| Hats off to Nick for holding down and nailing what is one of the toughest gigs out there. Getting a gig on a cruise ship for a few months can e3ither make or break your chops - they typically have a hugely demanding schedule: 2 shows a night plus rehearsals for next weeks show during the afternoon plus playing for dinner and late night dances, with just the occasional night off when thye ship is in port. Plus as a memeber of the ships crew you will have safety drills and duties to perform outside of the musical contract. It is one of the best ways of getting yourself some 'road chops' and learning a huge amount of material on the job.
I know this first hand from my one foray into naval life - a 3 week cruise on the Canberra for P&O in about 1988 - that was the venerable old cruiser that saw active service during the Falkland/Malvenas war in 1982 as a troop carrier, now sadly decommissioned. On top of the heavy work load you have the added stress of life at sea - away from family and loved ones. For that reason band memebers tyend to be eitherc relatively young or else unattatched and view the ship as their floating home. It can also be quite an ordeal entering this insular and isolated community as a dep or sub (ha ha) as I did on this trip. Maybe that is why I decided that life on board was not for me - but I do know dozens of pros now working in London who paid their dues and served time on the high seas. Hope it's going well Nick and do get in touch if you ever make it to this side of the pond on your travels.
By the way Thevor - did you mean that you were always drunk when you saw the trombonist? :)
All the best. Noel.
__________________ Noel Langley - Eclipse Artist noel@eclipsetrumpets.com
Eclipse Medium Yellow, scratch gold
Eclipse Medium Heavy Red, custom 'Diamond Back' in 24ct gold
Eclipse Red Brass Flugel
Custom Scherzer piccolo with copper Wedgewood bell, finished in scratch gold
Giardinelli 6S, 6M, 6FL Bach 3CW |