Thursday, August 12th
Dear Diary,
We leave Los Angeles tomorrow, on Friday the 13th, a fitting day for us to fly, if you ask me, but no one’s really asking…I’m pretty much offering up the information.
Oh Diary, I’m so scared, well, excited and scared, it’s a whole new world, a whole new dazzling point of view – how many song quotes can I fit into one sentence? – I’m so excited! (for the record, that’s three.)
I’m all packed and ready to go, I wish we could’ve left today so we could’ve had some time in Seattle to get necessity shopping done but I’ll make do, it’s what I do.
I think I’ll get a manicure today, I can’t get on the Boat with rough paws, can I?
Best,
Vinnie
Friday, August 13th
Dear Diary,
We flew at 6:00pm – LA to Seattle – from my seat in First Class – again an upgrade was as economical as paying for my luggage and it’s overweight charges, I couldn’t not go First Class – I could actually see the Dorm get smaller and smaller, ugh, I hope I never see that place again!
It was an uneventful flight except for when my seat mate, a traveling nurse, offered me a Percocet! I politely declined and instead ordered another free Bloody Mary.
Getting to the hotel from the airport was quite the adventure in and of itself; two hotel shuttles drove past us and all our luggage before one finally stopped; and when it did, it left a few of us behind. They were forced to wait for the next one but they ended up taking a taxi and beat the rest of us there by almost twenty minutes! After checking-in, around 10:45pm, and getting our free hot cookie, we made a Walgreens run to stock up on toiletries – it wasn’t sensible to pack body wash and other heavy personal items into our already overpacked bags, we’re working on a Boat, not leaving the civilized world – over a hundred dollars later and a trip to the lobby bar for a nightcap it was time for bed, in fact it was past time for bed. Calling the front desk to request a wake-up call for 5:00am at 2:00am is hard to wrap your brain around but falling asleep was hardly an option… the excitement of a new adventure was pumping my body full of adrenaline.
Well, that’s enough for tonight, Diary, Auntie’s reals tired…
I remain,
Vinnie
Saturday, August 14th:
Dear Diary,
My wakeup call came at 5:00am as requested. Three hours sleep is never enough, but I did it when I was younger and I’ll sure as hell make it work now. But one question, “Where’s the coffee?” I’m glad I decided to shower before bed – side note: that was the last day I’ll have a roommate, and while I had a great one, it’ll be fantastic to have a room to myself again, I’m all grown-up you know…
I’m outside with over fifty others with a year’s worth of luggage waiting for the crew bus at 6:00am.
We leave the hotel 6:45am.
It was hard staying awake but the butterflies in my stomach were doing a great job of keeping me from napping during the ride… as the bus pulled up to the Boat, and I’m talking right up to side of the Boat, I began to feel overwhelmed.
After a quick talk from the personnel manager and passing through the metal detectors we went up the crew gang plank. The first thing to do? A safety meeting, before anything else; when you’re on a Boat, it’s very, very important to know all the safety procedures, they test you when you’re new in fact, every available chance they can. All newbies were given a form with which they’re required to get signed off by various officers as we checked-off what was required of us, getting our name tags and ID badges, taking environmental tests, turning in our medical forms and proof of vaccinations, etc., etc.
I’m on the Boat – and to be honest Diary, there were a few days back there when I didn’t think I was going to make it this far – now, I’m moved into the cabin I’ll be living in for the next nine months, I’m unpacking and pretty much trying to get settled and for the first time is all feels real and more importantly, worth it and just right.
I’m living on a floating island, a moving city. Everyone else in the cast is in the theatre blocking the opening night bumper – I’m not in it – so I’m in my room cabin unpacking and getting settled.
We start rehearsing the Standard Show at midnight, I wonder if I can get a nap in?
I need to get myself to a Target and reals fast! When do we dock?
With excitement,
Vinnie
Sunday, August 15th
Diary, My Dear, Diary,
I fell like Madeleine, living at the Plaza. I don’t need to cook, I don’t need to clean my bathroom or make my bed or vacuum my carpet. Everything’s laid out for me, they won’t even let you “self-serve” on the Lido Deck for lunch or dinner for the first two days of the voyage to help combat the “norwalk” GI infections which apparently strike big Boats on a regular basis. I got my name tag and my cast member ID card, I’ve gone through all the new hire meetings and safety demos and now it’s time to put up the Standards Show.
Over the course of one day, we had a blocking rehearsal, a “heads and feet” tech and a full dress run, (tomorrow we do one more dress with the band.) Because we’re on a full Boat and there are other activities happening all over including the theater we can’t get rehearse during normal hours so it’s a lot of early mornings and late, late nights.
I’m still making my cabin as homey as possible, but haven’t had the chance to meet my cabin steward. I’d like to know who’s coming into my room cabin. I’d also like to let him know how I’d like things done, I’m a little OCD and I like things done a certain way…I mean, really, Diary, I’m very low maintenance and if things are done my way, there’ll be no problems.
I’m still,
Vinnie
Monday, August 16th
Diary Dear,
It’s a show night. Two shows in fact – we do two shows a night, 8pm & 10pm. Our theater holds 800 people – our passenger compliment is 1500, therefore the need for two. But the shows are just under an hour so it feels more like a first and second act with a reals long intermission.
During the Final Dress with the band the Boat docked in the capitol of Alaska. (That’s Juneau, if you didn’t know, I try to teach, it’s what I do.) The rumor is, if we do a good job, they’ll let us get off…
We did a good job!
We’re getting off the Boat! Whoo Hoo!
First stop, Terry’s King Crab Shack for crab bisque, legs and cakes – as Rachel Ray would say, YUMMO!
The second stop was Fred Meyer’s – it’s supposed to be better than Walmart, but, really, not so much – to pick-up almost $200.00 worth of “necessities.” I swear, I needed everything I bought, well maybe not the black, leather-ette storage ottoman but, really, everything else!
I finally met my cabin steward, his name is Mouss’f ”…but you can call me Max if you can’t pronounce Mouss’f … most guests can’t.”
I’m not ‘most guests.’ I’ll call him Mouss’f.
To insure good service, I tipped him twenty bucks and so far I’ve gotten everything I’ve asked for; from extra boxes of facial tissue to a guest chair, door stop and second trash can. He’s great, there’s something to be said for coming into your room cabin after a long day and having the bed made and fresh towels – these first two weeks are the “long days” afterward it’ll be smooth sailing.
The show was a smashing success. The audience response was amazing. My cruise-ship debut was great. I think the cast chemistry really makes any cheesy-factor disappear as we really look like we’re having fun up there because we are. The second show was taped and we were told the powers-that-be back in LA will be very happy with our final product.
It’s taken me a few days to get used to the rocking and swaying of the ship while walking – or singing on stage – but when getting ready for bed there’s nothing like it. It feels as if you’re being rocked to sleep, it may take me a little time to get used to sleeping without it when I get off..
As always,
Vinnie
Tuesday, August 17th
Dearest Diary,
I’m starting to feel a wee bit rundown.
The days are running together – immediately after the Standards Show at midnight, we started blocking the Duets Show. I’m going to need to start wearing a watch – the duty and tax free store on board is wicked-awesome, mayhaps I get one in the ship, I’ve already bought some cologne, Burberry Sport, it’s very manly, just like me – since boarding, I never know what time it is.
Today was the first day we had some rough seas, which isn’t bad it feels as if I’m a baby being rocked to sleep but when I’m trying to be funny on stage or walk to the Lido Deck it’s just one more thing I have to keep in mind… “Must stay upright.”
I finished getting all the signatures on my nee-op card – tracking down some of the officers wasn’t as easy as I thought it’d be; since I’m new to the Boat, I didn’t know where everyone’s offices were – I guess that’s one of the reasons they make you do it, so you can learn where everything is…
Diary, this week is all about napping; the schedule is so messy the-powers-that-be give us breaks just for that purpose. Since there’s no porthole in my cabin (finally got that right…) – as I fix it up it’s becoming more and more a studio apartment, I’m going to start calling it “My Flat” – it’s real easy to sleep, a flick of a switch and it’s nighttime all day long.
We’re putting up the Duet Show today – I haven’t had much time off – but to be honest, it’s still better than waiting on tables or slinging drinks!
Exhaustedly,
Vinnie
Wednesday, August 18th
Diary Dearest,
On today’s agenda, a Duets Show full dress with the band in the afternoon and two shows tonight. I wonder how my number will go with the live band since I’ve been doing it with just a piano or a cappella… and I’ve never done it with a real audience member
Be right back.
My goodness, I love working with professionals, the band killed me with the way they backed me up and followed me everywhere I led them and again, my leads knocked it outta the park, tonight, I’m sure it’s gonna be awesome.
BRB, nap-time.
I feel like a cat; sleep, eat, poop, play, repeat.
Just like I predicted, the show was a huge success, The first passenger I pulled up was named ‘Love’ and from Russia – I’m pissed I missed the obvious joke, “So, your husband came From Russia With Love?” In my head, all I could think of was “What if she can’t speak English!” During the second show I pulled up a young gal from West Virginia, who was wearing her PJs, and yes, I got that joke right out, reals fast.
We have no rehearsal tonight, so I’ve got seven straight hours of sleep in my future. The first time in a while, I wonder what it’ll fell like?
Nighty-night,
Vinnie
Thursday, August 19th
D-
The Duet Show was amazing! The two leads, sing the shit outta it and if I don’t say so myself, my little specialty number is reals good.
Girls Show rehearsal, 8am to 2am, seven quick costume changes, with wigs and facial hair, no dresser. That’s all I gots to say… but it’s still better than slinging drinks…
So, so very tired.
-V
Friday, August 20th
When did I start keeping a diary? If my laptop wasn’t open…
What time is it? Where am I? What day is this? Thursday? Friday?
Who said that? Is there someone here? Am I speaking out loud? Where am I?
Oh snap, my hotel moving!
Must sleep…
What’s my name again?
Another two-show day, with a full Dress/Tech at noon – wait, stop the presses, just found out, it’s only one show!
Whoo hoo! Time for a nap!
We will return after these messages…
What a difference six hours of sleep makes.
I’m starting to get used to these wacky schedules, which concerns me just a wee bit ’cause when we’re done putting everything up and we’re just doing the shows there won’t be nearly as much to do; I need to get to a craft store and stock up – some of my regular readers are recipients of my hand-made greeting cards and I figured I wouldn’t have the ability to continue that tradition while on the Boat, but it looks as if I were wrong. Now, I wish I’d packed my supplies so I wouldn’t have to buy everything anew…
A nearly-near flawless run of the Girls Show at 9:30pm…
Everything I touched fell apart – not my songs, ‘ography or words, mind you, I’m talking the set and even one of my cast-mates! The audience reaction was fantastic – a standing ovation, even – so I don’t think they minded I took-out half the set…
Tonight we drink!
Vinnie McBooze-hound
Saturday, August 21st
Diary, My Diary,
With the exception of a 5:45am immigration check for all new embark-ees, I’ve got nothing to do today!
It’s the last day of the first cruise and first day of the second, I have the next three days off while the rest of my cast does the opening night bumper and puts-up the Popera Show – neither of which I’m in.
Diary, this has been a whirlwind of a week and I gots to tell you, I think I could get reals used to living like this – traveling, seeing new sights, singing for a living, not having to clean my flat, fresh towels whenever I need them, free laundry services and dry-cleaning even. So far the only noticeable check in the negative column is the lack of a Starbucks, but my handy french press and in room fridge helps me move that over to the positive the column.
I may never go back and live on land…
Until next time, I am and always will be, the one and only,
Vinnie
