Sample Proposals
Sample Proposals
Before a guest speaker can be placed on a cruise ship assignment, Sixth Star must first propose him or her to the cruise line for approval. Typical proposals consist of the following four elements:
Photo
If you have a professional headshot, please send this in to our office via e-mail in JPEG format, saved in a low resolution (preferably 72 dpi). If you do not have a professional headshot, we can also crop a nice 4×6 photo, as long as you are close enough to be recognizable.
Biography
Please send in a 250-word bio written in the 3rd person that highlights your area of expertise as it pertains to your topics. This is the primary way to sell yourself to the cruise lines as the best candidate for the job. If approved, many ships print speakers’ biographies in their newsletters and they become a major form of advertising for your presentation.
Lecture Titles
During a typical week at sea, guest speakers deliver three to four 45-minute presentations, with 10-15 minute Q&A session to follow. Please send in a minimum of four topics written with a short catchy/creative title and a one-sentence synopsis. If approved, these titles will be featured in the ship’s newsletter. Please put a lot of thought into your titles as they may help determine whether a passenger comes to hear your talk… or decides to go to bingo instead!
Technical Requirements
Cruise Lines require that a PowerPoint presentation accompany each talk. If you do not use PowerPoint (or other slideshow software) we will not be able to consider you as a guest speaker with our cruise brands. After listing your titles in the application form, please detail your technical needs, such as “LCD projector (for PowerPoint), lavalier microphone, etc.” Please note that most cruise ships feature state-of-the-art presentation tools. All speakers MUST bring their own laptop on board as one will not be provided for them. Also, speakers must bring back up copies of their presentations. Mac users must also bring their own VGA cord to connect to the ship’s projector.
Presents…
Special Interest Lecturer for Celebrity Cruises
Equinox
August 08, 2009 through August 18, 2009
Southampton to Civitavecchia (Rome)
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August 18, 2009 through August 31, 2009
Roundtrip Civitavecchia (Rome)
Professor John Johnson
Accompanied by Robert SullivanBiographical Sketch
John Johnson is a native of Houston, Texas and is a Professor of Music Theory at Temple University, where he teaches courses in harmony, counterpoint, and musical theater. In 1978 he received the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching. He appeared regularly on New Jersey Public Television as a lecturer-performer of theater music on the weekly magazine show “Made In New Jersey,” which aired during the 1980’s. Beginning in 1979, he was scriptwriter, performer, and host of over fifty one-hour weekly broadcasts entitled “The Musical Stage,” heard in over fourteen major cities across the United States, from Boston and Philadelphia to Fairbanks, Alaska through National Public Radio. Professor Johnson has been connected with theater all of his life, occasionally as an actor and performer, but primarily as a musical director for over sixty professional theater productions around the country. As a result of his performance in and musical direction of Temple University’s production of Arthur Miller’s “The American Clock,” John received the Kennedy Center’s Meritorious Achievement Award during the American College Theater Festival of 1991. In addition to his career at Temple, John currently performs in a number of cabarets and clubs in and around the Delaware Valley, including Odette’s in New Hope, Pa., cited by USA Today as one of the top ten cabaret houses in the United States.
Lecture Topics
I Get A Kick Out of Cole Porter. Join Radio-TV award-winning performer/lecturer Professor John Johnson as he plays, sings, and provides a look into the exciting music, lyrics, and times of one of our greatest 20th century popular song composers, featuring such tunes as Begin the Beguine and I’ve Got You Under My Skin.
I Got Rhythm: The Gershwin Brothers. George wrote the music, and Ira, his brother, provided the lyrics. Join Radio-TV award-winning performer/lecturer Professor John Johnson as he plays, sings, and celebrates their brilliant compositions in story and song, featuring such tunes as Someone To Watch Over Me and Embraceable You.
My Funny Valentine: Rodgers and Hart. Join Radio-TV award-winning performer/lecturer Professor John Johnson as he plays, sings and celebrates composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart in story and song, featuring such tunes as Where or When and The Lady Is A Tramp.
Puttin’ On The Ritz: Irving Berlin. Join Radio-TV award-winning performer/lecturer Professor John Johnson as he plays, sings, and provides a journey through the music, lyrics, and times of America’s most treasured troubadour, composer of such tunes as Cheek to Cheek and How Deep Is The Ocean, as well as the score to Annie Get Your Gun.
Blues In The Night: Mr. Johnny Mercer. Join performer/lecturer Professor John Johnson as he provides an exciting look into the life and songs of the great lyricist of such hits as Moon River, That Old Black Magic, and Satin Doll.
Technical Requirements
Professor Johnson has kindly requested a CD player, outlet, microphone, and requires a room with a piano for all of his presentations.
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Destination Lecturer for Disney Cruise Line
Disney Magic
July 6 through July 18, 2010
Dover, England Roundtrip
Northern Europe (Baltic) Cruise
Dr. Kenneth Pearl
Biographical Sketch
Dr. Kenneth Pearl received his Ph.D. in European History from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He is the author of a highly popular book – Cracking the AP European History Exam – for Princeton Review Publishers. Dr. Pearl has also displayed his scholarly credentials in published articles and presentations at academic conferences on various topics in eighteenth and nineteenth century political and social history. Dr. Pearl has taught at many colleges and universities in the New York metropolitan area and is currently an Associate Professor at Queensborough Community College. An avid traveler who incorporates his journeys into his lectures, Dr. Pearl also uses his passion for Art History to create highly enjoyable visual presentations using the latest audio-visual presentation tools. Incorporating both the fine arts as well as popular culture into his wonderfully entertaining talks, audiences begin to understand how the cultural achievements of a society reflect the political and social environment in which they were created. A gifted lecturer with an outgoing personality and playful sense of humor, Dr. Pearl has always believed that wonderful things can happen when you mix entertainment with learning and has shown audiences on cruise ships and other popular venues the joys of “edutainment.” You’ll never again think of history as “one darn thing after another” as you listen to Dr. Pearl make the past come alive.
Lecture Topics
1. Hans Christian Andersen’s Copenhagen
See Copenhagen through the eyes of its most famous citizen with historian Dr. Kenneth Pearl.2. Berlin – Reunited and It Feels So Good
Explore Berlin’s troubled past and vibrant present with historian Dr. Kenneth Pearl.3. Tsar Peter’s Window
See the city that Peter the Great willed into creation with historian Dr. Kenneth Pearl.4. Petrograd 1917
Investigate with historian Dr. Kenneth Pearl the St. Petersburg locations that held the key to the Bolshevik seizure of power.5. Stockholm, the Northern Venice
Discover one of Europe’s most beautiful and culturally rich capitals with historian Dr. Kenneth Pearl.6. The World of the Vikings
Join historian Dr. Kenneth Pearl as he looks at the history and culture of these pirates of the Baltic Sea.
7. Tallinn and the Singing Revolution
Explore Medieval Tallinn with historian Dr. Kenneth Pearl and learn how music helped Estonia achieve independence from the Soviet Union.Dr. Pearl would also be happy to offer commentary from the ship’s bridge for all ports of call and conduct additional lectures including youth specific presentations.
Technical Requests
Dr. Pearl kindly requests a LCD Projector and screen for his presentations and will bring his own up to date Apple Laptop Computer to the ship.
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Bridge Director
Rosemary Boden
Biographical Sketch
Rosemary is a certified Bridge director and Silver Life Master who has won several ribbons at regional events. She has directed at the club level for several years and is an accomplished teacher and presenter. Rosemary plays with several different partners each week, and is familiar with Standard American, the Two -over-One system and the ACOL system. She usually competes at all three National ACBL tournaments and has played in both the Spingold and Vanderbilt events. Rosemary is comfortable teaching large groups and she also works with smaller, more personal groups of three or more players. She is an experienced cruise ship director, having worked on Princess, Carnival, Holland America and Cunard including several World Cruises on Cunard’s QE2 and Queen Victoria”
Previously, Rosemary was a principal in a highly successful computer consulting company, although she began her career as a teacher.
Rosemary was born in England, was educated in New Zealand, and has worked in both London and New York. She now divides her time between New Jersey and Florida where she enjoys logic problems, needlepoint and entertaining.
In order to assist you with providing the information above in the correct format, we have included below a sampling of proposals for you to review prior to submiting your own information.