ANST - A Question for the Performers

[Nathan W. Jones]

Greetings Friends!

--Warning!  I'm going to rant a bit...may even foam at
the mouth and spit...just stand back and beware.  ;) 

Perhaps it is just me, but in the years that I have
been performing in the SCA I have never, repeat, never
been treated badly, or with anything less than 
appreciation.  

I think it has a great deal to do with how I view what
I do.  When I perform, it is not as a "star attraction"
who must be listened to or else.  I do it on the invitation
of the host at the campsite.  Period.  I also try very
hard to sing a piece that is appropriate for the mood
the the camp.  If it is war they want, then that is what 
they get.  If it is time for somethign slow and depressing
then that's what I do.  It it's happy songs they want, I
encourage others to perform them.*  (not my gig, haven't
found suitable ones yet.)

The idea of "forcing" someone to listen to me is abhorrent!

If I start a song and no one is paying attention, then 
I have obviously picked the wrong moment, the wrong 
audience or the wrong piece, and I quietly slink away.

One of my biggest pet peeves is the gentle soul who 
angrily shouts, "Attend!" in order to quiet a crowd for
a performance.  I am a poor performer indeed, if I cannot
gain the attention of the audience without someone to
shout them into silence.**

If they don't want to listen, then they shouldn't have to.
I will not force them. 

I was recently told by someone "If you come to our camp
at Gulf War, expect to get thrown out, we don't like 
bards."  Okiedoke.  I can take a hint.  Thanks for sharing
and no hard feelings.  I don't feel animosity towards
them because they don't give me "the respect I deserve".
Please.  It's their camp, it's their rules.  If I didn't
respect their rules, what reason do I have to expect them
to respect me?

I think this attitude of "I'm a bard*** so you must listen
to me!" is one of the major factors in the decline of
campside performance that we talked about a couple of weeks
ago.  People are tired of that attitude and have been 
burned by it. 

[pant, pant]  Okay, end of rant.


HL Giovanni di Cellini.
Northkeep
Ansteorra.


*  Rule number one, be part of the audience before you
perform.  Unless you have listened to what everyone else
is doing, you can not know what would be appropriate for
you to perform when it is your turn.

**  I know the person means well, but ... it annoys me
none the less.

*** Yeah, I know, I know...I use the term "bard" here in 
the SCA-slang context.  Notice I don't call myself one.
I am a singer.
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