ANST - The Bard's Road

[tegan at swbell.net]

I am autocrating an event in May in Loch Soilleir and since it is 
our Baronial Championship where we pick our Bard and Artisan I have no
choice but to make it a competition. What I would like is some input
from bards that are currently competing on how we could improve upon
the standard competition.
Since this event will be special because we will be welcoming a new
Baron and Baroness I wish to have lots of entertainment.
I myself prefer wandering bards. There is nothing like having a bard
wander in to your pavillion and entertain you with story and song to
make you feel special.
Basically what can I do to accomadate you the bards?
E-mail me privately if you wish.
Tegan Rhos 

Spatsman at aol.com wrote:
> 
> Unto the good Gentles of Ansteorra,
> An interesting subject came up recently which has given my forehead a
> concerned furrow.
> While attending a northern event, a few local bards, myself included, found
> ourselves in a conversation concerning bardic competitions. Now, I'm not going
> to waste your time talking shop, but the jist of this discussion was the
> amount of competition in this Kingdom. It seems that most every event has a
> bardic competition, and not just for the earning of a representitive title.
> These seem to spring from honest, good intentions, ie; " Well, we need to give
> the bards something to do".
> That's a generous attitude, and for it I am grateful.
> I simply wish to suggest that competitions are not the only bardic activity.
> If the time has come to choose your newest Titled bard, so be it. If, however,
> no title is in question, why not devise some other gathering, of a less
> competitive nature.
> Please understand, when you don armor, you prepare to face an opponent, but
> when a bard breathes in his/her first words, they prepare to face down reality
> itself.
> We strive to create those magic moments, and it's hard,...very hard.
> If a winner is not required, why not have themed performances?
> A request night?
> Random adlib, suggestions from the audience?
> Or, encourage firewalking in your area? This particular tradition is not being
> followed as it once was in Ansteorra. Some still welcome bards, young and old,
> with welcome arms, but some make bards to feel most unwelcome, and this is
> particularly hard on the new performer, whose confidence is shaky to begin
> with.
> You could welcome bards to perform when drummers and
> dancers need refreshment.
> Landed nobility could call visiting bards to their tables.
> Warriors could make a pre-battle boast worthwhile to the local bard.
> I will leave it at that, and I look forward to the opinions of the people,
> bards and audiences alike. Perhaps I have only scratched the surface. Mayhap
> there are more suggestions out there.
> I hope so.
> ~HL Fionnagan
>            "Be useless to the spirit of passivity, the hands and mouth rot
> soon enough"
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