minstrel: stage fright etc.

[Mike C. Baker]

Another mind-set that may be useful to folk who have a background
in modern religious expression styles, and one that can really be
applied across all types of material:  

"Testify, brothers and sisters! Reach down into your heart and soul
and _feel_ the power of the piece, _be_ the power of the piece,
let the power of the piece roll out from you like a mighty wave!"

Alright, so maybe not everyone appreciates preaching in the 
"Southern evangelical" style. But consider the advantages, and
disadvantages. Restating one of Mikal's points: believe in your 
material even when you can't (or won't) believe in yourself and 
you will do just fine as a performer.

Strongly encouraged listening, both for subject matter and for
picking up on performance techniques, is Orson Scott Card's
"Humanist Revival Meeting" tape. (I'm informed by reliable
sources that the live performance really was even better, but
by the time I'd heard about the phenomenon he was no longer
doing this at conventions.)

Mike C. Baker
SCA: Amr ibn Majid al-Bakri al-Amra
"Other": Kihe Blackeagle (the Dreamsinger Bard)
My opinions are my own -- who else would want them?
e-mail: kihe at ticnet.com OR kihe at rocketmail.com

----------
> From: J. Michael Shew <jshewkc at cyclops.pei.edu>
> Subject: Re: minstrel: stage fright etc.
> Date: Wednesday, September 02, 1998 9:47 PM
<SNIP>
> 	But I still do it.  I lose myself in the material.  I see what I
> am telling in the tale.  I live every song.
> 	I suppose if I wasn't afraid, the energy my performance has would
> never come out.  I wouldn't try to lose myself in my work.
> 	Mathrin is correct; it is all smoke and mirrors.  But if you use
> the illusion on yourself, sometimes it works out even better.
> 	Mikal Hrafspa
>
____________________________________________________________________________
___
>            Mikal the Ram, an annoying bard of no redeeming qualities
>
______________________________jshewkc at cyclops.pei.edu_______________________
___
> 
> 		"The knowlege that you freely share
> 		You never really lose
> 		For Mistress and Apprentice
> 		Are just titles that we use
> 		When wisdom passes from your hand
> 		It travels back around again
> 		And the pupil gives more knowlege back to you"
> 			(The Mistress' Song, composed for Lucianna)



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