minstrel: Re: The View from My Field

[Mike Baker]

Mikal & Rathflaed have both spoken eloquently upon the "itinerant bard" 
approach to enjoying events. I do not and will not necessarily disagree with 
them, but will offer an alternative mode AND other relevant commentary, esp. 
concerning event size.

The Tinker's Camp / Bard's Holding:
      Sometimes, one's persona-play or method is not consistent with the 
roving bard who is expecting to be fed and liquified, yet the individual 
cannot support a lavish hosting arrangement at most events, either. I see 
nothing wrong with supporting one's self and household with purchased food 
and drink & still roving the camp with proffered tales, songs, and other 
entertainments. If hospitality is offered, I accept and gladly so, but am 
well aware that not all who travel in the Current Middle Ages can open their 
larders at will. I eat of what is offered in moderation (maybe except for 
chocolate), and drink likewise (with similar occasional exceptions, such as 
Tullamore Dew).

And I get invited to return.

Note that I am also a merchant, a seller of knives and other small trinkets, 
but not particularly diligent or well-off by means of those sales. (Hey, I 
do alright, but ya gotta sell a truckload of cheap feast daggers to turn a 
real profit -- I see myself more as providing a service than really trying 
to make big bucks, and supplement this view by also hand-sharpening cutlery 
on-site.) At an occasional event during the course of the turning seasons, I 
*will* set forth a truly groaning board - and work it into the merchant 
aspects of the persona-play. "It *was* a good year along the caravan trails, 
m'lord, and in this festival season is it not appropriate to share with 
those whose past seasons were not so fortunate?" (It's occasionally been an 
award-winning effort, too... at least in combination with the efforts of 
others.)

I don't have to do this, and certainly don't do it for the sake of 
recognition. I *am* financially better-off than many newcomers (MIS 
positions tend to pay well, students struggling through college still seldom 
have much disposable income). It does allow me to "play host" at times, 
although I've yet to approach the efforts of Countess Regina or of Count 
Finn and Countess Cyf (notable past exemplars of bard-friendly hospitality 
here in Ansteorra).

And when I am not formally hosting others it allows me to haunt the shadows 
and walk between the fire-circles of smaller events without becoming a 
burden upon my hosts or their other guests. (N.B.: the event autocrat and 
staff should, IMNSHO, be treated as if hosts more often than they appear to 
be...) This certainly allows me to visit those "camps that have no bardic 
entertainment who will gladly listen to you all night" more often, and 
perhaps begin their gentle socialization & further their knowledge.  (Bard: 
forever the teacher, forever the student.)

Playing To Isolation:
     Rathflaed examined the merits of offering entertainments to isolated / 
distant campsites / circles / gatherings. Some related thoughts:

> NOT the same as rhinobarding.

Absolutely not. That "isolated" camp may just have been a lane or two out of 
the primary party circuit in an encampment and be desperate for an outside 
voice. Remember also to provide a kind ear / eye for whatever they may offer 
*you*, the wanderer, in the way of enjoyable entertainments.

That camp may also be isolated for other reasons: small children, 
early-rising campers, shyness, or whatever. (One of the best amateur Middle 
Eastern dancers it has been my pleasure to watch was rather shy as well as 
being watchful over her child, and only performed in the confines of her own 
merchant tent.) We must all remain aware of the audience and know when to 
walk away quietly, or perhaps to the sound of a softly-sung lullaby (still 
asking first: "RhinoBard" doesn't understand any of these things, may not 
ask, and builds a bad reputation for the rest of us...).

> don't look to the camps with the pointy hats.  They get plenty of people 
who
> wnat to perform for them.

Unless they are "currently out of power" and trying to rebuild a support 
base. (Never hurts to remain aware of the political climate, even if you 
yourself never "play politics".) The fashionable minstrels may deliberately 
avoid the out-of-favor hats. The itinerant bard should not - where better to 
perform a teaching song than among those who are in need of instruction AND 
in a more-receptive than usual frame of mind? (Yes, bards should generally 
be neutral in all matters. Mostly, in practice, this often consists of 
remaining more neutral than our current audience...)

> If you are looking for a campsite to get good in,
> you will usually need to look at the campsite with a household that's new 
to
> the area or far from any large group.

"New to the area" also encompassing true newcomers to the Society, of 
course. They tend to be more forgiving of the occasional brainfart...

Households that have recently relocated between kingdoms, or even those that 
are just visiting for the space of an event, can also have a powerful 
ear-thirst upon them. Again, don't forget to listen to what they offer in 
return. Inter-kingdom anthropology lessons could benefit all of us from time 
to time.

Contingency Planning:
      Mikal does mention having "iron rations" in his equippage. Always a 
good thing even if you are recognized as an entertainer of great merit and 
certain of your eventual hosting. The "great houses" that often provide the 
bulk of the support to wandering minstrels and bard-types might choose to 
attend elsewhere *this* weekend, your allergies may kick in and sinus 
drainage reduce your voice to scratchy breathings, or any of a number of 
other disasters may plague an event as a whole. (I try to always have some 
extra emergency food supplies in the car trunk, at least of the 
cheese&cracker type, that I can kick in if there is a call for pooling of 
resources.)

> Good luck.

And, certainly, my own wishes for luck to us all!

Kihe Blackeagle (the Dreamsinger Bard)  s.k.a. Amr ibn Majid al-Bakri 
al-Amra
     currently residing in Barony of the Steppes, Kingdom of Ansteorra
Mike C. Baker                      mbaker at rapp.com
Any opinions expressed are obviously my own unless explicitly stated 
otherwise! 

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