Wow. The last 2 weeks have been a whirlwind of rehearsals, performances, safety training, safety/environmental exams, fire drills, general emergency drills, and eating and sleeping when there is time. I was not prepared for the amount of work this has been, or the amount of sight reading involved. If it’s a sea day, we do 1 or 2 sets by the pool from the HAL Cats book which is like a “realbook” but for popular music. There are 300 charts in it. If it’s a port day, we play a “sail away party” by the pool. In the evening we may do a production show with the cast (there are about 6 different shows). All the charts are full of “brickwall” tempo changes, feel changes, accelerandos and ritardandos. It’s all played to a click. Oh…and prerecorded tracks (including FULL DRUMSET TRACKS!) It was not explained to me initially, I’ve had to figure it out but I am basically a prop. I am supposed to play extremely quietly (there is no plexiglass screen) but LOOK like I am playing at full volume. I also need to be RIGHT ON the click because if I am not, the cast (who can actually hear me) gets thrown off. To add to the fun, the MD is very new at her job and from South Korea. It is VERY difficult to understand her. And she has very little patience. We may also play with a guest entertainer in the evening. These can be pretty stressful too as we have just one rehearsal with them the afternoon of their show. We recently had a hammered dulcimer player who was a NIGHTMARE. Difficult charts (lots of “when I nod my head, the tempo changes” and also, very little patience. We were struggling to figure out what he wanted for an ending at one point & and he stood up, faced the band and said “You’ve got to be kidding me! No other Holland America band has had this much trouble!” This is when I started giving serious consideration to going home.
Things have gotten somewhat better. I am more comfortable with a portion of the book and the shows. Guest entertainers still give me anxiety. But just as I was getting into the swing of things, we got to Ft. Lauderdale and many of the people I had become friends with left the ship.
Anyway, I am in Aruba. It is the first time I have had several hours to myself off the ship. It has been splendorous. I am in a Dunkin’ Donuts drinking a local beer called Balashi. Favorite moment of the day so far: the handwritten sign at one of the shops that read “If you breaking, you pay it!”
I guess the entertainer tonight is a juggler/comedian. I have no idea what to expect.
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