<html><div style='background-color:'><P>Milady Magdalia;</P>
<P>I will not even presume to be called a true bard. I am a swordsman who also does Bardic, but your post has answered questions that i have wondered about i have been a Bard but for 2 years and i play 6 instruments, sing a bit, tell stories of neighboring shires and villages and do magic. Unlike yourself, mine is more a comedy act than a true bardic performance. I will take your advice to heart and hope i can win another competition such as i did late last year. Your advice is both appreciated and wise.</P>
<P>In Service to the Dream and the Song, Lord Cormac of the House of Starwalker<BR><BR></P><BR><BR><BR>
<DIV><FONT face="Lucida Handwriting, Cursive" color=#ff3333><STRONG>Okiewiter</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
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From: <I>"PBW" <PBW_RN@peoplepc.com></I><BR>Reply-To: <I>Ansteorran Bardic list <bards@lists.ansteorra.org></I><BR>To: <I>"Ansteorran Bardic list" <bards@lists.ansteorra.org></I><BR>Subject: <I>Re: [Bards] Performing in court</I><BR>Date: <I>Wed, 21 Feb 2007 22:54:30 -0600</I><BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>> > This is a question--well, a series of<BR>> > questions--particularly for the veteran bards and<BR>> > entertainers out there, but open to anyone who has<BR>> > advice to offer.<BR>><BR>>I'll offer what little I can share.<BR>><BR>><snippage><BR>><BR>> >Do you announce yourself, or just launch right into your performance?<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>>Since often SCA events have attendees from other areas who dont/wont know me<BR>>I usually introduce myself with something along the lines of "I am
Lady<BR>>Magdalia Mac an Ghabhann, I hail from the Shire of Loch Ruadh"... of course<BR>>it also depends again on the venue and the tone of the court. The more<BR>>formal the court the more formal I am, the more laid back the court the more<BR>>laid back I am.<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>> >If an interruption occurs, do you bow out or try harder to hold the<BR>> >audience's attention?<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>>It depends on the interruption. Is the interruption rude populace? Then I<BR>>usually adjust my performance to perform to those who are interested, this<BR>>may just be shifting and performing for Their Majesties or Their<BR>>Excellencies, or it might be a small band of populace. Was the interruption<BR>>someone returning to court? Sometimes Their Majesties or Their Excellencies<BR>>will wish to bestow an honor upon a member of the
populace and that<BR>>individual is not readily available. As a bard you may be asked to entertain<BR>>while everyone waits for a Herald to retrieve that person, if the<BR>>interruption is that person returning then I would cut my performance short<BR>>and thank those present for the opportunity. If your in the middle of a<BR>>story a quick " and to hear how Sir Knight saved the Fair Maid come to the<BR>>bardic circle tonight at 8pm!" and grin, bow and exit.<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>> >How best do you walk the thin line between doing what has been asked of<BR>> >you, and inflicting yourself on a captive audience that may not be entirely<BR>> >interested? Is it simply the<BR>> > job of a good bard to make sure they *are* interested?<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>>Knowing your audience is the key. Is everyone restless because the
court has<BR>>been long or its been hot or <insert adverse situation here>? Then that<BR>>would not be the time to delve into a 10-minute story. That would be a good<BR>>time for a short upbeat, maybe even silly, story/song. If the populace is<BR>>restless instead of performing a "show piece" maybe doing something the<BR>>populace can join in on would be best, something that's either easy to<BR>>recognize and most folks at least already know the chorus or something that's<BR>>simple with an easy to follow and learn chorus.<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>> > I'm not asking for specific answers to that whole barrage of questions,<BR>> > but it's dawned on me that I don't even know how much I don't know.<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>>I have been in the SCA over 13 years now and still feel I am learning. My<BR>>answers are far from
specific but maybe they can shed some light for you.<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>> > I had my first experience with court performance last weekend, and I'd<BR>> > like to be better prepared next time. Any thoughts from those wiser and<BR>> > more seasoned than myself would be very much >appreciated.<BR>><BR>>If I could give two pieces of advice it would be (1) have a few things handy<BR>>in your repertoire' that you can call on at any time under any circumstance<BR>>and that you know "like the back of your hand" and (2) never take your shoes<BR>>off during court or you will get called on! <grin> It never fails, I would<BR>>think I didn't have to do anything in court so would get comfortable and<BR>>take off my shoes and yep... get called upon in court for something!<BR>><BR>><BR>>I hope this
helps!<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>>Lady Magdalia Mac an Ghabhann<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>>_______________________________________________<BR>>Bards mailing list<BR>>Bards@lists.ansteorra.org<BR>>http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/bards-ansteorra.org<BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></div></html>