[MR] Running bardic circles

[Gina Shelley]

I second this. Nobody needs to be doing anything to discourage people from showing up to Bardic Circles. Putting people on the spot is a sure fire way to discourage folks. While I wouldn't call what we do "bardic circles", sometimes that's the closest thing at the momentPeople show up when we're sitting around playing, and we ask them if they have something they'd like to do, but we don't press anyone. Who wants to be rewarded for showing up by being put on the spot? If  we see someone singing along, I hand them a songbook (if they don't already have one, some do). Someone shows up with an instrument and tries to play along, we prompt the chords for them. Otherwise, people are welcome to show up and do whatever they want, up to and including using us for background noise while they chat in the back. 

It's not formal and there really aren't any rules. And you SURE don't have to perform if you don't' want to. (you don't even have to listen if you don't want to! ) ;-)

Dulcy
Painted Wheel