[Bards] And so begins a new year

[Jay Rudin]

Gerald asked:


>I have another question.
>
> This pertains to Eisteddfod.
>
> What set of events caused this Eisteddfod to be so relaxed, joyful, 
> riddled
> with laughter and good-natured cajoling, and so well-attended by some of 
> the
> finest bards in the kingdom?

The bards took ownership of it.  It began on this list, as people asked what 
they wanted Eisteddfod to be.  But it spread beyond this list, as people 
talked to each other at events.

First, a few people decided to enter, and then announced it publicly.  Then 
people started volunteering to add things.  People talked to the event 
stewards, and we came up with plans in advance.  These plans got more people 
on board.  It grew, because that's what happens when people get excited.

For a moment, the bards acted as a group, rather than as bunches of 
individuals.  Also, we made actual plans.

We did this.  Just by wanting to have it and caring about it and acting 
together and going beyond to coordinate with autocrats, ruling nobles, etc. 
The actual tent used was from Baron Borek, who went back to get it so we'd 
have one.  (Vivat Borek!)

> Better yet, how do we continue this?  How do we make it the norm?

Well, you know my answer.  We get together at events regularly and talk. 
Ideas and excitement and plans and activities will flow out of this.

The way to take ownership of bardcraft on a semi-permanent basis is to plan 
to do so, as a body.  I want to call that body a college, and to have 
college meetings.  It's my belief that it's easier to continue acting as a 
group if we actually identify with, well, a group.  Throughout history, that 
has been easier to do if the group has a name and a public identity.  I want 
it to be inclusive of all Ansteorran bards, so I want the name to be the 
Ansteorran XXXXX of Bards.

I'm not focussed primarily on the variable XXXXX.  We've use "College" in 
the past, and that's technically the correct word, meaning, after all, a 
collection of people.  But the primary focus is on the getting together 
regularly, with some sort of clear group identity.

At the very least, planned meetings will quickly grow into parties and 
bardic circles.  But these will be circles we planned, for our own purposes, 
with our own goals in minds.

That's what happened at Eisteddfod.  Let's publicly commit to continuing it, 
as a group.

Robin of Gilwell / Jay Rudin