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Bardfest 2008 - Overall Thoughts

I've posted the Final performances this year, with critiques of my own. I've not posted my own final, since I'll leave that for someone else to critique. I managed to gain 4th place, though. Not bad, considering the event was dominated by Aspis (unsurprisingly). I'll keep the small token of silver, but for making Evarin sit there through the torture of such an event - I'm saving the Bardfest pin for him to implode for me. I don't know what was being smoked to think it was anything that -anyone- would want to proudly wear.

I've noted a pattern in the higher ranked performances (Other than being Aspis members). That is, verse lines need to be LONG - even if the beat pattern doesn't match. Over ten beats per line is apparently a good thing, even if the rhythm is uncoordinated.

Secondly according to Tolwynn and Jersea's performances (who won 1st, and 2nd place, accordingly) - out of genre is ok and encouraged! More so, if it especially tears your audience from their suspension of disbelief and gives them modern-day references, images, or simply stuns them into confusion.

This year's Bardfest was barely publicized, so few performers applied outside of House Aspis. I managed to stumble across a single post in the Player's Corner boards in order to contact someone to request a signup. About six emails went back and forth, since so many things were left vague. I even had to send email to remind them to tell me what day I was to perform and to open their House to allow performers to practice on their stage. I believe, only a few performers out of over fifteen were not members of their own House.

The House has apparently every year dominated the top positions. Not only do Aspis members perform, but Aspis officers and Aspis member (past) judges. I've come to realize the event is simply a means for Aspis to pat themselves on the back, give their house some influence points and never have to empty their coffers. It seems surprising that not many have come to realize how other Houses that hold competitions do not allow their own members to participate for prizes, as it would be 'conflict of interest'. 

How neutral can you be, when you have to grade how well your House's officers do? Just how much of the "judges preference" weighs into a performer's score? When one of the judges asks a performer to rejoin his troupe, prior to performance - exactly how non-judgmental do you think they are? Do the judges help their performer-members practice, give advice, and mentor them? These are all questions that came up to me during this entire event.

I can only say that I am terribly disappointed, and hoped that the performers would have been more fairly judged, based on what was done well and what was not done well. I would prefer the audience had judged, since by my own observation - seemed to have demonstrated appreciation for performers by standing, and disappointment by not applauding. Had such things been considered, I believe it would have been an entirely different outcome.

Now that you've read through all that; on to the final performances:

-Tah'lon