[MR] Running bardic circles

[Brian Bertrand]

Personally I prefer Pick or Play, having pass as an option allows people to
be passive non-participants.  By picking someone to perform, they are still
engaged but are not themselves forced to perform.  A performance is a gift
you share with others, by no means should anyone be forced to do so.

On Mon, Jun 20, 2011 at 11:00 PM, Amerie Helton
<ameriehelton at bellsouth.net>wrote:

> To everyone who attends bardic circles -
>
> I've had several people tell me that they've been to bardic circles where
> the person running the circle said everyone had to perform. In one case, it
> was the lady's first bardic circle.
>
> This is just wrong. No one should be required to perform. Many people are
> deeply afraid of performing, and telling them they must do so is cruel. So
> of course they leave - I would too! This drives away what could otherwise be
> an appreciative audience, and in some cases will keep them from ever
> attending a bardic circle again.
>
> As a performer, I like having an audience! The more, the merrier!
> Performers NEED an audience. Telling stories to chairs is Very Boring.
>
> To be completely accurate, I should say there are two events where the
> price of admission is one performance - Performers' Revel, and Performers'
> Revel South. So if you go to one of those events,  you really should be
> willing to perform something : > But even then I've never seen anyone
> singled out and told they must perform.
>
> My favorite way to run a bardic circle is Pick, Pass, or Play. Some item is
> passed around the circle. Whoever has the item can Pick someone to perform
> or something to be performed, Pass the item on to the next person, or Play
> (perform). This gives everyone who wants to perform a chance, and allows
> those who simply want to listen to do so.
>
> So if you're running a bardic circle, don't tell anyone they must perform.
> Asking is fine, encouraging is great, but insisting is wrong.
>
> Yours in song and story,
> Mistress Dervila ni Leanon
> Royal Bard of Atlantia
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-- 
In Service to the Dream,

Brian C. Bertrand
SKA-Bertran de Saint Jean

I am a fan of the cereal comma:  Part of a balanced breakfast that includes
milk, juice, and toast.

Showing deference to those with power over you is not courtesy, it is
self-preservation.  Showing deference to those over whom you have power is
not only courtesy, but grace.

A bullet, laser beam, missile or charge may have your name on it, smartbombs
and bombs are addressed "To whom it may concern"..