4 area students cruisin’ at sea

BANGOR – Over the years, graduation speakers have employed some pet phrases in their addresses to college seniors, especially “Keep your feet planted on the ground and your eyes on the stars.”

But for four 2007 graduates of the New England School of Communications, only part of that advice was pertinent, because they all took jobs with Carnival Cruise Lines. Now, they are all “at sea” as sound technicians for the entertainment productions, which are a big part of the cruise experience.

Three of the four are from Saco and graduates of Thornton Academy. Craig McDonough, Dane Courtoise and Eric Martel are childhood friends and buddies and, because of their early attachment to music while playing in area bands, decided upon the same career path – as audio engineers.

The fourth graduate now sailing for Carnival is Kyle Smith, a native of Atko, N.J.

McDonough is the main lounge sound technician on board MS Carnival Pride out of Long Beach, Calif., Courtoise is the main lounge technician for MS Carnival Destiny out of Florida, Martel is the main lounge technician for MS Fantasy out of Alabama and Smith is a sound technician aboard the MS Carnival Imagination out of Miami.

“We are all best friends and talk to each other almost every week,” McDonough said.

Sound technicians on a cruise ship are responsible for the care and use of sophisticated equipment while employing it in such a way that a number of musical acts can blend together.

McDonough, for instance, is usually responsible for a seven-piece show band, two production singers, 12 dancers and seven or eight backing pre-recorded tracks, performing in the ship’s main lounge on three nights of an eight-day cruise with two seatings each night.

In addition, he is responsible for the sound equipment for five “fly-on” entertainers every week who have distinct acts. He is certified for pyrotechnics handling and loads pyrotechnics for shows on a regular basis. The main lounge production crew includes sound, lighting, automation and backstage technicians.

Courtoise, Martel and Smith all started together at NESCOM while McDonough spent his freshman year studying civil engineering at the University of Maine before transferring to NESCOM.

While the job can involve long hours and some stressful moments, there are some very real perks for a life at sea.

“I have a maid who brings fresh towels every day, makes the bed and washes my uniform attire. When we make port in such places as Puerto Vallarta, Majatian or Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, I get shore leave and the opportunity to do some exploring and see some beautiful and amazing sites,” McDonough said.

What was the biggest adjustment for the four in transferring to a life at sea? It wasn’t the threat of sea sickness, according to McDonough, but the rigors of learning life boat and life raft operation, fire prevention and control and memorizing all the emergency and safety locations on the ship.

Eventually, McDonough would like to be a sound technician for a touring show or group on land but for now he is loving what he is doing. “I wake up every morning looking forward to the day’s activities. Of course I don’t really have a choice. It’s not like you can get away from it, because you’re on a ship in the middle of the ocean,” he said.