The Dueliing Pianos Concept vs. The traditional Piano Bar

[rkacruiser]

This question is for those of you who have experienced the Dueling Pianos form of entertainment.

 

How does such an entertainment venue function? Are both performers doing the same thing? Is there audience participation as in some/most Piano Bars?

 

I can't conceptualize how this works other than just a lot of noise.

[barbarah33]

I think it depends on the passengers for your particular cruise and who is on the ship for pianists/singers. I was on the Eurodam earlier this year and there was no actual dueling: it was just two people playing two pianos and very little audience participation. (It is only fair that I mention that neither of them was very good either which I think turned a lot of us off.)

 

I was disappointed in it and preferred the piano bar on other HA ships - or the Eurodam before she was redone, which has always been full of people and group singing. But I have friends who were on the Eurodam recently and they said they had a great time at the dueling piano bar and it was packed full every night. I am sailing on her again this January so my fingers are crossed that time we get a better crowd as I actually really enjoy dueling piano bars! The concept is great IMHO.

[taxmantoo]

We just recently disembarked the Oosterdam where the new "dueling pianos" has been implemented.

 

The two piano players play together. There are usually 2 or 3 shows per night, lasting exactly 45 minutes each (never more never less) with scripted song selections and very little, if any, interaction with the crowd surrounding the piano. The introductions to the songs are pre-learned and sound like announcements for Billboard.

 

On the rare occasion when they advertise in the On Location for an "all requests" show (3 times during our 12-day cruise), they do ask for written requests but their repertoire seems to be limited to songs pre-selected by Billboard. We attended all 3 of those shows and, strangely enough, people requested the same songs at the three shows :rolleyes: I wrote 3 different song titles on the 3 different nights (all standard Piano Bar fare on any other HAL ship - one Jimmy Buffett - one Barry Manilow - one John Lennon). Not only were none of them ever played, they were not even acknowledged with a "Sorry, we don't do that one".

 

It is definitely not a "Piano Bar" atmosphere where people interact with each other and the piano player but more like a piano player sitting in the middle of a casino.

 

p.s. Unlike any of the traditional HAL Piano Bar players such as Jimmy Maddox, Stryker, Diane Fast, David Anthony and others, these new players are actually hired by and under contract with Billboard and must adhere to their rules, thereby losing all the originality we know of the former players.

Edited September 30, 2016 by taxmantoo
Additional Info

[Krazy Kruizers]

I am glad that this topic has been brought up.

We have been wondering about this new concept of "dueling pianos" as it is slowing being brought onto all HAL ships.

Not sure I like this new idea.

[JimnKaren]

I still miss the old piano bar. Having the current thing as part of "the mix" is not nearly as good.

 

Jim

[cb at sea]

"Dueling Pianos" is a SHOW....they are funny, and talented...and enlist the help of the audience.

The Piano Bar is a person playing, and singing...might have a "sing-a-long"...totally different vibe.

[Aquahound]

This question is for those of you who have experienced the Dueling Pianos form of entertainment.

 

How does such an entertainment venue function? Are both performers doing the same thing? Is there audience participation as in some/most Piano Bars?

 

I can't conceptualize how this works other than just a lot of noise.

 

They're called Dueling Pianos because when this first became popular...decades ago...the 2 would split the audience in half and the whole night would be a friendly completion between the 2 sides, and the 2 pianos would battle each other. However, I haven't seen it done that way in years. Now, they just play together and entertain together. It's fun but if you want your song heard, bring cash. This style of entertainment begs for tips more than the traditional cruise ship piano bar entertainer.

 

That said, I can only imagine it being a good thing for HAL. Of all the lines I've sailed, I always thought HAL's piano entertainers were the worst.

[Shmoo here]

...

That said, I can only imagine it being a good thing for HAL. Of all the lines I've sailed, I always thought HAL's piano entertainers were the worst.

 

Hmmmm..... Granted, I've only been on 3 HAL cruises, but I thought the piano players on all 3 were great.

[freestyling]

Hmmmm..... Granted, I've only been on 3 HAL cruises, but I thought the piano players on all 3 were great.

 

I agree. Been on only dozen or so cruises in the last 3 years but enjoyed 80% of the piano players. I'll miss them if in fact they are now gone and only Billboard contracted players and "style" is now used. Just doesn't sound close to what it was..

[Lovely other]

I'm not a fan of either concept however we were in the duelling piano bit on the Koningsdam with friends one night ... Being a little inebriated we decide to test their skill and music knowledge with a couple of 'out there' requests and they stepped up ... It may not be my type of evening entertainment but hats off to any piano player who will do a cover of Beastie Boys 'fight for your right to party' !!!!

[freestyling]

Wow...that is impressive. Now how many patrons knew the words :).

[boze9999]

We just recently disembarked the Oosterdam where the new "dueling pianos" has been implemented.

 

The two piano players play together. There are usually 2 or 3 shows per night, lasting exactly 45 minutes each (never more never less) with scripted song selections and very little, if any, interaction with the crowd surrounding the piano. The introductions to the songs are pre-learned and sound like announcements for Billboard.

 

On the rare occasion when they advertise in the On Location for an "all requests" show (3 times during our 12-day cruise), they do ask for written requests but their repertoire seems to be limited to songs pre-selected by Billboard. We attended all 3 of those shows and, strangely enough, people requested the same songs at the three shows :rolleyes: I wrote 3 different song titles on the 3 different nights (all standard Piano Bar fare on any other HAL ship - one Jimmy Buffett - one Barry Manilow - one John Lennon). Not only were none of them ever played, they were not even acknowledged with a "Sorry, we don't do that one".

 

It is definitely not a "Piano Bar" atmosphere where people interact with each other and the piano player but more like a piano player sitting in the middle of a casino.

 

p.s. Unlike any of the traditional HAL Piano Bar players such as Jimmy Maddox, Stryker, Diane Fast, David Anthony and others, these new players are actually hired by and under contract with Billboard and must adhere to their rules, thereby losing all the originality we know of the former players.

 

We've now been on ships with both styles. I completely agree with Taxmantoo. The new piano bar is nothing other than pre-programmed Billboard music. No interaction with the audience, no variance from the required formatted song list, no response for requests, and very subpar keyboards (not pianos), talent and acoustics.

 

Time for HAL to re-visit this change.

[Bill123]

Ted and Britney on Koningsdam were fantastic. Lots of audience participation, huge repertoire and fantastic musicians. I suppose it depends on the quality of the musicians but they are fantastic. Loved them.

 

 

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[wander]

I for one would really miss the one pianist with some audience interact and nightly themes such as some nights they would simply play and sing songs with a theme, some evenings the would do passenger requests only, sometimes sing alongs and maybe one night a week have about 1 hour for passengers to sing solos, duos, etc. On cruises I have been on, Stryker and Barry (or Berry?) from Boston provided this variety. For me, too many nights of any of these options is boring. Over time I have enjoyed some other piano bar players, but for my interests of those I have heard Starker and Barry from Boston did it the best in terms if mixing up different night's shows.

 

Now, if the dueling pianos were in addition to the piano bar - I think I could enjoy them as well if they were good.

[SLOTheta]

We had "dueling pianos" on the Eurodam. Most nights, the room was full, but it wasn't very interactive. They took requests, but generally played the same songs. They weren't very good and off tune. I felt bad because people just went into it, but it could have been the off key singing.

 

 

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[blizzardboy]

Wow...that is impressive. Now how many patrons knew the words :).

 

I might not know all the lyrics, but would recognize the B-Boys stuff. I'm 61 and listen to alt rock a lot. Thank you Sirius XM.

We were on the Oo'dam last January (pre-refurb). The "lounge lizard" on the piano knew a lot of songs, but being in key didn't seem to be a prerequisite to get the job. We enjoy a good piano bar once in a while, but we only went that one time in 11 days. If he was one of two pianists, I would like to have had them duel, but with the other guy having the only loaded weapon.

[colonialinnkeeper]

I still miss the old piano bar. Having the current thing as part of "the mix" is not nearly as good.

 

Jim

 

Totally agree. Went to a few "shows" this summer and both players were not very good and just a show atmosphere rather than the more intimate setting of the original piano bar. Seems to be one less place for us to go for pre/post dinner drinks and some fun.

[lynn2002]

I was on the Eurodam this summer and, due to the new layout of the casino/piano bar, was an unwilling audience member of the duelling pianos. The pair were not very good, and the woman in particular seemed to think that shrieking at the top of her voice was entertainment.

 

The casino was losing their customers as people were getting up from the table and saying they cannot listen to it anymore, as I did myself. My personal enjoyment of the casino was ruined on this cruise.

 

Whilst I was in the casino I noticed two sets but the music was the same every night. The only difference was they played (and she shrieked) louder on the later set. I did not notice any requests.

[Lovely other]

Wow...that is impressive. Now how many patrons knew the words :).

 

 

A fair few knew the words or at least the chorus ... It certainly livened up the place :D

[pnkandpurple]

We've now been on ships with both styles. I completely agree with Taxmantoo. The new piano bar is nothing other than pre-programmed Billboard music. No interaction with the audience, no variance from the required formatted song list, no response for requests, and very subpar keyboards (not pianos), talent and acoustics.

 

Time for HAL to re-visit this change.

 

Totally agree! I was on the Eurodam and I was very disappointed with the new setup. I like piano bars, but not what they have now. It doesn't compare and it was very loud and not good. While walking by the area never wanted to sit down and stay awhile. I won't sail on the Eurodam again!

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Both ways are good

 

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[msteries]

These reports are much what I expected...sigh! I have done 5 cruises solo on HAL and always found congenial company around the piano bar, and heard one extraordinary performer - Greg Galliano. So this year I changed my winter dates so that I could go on the Nieuw Amsterdam instead of the Eurodam.

[EDLOS]

We've now been on ships with both styles. I completely agree with Taxmantoo. The new piano bar is nothing other than pre-programmed Billboard music. No interaction with the audience, no variance from the required formatted song list, no response for requests, and very subpar keyboards (not pianos), talent and acoustics.

 

Time for HAL to re-visit this change.

 

On the Oosterdam in June, the two performers were not good. Talking to them, one (female) from New York City and the other (male) from Australia, she told me they had one week to rehearse their act and it showed as their repetoire. It was very limited, repeated night after night. Could not handle requests.because of limited preparation time. Each night the room had less of an audience.

Maybe they got better ??????? Both of them banged their keyboards like they were trying to destroy them.

Yes, I vote for the old Piano Bar !

[cormike1]

We were on the Nieuw Amsterdam a couple of years ago and there was a really good piano player that interacted with the audience. Last Feb. we were on the Eurodam and they had the 2 pianos with a guy and gal. They were really, really good and both interacted very well with each other and the audience. They chatted away to everyone and we got to know them and it was great. We just got off 24 days on the Oosterdam and I have to say they were not good. Their voices did not blend well together and she shrieked a lot when hitting high notes. Her voice really grated on us (4). It was not pleasant sitting in the casino listening to them. They did get a lot of people most nights so maybe it was just us. I like the idea, just sometimes the 2 don't match up very well. And don't get me started about the location of the "Lincoln Center" lol!!!!!!!!!!!!

[elycelynne]

Is the Billboard dueling pianos set-up eventually going to be implemented throughout the whole HAL fleet? (I personally hope not.)