Cast Change and New Show

Well I must be very busy, it has been a little over a week since I have had some time to breath and even think about posting.

The new cast is doing good. They opened the first show at the end of last week, so now we are concentrating on the brand new show. We loaded scenery on the ship for the past three times in Miami. This show is big, but at least most of the scenery all flys.

The lighting designer are now on, so we are working with them a lot. I am on duty this week, so sleep, what's that. I have to get up at about 8am and check the music in all of the lounges, it only takes about 15 minutes. Then I do my normal schedule for most of the day, popping my head into the main theatre to see what's going on, and help out when I can. Then when the main theatre is done with shows for the night, the carpenters and lighting designers come in and start working. I am usually with them doing lighting notes till around 3am.

Next week is going to be busy also. Its superbowl, so that changes things a little bit. We have a new ice act coming and also at the same time some of the music for the ice show is changing. So we have to run the new changes with the cast, and also design and tech the new ice act into the show, all this with the superbowl taking up the normal tech time for the week. After superbowl, things should calm down.

Life Goes On

Weather: Don't know but the sea conditions are rough
Port: Nassau this morning, at sea now heading to St. Thomas

Well Saturday was a long day, well let me back up a little bit. Last week we dropped the cybers in the main theatre, turned out to be really easy. So late Friday night I got to fixing them. Its something I like doing, being by myself one with the light. Taking it apart finding out what's wrong, putting it back together. Anyway, the first one tested great, nothing wrong. The second one on the other hand needed a new lamp base, new power cord, the list goes on. By around 1 am I said that's enough, and headed for the disco. If you haven't figured out yet, I don't tend to go to the disco all that often. Just not my scene. Well because the review cast was signing off and they were all out for a few drinks I figured I should show myself. But as usual after a couple and I do mean two, I did my disappearing act and hit the sack.

I was planning on getting up really early the next day to finish the cybers, but alas a few extra hours of sleep felt good, my back wasn't hurting much. I guess all that being bent over in the catwalks helped it. So around 9 I was back in the grid. I got the last light that we had dropped fixed, easy, just a few color motors. I wanted to test the last light, the one we hadn't dropped but with all the people waiting to get off the ship I figured I would wait.

At this point it was time to help off-load the old show, the one that wasn't going in the dumpster, so that it could go to another ship. That really didn't take long, so we all scattered. I had a few hours at this point so I meet some friends for lunch in Miami.

After coming back to the ship early to help load the scenery on for the new show, it wasn't ready to come on, so I went and tested the last light. Everything worked just like I had hoped.

Eventually the new scenery came on, lots of it. I can't wait to see what it looks like.

So along with the new scenery we also got a new cast. Lots of young cast members. I have briefly meet a couple of them, very nice.

Well time for bed, early day tomorrow.

All Better Now

Port: Cozumel - Still tendering
Weather: very overcast
Got off: Yes

Well our system is finally fixed, not exactly sure what went wrong or how we fixed it. But lets just say I wouldn't want to see the phone bills. We almost had to have someone come out and fix it for us, but alas we are getting ready to do show 4 for the week, so all is good.

Back is still giving me some troubles but at least it is keeping me from sleeping all day. It only hurts when I lay down. I have tried to stretch it out, but it doesn't seem to help. Once I get moving for the day it is good.

Starting to think of what changes to make to the disco. Many lights have issues, and lots just need to be replaced. The upper management wants it to be kick ass for Europe, and he says he has the money, so lets spend some!!! Martin get ready for a big order, at least big for a ship disco. It really isn't going to be that big, but for us it is.

Next week the main theatre gets a new cast. They have been taking out the two old shows all this week in preparation for the new show. What a mess!!! They say it is the largest show ever installed while the ship was still sailing, ie not in drydock.

Well more details to come on the new show latter.

Sometimes it hits the fan

Well yesterday started off great, but just went downhill fast. Got off the ship early and went to Best buy with friends. Picked up a few little things, some for me, some for the ship. Then we took the train back to Bayside, and had a great lunch at Chili's.

Well when work finally started, I went to start the obession II, no dice. Well it hasn't been fun, we are still in the process of fixing. I will update you later.

A New Member of the Family

I got great news today that my Cousin Heather just had a baby boy a few weeks ago. What a Surprise. His name is Carter Lance Kenndy. I tried to add an image to this post, but alas the ship computer would not let this be possible. If you know me personaly and have not see his photo yet, email me and I will send it too you.

Another day, another show

I feel like it has been forever since I have posted. None the less, I can't wait till I move to the main lounge. I am getting really board with doing the same show over and over, and did I mention over again. We weren't going to have an ice show today, but we had to do the show for the people that we canceled on earlier in the week, due to bad weather. The weather wasn't really that bad, but for the skaters it was. It wasn't a steady back and forth rocking, we can Handel that, but this was just rough and unpredictable, and that is dangerous.

I started off the day around noontime trying to get things ready for the show, when I discovered that the electricians had borrowed the genie lift. Wasn't too happy about that. So I reset the scroller from the ladder.

I finally got all of my cyber light parts moved out of the pit to the candy store. That's what we call where we store all of the spare light and sound parts. Lots of parts but nothing you ever really need at the time.

No I have a break for a few hours till it is time to set up the parade and do the quest. So all of my lights have been put a way for a few days, the floor is coming on, and it is time to ketch some news for a while. Maybe I will go check out the new CD someone made at my friends Brandon.

Sea Day tomorrow, so not much to do.

Shipwreck

Well St. Thomas today. Just sitting here between shows, thinking about what new lights I want to try and order for the Disco. The Hotel Director wants it too look really good, but I don't think he has any idea how much that could cost.

Well by the time I got off the ship it was straight to the bank, ok the post office to send monies home. Then to radio shack to by a cable for the PM's computer. He got really used to my usb extender, and when I took it back he didn't know what to do.

Then off to the Shipwreak. This is a very nice bar, actually it is now very very nice. It was the first time I had been in a few years and had not seen the renovation. They did a lot of changes, but didn't change the food. The burgers are what this place is known for. They are huge.

Well after a good nap, its showtime. Two shows tonight, then DUTS. That's Dancing under the Stars. I have to set up a few lights on the pool deck. It isn't really that hard, but the lights are very awkward to carry. Then I have to show back up at one am to strike them. That's the part that really sucks.

Anyway Boat drill tomorrow. This will be the first time I will get to tell you what that is like.

Discover Boardum

Well for the first time in weeks the Shopping Show is back in the ice rink. Although I program the lights to turn on by themselves. It is still a good reason to get out of bed. Man this show is boring, but the place is packed and that is a good thing.

Working on ships is all about contacts and knowing people. I tried to get reservations to our specialty resturant, and got told that they were booked. Then I saw the manager in the bar last night, and he said not to worry, call him in the morning. Called him, not a problem.

not much today

Well today was very uneventful. Not much going on. My new room is nice, it is nice to have storage space. I think I might try and do some work in the disco tomorrow, but I have to look and see if they are doing piano lessons or not.

Miami shouldn't be cold

Well today was home port. That means we disembark (leave) all our passengers, and embark (arrive) all of our new ones. It is amazing to see what 3000 plus peoples luggage looks like in one place.

Anyway, I got up early and moved cabins, no problems.

Then I got off the ship and headed to Best Buy to spend some give cards I got for Christmas and my birthday. I got a nice Bluetooth handsfree device for my phone. Works very well.

The interesting part of the day is that Miami is having a cold spell, so it was cold as heck today, and very windy.

Anyway back in the "warm" ice rink, time to turn on the rig for the kids welcome show. Piece of cake! Then its off to setup the Parade.

Avoiding the inevitable

So today is just like any other last sea day. Not much to do. As the ice rink is booked all day with skating, it is a good time to do paperwork, and clean. Well today I have an extra project, I need to pack. No I am not going home or anything like that. I am just moving cabins. I am going to get a bigger cabin, still inside, so no porthole. I get the porthole in about 2 months. I really hate packing, but at least this kind of packing is just throw everything in a few boxes, and carry it to the new cabin and unpack again. I havn't seen this new place yet, but I will let you know tomorrow.

Game Show Time

Well it has been an eventful day. Once I finally got off my but to do some work, I finally got the studio color to work. After much trial and error, I finally found the problem. Usually when a studio color has a problem it is due to a motor seizing, or a belt braking. The unit only has 2 sensors for 6 motors, so three each. When you have problems with one sensor, it is usually one of the three motors that cause all three wheels to not work right because the sensor can't do its job. Well what it turned out to be was that focus motor was out of balance. Something I haven't encountered before, but troubleshooting paid off. It only took about 2 hours. But at least I know what to look for in the future. It might also explain some of the other problems I have around the ship.

The parade went well, except for the fact that half of the Mac 500 weren't lamped on. It took me at least half an hour to get most of the on. Some I just gave up on as we were half way throughout the parade and it only lasts 12 minutes.

Now its on to the Quest. The Cruise Director liked the powerpoint that I made for preshow. Many thanks to the sound tech for helping with the Spanish translations.

Well I think I have some ques coming up so I better get off the computer.

Ship Vibrations

Well today we are in Cozumel. As some of you might or might not know. Cozumel suffered a lot of damage from hurricane Wilma this past season. Hence all three of Cozumels piers got destroyed. I haven't seen any work being done as of yet to get them replaced, but the Mexicans work in strange ways sometimes. We are going to show up one week and they will be done. Although most of the piers are actually Own by the cruise lines and not the Mexican government, only time will tell. So ship vibrations; unlike Grand Caymen yesterday, we can not anchor here, we have to use dynamic positioning all day. This means the the big bow thrusters are going all day long and a computer on the bridge makes subtle corrections all day long to keep us in one place. Well living on deck 1 at the front of the ship, means that your room shakes and vibrates all day long.

I got a call from my friend Brandon at around 11:30, they had just made an announcement that the ship was going to let crew off. He wanted to go eat Chinese. I don't think he realized yet that we were actually tendering to downtown today not were we were a few weeks ago. I really didn't want to get off the ship today, and I also knew he didn't have any cash (too many cigars purchases), so I told him no. He had been up till four am anyway drinking like normal so I knew he was hung over and would go back to bed anyway.

So off to the mess to see what crap they are trying to feed us today. Hamburgers, yeee haaaa. They aren't the worst I have ever had, but nothing special. I tried to bring it to life with some of the bbq sauce from the chicken but it really didn't help. The French fries weren't too bad today, they tend to very.

Well I guess its time to fix a few lights. I am hopefully going to try and solve my problem of a few of the Mac 500 not indexing the same all the time. I think the patterns just need to be secured better in the light.

Talk to you all tomorrow. Parade, and Quest tonight.

Grand Cayman
Well another day, same old gig, different port. We are in Grand Cayman today. This is a tender port. That means that you can't dock the ship. We stay out at anchor and tenders come up to the side of the ship and ferry people back and forth to shore. I like Cayman, it is where I fell in love with Cuban coffee, and what better place to find Cuban coffee then at my favorite cigar store. I had wanted to get some coffee to send home for Christmas, but they have been out for a while now. They say that the shipment is stuck in Cuba. My "hookup" is heading to Havana in a few days, and will be back before the ship comes back in two weeks. So he told me he would try and remember to bring some coffee back with him, since I have been waiting for so long.

Anyway yeaterday was interesting. One of our skaters broke his ankle during warmups. So now we are short one skater. I don't think we are going to be getting a replacment, but one can hope. So for the distant future we are in a perminate reblock.

Oh if you are a bit confused by me saying skater, instead of dancer, it is because I work in an ice rink. Most large ships today have at least one or two theatres of some kind. One for large scale production shows, and one is more like a lounge. I will get into more about these things later. But on the ship I work on we also have an ice skating rink. Kinda cool, no pun intended.

Well only one show today, then I think I am going to fix a few cybers that were giving me some trouble yesterday, and maybe reopen the studio color that is being a pest. Wish me luck.

The Blog has begun.
Well I finally decided to start a blog. People are always asking me what I do, and it's very hard to answer that question. Working on a ship, can be a very hard life, and it can also be very easy. Ya I don't have to worry about rent, or if I have enough money for groceries. I was reading a friend of mine's blog today and she was talking about this being the first time she has had only one job, not running all over town to different freelance jobs. Hey I miss it at times also, for God's sake I live at my job. Not only do I live at my job, I live with everyone I work with. I live with the performers, the techs, and everyone else that works on the ship. But hey at least you always know where the bar is, and if you don't know anyone that is at the bar, you already know what they do for a living and where they live, so you might as well buy them a drink. Drinking and driving, no problem. Well I will try to post something here as often as possible to try and give you a sense of what a ship tech really does for a living. Not just what is in the trade magazines, trust me when a real ship tech reads them, we always have a good laugh.