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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'>I was pretty sure we had all come to that
conclusion earlier. Was there a suggestion that we be rude to someone
publicly?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Kenneth<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
bards-bounces@lists.ansteorra.org [mailto:bards-bounces@lists.ansteorra.org] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Beth Wolff<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Monday, May 07, 2007 8:44 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Ansteorran
Bardic list</st1:PersonName><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [Bards] Situations
That Ruin Bardic Circles</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Hear! Hear!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Well spoken, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I couldn't have said it better myself.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Elanor<br>
<br>
<b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Della H
<elf_kind1980@yahoo.com></span></i></b> wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #1010FF 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt;
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Okay, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I've been quiet long enough. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>First of all, being an aspiring music teacher in real life, I
do not under ANY circumstances believe there to be a "bad"
bard. There are people that do need guidance, and when they ask where to
find it they will find places such as Craggenworth and the like. Second,
in regards to what should "done" about said "bad"
bards. It is my humble opinion that either you take the time to walk away
and get your drink, endure the 3-5 minutes that person is up there, or POLITELY
talk to them AFTER their performance. If they aren't receptive, then they
aren't receptive to the way that they were offered criticism and you should try
a different approach. It is NEVER, NEVER, NEVER okay to interrupt someone
as Quill suggests. We as good bards should be setting the example of good
behavior and courtesy that we all expect in return. Robert said it best
(paraphrasing): That bardic circles are meant to be fun, and while a bad
bard is not fun, neither is hurting someones feelings. I was under the
impression that courtesy was a valued virtue in Ansteorra. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>That would be my humble opinion. Thanks for hearing me out.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Della <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>----- Original Message
----<br>
From: Ken Theriot <<st1:PersonName w:st="on">kentheriot@ravenboymusic.com</st1:PersonName>><br>
To: <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Ansteorran Bardic list</st1:PersonName>
<bards@lists.ansteorra.org><br>
Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2007 4:57:55 PM<br>
Subject: [Bards] Situations That Ruin Bardic Circles<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>This is sort of a follow-on to what Dutchess Willow has posted in
regard to<br>
bardic circles. This is, of course, my opinion. So with
that intro....<br>
<br>
Bardic circles represent the primary type of venue for us to perform at<br>
events. There are obviously other circumstances where people
perform, but I<br>
want to focus on the bardic circle. What makes a good
one? What makes a<br>
bad one? <br>
<br>
Good Circles: Smallish circle (no more than 15-20 people...around 10
is<br>
best), not a competition, well-ordered (turn passes from person to person in<br>
a specific order), and time-limited (performances should not be more than,<br>
say, 10 minutes). Why does this describe a "good"
circle? The more people<br>
there are, the less airtime we get. My underlying premise is that as
bards,<br>
we like to perform....in front of an audience. This may not be
universal.<br>
But if there is a bard out there who does not enjoy performing, I'd say they<br>
are in the severe minority. <br>
<br>
Bad Circles: Mainly the opposite of the above. Let's
start with size.<br>
With 20 people in a circle (assuming they only take an average of 5 minutes<br>
for their piece, AND the turn is passing in order), you will get to perform<br>
1 piece every hour and a half. Now if we start adding people, and factoring<br>
in the longer times, it just goes up from there. For example, let's
take 30<br>
bards doing an average performance of 6 minutes. Now you're only
getting to<br>
perform every 2 hours. If we add in lack of regulation it gets even
worse.<br>
When poorly regulated, people will just jump in and start<br>
performing...sometimes performing more than one piece on their
turn. This<br>
happened several times at a recent circle that many on this list attended.<br>
It is not fair to other bards at best, and downright rude when there IS<br>
supposed to be an order, but people simply jump the line. In these<br>
situations, the loudest, most forceful bard dominates (regardless of<br>
talent), and the more unassuming bards perform little or not at
all. The<br>
solution to most of the above problems is to have a circle leader who<br>
maintains control. <br>
<br>
Summary of Common Problems with Bardic Circles and How to Solve Them: <br>
<br>
1. Problem: People who perform without waiting their
turn. Reason: not<br>
fair to those who HAVE waited their turn. This refers to folks
wandering<br>
into the circle and those already in the circle. Solution: Circle
leader<br>
does not give permission for interlopers/turn-jumpers to perform.<br>
<br>
2. Problem: Stories that are 20+ minutes long!!!! Reason:
Hogging airtime.<br>
Solution: If you have a 20 minute story, serialize it into 10-minute<br>
increments and do one increment per turn. Circle leader must state a<br>
10-minute (or some other agreed-upon time) rule up front, and periodically<br>
thereafter. <br>
<br>
3. Problem: Songs filked to obviously modern tunes (A
filk to "Will The<br>
Circle Be Unbroken" is one I have heard twice in the past 6 months).<br>
Reason: Some people like to put the modern world behind them at SCA events<br>
(go figure!). Doing modern filks ruins that for those
people. Solution:<br>
Circle leader must state this preference up front, and/or gauge whether the<br>
atmosphere is right. I have (I admit it) heard songs like this that
I like.<br>
Efenwealt's "Ophelia" sung to "Cecilia" is actually really
funny.<br>
<br>
4. Problem: Bardic Circles With More than 20 People. Reason:
Stated<br>
above. Solution: This is tough, and there is no easy
solution. It would<br>
seem rude to turn people away if they want to join the
circle. Suggestions:<br>
1. For every new person that joins after a certain point, reduce the<br>
time-limit per piece. 2. Hold a private, invite-only circle.<br>
<br>
5. Problem: Bardic Circle As a
Competition. Reason: Circles are for<br>
everyone to enjoy themselves. Competitions have a different goal,
and tend<br>
to create a more stressful atmosphere. Solution: Hold competitions
in other<br>
venues...during the day (just my preference).<br>
<br>
6. Problem: Bardic Circle Doesn't
Happen. Reason: Obvious...no bardic!<br>
How many times have you been at an event, where there are many bards, and no<br>
circle is happening? Sometimes there is even a mention (or footnote,
more<br>
like) of bardic in the newsletter, or at court. But it was just an<br>
afterthought with no planning. Solution: Schedule and
publicize the circle<br>
(must put one person in charge and state time and location).<br>
<br>
So that's my story, and I'm sticking with it:). It's just my
opinion.<br>
Others may disagree.<br>
<br>
Kenneth <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
Bards mailing list<br>
Bards@lists.ansteorra.org<br>
<a href="http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/bards-ansteorra.org"
target="_blank">http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/bards-ansteorra.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=1 width="100%" align=center>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?<br>
Check out <a
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48245/*http:/autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html;_ylc=X3oDMTE1YW1jcXJ2BF9TAzk3MTA3MDc2BHNlYwNtYWlsdGFncwRzbGsDbmV3LWNhcnM-">new
cars at Yahoo! Autos.</a> _______________________________________________<br>
Bards mailing list<br>
Bards@lists.ansteorra.org<br>
http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/bards-ansteorra.org<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</blockquote>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color="#033d21" face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#033D21'>Make a
joyful noise unto your Kingdom! <img border=0 width=18 height=18
id="_x0000_i1026"
src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/40.gif"></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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