Heading Out...
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! It has been a while since I've written. To tell the truth I go to rehearsals and come home and just want to veg out and do nothing but simple things. This has been the shortest and less busy rehearsal process I've been through with this company. It's weird. It was also the most stressful. When I arrived in October the story was that more singers were fired off the ships in 2007 due to various complaints. This cost the company quite a chunk of money since Holland America does not reimburse them if Holland America wants to get rid of someone and require a replacement. It's a mistake at Stiletto's expense. 
SO while I was there it was the beginning of their overprotective insurance that we're going to be okay out there. 3 vocal coaches, a dialect coach, a performance coach, the head of choreography and all shows and 3 director/choreography assistants saw me. All of which gave me different notes that sometimes coordinated with each other and most often clashed. The most helpful direction of course given on our last day by the head of choreography and all shows. On the last day. All the while after we learned something and ran it, we had a lot of people from the casting office come in and watch. After each run they would have a meeting. All the while I'm wondering if my job was okay with no real assurance. We're told in the beginning that positive reinforcement will not happen much. The people giving the notes are giving notes on ways to improve. If you don't get a note, you're in good shape. Although because of my need to please I would like to have such positive reinforcement one in a while instead of wondering what the meetings were all about. Oy!! SOMEONE to tell me "yes, you're right on the mark" or even doing better. Oh well. It's all over now. I'll be on my way to the ship bright and early on Saturday morning.
My time here in L.A. was short lived. My first outing was to West Hollywood to experience Halloween there with all the crazy costumes. We had intended to make it to a club, but it was so packed that after a long time of walking we thought we got pretty far, but instead only cracked the surface of the territory. We turned around fulfilled with what we had seen already and a cocktail in our system. I did make it to San Diego to see my best friend down there and even that was short. Wow. I was able to see 2 more friends in L.A., but like I said before, I didn't feel much like getting out after rehearsals because I was just exhausted.
We rehearsed 10am to 6pm, which was fabulous since we got to sleep in a little and then have somewhat of an evening. We worked during all daylight hours, which I liked since I was most alert then. This is a Vista class ship. These casts are put on a pedestal at Stiletto. It's weird, but they are. ALL singers get their own cabin and the singer/dancers don't dance so much. I almost just come on and sing a song and leave the dancing to the dancers completely in one show. It was strange to have SOO much down time. I dance quite a bit in the other show, but not as much as I'm used to. Another strange thing is that I'm only doing 2 shows. I'm used to doing at least 4. Quite a change. It will be good and relaxing though. A definite way to save money.
We did our usual Vegas trip to see the idol of Stiletto Entertainment that is Barry Manilow. When I was a kid I knew of his music and collected a few albums. I never thought I'd actually MEET him. Yes we took the bus down to Vegas bright and early on a bus that we had entirely to ourselves. We arrived in Vegas in the afternoon and began getting ready for cocktails and dinner.
We had a beautiful buffet and then enjoyed Barry's show in the third row. Then for the piece de resistance. We MET him. Yes we went backstage with special passes and he came back, said hello to us, and then took his picture with us. How cool. One of our dancers was so cute that she proceeded to sing one of his songs to him that just happen to be in one of our shows. 
She was doing some small choreo and singing the song to him and his response was "Yes I know, I wrote it!" A funny moment. We then went out on the town first to the Venetian. We got there in style though. We hired a limousine. It wasn't just any limo though; it was a disco limo pumping with music, lights, and lasers. It was awesome! We stayed at the Venetian a bit before heading to the Rio. Some of our cast knew some of the Chippendale dancers so we were going to go meet them. We got there for a few drinks and then we met the dancers. How cool is that? It was in the V.I.P. room as well. Woo hoo. I was knocked out for the night and fell asleep hard core for the trip home. 
Now I'm here in Phoenix visiting my dad for the holiday. A calm before the storm. Once I leave here we have one week that will be purely exhausting before we are set to sail on our own. We have to stage everything on the sets with the costumes and technical elements. We have a girl who flies in our show. I've accepted the gig for a year so it's Caribbean and Alaska again. Whoa. My first Christmas at sea as well. A lot of new firsts. This will be my last one though for now. A friend told me that in today's market it IS a job to do at least until mid 40s. If NY for whatever reason doesn't work, then I know I can come back to the life of travel for a while. I'd rather do it on my own terms and in my own show, but I'd be happy with whatever comes up if need be. After I spoke with our performance coach some time ago (who is Barry's backup singer), she opened my eyes to this safe possibility. She said that she got Barry's gig on chance and even though she's Barry's backup singer, she enjoys it and has been doing it now for almost 4 years.
Hey, it pays well and no other regional theatre has been able to match her salary. I already know that regional theatres will not be able to match the benefits I get from cruising. I get my salary, plus if you figure in an additional $500-$800 I'm saving each week from rentals and food, I'm making a bundle! We both chatted about how people in theatre from on our line of work, but at least we're working and making some serious cash. The downside is the travel and the entrapment of being committed to that gig with the only leave time being in between contracts, but that's practically what I would get in a regional show or on the road with a tour anyway. I'm just seeing the world and singing lead material. Who knows where I'll be next. My plan at the moment is to finish the year, which ends next October and then make the move to NYC. I shall have some savings and then I'll have time to explore my options in the big apple. Right now it's off to fun and sun. I'll be on the elegant Westerdam, so come on out and see me if you can swing the bill for 7 days.
SO while I was there it was the beginning of their overprotective insurance that we're going to be okay out there. 3 vocal coaches, a dialect coach, a performance coach, the head of choreography and all shows and 3 director/choreography assistants saw me. All of which gave me different notes that sometimes coordinated with each other and most often clashed. The most helpful direction of course given on our last day by the head of choreography and all shows. On the last day. All the while after we learned something and ran it, we had a lot of people from the casting office come in and watch. After each run they would have a meeting. All the while I'm wondering if my job was okay with no real assurance. We're told in the beginning that positive reinforcement will not happen much. The people giving the notes are giving notes on ways to improve. If you don't get a note, you're in good shape. Although because of my need to please I would like to have such positive reinforcement one in a while instead of wondering what the meetings were all about. Oy!! SOMEONE to tell me "yes, you're right on the mark" or even doing better. Oh well. It's all over now. I'll be on my way to the ship bright and early on Saturday morning. My time here in L.A. was short lived. My first outing was to West Hollywood to experience Halloween there with all the crazy costumes. We had intended to make it to a club, but it was so packed that after a long time of walking we thought we got pretty far, but instead only cracked the surface of the territory. We turned around fulfilled with what we had seen already and a cocktail in our system. I did make it to San Diego to see my best friend down there and even that was short. Wow. I was able to see 2 more friends in L.A., but like I said before, I didn't feel much like getting out after rehearsals because I was just exhausted.
We rehearsed 10am to 6pm, which was fabulous since we got to sleep in a little and then have somewhat of an evening. We worked during all daylight hours, which I liked since I was most alert then. This is a Vista class ship. These casts are put on a pedestal at Stiletto. It's weird, but they are. ALL singers get their own cabin and the singer/dancers don't dance so much. I almost just come on and sing a song and leave the dancing to the dancers completely in one show. It was strange to have SOO much down time. I dance quite a bit in the other show, but not as much as I'm used to. Another strange thing is that I'm only doing 2 shows. I'm used to doing at least 4. Quite a change. It will be good and relaxing though. A definite way to save money.
We did our usual Vegas trip to see the idol of Stiletto Entertainment that is Barry Manilow. When I was a kid I knew of his music and collected a few albums. I never thought I'd actually MEET him. Yes we took the bus down to Vegas bright and early on a bus that we had entirely to ourselves. We arrived in Vegas in the afternoon and began getting ready for cocktails and dinner.
We had a beautiful buffet and then enjoyed Barry's show in the third row. Then for the piece de resistance. We MET him. Yes we went backstage with special passes and he came back, said hello to us, and then took his picture with us. How cool. One of our dancers was so cute that she proceeded to sing one of his songs to him that just happen to be in one of our shows. 
She was doing some small choreo and singing the song to him and his response was "Yes I know, I wrote it!" A funny moment. We then went out on the town first to the Venetian. We got there in style though. We hired a limousine. It wasn't just any limo though; it was a disco limo pumping with music, lights, and lasers. It was awesome! We stayed at the Venetian a bit before heading to the Rio. Some of our cast knew some of the Chippendale dancers so we were going to go meet them. We got there for a few drinks and then we met the dancers. How cool is that? It was in the V.I.P. room as well. Woo hoo. I was knocked out for the night and fell asleep hard core for the trip home. 
Now I'm here in Phoenix visiting my dad for the holiday. A calm before the storm. Once I leave here we have one week that will be purely exhausting before we are set to sail on our own. We have to stage everything on the sets with the costumes and technical elements. We have a girl who flies in our show. I've accepted the gig for a year so it's Caribbean and Alaska again. Whoa. My first Christmas at sea as well. A lot of new firsts. This will be my last one though for now. A friend told me that in today's market it IS a job to do at least until mid 40s. If NY for whatever reason doesn't work, then I know I can come back to the life of travel for a while. I'd rather do it on my own terms and in my own show, but I'd be happy with whatever comes up if need be. After I spoke with our performance coach some time ago (who is Barry's backup singer), she opened my eyes to this safe possibility. She said that she got Barry's gig on chance and even though she's Barry's backup singer, she enjoys it and has been doing it now for almost 4 years.
Hey, it pays well and no other regional theatre has been able to match her salary. I already know that regional theatres will not be able to match the benefits I get from cruising. I get my salary, plus if you figure in an additional $500-$800 I'm saving each week from rentals and food, I'm making a bundle! We both chatted about how people in theatre from on our line of work, but at least we're working and making some serious cash. The downside is the travel and the entrapment of being committed to that gig with the only leave time being in between contracts, but that's practically what I would get in a regional show or on the road with a tour anyway. I'm just seeing the world and singing lead material. Who knows where I'll be next. My plan at the moment is to finish the year, which ends next October and then make the move to NYC. I shall have some savings and then I'll have time to explore my options in the big apple. Right now it's off to fun and sun. I'll be on the elegant Westerdam, so come on out and see me if you can swing the bill for 7 days.
posted by Chris | 2:35 PM
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