[Bards] Let's Talk About Bardic Circles ...

[Paul Haines]

1.  I've never organized a bardic circle, but I suspect I will in the not-too-distant future.  As such, I can't say I really have a favorite/least-favorite circle format.  I like the "pick/pass/play" format, as long as the sequence continues around the circle from the last person who had the choice to pick/pass/play.  This is where the lamp/candle comes in handy, as a place marker.  If I get the lamp and ask Snorri to perform, I keep the lamp and pass it on to the person next to me when Snorri has finished.  This style helps involve the non-bards who come to the circle to be involved somewhat and hear performances that they know and like.
 
2.  Circle themes....I suppose it's possible, but it'd probably limit you in who attends and who performs the circle.  Personally, I want to hear/see as many bards in the circle as possible.  One theme idea that I like is the "It's New to Me" theme, where the performers have to perform something they haven't performed at an event before.
 
3.  How to pull a bardic circle back from the threshold of Bardic Hell?  (or keep it from going there?)  I'd recommend being proactive about it at the beginning.  State that each performance has a time limit (of whatever length you decide) and if someone's piece is going to go beyond that you will notify them when they approach that limit, and if they want to continue the piece, let them do so when their turn to perform comes around again.
 
You might also want to discuss some of the general types of performances:
1.  The sing along (we all know the words to this one....)
2.  Audience participation (here's how the chorus goes...)
3.  Here's a piece in Italian (no one can understand me, but isn't it pretty?)
4.  The experiment (I'm going to try a new one...I may need a line or two)
5.  To book, or not to book (performing and reading at the same time?)
6.  The bard's famous for this piece (Alden can you sing....?)
7a.  Performing another bard's piece (And now I will sing a song by Gerald of Leesville)
7b.  Performing another bard's piece while that bard is sitting in the circle.
 
 
Food for thought,
Alden


Snorri Hallsson <snorri at houston.rr.com> wrote:
st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }
Greetings my fellow bards:

 

I will be teaching a class at Steppes Warlord on “How (Not) to Host a Bardic Circle.”  The class is scheduled for 11:00 am on Saturday and will take place wherever the event steward tells me to.  If “experience” is the lesson learned by one’s own failures and “wisdom” is the lesson learned by the failures of others, then I invite one and all to come and be wizened from my own personal experience!

 

(This is a slightly serious, but mostly tongue-in-cheek class.  However, you should be able to walk away with some useful information, or you can use the handout as a firestarter.)

 

However, in making my final preparations on this class, I’d like to enlist the help of my fellow entertainers, who I trust to have more success in this venue than I.  If you’re so inclined, please answer the following questions:

 

1.                   What’s your favorite and least favorite bardic circle format, and why?  (For instance: pass & play, where a candle is passed from person to person and the holder of the candle either performs, requests a performance from another, or passes the candle to the next person.)

2.                   Do you set a “theme” for the circle beforehand?  If so, what do you do to keep a circle on track?  Is there a point where you let a themed bardic run itself?  (For instance: a bardic circle at a melee event may have a “war” theme but the majority of attendees want to hear and are performing romantic or bawdy pieces – what do you do?)

3.                   (The $64 question!)  What do you do to save your circle when someone performs a circle-killing piece?  (For instance: Joe Schmo has decided, after maybe one or two too many, that he is a legendary bard and decides to perform the one piece he knows, a 45-minute epic punctuated by off-key choruses and a liberal helping of “Um,” “Uh,” and “No, wait …” – people are getting quickly distracted and frustrated with Joe – how do you handle the situation to get the circle going again?)

 

There, that should get you guys talking for a couple days, I hope.  Otherwise my class might be shorter than I’d like it to be.

 

 

 

Health and fortune,

HL Snorri Hallsson

snorri at houston.rr.com

 

 

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