them yet. I did get to go out for pizza today in Naples with a few of the guys, though, my first real social interaction since I've arrived. I've been a bit busy with training and settling in, but I know I'll know everyone well enough very soon. I am the only girl in the band again. Apparently I just missed a girl drummer, but her replacement signed on when I did. So I'm roomed with a girl named Sandra, from Colombia, who is the Spanish Hostess on board. She'll be here until we stop sailing from Barcelona, which means I get the bottom bunk in December - Yes!!
Other fun things about this ship and the band in particular - we get personal Aviom systems (expenisive equipment which means we each have control of a personal mix in our own headphones, no need for moniters), and I have a little mic that clips on the bell of my trombone, so I don't have to worry about playing into a mic or arranging a mic stand so it isn't in my way. Working in a real theater is nice as well, the theater was make-shift on the Majesty. Its also a nice change from Continental tour to be able to show up to the gig and have everything already be set up for you, music stands, mics, avioms, stand lights, etc...even a spit rag is there waiting for me (aren't the techs thoughtful?). :-)
So far I've played a welcome aboard show, a big band set, a broadway show, and tonight a vocal impressionist. Since we have week long cruises, things will soon settle into a routine, so I'll explain more about all that later. I've also been told that we almost always have a night off every week. Hooray!
Well, thats all for now. Myfingers are tired from pushing the keyboard letters so hard on this ship's computer. :-)
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