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eveglassFor the last few years, I've been a very active bard abroad (Pennsic, Concordia of the Snows, etc.) but particularly inactive on the home front. Since Pennsic -- particularly since being taken on as Mistress Marian of Heatherdale's student -- I've wanted to launch back into the local scene, and I decided tonight was as good a night as any to start.
I arrived at the church (where the fencers practice, and where I had advertised the circle as happening) around 7. It was raining; I was wet. For about an hour, I was alone with two fencers, flipping through my books and occasionally humming to myself, but not doing very much bardic. More people started showing up around 8, but most of them were there for the fencing.
Around 8:30, I had my breakthrough. Singling out the only other person there who wasn't fencing, I asked if she wanted to do any bardic. She's francophone, but we flipped through my bardic book, and I would sing songs that looked interesting. Once I started singing, other people stopped by between bouts and listened, so I had a rotating audience. That was a good start.
Around 9:15, Xavier (the marshal of fencing) made the excellent point that the next time I announce a bardic circle, I should make it clear that I'll just be hanging out with my books and I'd be happy to teach songs. Well, said I, can I teach some songs now! My first audience member (the francophone) expressed an interest in learning some songs, so I started teaching her "Never Set the Cat on Fire."
Around this time, we got another performer! Yay! Adi, one of the fencers who used to be a professional singer (or at least professionally trained), did a bit of singing, and for a while we even had a decently-sized group sitting around as the fencing broke up. I never did get to record myself (that'll have to wait for another day), but we had some good bardic camaraderie towards the end of the evening. It wasn't anywhere near as formal as the stuff you get down at Concordia, but it was a good first baby-step.
For next time, I must remember to structure the announcement to be even more newbie-friendly. I've been hanging out with self-proclaimed bards for so long that I've forgotten that most people don't actually know most of the common SCAdian songs that I take for granted. Still, though, a good start. Here's looking forward to next time.
I arrived at the church (where the fencers practice, and where I had advertised the circle as happening) around 7. It was raining; I was wet. For about an hour, I was alone with two fencers, flipping through my books and occasionally humming to myself, but not doing very much bardic. More people started showing up around 8, but most of them were there for the fencing.
Around 8:30, I had my breakthrough. Singling out the only other person there who wasn't fencing, I asked if she wanted to do any bardic. She's francophone, but we flipped through my bardic book, and I would sing songs that looked interesting. Once I started singing, other people stopped by between bouts and listened, so I had a rotating audience. That was a good start.
Around 9:15, Xavier (the marshal of fencing) made the excellent point that the next time I announce a bardic circle, I should make it clear that I'll just be hanging out with my books and I'd be happy to teach songs. Well, said I, can I teach some songs now! My first audience member (the francophone) expressed an interest in learning some songs, so I started teaching her "Never Set the Cat on Fire."
Around this time, we got another performer! Yay! Adi, one of the fencers who used to be a professional singer (or at least professionally trained), did a bit of singing, and for a while we even had a decently-sized group sitting around as the fencing broke up. I never did get to record myself (that'll have to wait for another day), but we had some good bardic camaraderie towards the end of the evening. It wasn't anywhere near as formal as the stuff you get down at Concordia, but it was a good first baby-step.
For next time, I must remember to structure the announcement to be even more newbie-friendly. I've been hanging out with self-proclaimed bards for so long that I've forgotten that most people don't actually know most of the common SCAdian songs that I take for granted. Still, though, a good start. Here's looking forward to next time.
