Getting to know you meme

[mythteller]

The problem with LJ or Facebook: we all think we are so close, but really, we know nothing about each other. So ask me something you want to know about me. Something that should be obvious, but you have no idea about. Ask away. Then post this in your LJ/Facebook and find out what people don't know about you.

Comments unscreened.

Comments

[jdhobbes.livejournal.com]

I told my first story in the fall of 1996 at the Montreal Storytellers Guild. It was a Japanese story called Koji and the Headmaster.

I was introduced to storytelling by Mike Burns, the Irish storyteller who performs at Hurley's pub. I was present for his first performance at Halloween and I was completely hooked. I attended every performance afterwards for 2 years, and then one Sunday I was sick and couldn't make it. The following month I showed up and Mike ran up to me and said "You made it! I thought you were dead when you didn't show up last month!"

Storytelling satisfies a need for performance expression that I was not finding in stage acting anymore. I love the direct connection I have with my audience, how they react to the story, and how that inspires me to make little changes here and there, allowing the story to evolve every time I tell it.

A few years ago, someone called me a Bard and I wasn't sure I really deserved that title. I have since explored the spiritual side of my storytelling, the mysteries behind the myths, and it was led to greater insight in many aspects of my spiritual path.

I now wear the badge of Bard with greater pride and a heightened sense of responsibility to not only entertain my audiences, but also to challenge them, push their boundaries, and show them that there is Truth in every myth.

And you? What make you the Bard and why do you love it?

[eveglass.livejournal.com]

It took me a while to figure out the answer to this one. On the one hand, my mom tells the story that when I was three years old, at my daycare's Passover seder, I wound up hogging the mic and singing most of the songs when no one else wanted to. So in that sense, I've been a performer for a long time.

But I think when I really adopted the title of "bard," it was late 2003 / early 2004. I'd been in the SCA for four or five years by that point and had enjoyed doing bardic, but mostly as one of the "sing along in the chorus" people. However, at around that time, we found out that one of the group's more prominent bards was moving away, and I vowed to memorize all his popular songs so they wouldn't get forgotten.

When I went to Pennsic in 2004, I subtitled my journal "The Pennsic of a newbie bard." I started writing my own songs in early 2004, and I went to Pennsic that year (in August) with a request sheet of about a dozen songs I could do from memory. Since then, it's expanded to around 50 and a heck of a lot more if I've got my book on me.

I was first called "Pocket Bard" a few years ago at Pennsic by my campmates (I think it was 2007) because we already had a "bitty bard" in camp, and I'm small enough to fit in your pocket.

[eveglass.livejournal.com]

Addendum because I didn't see the "why do you love it" part until after I posted: I love the thrill I get when I perform. I love raising the energy in a room. I love the look on someone's face when they realize I've written a song or poem *about them*! I love knowing that I've made people smile and made their day just a little bit better.

Also, I'm a ham. (Bad Jew!) *grin*