I don’t know if any of you remember but we use to have bardic circles 
during the day. 

I am sure no one remembers but the old concept of the bardic 
competition came about at a competition at Elfsea. It was held at the 
Castle in Ft.Worth. I don't remember what event it was. I was running 
the competition. I decided to do it a little differently. No table 
with judges. I selected an open spot that could be seen from many 
places. Made sure there was a lot of seating. The day was beautiful. 
Sir Jan was King and he and his Queen had their thrones moved over. 
When we started we didn't have many people watching, but we had some 
very good performers. It was during Sir Finn's performance that I 
noticed that we had attracted many people. The audience was eating it 
up. Master Ivar Battle Skald really did well. It was a wonderful 
afternoon under trees listening to the great performers. 
It was at that time the Queen's Bards started to do the local 
Eisteddfods. We tried to have them in public area and focused the 
performers attention to the audience not the judges. In fact, often 
the judges were unknown. The idea was to get as much enjoyment as 
possible from the performers and the audience.

I ran the Queen's Bards bardic competitions in Ansteorra from Sir 
Jan's reign to Sir Dinar's. At that time the Baronies demanded that 
they have the right to control the competitions. Some places in the 
North kept the original concept. Other places went back to judges and 
tables. Many of the performers forgot to entertain the audience. I 
wasn't active at the time so I am not sure what changes happened. I 
just knew that the Bardic competition went from a favorite activity of 
the populace to something they really didn't want to go to. Steppes' 
Sunday night and Elfsea's Sat bardic competitions still drawing many 
people. Then for reasons I was not privy to the powers in those places 
changed them. Everywhere I go the competitions are tight, closed up 
things run as fast as they can in the smallest place they can find. 
The populace couldn't watch them if the wanted to. They are usually 
stuck between other activities at times were everyone is rushed or you 
haven't had time to have your coffee.

I would love to have daytime Bardic if they had a little atmosphere.
When I was allowed to set up my Bardic area we often had impromptu 
Bardic during the day. My goal was to have something happening all day 
and night. 


Willow