Bill Board on Board changing formats

[Hlitner]

10 minutes ago, Cruzmama said:

Well, I spoke too soon, and was glad to read through the rest of the posts that Barry from Boston is alive and well!   Sure hope to see him on a Holland ship again someday.  
I love having just one piano player.  The last two cruises with duos did not seem to have chemistry. The place was always full, though. 

We think the entire duel piano thing (on HAL) was completely flawed.  Nothing new about the format as those of us who used to enjoy Pat O'Brians (back in the 70s) would line up to get into the huge bar to see the duel piano players/singers.  But those folks were the cream of the crop, the crowd was lively as they downed their "Hurricanes" and the atmosphere was electric.  None of this fits HAL.  Then we have the later dueling piano formats (lots of fun) which apparently was rejected by HAL.  HAL's two piano player formats never made sense to me.  Actually, they could have simply used both players to provide non-stop entertainment from 7-12 which would have made more sense.  And by the way, those of use who really like Barry from Boston can tell stories how Barry Rocklin would play for 3 hours, without a break, simply because he was having fun with the audience.  Over the years HAL had found several excellent piano bar entertainers, and than for reasons that defy normal thinking, ditched the format!

 

As to HAL's duel piano venue being full, it was likely because there was not another acceptable option.  The BB King (or Rolling Stone Group) was often too loud for the sensitive ears of many HAL cruisers who consider Glenn Miller to be representative of contemporary music.  Yes, I do undersand that some fellow HAL cruisers want to dance the Foxtrot, but most folks these days probably consider that a fast moving wild fox!

 

I am old and I fit right into the age group that one finds on longer HAL cruises.  But I also like to stay awake after 10pm, and have a few options for live music including classical (Lincoln Center Stage), rock, and perhaps a jazz trip/quartet.  I also expect that to be an option until after 11pm.  This does exist on many cruise lines....but not HAL.  I get that not all folks have the same taste in music.  The answer is to give them options!

 

Hank

[Ipeeinthepools]

This is the worst news that I've read on CC in quite some time.  The dueling piano players were the best entertainment onboard.  Just a cost cutting measure.  Just terrible.

[Shmoo here]

6 minutes ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

The dueling piano players were the best entertainment onboard.

Apparently, not always.  Sometimes the personalities clashed making for not a good show.

[Ipeeinthepools]

3 minutes ago, Shmoo here said:

Apparently, not always.  Sometimes the personalities clashed making for not a good show.

 

I'll bet some of those personalities still won't be any good in a one-person show.  Most combinations worked well together.

Edited January 29 by Ipeeinthepools

[KAKcruiser]

Was the concept ever "dueling pianos?"  What would that mean?  I thought it was always dual pianos.

[BarryFromBoston]

Dueling pianos has been a popular format, and is currently on NCL, RCCL's newest ships, and many others. Served up in a larger, less intimate space than a traditional piano bar, the players aremeant to alternate songs, but support each other throughout, on piano, leading the audience, or playing hand percussion. 

[boards]

On 1/26/2024 at 8:13 PM, BarryFromBoston said:

Hello from Boston and thanks so much for holding me in your memories. I've been doing conventions, club dates, and private shows. HAL was always my favorite. If they can offer a guest status job (many lines made entertainers crew during COVID, are doing very well, but didn't offer that important amenity back since), I would live to be back on HAL, and left a message for my agent already. Fingers crossed!

Thank you for the enjoyment you have given us,  God bless.

 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

13 hours ago, Shmoo here said:

Apparently, not always.  Sometimes the personalities clashed making for not a good show.

Correct.

[Shmoo here]

13 hours ago, KAKcruiser said:

Was the concept ever "dueling pianos?"  What would that mean?  I thought it was always dual pianos.

That's my understanding, also.  It was dual (as in 2) pianos.  Not dueling (as in challenging each other to see who does it best).

[Destiny0315]

4 minutes ago, Shmoo here said:

That's my understanding, also.  It was dual (as in 2) pianos.  Not dueling (as in challenging each other to see who does it best).

The concept always was and is dueling pianos as can be seen in this video direct from Holland America from 2017.

https://youtu.be/WxKgtnXlAIA?si=-cBTqJPdWB7AArbg

[jeh10641]

On 1/28/2024 at 10:52 AM, mare s. said:

I rather liked the duo on Koningsdam at the beginning of January, although their patter was forced at times.   But we really enjoyed the Rolling Stones band...made it a point to get there early for seats because by the time they started their sets, it was standing room only.    Even saw a couple of the ship's officers bopping along.   I would love it if some classical music returned...just for a nice change.  I also enjoyed a bit of playing in the casino (their machines did seem a bit "looser" than on other cruise lines) but, boy oh boy, you needed to get there early on sea days to find a seat!   Wasn't bothered too much by the smoke, but don't understand why people are allowed to smoke in there at all. 

 

I have heard that ship casinos sailing from US ports are governed by the rules and laws of Las Vegas. Therefore, no looser or tighter. Individual machines may be programmed that way. I have not been able to confirm this.

Jim

[BarryFromBoston]

1 hour ago, jeh10641 said:

I have heard that ship casinos sailing from US ports are governed by the rules and laws of Las Vegas. Therefore, no looser or tighter. Individual machines may be programmed that way. I have not been able to confirm this.

Jim

My remembrance of crew training is that the ship casino is bound by the laws of the flag country, I.e the Netherlands. 

[BarryFromBoston]

2 hours ago, Destiny0315 said:

The concept always was and is dueling pianos as can be seen in this video direct from Holland America from 2017.

That was a concept video. That vid is not on a ship, they are not really playing, and the lids on the piano wouldn't be. It was a slow roll out. I was still playing solo in 2020 on the ships that all wound up being sold in May of that year, which were Veemdam, Maasdam, Volendam, and  Rotterdam. It was outaourced. I'm  guessing what happened is that it underperformed, but they paid a flat rate for x number of years. The same can be said of the jukebox production shows and Lincoln Center. 

[Destiny0315]

7 minutes ago, BarryFromBoston said:

That was a concept video. That vid is not on a ship, they are not really playing, and the lids on the piano wouldn't be. It was a slow roll out. I was still playing solo in 2020 on the ships that all wound up being sold in May of that year, which were Veemdam, Maasdam, Volendam, and  Rotterdam. It was outaourced. I'm  guessing what happened is that it underperformed, but they paid a flat rate for x number of years. The same can be said of the jukebox production shows and Lincoln Center. 

Correct, and the concept was dueling pianos not dual. The fourth ship sold was the Amsterdam. The Volendam continues to sail and will this summer out of Boston and Montreal. The Zuiderdam will sail out of Boston and Quebec City while also doing this and next year's VOV cruise out of Boston along with a couple of Caribbean cruises in the Fall from the city.  

[ris_scot]

We have enjoyed both formats and  each has it own merits.  I would certainly echo the early comments about the talent and enjoyment Megan and Gabe give to all their performances.  The final set every night was an all request show and so the playlist was always varied.  It is hard to blame the performers if the passengers are making the choices.  We did not have the good fortune to hear you Barry (so far) but maybe one day.    I do get a bit of a giggle from some of the digs made about HAL cost cutting by reducing from 2 to 1 piano player but I do  not recall the same argument when the solo performers were originally increased to the dual format.  

[pd291]

On 1/27/2024 at 2:30 PM, BarryFromBoston said:

I definitely had groupies. The two that had all manner of signs, and people who skipped the MainStage to get a seat in what I called "The Ring of Fire" were myself, and Stryker. 

IMG_0019.MOV

I never got a chance to see Stryker but I heard a lot of good about his performances. I was fortunate to have seen Barry perform several times & I even held one of the signs during a performance. Looking forward to the possibility of watching you perform again.

[BarryFromBoston]

1 minute ago, pd291 said:

 I was fortunate to have seen Barry perform several times & I even held one of the signs during a performance.

I'm guessing it was a stop and go sign, for "Best & Worst Of The 1970's", or signs for Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer. To stay up on Stryker, you can use this link: https://www.facebook.com/StrykerFanClub

[rj59]

It's a good move, if the music and programs aren't determined by Billboard, as every other venue on every other ship is. Every other line has piano players who take requests, interact with the crowd, and are there to entertain, not promote Billboard. Every other line has independent musicians around the ship playing the music they want in atriums, bars, lounges, and on deck. On HAL you get pre-programmed sets in Rolling Stone, BB Kings, and previously on Lincoln Center too, as well as of course the same 3 options for the dance company on every ship, every cruise. What was most embarrassing and cruel on Koningsdam in December 2022 was them trying to recreate their former Billboard greatest hits show using the Step One dancers, but also the weak-voiced Billboard duo to try to sing and dance a bit to what was once done by professionals--it was just sad hearing the poor woman trying to do the Whitney Houston song that was once a chance for real singers to shine in real production shows. 

[Wasasalad]

On 1/26/2024 at 8:13 PM, BarryFromBoston said:

Hello from Boston and thanks so much for holding me in your memories. I've been doing conventions, club dates, and private shows. HAL was always my favorite. If they can offer a guest status job (many lines made entertainers crew during COVID, are doing very well, but didn't offer that important amenity back since), I would live to be back on HAL, and left a message for my agent already. Fingers crossed!

I’m booked on three HAL cruises this year and will be missing Barry and the Ring of Fire! It will not be the same without Barry. All the HAL cruises that I have been on either Barry or Stryker were the piano players. 
The  best news would be Barry coming back to HAL!

[JennysUncle]

HAL may also be experimenting with the Billboard limitation to playlists. On the Eurodam Jan 13, the third set every night was all requests, and one night all three were requests. There were printed slips, and the two guys would pick through them. Still obviously for ones they knew somewhat, but they did have a big fake book app and could use the Internet.

 

The performers were Gabriel and Steven, on the last cruise of their contract. Both good pianists, and Gabe with a wide vocal range and vocal styling to fit the songs. Best of many duos we have heard, and usually been unimpressed by. Gabe got a last minute rehire to start on the Nieuw Statendam shortly. 

[fusion927]

In our experience, most of the BoB singers are good, a few aren't.  I can only remember one cruise where we choose not to attend the BoB shows because of the singing quality.  But I don't ever remember a cruise where they didn't take requests (and a few even performed songs they had written themselves).  You really get to learn the performers individual musically tastes by the songs they choose, and by the comments about them.  

 

My biggest complaint is that is not a 'Dueling' piano show.  I call it a 'Duetting' piano show!

 

I remember a couple of cruises with Stryker, but it was so popular we couldn't get in (if we did, we were in the back where everyone was talking 😡  Maybe in the BoB venue, this problem would be reduced.

 

 

[Btimmer]

We just got off of the Oosterdam and we had a solo pianist, Adam, who was really good. We were apprehensive at first (fan of Meghan and Gabe), but he totally won us over and we were there almost every night after the 7:30pm Main Stage show. His final sets on the last night of the cruise were very well attended with much appreciation being shown him.

[redjanet17]

My partner and I were on the Nieuw Statendam last May and our evenings spent in the Billboard on Board lounge with Tim and Blair performing was one of the best parts of our cruise! Blair has an amazing voice and Tim, whose voice is also quite lovely, is an incredible, stylish pianist. They both exuded warmth and humour and made each set a lot of fun. While I could easily imagine being entertained by both of them as solo artists in their own right, their interaction helped to make their act special. Yes, they, and the other acts on the Music Walk, play a lot of the same songs over and over again throughout the cruise, but I believe that is because they are contracted to play certain songs from a main set. That said, Tim and Blair welcomed creative suggestions in their "all requests" set they did each night, and my husband and I are music nerds so we had fun trying to come up with requests they might actually play, some of which they did to our delight (Cornflake Girl!). They (and Ratilla in the Rolling Stone Rock Room) helped make our first cruise with HAL unforgettable.

Edited February 1 by redjanet17

[TRLD]

On 1/29/2024 at 11:02 AM, jeh10641 said:

I have heard that ship casinos sailing from US ports are governed by the rules and laws of Las Vegas. Therefore, no looser or tighter. Individual machines may be programmed that way. I have not been able to confirm this.

Jim

Do not believe so  No reason why they should. The rules of the country in which they are registered maybe.

 

The company might choose to meet those standards but they are certainly not required to.

[montythecat]

With music, as always, some you win and some you

lose. We have, generally, thoroughly enjoyed the dual

piano concept with Meghan and Gabe being the 

standout performers. Gosh, we loved them. We have

only had one couple who were slightly below par. We

will be very very miffed if HAL introduce solo

performers. It won’t be the same, however good

they may be. Why, oh why, has HAL put together

a brilliant combination of music for us to enjoy every

night (including a classical quartet ) and now seem 

to be intent on dismantling it ? I despair.