Can you find me?? :)
Our production manager took these...what do you think? Susan Foster Photography~
So, I had my debut jazz set last night...the final night of the cruise...saying goodbye to all those people that have become fans throughout the cruise...at least the ones that didn't go to bed at a decent hour. The one problem I've already figured out about this set is that it's not until 11 pm on the last night! SO, everyone's tired - packing - just doing whatever it may be to get ready to go HOME. The last thing they're worried about is stopping by the Safari Club to hear the same singers they've been hearing all week long sing a few more songs. So, we started out with about 40 people - and by 11:15 we'd lost at least half of them...I just have to believe that if it were earlier in the evening, or even on a different night then we would have a packed house! I mean, the ones that stayed seemed to really love it! But alas, we did not.... :)
Even better than this was the fact that I had to learn 9 songs in about 3 days time...those of you that know me know that I don't have a problem learning music - notes and all that good stuff...it's the words that hang me up every time! Well, this time was no different! I'm beginning to think that the problem with doing a replacement contract is that you take on so much new material that it all begins to pile on top of each other and there's just no more room in your short term memory to store anything else!
So my story...I won't say that the set was terrible. It's like I told my parents - when I was on I was really on, but when I wasn't - oh boy did I crash and burn...haha I started out doing really well - made it through the first...5 songs with no problems. Stumbled here and there, but to the average audience member they probably didn't catch my switched up lines or little mistakes...so at that point I'm getting more confident and thinking "Hey, I'm gonna make it through this without a hitch after all!" Well, you know that old saying 'don't count your chickens before they hatch"...yeah - I should've stuck with that mentality because around song number 7 I went completely BLANK. Now I'm not talking - missing a few words - or even 1 line. I'm talking - couldn't even get the first line out!! SO bad - and SO SO obvious that I was clueless!! There I am - on what I would've considered the easiest song in the set because I knew it before I ever began learning the set...and I'm at a loss.
The song was "Cheek to Cheek" - a classic that most everyone recognizes...of course it had to be one of those...well the first line clicks in - "Heaven, I'm in Heaven and my heart beats so that I can hardly speak" - then NOTHING else. I just went blank and stopped singing...I couldn't help but laugh out loud because I saw the faces as everyone realized I'd definitely missed my line. SO, I try to joke about it - haha Ok guys lets try this again! Here I go...and yet AGAIN still BLANK! I've got nothing...so this time my lyrics go from emptiness to "Heaven, I'm in heaven...etc....OHHH that gamblers silly, silly, silly streak" hahahahahahahahahahahaha (come on, you know that's funny) So, then I make a joke about creative improve lyrics and how trying them in front of an audience pushes me as a performer...or something like that. HA People laughed at least...but even better I never could remember the most recognized verse of the song which I was supposed to go back to at the end - so I finally popped out the 2nd verse about love vanishing like a gambler's lucky streak and then ended it! The line should've been "Heaven I'm in heaven, and my heart beats so that I can hardly speak AND I SEEM TO FIND THE HAPPINESS I SEEK"....so easy - so familiar - came to me on the last chord...a bit too late!!!
So, that's my embarrassing story for this cruise. Oh well - over all it wasn't a bad set and the audience still cheered...some even stood at the end! I guess it must not've been too terrible. :) Just hilarious to watch! I would love to see a video of it! Wow...hilarious.
Other than that, I have a "summer breeze" set in 3 nights...a little nervous about getting that one ready after the last time...I think this time I'll request a music stand for lyrics as a back-up plan. Then at least I'll feel more confident, even if I don't really need them. BUT - once that's out of the way I'll be done learning new things, and it will just be a matter of polishing everything up! YES! ALMOST THERE!!!
And - I'm really excited because in less than 30 hours I'll be on Labadee with John!!! Can't wait! We do have a show that day unfortunately....so I have rehearsal from 10:30-12. BUT I plan on being the first one off the ship at 7am and then I'll get back on for rehearsal, and run right back off again until 3:30! And, hopefully John will be able to take off in the afternoon so that we can spend some time together away from the water slide or the zip line. :)
Let's see...I don't really have any other news. Just wanted to share my funny story! Hope all is well at home! I miss everyone! XO
7 comments:
Yes! I CAN find you - remember, having taught you, I know your body language!! The entire cast promo shots are terrific! What a great set! Your head shots are PHEMONEMAL!!!!!! PLEASE use these to promote yourself!!! They are fabulous!!! I can't wait to see if I can print them and get them up on my board!!! (What I do is a collage of you and your show photos - I have students who have never met you who are interested in seeing what it is like to sing on a cruise ship) Susan Foster Photography should make a fortune if they display your photos as an example of their work! Be sure to keep these shots in your portfolio and maybe on your resume. Any promo material you send out ought to include these photos.
OK - I'm going to stop here and send you another blog so this one won't be so long.
Love, Mrs. S.
Oh, my word, Kristian! Concerning the debut of the Jazz set, you had everything working against you - You had just learned the lyrics - you have to live with music and words for a long time to have them stay with you. Plus, it was 11pm at night. Who can remember lyrics that late when they are freshly learned? Not to mention the fact that you have how many other shows that you have JUST LEARNED, all floating around in your head? The lyrics of all that stuff will most definitely run together - you can't help it! At least, not at first - you'll have to live with the music a while longer to avoice losing lyrics. Another issue is learning 9 songs in such a short time - it takes much longer to commit that many lyrics to memory, especially when you have just learned 3-4 more shows. Its all about time, Kristian. When the brain is overloaded, it shuts down, which can't be avoided. This action is your body telling you it is time to stop!!!
Undoubtedly, being a replacement singer is next to impossible to pull off. I'm glad that you have done this. I hope that your employers have patience with you, knowing that you are a human being and the brain capacity is only so great, even if you are a quick study. They should appreciate all you have done and know that with more time, you'll have it completely under your belt. Sometimes, all it takes is a great night of sleep and the lyrics seem to settle in and stay. You and I know this. Surely they must know this, too.
I have more comments, but I want to keep my blogs as short as I can so that you won't be wading through volumes of text. To be continued~
Love, Mrs. S.
You are right about the time that the Jazz set is - that is too late for most people to enjoy a show. However, there are those night owls that want and need something to do rather than go to sleep. Jazz in a club where they can sit at a table, drink and enjoy music is perfect. That is why your show starts at 11pm. Also, that is why your mind shut down on Cheek to Cheek. It was time for Kristian to stop pushing her mind to think... Kristian's mind was done for the night. It needed at least a break. That is why you blanked. It is so normal.
And, your audience must have loved you so much that they understood and it was OK. They probably had seen you all week, loved your performances, came back to see you a final time, realized how much you had performed all week, and didn't care that you blanked. They probably were relieved that you are really a human being instead of a robot. They could probably relate. We all shut down when we have gone too long. Some of us are just funnier than others when this happens. At the very least, they cheered you and gave you a standing O! They obviously loved you and had a great time!
How you handled the situation made all the difference in the world. You put your audience at ease and they appreciated it. That is exactly what you do in a performance situation. It is a good thing to develop these "coping" skills, because if you are like me, it won't be the last time you blank or something really odd happens to you on stage. I have come to expect it when I am onstage. Its a new learning experience every time. Menopause does not enhance memory and it is a new adventure each time I step on stage. I'm so glad your audience loved you and was forgiving. If it happens again at some point, you will be even more comfortable than you were this last time. You'll know that you can come out of it and be OK. That's a great confidence booster.
I have more thoughts that I will continue in the next blog ~
Love, Mrs. S
Don't worry about the Summer Breeze Set. Because you have had this last blankout experience, your renewed and rested mind will be overly alert to learning the lyrics. Every nerve ending has a tendency to stand on end when you go through a potentially scary situation. The learning afterwards is better because of not wanting to repeat the scary situation. Having a music stand with lyrics beside me is what I do when I am in your shoes and it works. Most of the time, you don't need the lyrics, but they are there is you need to step over and make sure. The panic factor goes away when you have music nearby to access. After some time passes, you won't need them at all.
I would like to point out that learning music on your own with limited rehearsal is so much more difficult than going through rehearsal after rehearsal after rehearsal. The repetition is what solidifies the music, lyrics, blocking, dance and acting in your mind. Without the hours/days of relaxed rehearsal, you are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to memory. The more repetition, the better. The more time the music has to settle in, the better. So much of making your show a part of you is osmosis. Osmosis takes time and repetition to sink in. Make sense? That is why a recital is so difficult to learn and you don't even have to think about memorizing a 6-week show. The repetition and time are build into the 6 weeks. (I refer to musicals, but it applies to everything else, as well).
I am so glad that after you learn the summer breeze show, you will be home free as far as learning new music. It will be nice to just polish up, won't it? AND the more you do this, the quicker everything will come. You will find that it will take you less time to learn a song and polish it as you work in the business.
You'll get better at the whole shebang as you go along. You won't believe the difference in you as a performer next year as opposed to this year. If you don't believe me, just check your first-year performances that you recorded, compared to the performances at the end of your second year as a cruise ship performer. I, frankly, can't wait to see the growth and development! Already, you have grown so much! Each time I see/hear you, you are better and better! It is such a cool process to watch. And one day, when you release your first gold album, I want an autographed picture of you in my studio. In fact, if you have a flyer/poster advertising you on the ship, I would love to have that autographed. I would love to have something like that framed on my studio wall. I want to get Jamie's photo, as well and haven't had a chance to ask her for it yet.
Alas, I digress. There are more comments coming~
Love, Mrs. S.
As of right now, you have not 30, but 20 hours to go before you see John! I am SO EXCITED for you!!! Seeing John will be such a wonderful reward for all of the hard work you have been doing. Plus, seeing John will rest your mind and give you a needed break from all the hard work. You will rehearse and perform better, because your mind will be alert.
Have a fabulous time with him - even though you are bouncing back and forth between rehearsals. It will be hectic, but totally worth it!!!
An update from my side of the world - we just opened Sweeney Todd and they are having a fabulous run! Matt and Judy are magnificent together! The rest of the cast is wonderful in each of their respective roles. I am proud of them and the fact that they have conquered some very difficult music. Just wish you could see it.
Just got back from state NATS - Pam won her division and so did Estefania!!! It was the first time for both of them to make finals and then, to win!!! WOW!!! We were in heaven! They both sang beautifully. I am so proud of both of them. This time Haley did not make the semifinals, but that is understandable. She has been spending her time trying to pass piano proficiency (!) and is preparing for her recital hearing on Wednesday. Please pray for her that all will go well and she will pass. The panel has given her (and Pam) a tough time getting through. She is ready, but she needs the prayer.
OK - enough from me for today!!! More later as things develop from my end. When you have an opportunity later on, keep us updated. Have fun with John!!!
Love, Mrs. S.
PS, Kristian - thanks for the photos - they are wonderful!
Love, Mrs. S.
Kristian! Its SNOWING!!! 2-4 inches are expected by the end of the day. Tonight, temperatures are expected to go below freezing and freeze anything that is wet. That means icy roads for tomorrow morning and possibly closings. Of course, I'm sure that JSU will be open. We always are.
Sweeney Todd closes today. The run has been awesome. Matt and Judy have been phenomenal. The entire cast is superb. They have worked so hard and have played to sell-out crowds. Wish you could have seen it. BUT-I'm glad that you are where you are - singing on a cruise ship is the Gulf of Mexico/Carribbean!!! Enjoy the sunshine!
Love,Mrs. S.
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