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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Okay, I’ll bite. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>The best bardics I have experienced have
been the pass the candle type circles. This gives those of us who can’t
be shut up a chance to perform and then pass the torch and gives the shyer
types a chance to perform as well. I really enjoyed the format at Steppes a
couple of years ago where a person who got the candle could request a piece
from a bard—who then performed—and the candle went to the person
next to the requester. The circle did not get broken even though a bard performed
out of turn. That also made sure that everyone in the circle who wanted to
perform could do so in a timely fashion.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Themes are good if you have a themed
event. Having a bardic devoted to “Viking Randiness” or “Viking
Prowess” at North Sea Raids might make sense, but at a Loch Guardian
would be silly. In the SCA, I tend to shy away from any theme but the current
middle ages.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Pulling a bardic from the brink takes a
couple of things. First, you have to be willing to cut the traditional bardic
killer off at the knees. “My lord, your story seems most intriguing and
we thank you for it! There are many others who wish to perform before the
evening is done. Would you care to state the moral of your story?” Run
the bardic. Don’t allow it to collapse into a rambling story or really
bad song.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Alternatively, if you have a really bad
story or a series of songs that threaten to turn the bardic into a silliness
fest, as opposed to a good SCA bardic, then you have other options. First and
foremost, know your bards at the circle and call them out. Somebody does a
really bad rendition of “Scarborough Faire” and people are leaving
the hall, for example, and you see me or Gerald or Cat or a host of other good
bards sitting about, call on us by name and by song. “My Lord Gerald, I
hear the children crying out for ‘Barley Mow,’ Can you oblige?</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>My two pence.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Andrew Scarhart</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b> bards-bounces@ansteorra.org
[mailto:bards-bounces@ansteorra.org] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On
Behalf Of </span></b>Paul Haines<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Thursday, May 20, 2004 2:35
PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Ansteorran Bardic list<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [Bards] Let's Talk
About Bardic Circles ...</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>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.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>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.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>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.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>You might also want to discuss some of the
general types of performances:</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>1. The sing along (we all know the words to this
one....)</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>2. Audience participation (here's how the chorus
goes...)</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>3. Here's a piece in Italian (no one can
understand me, but isn't it pretty?)</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>4. The experiment (I'm going to try a new
one...I may need a line or two)</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>5. To book, or not to book (performing and
reading at the same time?)</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>6. The bard's famous for this piece (Alden can
you sing....?)</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>7a. Performing another bard's piece (And now I
will sing a song by Gerald of Leesville)</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>7b. Performing another bard's piece while that
bard is sitting in the circle.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Food for thought,</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Alden</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'><br>
<br>
<b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Snorri Hallsson
<snorri@houston.rr.com></span></i></b> wrote:</span></font></p>
</div>
<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #1010FF 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt;
margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Greetings my fellow bards:</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I will be teaching a class at
Steppes Warlord on “How (Not) to Host a <st1:Street u1:st="on"><st1:address u1:st="on">Bardic
Circle</st1:address></st1:Street>.” 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!</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>(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.)</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>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:</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.25in;text-indent:-.5in'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>1.<font size=1
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>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.)</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.25in;text-indent:-.5in'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2.<font size=1
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>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?)</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.25in;text-indent:-.5in'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>3.<font size=1
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></font><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>(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?)</span></font> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font><! /P></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>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.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Health and fortune,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>HL <st1:PersonName u1:st="on">Snorri
Hallsson</st1:PersonName></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><a
href="mailto:snorri@houston.rr.com">snorri@houston.rr.com</a></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'> </span></font></p>
</blockquote>
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