Dec 14, 2010 - JoCo Cruise Crazy Schedule

Subject: JoCo Cruise Crazy Schedule
From: "JoCo Cruise Crazy"
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:01:12

Hey, Sea Monkeys! (For that is what you have elected to be called) We know, we know; you all want answers regarding things like the cruise concert and activities schedules. Well, we are here to provide you with SOME OF THEM!

The current schedule of all confirmed JoCo Cruise Crazy activities is currently available in the following Google calendar: http://bit.ly/JoCoCruiseCalendar

It can also be found on the JoCoCruise Crazy website, on the "The Cruise" page:  http://jococruisecrazy.com/the-cruise/

In the run-up to the actual cruise, this calendar is your best source for a comprehensive listing of official scheduled activities, and will be updated with any new events and/or changes. Please note that the events are listed for EST. In addition, you will receive a complete schedule printout when you get to the on-board JCCC registration (see below), since many of you may not have Internet access while on board. We will also announce any last-minute schedule changes/additions during each evening's main concert.

And now, an onslaught of details...


FIRST THINGS FIRST:  REGISTRATION
Once you get on the ship, make sure you come by the Hudson/Half Moon Salon (located on the Promenade Deck) sometime between 1 pm and 3:30 pm to officially check-in for the JoCo Cruise Entertainment events, and receive your SUPER AWESOME JOCO CRUISE CRAZY LAMINATE, which will grant you access to all shipboard JCCC events. You will also receive a printout of the complete events schedule, and...wait for it...A FREE TOTE BAG WITH SOME COOL STUFF IN IT! (Including some complimentary doodads from ThinkGeek; thanks, ThinkGeek!) Already you've gotten your money's worth, and the ship hasn't even left port!

To reiterate: make sure you hang on to your laminate, as it will be your ticket into all JCCC events. If you lose your laminate at any point during the trip, we can arrange to get you a replacement. Also: not everyone necessarily has to show up at 1 pm on the dot; we'll make sure everyone gets registered, no need for a massive crush right at the start. Just make sure you get there before 3:30. Thanks!


THE CONCERTS
The main performances will be held every night in the Mainstage Theater. Here's the lineup for each night:

- Mon. Jan. 3rd @ 4:30 pm:  Paul and Storm / Wil Wheaton
- Tue. Jan. 4th @ 4:30 pm:  Jonathan Coulton / John Hodgman
- Wed. Jan. 5 @ 5 pm:  Molly Lewis / Mike Phirman / Bill Corbett & Kevin Murphy
- Thu. Jan. 6th @ 5 pm:  John Roderick / Peter Sagal / Paul F. Tompkins
- Fri. Jan. 7th @ 4:30 pm:  Jonathan Coulton - ALL-REQUEST SHOW

Note: we plan to start the shows on the 3rd, 4th & 7th as close to 4:30 as possible. They might start a wee bit later, as we can't start load-in/sound check until 4 pm.

Other Note: because of the size of the theater compared to the number of JCCC attendees, preferential seating will no longer be necessary for any of these concerts. We have been assured by Holland America that no one will have any problem finding excellent seats for the performances.

Don't forget: during the first concert, we will be selecting the "Monarch of the Seas", who will receive appropriate regalia (crown and/or scepter), and will occupy, along with a companion/consort, THE TWO BEST SEATS IN THE THEATER for every show. In addition, whenever the Monarch is wearing their regalia while on board, they should be addressed as befitting royalty ("Your Highness," "Your Majesty," etc.).

GAMING ON BOARD:  WHO NEEDS TO SEE THE SUN, ANYWAY?
We have reserved several spaces on board to cover all your dice-rolling, card-battling and pretend-musicianing needs.

TABLETOP GAMING: The Hudson/Half Moon Salon will be devoted to tabletop gaming for the following dates/times:
- Mon. Jan 3rd:  1-4 pm
- Tue. Jan 4th:  1-4 pm
- Wed. Jan 5th:  9-11 pm
- Thu. Jan 6th:  9-11 pm
- Fri. Jan 7th:  10 am-4 pm

We heartily encourage you to bring any and all games you wish to--board games, D&D, card games, handheld games, games of thrones...you name it. You might also want to coordinate on the forums (as some folks have already begun to do) to see who is bringing what games, who might wish the be the Master of the Dungeons (or whatever), etc. http://www.jonathancoulton.com/forums/  (You are, of course, more than welcome play games at other times as well, anywhere onboard that you can find an adequate space.)

Another Note: Yes, we're aware that the 9 pm start times on the 5th & 6th may overlap with the tail end of your dinner seating, for which we apologize. Those who are truly devoted to their gaming will either eat fast, or go without food.

ROCK BAND:  The fine folks at Harmonix are providing us with a full Rock Band setup and pretty much every Rock Band game and song available. (Yes, including the Jonathan Coulton songs.) Come and be a Fake Rock Star in the Culinary Arts Center (located on the Lower Promenade deck) at the following dates and times:
- Tue. Jan 4th:  9-11 pm
- Wed. Jan 5th:  9-11 pm
- Thu. Jan 6th:  9-11 pm

(See above note re: 9 pm start times)


SPECIAL EVENTS
In addition to the above activities, the following special events are on the schedule:

- OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION - Sun., Jan. 2nd, 5:30-7 pm - Crow's Nest Lounge
The first 250 attendees who signed on for JoCo Cruise Crazy are invited to join Jonathan and the other performers for a kickoff party. Those eligible to attend have been notified via e-mail; if you are unsure of your status, ask us now.

- JOCO Q&A - Tue. Jan 4th, 9-10:50 am, Mainstage Theater
Jonathan (as well as any other JCCC performers willing to wake up before 9 am) will sit down in the Mainstage Theater to answer whatever questions you have for him. Moderated by pencil sharpenist David Rees.

- "MY MONSTER": A PLAY BY BILL CORBETT - Wed. Jan. 5th, 11:30 pm-1:30 am, Culinary Arts Center
So you want to be a famous screenwriter!  No?  Well, you should.  In this mix of comedy / lecture / theater / MIND-BLOWING REALITY CHANGER, Bill Corbett of MST3K and Rifftrax fame explains it all for you... with the assistance of cowriter Joseph Scrimshaw.   Listen, learn, laugh, love!  (Well, maybe not that last one.)


- "HEY HEY...I'M CLEVER!" QUIZ/PANEL SHOW, HOSTED BY PETER SAGAL - Fri. Jan 7th, 9-10:50 am, Mainstage Theater
Public radio's Peter Sagal will host a freewheeling (a.k.a. "loosely organized") quiz/panel show featuring the many JCCC performers, obscure trivia, laffs a-plenty, and at least one awkward onstage physical altercation.


OTHER EVENTS SO SPECIAL, THEY'RE NOT SCHEDULED YET
There are a number of additional events on tap for which we are still nailing down the schedule details. But here are some spoilers anyway:

- GROUP PHOTO
At some point--our guess is on Tues. Jan. 4th sometime between the Q&A session and lunchtime--we'd like everyone to gather together for the Official JCCC Group Photo, taken by the shipboard photographer. This photo will then be available for purchase in the ship's photo store. We're also looking into making a digital version available post-cruise. Details as to where/when this will happen are coming as soon as we get them.

- MOVIE NIGHT(S)
We are working to find a space to screen one or several movies (TBA), probably late at night, possibly near or in one of the swimming pools.

- THE PAUL F. TOMPKINS MOUSTACHE FORMAL
A gathering for fancy people in fancy clothes (optional), wearing fancy moustaches (required), convened in defiance of Holland America's announcement that there will be no traditional "formal night." Moustaches will be provided. Hosted by actor/comedian/moustache wearer/sharp-dressed man Paul F. Tompkins.

- THE FANCY PANTS PARADE
Because there *has* to be one. And we want YOU GUYS to organize it! Just like the "flash mobs" the kids are so fond of today, we want all of you who have the World's Best Pants to decide where and when you want to do this. Our official Artisanal Pencil Sharpener David Rees will happily help coordinate plans on the JCCC forums. Also: there will be a trophy. Go to it, you crazy kids!

- THE GATHERING OF THE BEARDALOS
Not to be outdone by the Paul F. Tompkins Moustache Formal, all JCCC attendees rocking facial hair will gather for a meeting of their secret society to talk about beard-related matters. Also, probably to drink beverages and pose for a group photo.

- ONBOARD JAMMING/FILKING/PLAYING AND PERFORMING OF MUSIC
We are told that the Piano Bar (located on the Lower Promenade) is usually freely available until 7 pm most days, and is a perfect venue if anyone would like to bring instruments with them on the trip and jam with each other. (That's what it's called, right? Jamming?) People are already starting to organize this on the JCCC forums. Do Jonathan and any of of the other performers plan to stop by at some point to join in the fun? Answer: yes.

- ARTISINAL PENCIL SHARPENING
How many times have you been in the middle of a Caribbean cruise, and suddenly realized that all your pencils are so poorly, inexpertly sharpened as to ruin your entire trip? Well, not this time. In addition to being a talented writer, David Rees is one of the world's foremost manual pencil sharpeners, and he will be practicing his craft on the cruise. Each JCCC attendee will receive a free No. 2 pencil in their tote bag, along with a certificate for a complimentary sharpening. We will announce at each night's show where and when David will be holding office hours for you to redeem your certificate for an authentic professionally-sharpened pencil.


GENERAL NOTES

- Do you folks have any other ideas for possible events you'd like to make happen? A marathon session of Risk? Informal JoCo trivia contest? Another facial hair-themed gathering? Go for it! Again, the JCCC forums will be the best place to find like-minded individuals and come up with ideas. David Rees will again be happy to help folks help coordinate and act as general liason with us here at JCCC Central Management.

We have pretty much exhausted our use of "reserved spaces/rooms" for this trip, so we unfortunately cannot ask HAL to, say, turn over a lounge or meeting room to us exclusively for any of these events; anything you put together will have to be on an "informal" basis, in any of the ship's public areas. Don't worry, we're told the cruise line loves such gatherings, especially if there's a bar nearby (so, you know, they can make money off it). But we do ask that you please bear in mind that most people on the ship are *not* there for JoCo Cruise Crazy, so please be mindful about planning anything potentially loud/disturbing to other passengers.

- As has been discussed in the JCCC website FAQ, regarding the question of "how much access will I have to the Famous People?": as a general rule, the performers were selected as much for their personableness/affability as for their talent. That said, different people's approachability will vary according to numerous factors--tiredness, when they last ate, degree of sunburn, etc. All the Famous People on board are friendly and gregarious, and there will be numerous opportunities for socializing and even occasional hobnobbing. Just please use common sense and judgement; for example...sitting at a bar chatting with folks: good time to approach. In the middle of dinner with spouse/kids: bad time. Asleep: *really* bad time. Just, you know: BE COOL.


That's plenty enough for now, don't you think? More details coming soon, we promise.

19 days and counting!

Team JoCo Cruise Crazy