| 06 September 2008
So after a few postponements due to the new dance cast, I finally performed a half hour of magic in our piano bar. I was really concerned that nobody would show up, since today we're in Rome, and it's always a really long day for tours and everyone is mostly dead by the time they get back to the ship.
We arrived back at Michael's Club a few minutes before I was scheduled to start, and entered a room that was completely packed! As Katie - our cabaret pianist - gave me a rousing introduction, I gave a quick wink to Jean-Michel who was standing in the back (he came to see if it was going to be worth having me do the show again), took a sip of a fresh martini with one hand and flicked my transmitter on with the other, then stepped out with a smirk on my face.
The show went off without a hitch, and my handcuff finale had everyone in stitches.
With my job, I'm always getting compliments for my dancing, laughs at my jokes and obligatory applause when I close a show. But I've forgotten how delicious genuine astonishment and applause can be.
After a barrage of handshakes and compliments from guests, Jean-Michel made his way over to me and told me how much he loved the show. He was disappointed that I didn't cut anyone in half, but he said he'd live with it.
Next week I'll be put into my original time slot - Formal Night on the second day at sea of each cruise.
I feel great.