The Clan Lord Sentinel

Given the how hard it is to get a full audition these days (See Root and Aspasia) I'm wondering if it isn't time for a shakeup in Bard Masters.

I mean no disrespect to Phineas, Coriakin or Perkusi who's contributions to barding have been huge, but I think our guild heads should be people who clan more frequently and can actively promote the guild in the lands.

I don't know how the system works, whether there can be only three bard masters, but if so perhaps an emeritus bard master position may be in order.

As to who the new upper management could be, I think the guild would be well served by having Xepel promoted to bard master and Rakshasa to trustee at the very least.

Any other names? Or do people think things are ok the way they are?

I absolutely agree. Although I don't think the current bard masters should be "demoted," unless of course the bard system only allows for three bard masters (I have no idea how that works). But definitely Xepel and Rakshasa should be promoted. They're the most active, and arguably most talented, bards who are around now and active.

I agree that changes need to happen with the Guild leadership.

The Bard Guild needs some revitalization, yes!

I wouldn't be opposed to a promotion. ;)

(Muahwaha! My evil schemes to overthrow the Council have come to fruition!)

Oh, and Aspasia has my enchanted mail address, if she ever wants to set up an audition.

Phineas wrote:I agree that changes need to happen with the Guild leadership.

Um...since you are one of them, don't you guys have a mailing list or something?

Lorikeet wrote:Um...since you are one of them, don't you guys have a mailing list or something?

Yes, we do. I've already sent something to the list, but conversation here can't hurt. Especially when it comes to seeing how other people think of the Guild, and to see some outside views on things we could do.

xepel wrote:

Lorikeet wrote:Um...since you are one of them, don't you guys have a mailing list or something?

Yes, we do. I've already sent something to the list, but conversation here can't hurt. Especially when it comes to seeing how other people think of the Guild, and to see some outside views on things we could do.

Yeah, what are we? Mystics? Nothing but transparency here.

Although i'm not a bard and have no musical talent, I nominate myself for Bard Master. Or perhaps a higher then bard master possision. Maybe Bard dictating Tyrant of Chickenness or some other cool title.

I have good news and bad news, I guess. the good news is that I'm finally studying music full time, really enjoying it, doing well, and am seriously planning out a career in music. The bad news is that I'm really busy and don't have much free time to clan. The other bad news is that my account has expired and I currently don't have the money to keep it going, so I can't play even when I do have time. :/

But I do still poke around here! And who knows... once I get a job, I might be back again!

Coriakin

One of the problems with us bard masters has been seasonal difficulties. Also, much as we know it would help us to have active bard masters, .. Really, what active bards do you see around these days? Alright, Rakshasa has certainly been around a lot. And actually writing, double-score! Any others? Hmm.

Additionally, while the current bard masters and trustees haven't been the most active people in the world, I'd say overall they've been more than excellent at actually getting some kind of audition scheduled in just about *any* time zone *when we're aware that there is someone who would like to audition*. That's the tricky part. And yes, higher awareness is a part of that, but it's not quite as simple as that. But I don't think there has been a single quester or bard that simply couldn't be scheduled for. That's the good part of the current team, I believe.

Overall, bard numbers are down, so bard awareness is down. Most people who ever wanted to become bard to get the shiny belt already did, and most people who wanted to become bard to write and share cool music already did. Overall CL population is down too, so the pool of potential recruits is small. Granted, we still get some new people around and it's always exciting to have someone audition. Then we think back to the glory days when as many as 5 people might audition in a single day.

I think I ought to post up the old bard roster to remind us of those long gone!

-Xel

I didn't even know you had bard masters

IF they ain't around enough you need to promote some who are imo.

The Bard's Guild is organized like this:

Bard Masters:
Coriakin, Perkusi, Phineas

The Bard Council, which makes most of the decisions consists of the Bard Masters as well as Xel and I.

Bard Trustees are Bards who have been entrusted with running Auditions. This is a mostly-temporary position, and is given out before any auditions if the Masters can not make it.

Xel's right about a lot of things. Since Bard numbers (in general) are down (because population is down), it's hard to promote Bard awareness, and so fewer people even find out about the Guild. CL needs some general revitalization!

Though, it's been most of a week since I made a post to the Council list, and I've gotten not one response. Agreeing that changes should be made but then not actually making any doesn't do us any good.

xepel wrote:Agreeing that changes should be made but then not actually making any doesn't do us any good.

What does anyone propose there is to do? It seems to me that the root of the matter is one of supply and demand. There simply isn't much supply *or* demand (whatever way you want to take analogy, really..) to work with. Granted, if the bards who are left were around more and played more and advertised more, we might have a few more questers and bards coming out of the woodwork..

What few people seem to consider, however, is that being heavily involved in the bard guild is volunteer work much along the same way that being a GM is. Sure, GM's do way more work, but it's the same idea: We all love to write and play music (GM's love to do what they do, otherwise they wouldn't be doing it, I have to assume!) but real lives step in, and writing music, organizing and scheduling events for an increasibly small population, and performing all take a back seat.

Does anyone really expect that conferring more Master Status around to the bards who are around would really help? It has never seemed to me that awareness of how to get an audition has been a problem, but rather just that there aren't people who want to write.

Frankly, I find it amazing that the Bard Guild has sustained what it has over the year. Taking a demographic as small as the one that plays and enjoys Clan Lord, further subdividing it into those who like to and can write music leaves you with a very small number. I'm therefore surprised we've had the numbers we had at any point in time.

Xel wrote:Does anyone really expect that conferring more Master Status around to the bards who are around would really help? It has never seemed to me that awareness of how to get an audition has been a problem, but rather just that there aren't people who want to write.

Changing the Bard Masters *will not make more bards*. Xel is absolutely right. Concerts can just as easily be prganised by any in the guild or even members outside the guild. And only new clanners that already have a musical background can realistically be expected to learn to use CLTH format.

The problem is that the people that *do* want auditions, and admittedly there aren't many, but some, can't get a hold of a bard master easily to do it.

Apart from this one factor, the guild seems to pretty much run itself. In the time I've clanned no one has used their barding irresponsibly to bring in copyrighted music or whatever and any policing by the Masters has been unnecessary.

However, without Masters that can be present at an audition we can't have any new members. Even when I had my own auditions, which admittedly is tough for my time zone, I had trouble tracking down bard masters to run them. I understand the situation is not improved and prbably worse particularly as newer exiles can't register here at the Sentinel to try and organise things.

I'm not really sure how it's difficult to get ahold of a bard master, realistically - Any Bard should be able to (and is able to, as far as I know) drop a mail to the greater bard mailing list, and that would quickly come to the attention of at least one bard master or trustee.

Perhaps it doesn't seem as common-sense a solution as some, but.. Well, I guess I'm a little dumbfounded as to what could be an easier way than asking a bard.

Admittedly, I do often hear of questers wanting auditions through other friends.

I guess maybe we could ask for an NPC in the Bard Guild that notifies / sends an email to the bard masters automagically? But aside from that..? I mean, really, what's simpler than asking a bard? Realistically, it's like we're the biggest clan that ever existed. The least anyone can do to get into the clan is talk to a clan member, right?

-Xel