A Life On The Ocean Waves
Ian wearing a suit and tie with Princess Cruises
I realised it’s been ages since I updated you on my vida loca, so here is it is!
After some time considering where my work life was headed, it became clear to me that being away for months on end on a cruise ship is just not conducive with family life. Princess cruises have been a big part of my life and I've offered me the opportunities to hone my musical skills, travel the world and meet many fabulous people. 4 to 6 months being away from my wife he's just too much! I love being a musician, I love playing my guitar and I love performing most of all. But beyond all that, I love my family. And I can't be to be apart from them for that length of time. So, with a heavy heart, I have decided to stop being a guitar vocalist on Princess cruises.
This doesn't mean I'm giving up Music, it's been too much part of my life and I think it's ingrained in my soul. It's very difficult to explain this to people who have not been professional musicians. Music satisfies a part of the soul and mind which for a few other things do especially professions. However, as a previously said doing what you love away from your loved ones is very hard and the life of a musician is going where people will pay you to do your thing.
I wish to thank all of those people who have heard me play on Princess and told me how they appreciate my Music. It's really YOUR music. It became clear to me early on that to be a performer you either have to write really good music that people want to hear (the singer songwriter route) or you have to play other people’s music to make a living in this business. I'm not much of a songwriter, I wish I was! Once again I want to thank all those people who have enjoyed the music that I've performed for you and I hope you continue to cruise and find other musicians who will satisfy your need for the classic music of the past and some of the best music of the present. That was my aim when I performed on Princess cruises.
Princess now want all of the musicians to accept six-month contracts. I just can't do it. Plus, I think I have out-grown the role.
Later this year, I'll be performing my Eric Clapton tribute on Viking cruises. I'm hoping this cruise line will be a great fit for me and me for them. If you're planning a cruise on Viking, I hope to see you one day. My first adventure begins on the Vikings sky at the end of July. In the meantime, I'm doing a lot of teaching and a few gigs on land!
Do you keep in touch with me via social media, I'll be very keen to see all your adventures on the different ships. Cruising will always be a big part of my life and I will always be grateful to Princess for offering me so many opportunities and for employing me for so many years. It's been a blast!
I'll get back to this blog with a few anecdotes from last year as promised for now, I'll say see you later and keep listening to music! Until the next one…