Being A Bard

A simplified explanation of a bard is a storyteller who travels.  Bards held a special place in Ireland.  They were keepers of her stories and her chieftains’ genealogy.  They were treated royally because no chieftain wanted a bard travelling the countryside making fun of him.

In the SCA (Society of Creative Anachronism) the broad definition of a bard takes in anyone involved with the spoken and written word be they poets, storytellers or singers.

Entry in to the bard’s world is relatively easy.  Unlike a fencer you don’t need expensive equipment and specialized garb.  Your pen and paper (or computer), voice, imagination, love of reading and showmanship is all you need.

Be prepared to read and study a lot.  A bard who is a poet usually familiarizes themselves with the style of poetry that was popular during their persona’s time period and place of residence. 

Bards who are storytellers learn the myths, legends and biographies of prominent people so they can recite a story without paper in hand.

Bards write and rewrite, sometimes by themselves, sometimes in groups called Bardic Circles.

Then they perform.  The most likely place will be at a feast during an SCA event.  A typical feast will have 80 to 100 people in attendance.  Demonstrations (or demos) are another venue.  A demo is when the SCA holds a “show and tell” for the public.  I once spun a tale about Grace O’Malley at a demo the SCA held for a boy scouts troop.

One of the best things about being a bard is the ability to enjoy your hobby beyond the SCA.  There are numerous mundane writers groups to join, and you can send your stories and poems to magazines.

There are other arts that are explored in the SCA.  There are actors, musicians who play period instruments, jugglers, and puppeteers.  There are people who gather to drum.  Sometimes the Bardic Circle can mean enjoying a program of storytelling, poetry recital and singing while indulging in an adult beverage brewed by a fellow scadian.

The knight in shining armor is the first image most people conjure when they hear the phrase The Middle Ages.  It’s easy to forget that the gentler arts were also practiced in during medieval times and those looking for a less violent outlet can find a home in the SCA.