Dwayne (my B1) and I getting ready to sing "The Power of Love". P.S. - I LOVE that I'm a brunette again!!!! YES!!!
During the Tango Show - Dwayne sings "Night of a Thousand Stars" - this part is adorable...one of his fans decides not to let go and he drags her across the stage! So well played!! haha
Ahh yes - my costume for "Never Said Goodbye" - I actually change out of this behind a panel ON stage!! 2 of the dancers change me while I'm singing. It's SO much fun! And you've gotta love the head piece...amazing of course!
This one is the dancers before West End - Morgan, Amber, Britne, and Gemma.Well, I'll be back in Miami tomorrow after 10 days of craziness. Things have really been great though. The stress is finally starting to subside and I'm beginning to feel like I fit here! The cast has really been amazing. I can't say that enough. Patient, encouraging, uplifting, and so much more. They are all wonderful and I can tell I'm going to have even more amazing friendships to take away from this contract.
The shows are going really well too! I didn't perform in the Tango show this week (Tango Buenos Aires) just because it was so close to West End. They really wanted me to focus more on City of Dreams because they needed me to do as much as possible in that show. Well, I ended up getting 6/8 songs performance ready! Not too bad I guess for 5 days preparation. We were supposed to do the show on Day 8, but the weather has been TERRIBLE here so that wasn't possible. Instead, the shows were last night - still a bit rocky - but we made it through.
I won't say that my performance was amazing by any means, but I felt really good about everything at the end of the night. The singing part came off without a hitch, and I'm pretty sure I made it to all the right blocking places as well. It was a lot to think about and I can't say I didn't worry that I wasn't connecting with the audience - but hopefully next week that will all be a little easier. It will be very interesting to see the videos though and start taking notes on things I'll need to work on.
Other than that, I'm looking forward to the next cruise. I'll finish the rest of West End this time and they'll put me into the Tango Show as well. I'm very excited because the two men that wrote the Tango Show, Mario and Danielle, are actually on board with us right now (they are headliners with Royal), and they will be able to really work with me on my spanish so that I get all of it right! On top of that, they are very passionate about the show, so they will make sure I actually know what I'm singing about as well.
I must say that the best part about being on the ship right now is having my own space. It has been so nice to come to my room and listen to MY music, watch what I want to watch, and put my things wherever I want to! I'm also able to wear pretty much whatever I want during the day in guest areas, and that is SO wonderful. I mean, jeans and a tank top - or just whatever! I'd forgotten how much I stayed out of guest areas just because I didn't feel like putting on my blues (uniform) or dress clothes. Now I can go whenever I want and there are no questions asked. YEA!
Mrs. Stricklin - you crack me up! So many questions - so many comments. I love it! Let's see, I'm sure you've figured out by now that I am guest status just like I would've been on the Radiance. But they do want me to finish this contract instead of leaving and going to the Radiance in April, so I will just be here until June and then hopefully they'll offer me something else. It is all very exciting, and I feel very blessed that they haven't started letting go of performers just yet with all the laying off that they had to do at the end of the year. For now, people are still cruising. Our ship is at least 3/4 booked all the time according to my castmates, so they're still making money - they're just cutting back every way that they can...I even heard that on some ships they've started writing employees up if they catch your lights on when you're not in the cabin and things like that...and of course they're asking for employee's input on anything that they might know of that could save the company money. The funny thing about that is, we just had a meeting about that very thing, and they're offering MONEY for ideas to SAVE money...hilarious...makes a lot of sense don't ya think? haha
Anyway, I hope that answered some of your questions. I'll have to read back through and see if I missed anything!
This next week, will still be pretty busy. Though I'm at least 1/2 through the shows and that learning process, I will also start learning jazz and summer breeze sets for the end of the cruise. This is really like having a 4th production show on a smaller scale because they set the songs, even the dialogue in between, and you just go out and perform it at least once a cruise. So, thank you so much for your prayers - I have felt them - trust me! BUT don't stop now! With all this memorizing, I'm bound to start running songs together in one big blur, so just pray that I stay focused and productive!
I miss you all! More soon! :)
7 comments:
Awesome, Kristian!!!
Thank you so much for answering my questions! That really does help me understand the process and how Royal Caribbean works. Wow! I am so excited that you have just jumped in feet first into your second contract! Royal Caribbean must really love you to snap you up in a heartbeat when you had only been stateside for two months.
Let's see - Feb to June - that is 4-5 months, depending upon your "release" date (is that the proper term?) And you are sailing where? This I would like to know. What ports? What part of the ocean?
I am so happy that your cast is so wonderful. That is such a blessing. God is most assuredly looking after you and paving the way for you. Your shows sound fabulous. Your costumes are great!! After you have been sailing with Royal Caribbean a while, just think how much repertoire you will know! Don't forget to keep your music/charts - you may need it later on down the road for your own shows stateside.
How is John? Do you get to speak with him on your cell phone or is it simply email? I know that "21 days" seems like an eternity, but all that memorization of music and learning of the blocking will help the time fly by.
I am happy that you can wear whatever you want and have your own space. What a relief! I have to tell you - every morning when I am brewing and drinking my morning coffee, I think of you and what your coffee must taste like! I think I am enamored with the coffee shop on board, plus, I love restuarant (cruise ship) coffee! You probably don't even drink coffee. Coffee and chocolate are my comfort foods. They are "experiences" for me.
Another cool thing is that you mentioned several main concepts about performance that I teach every day. I know that you remember - "connecting" with your audience, memorizing music, "blocking", acting, understanding the Spanish so that you can interpret exactly what it means, working with the writers of the show and stepping up your work ethic to please them - all of these things you know I teach every day and so often, I don't think my students understand just how important they are. You do. You live it every day and your job security depends upon it. When you do come back home for a few weeks and we are in session (probably next year some time), I would love for you to tell my students these things. I think it would hit home with them.
I am happy to hear that performers have not been laid off yet. I am thrilled that your ship is at least 3/4 full. I truly do believe that you have been so successful with Royal Caribbean that they felt that they needed you to keep the ratings up. This is not me being biased. Now, with the economy the way it is, the cruise ship industry will pull out all the stops to make sure that cruising is worth every penny that a person is willing to let go of. I think that you must be a "trump card" for them. I would encourage you to be everything they hope for, so that you will be able to advance in the way you would like. In other words, don't ever rest on your laurels, but always strive to be even better every day, just as you did on the last cruise. Give them more than they asked for and, give it as a gift to the Lord. He will bless your efforts, especially if your work is a gift to Him.
OK - enough chatter - thank you again for getting back so quickly. Please keep us updated with details and photos. Your line of work is a real option for the right sort of singer who comes out of JSU. Your details allow me to answer questions that my students have about the industry, which is part of my job - to help singers find meaningful employment after graduation.
Enjoy yourself and keep me posted. I am in constant prayer for you.
Love, Mrs. Stricklin
Good Morning, Kristian!
Just for kicks, I went back and looked at all the photos of your hair from the time you first arrived in Hollywood, Florida to your most recent photo of you and your new singing partner. I really cracked up at the journey you have made with your hair!
First, I LOVE it that you are a brunette! You were great as a blonde, but I think that probably managing your own hair might be easier than dealing with wigs.
Secondly, if you notice the first photo you sent to us, your hair is down below your shoulders and definitely long. As the show and traveling progress, your hair gets shorter and shorter. In the last photo, you have cut your hair to right below your ears, in a style similar to Heather's (I think that is your friend's name) - which I absolutely LOVE!
Your cut was fabulous when I saw you and I know it has to be easier to manage - just in drying time alone, not to mention putting the incredible "headdress" on!
The whole journey reminds me of a new Mom. Often, new Moms have long hair before the baby comes along, then, as the baby takes up more and more "hair" time, the hair gradually gives way to the baby. The Mom ends up with the shortest, cutest cut she can get so that she doesn't even have to think about her hair!
At any rate, your hair looks great any way you wear it, but I do love the short cut on you. At some point in your life, you may end up wanting long hair again when you need to throw it up and get it out of your face.
Just fun little trivial thoughts for the day - have a great one! I've got to go teach!
Love, Mrs. Stricklin
Hi Kristian,
We are still praying for you--you look great, considering all the whirlwind you've been through. Glad to hear all is going well and that you are able to remember all that you have to in such a short period of time.
Good luck with all this--surely do wish we were there on one of your cruises so we could see another show! Miss you . . .
Hi Kristian!
I just remembered that Valentine's Day is on Saturday. I hope that you have the opportunity to see or talk with John. I know that it will be a big night on the cruise ship. Have a happy Valentine's Day and enjoy yourself!
Love, Mrs. Stricklin
Good Morning, Kristian!
I had another random thought this morning that I wanted to put in the recesses of your mind for the future~ One day, you will probably marry and have children. Your kids will be utterly FASCINATED that their Mom was a singer on a cruise ship. Please consider keeping this blog going and one day when you are stateside and not up to your ears in work, consider getting some acid-free, lignin-free paper (archival quality) and printing off all 27 or more of these blog pages to keep in a looseleaf ringbinder notebook. It would be easy to just print off the pages, slip them into sheet protectors and there you go - instant journal, complete with photos that tell your story! You kids would LOVE it! Plus, it doesn't take as much time as a scrapbook, it is easy to read, the pictures are great and you can just add to it as the cruise shows go by. It would keep your 8-10 year-old little girl and 9-11 year-old little boy busy for hours on a rainy day. Plus, it is family history at that point! Of course, if you marry someone other than John, you could edit!!! :)
When I was traveling, in the stone ages before computers, I sent my parents postcards (thus, my affection for postcards~)from the countries I performed in and visited. Mother saved those postcards and they became my journal for my trips. I have them with my ancient photos of my USO tours and other trips.
My Mom also carefully put together a newspaper scrapbook for me when I was Miss Alabama and it has become a treasure for me and an interesting object for TJ... I ended up copying off the pages onto acid-free/lignen-free archival paper so that the images and newprint could be salvaged. It was a long project, but one that I'm glad that I did. I am hoping that the potential granddaughter that I will probably never see will know who I am through Mother's scrapbook. (Due to TJ's complete avoidance of girls and my current age...)
OK - gotta go. Facebook was fun last night! I really decided to go ahead and bite the bullet to join because I wanted to see more of your pictures of the world!!!! Everybody in my studio said that Facebook was a great way to keep up with everyone, and I believe them! I must say, however, that you have selected the most representative of all your pictures to tell us your story on this blog. Good choices- That's why you comments on this blog would be perfect for your kids one day.
OK - I really have to go now. Have fun in the sun today and tell us about the ship going up in flames! What on earth???
Happy Valentine's Day!
Love, Mrs. S.
Hi Kristian!
Just got in from Sweeney Todd rehearsals and had a question - where exactly are you cruising? I know that you leave from Miami, but where do you go?
I hope that you can update this week. Also, Sweeney Todd opens this week. Have a fun week and I look forward to your next blog!
Love, Mrs. Stricklin
Kris,
LOVE the outfits and headpieces!!! (I HAVE told you, you are LIVING my dream, right? LoL) I especially love the little plaid print outfit with the green turban; looks so "Mamma Rose", from "Gypsy Rose Lee" movie; (have you seen that one; with Natalie Wood and Rosalind Russell, I think..) anyhow, LOVE that movie, and I haven't seen it in ages!! Looks like you are having a GREAT time! Stay well and God Bless you. When u gonna be home again? Love and MISS you...especially when we are practicing something in the choir that needs an alto that can really "get soulful"...I always look over at Kim and say, "We need Kristian!" and, of course, she agrees!!! Love ya!
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