B List: Jam Cruise Preview – Tips For First-Timers

Mike Dillon (Garage A Trois – Theater, January 12 @ 1:45AM || Dead Kenny G’s – Zebra Bar, January 10 @ 9PM| Zebra Bar, January 11 @ 2:30AM)

• Prepare for a steady diet of pizza and eggs.

• Pace yourself. Basically think of it like five New Year’s Eve celebrations in a row. The old 2 for 1 trick is generally a good rule: for every two drinks you consume, sneak in a water. This is a varsity crowd of professional music fans so don’t want to get too out of control before the sun goes down (or be that pot-bellied wavy-haired guy who is stumbling around on the pool deck at sunrise trying to find his car). Stay hydrated.
• Take advantage of the restaurants. The food in the cafeteria is not great, so take the time to have a nice sit-down meal in one of the restaurants. Not only is the food better, but the white-gloved service makes you feel like you’re important. It’s one of the many luxurious amenities that sets this festival apart from a “festy” so take advantage of it. Plus, the dichotomy of tuxedos-clad servers and sequin-clad ravers makes for entertaining eye candy.
• Bring a power strip for your cabin. Between you and your roommate (s) there will be plenty of laptops, cell phones, iPods, camera chargers and other electronics. A power strip is a must. If you’re into ambiance (or are a geeky lighting designer) a nice strand of LED Christmas lights also adds a little vibe to your room. Just DON’T bring candles, which are a major fire hazard (once the boat starts literally rocking) and highly prohibited.

Skerik (Garage A Trois – Theater, January 12 @ 1:45AM || Dead Kenny G’s – Zebra Bar, January 10 @ 9PM| Zebra Bar, January 11 @ 2:30AM)

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lVcwoPY304[/youtube]

• Watch The Yes Men movie and purchase one of the Halliburton survival suits featured in the film, these will help your experience on JamCruise immensely!! Especially thru accidental hot tub drownings, credit card abuse and STDs!!!
• Purchasing as much Merch as possible while on the cruise will bolster your immune system to protect you against salt water.

Steve Allen (Jam Cruiser, This Will Be Steve’s Sixth Jam Cruise)

• Step outside of your musical comfort zone

DON’T PIGEON HOLE YOURSELF. Every band has two sets, and when people in these bands aren’t playing their own music they are either wandering the crowd with you or are sitting in, so you will see plenty of the musicians you are familiar with or wanted to see. Pick a few acts you have heard about but have not seen, or even pick someone you know nothing about. Sure they may be playing opposite one of your favorite band’s sets, but take a risk and miss a song you likely have seen 50 times before in favor of something fresh in your mind’s eye. I do this every cruise, and have walked away flabbergasted, fulfilled and fully fired up. Anders Osborne, Black Joe Louis, Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars, Mother Hips, Toubab Krewe, Pretty Lights, the Motet, Zach Deputy, etc. are all bands I never really saw live until this boat, but continue to see well after we get back home.

You are going on a cruise ship jam packed (pun intended) with so much talent it’s borderline illegal (ever think why it always takes place in international waters….), so take advantage of it!

• Embrace your inner freak

The second the boat breaks from land you will feel the weight of the world lifted from your shoulders, as we begin a five day journey with the two things you love most: great music and great friends. So, that being said, throw yourself full force into the theme nights. You can never have too many costumes. Be everything you can’t be on land. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Realize that you have zero percent of a chance that you will run into Dale from accounting, or your daughter’s 2nd grade art teacher. There is no judgment, except for who is best dressed. Key point: you are in a safe place. I say this as winner of Best Dressed on Jamcruise 8 (GUMBY).

• Get Married

My favorite thing to do every year on this boat is marry my fiancé. I am lucky enough to have found someone that loves the same music I do, as much as I do, so getting married surrounded by that music gives my life even richer satisfaction. Simply put: there is nothing more magical then to be under the stars, gliding along the Atlantic, professing your love for your love, on a ship packed with your friends, and all of your favorite bands acting as one kick ass wedding reception. Added Bonus: your Uncle Jimmy won’t get super drunk at the open bar and make an ass out of himself.

• Never miss the last night in the Jam Room

The last night on the boat you really will wish it anchors a few miles off shore so you never get off, or that it just turns around and heads back out for another week. Believe it or not: a lot of the artists on the boat will be feeling the same way. The magic that takes place on this boat musically is unrivaled anywhere else on the planet. Artists that have never met before become blood brothers and sisters through sit-ins and the Jam Room. The last night in the Jam Room is essentially the equivalent to all the musicians signing each other’s year books before parting ways, never to see each other again, and it shows. They all make there way to the stage throughout this last night and pour their hearts and souls out for each other, as we, the fans, are lucky to be in the room to witness such musical affection expressed. It is my favorite night on the boat, and maybe even the year, because it strips it all down to what it really is all about: the music.

Kyle Hollingsworth (Kyle Won’t Be Able To Attend This Year, But Sent A Few Tips Anyways)

• Make sure to not miss the Jam Room. Lots of surprise guests and spur of the moment collaborations.
• Plan on not sleeping, ever

PAGE THREE = Zach Deputy, Karl Denson, Matt McDonald and Scott Bernstein

For more tips be sure to read the FAQ and ask the users of the Jam Cruise Forum.