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<DIV><SPAN class=112563203-21052004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>1)
Favorite - Pick, pass or play - gives everyone most of a chance to
perform. Gives those who don't want to perform a chance to ask for their
favorite pieces from their favorite bards. Gives bards a chance to
rest. What's not to like? Least favorite? One that
insists that everyone try to perform bardic, by telling stories of their first
event or whatever. Some people just aren't performers, storytellers,
or poets, and they know it. Give them the chance to bow out
gracefully! However, the reverse hostage theater last weekend at Loch
Guardian was puhretty entertaining!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=112563203-21052004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=112563203-21052004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>2) Themes? Only if you're running your bardic competition at
the circle. Challenges? They're okay if the person is up for it, but
for the most part bardic circles shouldn't be run as competitions. One of
the problems with keeping a circle interesting is getting everyone
involved. Sure, the individual performances are pretty, but you have to
throw some sing-a-longs in to keep everyone's interest. But that brings us
to ....</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=112563203-21052004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=112563203-21052004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>3)
First - bardic circles shouldn't be considered performance venues; instead they
should be considered a place to relax, sing some songs, tell some jokes,
stories, etc. If everyone is expected to behave as if they were at a
concert, then it's no longer a bardic circle. If someone gets up and
starts doing a piece and goes into too many "wait", "Uhm", "uhhhh"s, then ask if
they would mind performing the piece at a later date when they've had a chance
to work it out a little more. If they start getting snotty, start up "Wild
Rover". It's a loud song, will drown them out, and everyone knows the
chorus (or will by the end of the song) and will be thankful to have moved on to
something that reminds them to breathe once in a while. Silly is good, if
that's what you're going for, but the best circles I've been to have some of
each added in. Breathtaking performances followed by side-splitting
hilarity followed by Eleanor's "Sad Song", which sorta combines both in a
twisted kind of way. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=112563203-21052004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=112563203-21052004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I
prefer to think of myself as "hosting" bardic circles when such things happen
rather than "running" it. I try to provide some drink for those who need
it, and usually a torch or fire (weather permitting (that means that it doesn't
rain or the low isn't going to be in the high 80s). If things aren't going
fast enough, I'll try to call on some people to perform if I know of them.
If I'm a "guest" at the circle, I still don't mind calling on people if things
slow down. Plenty of seating is a good thing too, but sometimes it's hard
to do. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=112563203-21052004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=112563203-21052004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>My two
pence worth. Now. Go. Teach!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=112563203-21052004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>g.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=112563203-21052004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> bards-bounces@ansteorra.org
[mailto:bards-bounces@ansteorra.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Snorri
Hallsson<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, May 20, 2004 12:35 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
bards@ansteorra.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Bards] Let's Talk About Bardic Circles
...<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Greetings my fellow
bards:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I will be teaching a class at
Steppes Warlord on “How (Not) to Host a <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address
w: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!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; 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.)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; 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:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><FONT
face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">1.<FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1><SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></FONT><![endif]><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.)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><FONT
face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">2.<FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1><SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></FONT><![endif]><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?)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><FONT
face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">3.<FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1><SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></FONT><![endif]><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?)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; 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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Health and
fortune,</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">HL <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">Snorri Hallsson</st1:PersonName></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A
href="mailto:snorri@houston.rr.com">snorri@houston.rr.com</A></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>