pmang
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Posts posted by pmang
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And you want to make song requests in the piano bar, tips are customary.
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Headed out on the Breakaway and trying to make entertainment reservations. Can anyone tell me when during the cruise have they scheduled Escape at the Big Top and Howl at the Moon shows? Are either on the same nights as Rock of Ages or Burn the Floor?
Howl usually runs every other night starting on embarkation day (4 shows during a 7 day cruise). Even if it’s on a night you have reservations to another show, it’s a 4 hour performance. It will still be going when the production show lets out. Have fun!
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If you want to request songs at the Howl at the Moon show, a good tip with your song selection will make it much more of a priority....
Any musician you make a request from should be tipped (on land or sea!)....
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Including a tip with a request at the piano bar show will greatly increase the chance that your song choice will be performed.
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I have been to Howl at the Moon in San Diego and many other performances in this genre in other cities. It is amazing to me to watch people throw money at these performers thinking they take requests. These guys or girls only play what they want to and pretend these are requests. They will play things that get audience participation and are comfortable playing. This is not like Karaoke which is yuk,
I like go to these shows and have fun but know that they have a set playlist and script they follow. It is probably a dozen songs or more and maybe a request or 2 if they like it.
YMMV
This is absolutely not true. The show is not in any way a scripted performance on board NCL with a set list. Yes, each different pianist will do things that are designed to move the show along but requests are a major component. That being said, the requests won't take over a show... just because someone writes its down, it is not guaranteed to be played. A lot of off the wall and inappropriate songs will be put aside if they determine it's not the right time of the night for them.
Go and have fun everyone! Every performer has their own strengths and will bring something different to the table. They have over 40 different pianists who rotate on the four ships that currently have the show.
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If you want to make song requests in the piano bar, it's customary to include a tip.
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Not wanting to get into a tipping discussion, but I get so tired of people saying we should tip folks that are salaried! Also, ones that don't wait on me or serve me. The dishwashers and cooks are salaried employees with no customer contact. So, no tip. (Don't even get me started on the "entertainment staff" tipping.)
Just something you may not have thought of with the "entertainment staff" tipping... You do realize that they have duties outside of performing where maybe a gratuity is deserved. Walking around on embarkation day wearing "ask me" shirts and answering all kinds of questions certainly are not what their primary job entails. That's just an example.... Dancers also help organize people on port days and debarkation. Just a thought...
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Howl at the Moon is 4 nights a week, not every night... It's fun! Don't miss!!
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Howl shows are 9-1 (usually). They stay family friendly until 10:30 or so... Warnings will be given and then "adult" humor will augment the music... It's a fun time!!
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27 cabiins? Maybe they're not as poor as we think...
The tip distribution is $3.90 per person per day for stateroom services. Some cabins have 2 persons, some have 4 or more. If the average is 3, and the stewards are assigned 27 cabins to do, that means:
$3.90 x 3 person x 270 days (9 month contract) x 27 cabins / 2 attendants = $43,000 in tips alone! Add that to their (admittedly small) salary and free room and board, and they don't seem to me to be "poor".
I know that some pull their tips (shame on them) BUT some (as we do) tip extra for good service.
Please everyone stop with the "free room and board".... These people aren't homeless. They have homes in their country's that they still pay for.
I have worked on ships. My mortgage company still wanted their payment every 1st of the month. Bills don't stop when you work at sea...
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If you want to request songs in the piano bar, a tip with your request will move your song ahead of those that don't... Not mandatory, but just requesting a song doesn't guarantee it will be played... [emoji4]
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No reservations needed for Howl... It's a continuous four hour show, four nights a week. Getting a seat isn't a problem. Enjoy!
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Crew are constantly changing... At least 50+ come and go every cruise. It's not one cohesive unit... Contracts can range from 1-2 weeks to 8 months... There never is a change over of the entire staff...
Glad you enjoyed the service they provided!
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As a group, you are also paying for the entertainers travel and expenses in addition to the fee they collect for the performance.
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Twice, once on Epic and once on Getaway I requested a song along with $10.00. Both times my song was never played.....both times they kept my $10.00. I guess I didn't give them enough. Never again will I request a song.
Harriet
Just curious Harriet.... Did you stay for the entire performance? They may have played the song after you left (or played it just before you came in). Also, what was the song? Did it fit the style of the show (sing-a-long) or was it a slow ballad? $10 is a very generous tip to go with a song request and that normally would be prioritized. Thank you for your generosity... If the song wasn't known by any of the 3 players, the opportunity to make a substitution should have been offered.
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For various reasons, he may not want his name made public. If he doesn't give out his "proper" name, respect his privacy and please don't post it here! If wants wants his name and contact info made public, it shouldn't be that hard to find.
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This is why so many of us were upset with Carnival when they rolled at the FTTF. It wasn't FTTF, it was all about a few extra bucks in Carnival pocket. I would be pretty upset with Carnival, the FTTF people only took advantage of the deal. FTTF are suppose to board after Diamond and Platinum passengers. Put up a stink and see what happens.
Step back and read this again... This seems incredibly petty... Is getting aggravated because a few people MAY get on board before you that big of a deal? You are still getting to go directly to your cabin which never existed before. That alone should have all of you praising this limited program. Also to complain about being upset about a "few extra bucks in Carnival pockets" seems very short sighted. They are a for profit business who are doing what they need to do to generate additional revenue. These type of "extras" keep the fare lower for everyone.
Is "putting up a stink" about someone boarding before you the best way to start your vacation? Even if it was 60 people, what would that be... an extra 15-20 minutes?
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I thoroughly enjoyed Liz Setzer on the Ecstasy. Went to Cozumel and Key West. She was the highlight of the cruise. I closed out the bar both nights it was open. She should be on stage, not in a piano bar.
:)
Glad you enjoyed her....But... your last sentence is a little insulting to a lot of piano bar entertainers who take what they do very seriously and that form of entertainment is considered an art form in itself... FYI, chances are she's making more $$ than anyone "on stage" on that ship... 😉
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Did anyone else catch the snarky remark by the reporter mentioning that "the ship would still be leaving this afternoon" with disdain...
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I do wish Carnival would bring back the Steel drums.One Cruise I was on-Fascination the Piano Bar man was out on the Lido around lunch.........
Playing a keyboard & Singing,,,,,,so that was nice..........
Apologie to the OP and all of you for a minor thread hijack.... The above situation (plus ASK ME) is a big reason why Carnival is losing a lot of their top piano bar entertainers!!
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If you want to request songs at the piano bar, it's customary to include a tip.... Bigger the bill, faster it will get played! 😉
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LaChoza... All the crew go there if that tells you anything! The Orange sauce is a must on everything!
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Here's why I like them...the dancers and singers...IMHO...put in a tremendous amount of effort. Yes, one of the dancers is serving your lunch and the singer may be working in the gym. But so far, I truly have seen effort in them trying to be Broadway's best...which many of them will never be.
The best caliber shows so far has been on the Disney Dream. However, I expect them to be good and extremely well done given the cruise fare you pay.
My family and I will continue to go to watch some of the most hard working folks in the entertainment business.
There has never been a show (outside of a crew talent show) where the dancers are also your waiters and the singer also works in the gym.... when did you come up this? It's simply not true.... could you be more condecending?
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Everyone has a different opinion. I have always enjoyed Second City (although they aren't on the Epic in the Med, so perhaps a moot point?) but cannot stand Howl At The Moon...
Curious to know why you don't like Howl at the Moon?
Cutbacks and nickel and diming
in Carnival Cruise Lines
Posted
Very good view point....
FYI there has been a dedicated piano bar on every ship built since the Tropical...
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