[MR] Fwd: Running bardic circles

[Amerie Helton]

I think I have now made this mistake often enough not to make it again.

Dervila

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Amerie Helton <ameriehelton at bellsouth.net>
> Date: June 22, 2011 11:02:10 PM EDT
> To: Made For Willow <madeforwillow at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [MR] Running bardic circles
>
> Baroness Willow -
>
> Thank you for your comments and advice - it sums the situation up  
> wonderfully. I have only one minor comment to make.
>
> Not any song or story is *always* welcome. You have to consider how  
> appropriate the piece is to the audience. Young children present?  
> Keep the stuff rated G. Early in the bardic? Try not to damage the  
> medieval atmosphere. Later in the bardic, no children present? I  
> figure anything street legal goes. And yes, I have encouraged  
> someone to sing "The Bare Necessities" from Disney's Jungle Book  
> late at a bardic because that's all he knew and he wanted to perform.
>
> You start where you are. Don't be ashamed that you're not as good  
> as the people who've been performing for - let's see, how long?  
> Good lord, some of us have literally been performing for decades.  
> If you want to perform, please do so. If you don't want to perform,  
> please don't put up with being pressured. Both new performers and  
> audiences are the lifeblood of the performing arts.
>
> Thank you for your kind attention,
> Mistress Dervila ni Leanon
> Royal Bard of Atlantia
>
>
> On Jun 21, 2011, at 10:41 AM, Made For Willow wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> Greetings Good Gentles,
>>
>> I am glad to see this conversation and wish to comment. I support  
>> Pick, Pass and Play...no one should be forced to perform at any  
>> Bardic. It is the fellowship of the Circle that brings people  
>> together. It is often observing the Bardic Circle that will bring  
>> interest to a possible new performer. Not all who come to a circle  
>> know songs, or stories to share, it is by attending a Bardic that  
>> one will learn.
>>
>> Bardic Circles should not be a pressure pot for someone to perform.
>>
>> If you take a moment and look back at the history of a Bardic  
>> Circle, you will find that after a day of toil and travel, family,  
>> friends, workers, and travelers would gather about a fire in the  
>> evening, to prepare a meal, to keep warm, to share their day. Once  
>> the meal was finished, the spirits may have been shared and the  
>> stories of their day’s journey, past travels or simply a tall  
>> story would begin. Singing songs, sharing stories, enjoying food  
>> and drink, that is what an original circle was.
>>
>> Keep this in mind. If your circle is closed, and unwelcoming,  
>> others will not join. A Bardic Circle should always have space for  
>> others to join, be open and welcoming.
>>
>> I say this from personal experience, and I will ask...when was the  
>> last time you heard me sing?  I have not in a very long time  
>> joined a Bardic Circle, due to the pressure of poorly run Bardic  
>> Circles, a closed unwelcoming circle, or pressure to perform. As a  
>> professional singer, I often enjoy listening.
>>
>> That being said, I will not point fingers, nor will I press the  
>> issue. I will render this advice:
>>
>> -All Bardic Circles should be open to any and all who wish to come
>> -Any song or story, no matter what level of talent is wonderful to  
>> hear…
>> -Children are the future of the SCA, teach them and welcome them.
>> -If you want to learn a song…ask the person who sang it for the  
>> lyrics
>> -Do not feel pressured to perform…ALL ARE WELCOME….
>>
>> I would be happy to host a Bardic Circle at any event....and know  
>> that you and all are welcome. Your songs and stories are part of  
>> the legend of the Circle.
>> Bring them, share them and learn more.
>>
>> In service to the Dream,
>> Baroness Willow Faye Dunne
>>
>>
>