[Bards] Bardic college Events

[jerryn at houston.rr.com]

I understand that Eistedfodd SOUNDS daunting.

Documentation?  I'm not sure whether it's required in this particular 
competition this year (I know Elanor posted the rules, but I'm not at 
my home computer for checking), but it hasn't always been a 
requirement in the past.  And if it is required, is it really so bad 
to ask for documentation on one piece from an A&S standpoint?

Original pieces?  I know for a fact that you have enough "I was there" 
stories to count as original pieces.  Why not trot them out?

In the end, there are people who will compete and there are those who 
won't.  Neither is better than the other.  Eistedfodd is only one part 
of our performance community, and it is seen by many as a chance for 
bardic to shine in the kingdom.  I compete for a variety of reasons; 
to push myself beyond the normal expectation, to join in friendly 
competition with my peers and betters, to learn new techniques, see 
others perform, and share good company.  Am I nervous?  A little.  
Will I make a mistake?  Probably.  I play to win, but since I've 
actually started down the performance arts path, I've yet to enter a 
competition where I was not satisfied if someone won the competition 
instead of me.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that all of these "roadblocks" that 
you wrote about, are things that I'd like to encourage you (and 
others) to think of as "homework".  If I have a hope for anything in 
any of the discussions and arguments that will happen on this list, it 
is that someone who thought "I can't do that" finds that they can.  
Amberlea, I hope the time comes that you feel that you can enter, 
because I'll be there every year from now on.  And I'll have a big 
smile if I see you there as a competitor, for I'll get to see one more 
person who is going to do their best and ask me to do the same.

In service to the dream with a song in my heart, I am
HL Gerald of Leesville
A bard of Stargate

----- Original Message -----
From: lburgin <lburgin at gt.rr.com>
Date: Saturday, October 28, 2006 10:35 am
Subject: Re: [Bards] Bardic college Events
To: Ansteorran Bardic list <bards at lists.ansteorra.org>

> 
>  ----- Original Message ----- 
>  From: Gerald Norris 
>  To: 'Ansteorran Bardic list' 
>  Sent: Saturday, October 28, 2006 6:24 AM
>  Subject: Re: [Bards] Bardic college Events
> 
> 
>  Brian, here's a question; will you fight in Queen's Champion, 
> even if you don't feel that you're up to it for whatever reason?  
> Why not compete in Eistedfodd?  The experience of being up against 
> the best in the kingdom is knowledge gained.
> 
>  Here is my point, if you were new to fencing and had heard about 
> "Queens" and were told that it was only for experienced fighters 
> and that they required documentation and use of period style 
> fighting only, would you not think twice before entering?  That is 
> what I was told about Eisteddfodd.  Also that I needed to have an 
> original piece in a period style.  Since I still don't have one of 
> those even after 25 years, why should I consider entering. If 
> these requirements are not he case, maybe that should also be 
> "published" or at least spread around.  Based on the information I 
> was given, I still don't think I have what it takes to enter.  
AmberLea