[Bards] Some Thoughts on Documentation for Bardic Competition

[Anawyn at aol.com]

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In a message dated 4/22/2002 10:23:55 AM Central Daylight Time,
BMartin at Corp.Prodigy.com writes:


> I'm curious about what the people
> on this list think about documentation for competitions and whether or not
> it should be required. (Please note that I'm drawing a separation between
> competitions and bardic circles/fires.)
>

In a formal setting, for a competition, I think it lends a lot to the
performance to have the bard offer a brief (emphasis on brief!) bit of
documentation, oral or written. It shows that the performer not only has
written, or is performing a piece, but that they put some thought into it.
For those of us who have been around for a while, or are steeped in history,
many performances will be understood to be "period" pieces, for example, a
recitation of a Shakespearean sonnet. But it certainly "kicks it up a notch",
to find that a bard took the time to accurately portray a character, or event
based up research. THAT shows a measure of classiness I think, and also
indicates that they care about what their audience is going to receive.
Further, it provides one more element for the judge, or judges, to use in
determining a final winner. I dearly love a good filk around the campfire,
but for competition, a performance that is carefully researched as well as
delivered, is the ultimate in bardic achievement.
Anawyn