bkrickles1 Posted September 25, 2019 #26 Share Posted September 25, 2019 On 9/23/2019 at 4:41 PM, Ciref said: I just got off the Escape and had a wonderful cruise. However, I had an issue with the piano players doing the Howl at the Moon Show and wanted to see if I am over reacting or others feel as I do. I was very surprised to see guests paying to have their song requests performed next. I was offended by the multiple times the two pianists solicited the audience to pay them up to $30.00 so that they would immediately play their requested song. I understand they work hard and I am happy to tip them for their efforts but frankly this "pay for play" soliciting was offensive. Do you agree? Eric I totally disagree with your take on this. I've been to several dueling piano shows in NY since my sailing on the Escape where I thoroughly enjoyed their dueling piano show and it is done the same way everywhere. It's just the way it's done and I believe it makes things a little more efficient. As others have said, you can just sit there and enjoy the show or, if you choose, you can put in requests with or without $ to hear songs you'd like to hear. There was no pressure and we visited the show 3 nights on our cruise. Some people gave a couple of dollars with their request and some gave a lot more. I definitely saw some 20's being given. It was all in good fun and was one of the highlights of our Escape cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davy jones Posted September 25, 2019 #27 Share Posted September 25, 2019 You should be able to put your HATM tips on your room card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esm54687 Posted September 25, 2019 #28 Share Posted September 25, 2019 4 hours ago, Oakman58 said: Yes, yes, terms and conditions. When it comes to Howl at the Moon, rules don't apply. When I was on the Epic the HATM piano players actually told the audience that those with the UBP should be providing them with drinks. Everyone knows whats going on including the bartenders and no one loses their beverage package. Loosen up and learn to have a little fun in life. Similiar to servers incorrectly interpreting the SDP (one app, one side, one dessert)... T&Cs are put in place to protect all those involved (company and customer)...... so asking if a Howl at the Moon exception is written somewhere is not a lack of fun or not loosening up..... it's being responsible to know what is allowed and not allowed so that there are no "misunderstandings"...... Lighten up Francis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arzeena Posted September 25, 2019 #29 Share Posted September 25, 2019 17 hours ago, lenquixote66 said: Hi Arzeena: Are you doing any more cruises this year ? Lenny Hi Lenny and Toby! Yes, going on the Serenade Repo next month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdie And Sue Posted September 25, 2019 #30 Share Posted September 25, 2019 In my experiences if you sit at a piano bar you are going to hear the same old lame songs being played every night (Piano Man for example, one of the worst songs ever written) and there is no need to pay a thing. Just sit back and listen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenquixote66 Posted September 25, 2019 #31 Share Posted September 25, 2019 2 hours ago, Arzeena said: Hi Lenny and Toby! Yes, going on the Serenade Repo next month. We will be on the NCL Dawn next month and the RCI Anthem in December. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliffd64 Posted September 25, 2019 #32 Share Posted September 25, 2019 On 9/23/2019 at 4:41 PM, Ciref said: I just got off the Escape and had a wonderful cruise. However, I had an issue with the piano players doing the Howl at the Moon Show and wanted to see if I am over reacting or others feel as I do. I was very surprised to see guests paying to have their song requests performed next. I was offended by the multiple times the two pianists solicited the audience to pay them up to $30.00 so that they would immediately play their requested song. I understand they work hard and I am happy to tip them for their efforts but frankly this "pay for play" soliciting was offensive. Do you agree? Eric That's how it always has been on land based Howl-At-The-Moon venues, and usually people add their songs in with a small tip... To each their own but certainly not "offensive" in any case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare grouchomarx Posted September 25, 2019 #33 Share Posted September 25, 2019 I have never been to a piano bar and I missed HATM on my Breakaway cruise. So I would have been surprised too, had I seen that. Glad I read this thread! Now I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseMH Posted September 25, 2019 #34 Share Posted September 25, 2019 On 9/24/2019 at 3:45 PM, PelicanBill said: Sometimes it's part of the fun. Someone paid $1 to play "Look at this stuff, isn't it neat?" from Little Mermaid. Someone slapped down $5 to stop. Original requester put down $10 to continue. $20 to stop. it was funny. This is something that would offend me extremely. At least every song should get played completely. I go there because i want to hear some great piano music and not a medley of 3400 songs each played for 10 seconds because of some auction-style stuff going on. Although i absolutely don`t like this "pay for play" -model i can accept that requests are played with priority if there is a small tip.But if the whole thing gets out of control and becomes a battle then - for me - the fun ends immediately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakman58 Posted September 25, 2019 #35 Share Posted September 25, 2019 21 minutes ago, CruiseMH said: This is something that would offend me extremely. At least every song should get played completely. I go there because i want to hear some great piano music and not a medley of 3400 songs each played for 10 seconds because of some auction-style stuff going on. Although i absolutely don`t like this "pay for play" -model i can accept that requests are played with priority if there is a small tip.But if the whole thing gets out of control and becomes a battle then - for me - the fun ends immediately. I don't think you understand the concept of a HATM or a Dueling Piano bar. If you want to hear songs played completely then a piano bar like Shaker's would be a better place to enjoy piano music. When I go to HATM I want it to be wild, a bit crazy, funny, and a lot of interaction with the audience. On my Sep 8th cruise on the Breakaway the Howl at the Moon show was exactly that. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arzeena Posted September 25, 2019 #36 Share Posted September 25, 2019 4 hours ago, lenquixote66 said: We will be on the NCL Dawn next month and the RCI Anthem in December. Eva and Bob are also on the Dawn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenquixote66 Posted September 26, 2019 #37 Share Posted September 26, 2019 57 minutes ago, Arzeena said: Eva and Bob are also on the Dawn. Yes,I know. This will be our ninth cruise with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseMH Posted September 26, 2019 #38 Share Posted September 26, 2019 20 hours ago, Oakman58 said: I don't think you understand the concept of a HATM or a Dueling Piano bar. If you want to hear songs played completely then a piano bar like Shaker's would be a better place to enjoy piano music. When I go to HATM I want it to be wild, a bit crazy, funny, and a lot of interaction with the audience. On my Sep 8th cruise on the Breakaway the Howl at the Moon show was exactly that. I`ve been on the Epic two years ago and LOVED HATM.And yes, not every song was played completely,but at least 60-70 % of it. And in the post i`m referring to it sounded like they played the songs only 20 or 30 seconds...and that why would annoy me,especially if i payed for it(which i wouldn`t do) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliffd64 Posted September 26, 2019 #39 Share Posted September 26, 2019 21 hours ago, CruiseMH said: This is something that would offend me extremely. At least every song should get played completely. I go there because i want to hear some great piano music and not a medley of 3400 songs each played for 10 seconds because of some auction-style stuff going on. Although i absolutely don`t like this "pay for play" -model i can accept that requests are played with priority if there is a small tip.But if the whole thing gets out of control and becomes a battle then - for me - the fun ends immediately. You need to visit one on land to understand the full concept ... its quite a bit of fun... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawnya00 Posted September 27, 2019 #40 Share Posted September 27, 2019 Take my money! I love dueling piano bars, I am heading to one tonight and I have a stack of dollars to ensure a good time is had by all. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare justhappy Posted September 27, 2019 #41 Share Posted September 27, 2019 (edited) Every dueling piano bar I’ve been to takes tips to get a song played faster/first, even Disney Worlds Jellyrolls. For me, I enjoy the music, especially if the performers are good, but it’s also the crowd interaction that really makes it fun. Edited September 27, 2019 by justhappy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DublinFC Posted September 27, 2019 #42 Share Posted September 27, 2019 Ive been to HATM on land and sea. I do not have a problem with it. This is how they make their money. I witnessed someone drop $50 to stop the Michigan fight song. Up tp the crowd if they want to do it or not. I personally requested Don't Stop Believing and they asked if anyone would pay $10 to stop them from playing "Journey by Journey". I found out later by a regular they do this more for songs that are requested all the time. This is just my own experience from being at the one on land a couple of times. I loved it when we were on the Escape a couple years ago. I am hoping to get on the Breakaway and take it in again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ciref Posted September 27, 2019 Author #43 Share Posted September 27, 2019 I am definitely in the minority here. I appreciate everyone's comments. You all have altered my opinion. I will enjoy the show on future cruises understanding that this is how the majority of cruisers feel. However, I am still not paying for my requests! 😉 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseMH Posted September 27, 2019 #44 Share Posted September 27, 2019 (edited) On 9/26/2019 at 8:15 PM, cliffd64 said: You need to visit one on land to understand the full concept ... its quite a bit of fun... If there would be a HATM in Germany or at least Europe i would go there very often. 😉 Edited September 27, 2019 by CruiseMH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliffd64 Posted September 27, 2019 #45 Share Posted September 27, 2019 6 minutes ago, CruiseMH said: If there would be a HATM in Germany or at least Europe i would go there very often. 😉 Could you pop over to London? I believe there is one in London. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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