 Life here at Disney Cruise
Line is better than expected. In fact, I just got
back to my cabin after having lunch with the
other musicians. Everyone reading this knows what
it feels like to search to “fit in”
somewhere. Mike Archer “fits in” here.
The other musicians and I talk about musical
experiences, similar and unique, and learn from
each other. I'm the only American, currently, in
the music department on the Fantasy. England,
Brazil, and Italy are represented well,
musically, and wonderful people.
Any typical morning, usually, I wake up around 9
am and make my way to deck 11 for coffee at Quiet
Cove Cafe. I have an Americano with cream, a
couple pastries, and read a week-old newspaper
(Actually, one of the baristas and I attempt to
complete the paper's crossword puzzle or
Sudoku.). The paper is sent to me from a dear
friend in Kentucky... it's the Lexington
Herald-Leader. I'm a “dinosaur”, still
reading the written word on actual paper.
Most days, after my coffee, I come down and check
e-mails before hitting the pool for a bit. What's
the point of being in the Caribbean if you don't
work on your tan? Sometimes I have a set to play
music by the pool at 2:30 or so... if not, I go
to the gym and workout. When you're a performer,
you must stay in shape or the audience will not
take you seriously. Usually, I have lunch (My
first real meal of the day.) with Andrea and
Rafaela, a husband-and-wife “duo on the
ship, at the buffet. My plate is full of veggies
and crab legs!
 My evening is full of
music sets at O'Gill's Irish Pub on deck 4. The
bartender is Howard, from Jamaica. The bar staff
is Lanzo, also from Jamaica, and Rony, from
Honduras. Howard requests Lionel Richie tunes.
Lanzo likes “The Gambler” by Kenny
Rogers. Rony asks for “La Bamba”. How
could I not oblige? I tell the guests that
O'Gill's Irish Pub is an exact replica of any
typical pub in Ireland.... complete with an
American playing music and a Jamaican bartender!
Always good for a laugh. Usually, people are
singing along and having a good time with us.
My day usually ends between 11 and midnight,
depending on the schedule. I'm typically asleep
30 minutes after the final note. On occasion, I
will go with friends to deck 11 and soak in the
Jacuzzi. The warm water, bubbles, and
conversation puts me in the mood for a good
night's sleep. TV here isn't the best.... only a
few channels. There is a Disney Video station
that just picked up my video, “Slow It on
Down”, and crew members really like it. They
keep asking about the blonde in the video! Jacqui
Hoyle is her name and she definitely makes me
seem insignificant on camera. HA! You can see it,
yourself, on my website (www.mikearcher.com)
or YouTube.
Not sure what else to say about ship life. My
goals include more radio airplay and traveling
the United States, and/or the World, playing my
music. If I don't get that far, I still consider
myself a success playing for Disney. This is much
farther than I ever thought I'd get when I picked
up my first guitar. By the way, I bought that
guitar at a music store in Dubois, PA. Stopped to
get fuel for my Ford Escort and saw the store
from the Shell station. Funny, huh? Changed my
life.
In conclusion, I hope you found this even
slightly interesting. As I say all the time, my
hope is that you find it inspiring that a guy,
working for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at
the time, could change the entire course of his
life by chasing a dream. Perhaps you have an
unfulfilled dream. One from your youth that is
still attainable. Folks, it's said a lot, but
never overstated... you only live once. When my
grandfather was sick, in the hospital, dying, he
told me he regretted never learning to play
guitar. Whatever your “guitar” is, go
find it. Learn. It's not too late.Thank you for your time,
Mike Archer
www.MikeArcher.com
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