[Bards] Re:Bardic and Performing Arts

[Genie Barrett]

At 02:25 AM 4/11/2006, Scott Barrett wrote:

>If one of my responsibilities as a storyteller is to speak truth to 
>power, I will say this. I want the landed nobles and the current 
>royals (Their Majesties and Their Highnesses) to invite performers 
>to entertain them in intimate settings, not in the middle of court. 
>We tend to follow the banners lifted by our nobles, so I say we 
>convince them to host circles and shows. I wanna see the King 
>(better yet, the Queen) at Gulf War host an Ansteorran 'Revel of 
>Roses' or 'Minstrelfest', with formal invites to the other royals 
>and performers of the various kingdoms for a grand night of 
>entertainment. If we can't strive for the war point, we can at least 
>honor and entertain those who can with one heck of a show every year.
>
>Well... there went an hour of my life.
>~Finnacan
>

Hear, hear, Finnacan.  I agree.  More informal/non-competition 
performances, and separate the music from the static arts.  I, too 
find it a bit... well I wouldn't call it pointless, but something 
close, to compete against someone's pottery or embroidered glove.

On that note, I did sing at the A&S competition at Gulf Wars last 
year.  There were only four or five of us after the formal bardic 
performances ended.  We sang for two hours, trading off between 
us.  It was fun, hard, and educational.  My voice was shot in the 
end.  I wondered if anyone could hear me at times, knew they were 
hearing me at others.  I will say, that I had more fun fire-walking 
than I did there.  Somehow, fire-walking felt more "real,"  more 
comfortable.  I hope to go to the war next year, but I don't know if 
I will compete in the A&S with song.

I will say, that the most fun I have had in a long time, was the 
feast at the Tourney of the Loch.  There, the baron invited bards to 
perform while people ate.  We were in a small hall, and I had the 
incredible and unusual experience of realizing that most, if not all, 
of the people in that room were actually hearing me.  I have never 
seen so many eyes at an SCA event when I was 
performing.  Wonderful!  That's what I call living MY dream.

Maggie
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