Fire-pit Courtesy 101

Which brings up an equally valid subset of the debate:

I hear it expressed from time to time that drum-and-dance performers, and bardic performers, must be "natural enemies". This truism is uttered by some as if it were written in stone; but as someone who performs in BOTH circles, I call bulls@#$!t.

Because I think that's a cop-out. Members of either side who are hip and cool, and just into creating good atmosphere at events, make the effort to exist and perform in harmony with their counterparts.

Hail the camp, always.

How about, "remember, good musicians know it's only 10% about producing sound, and 90% about listening"?

Translation: keep an ear cocked to gage the mood. And for God's sakes, before you start a new number, make sure you're not playing OVER a quiet musician whose song is already in progress.

Just because the other person isn't bellowing or braying, doesn't necessarily mean the floor is all yours.

"I kinda believe that the invaders need to conform to a few standards...

1. Ask before entering.
2. If something is already occurring, you joining things should not interrupt whatever was already in progress. A guest, especially an unexpected guest, has no right, and in fact an obligation, not to turn a quiet bardic into a loud social gathering.
3. Do not assume that you have a right to any food or beverage in the camp you are entering, and in fact you should be bringing your own, as much or more than you will consume as a group.

Ther3e probably are more but this is off the top of my head... "

Well, Pewter, I would be inclined to add:

4. First thing, locate trash receptacles, especially if you're carrying something you will eventually have to dispose of later.

5. Don't dispose of anything in the firepit without first getting permission. Not everyone likes the smell of burning cigarette filters.

6. Always remember that the respect you show will prove to be the respect you earn.

Sure; the Zar, Hadra and Guedra type of chants that accompany trance-dancing can be a cool experience to listen to. :) And somewhat under-represented in the Society — more is the pity.

I'll specify what prompted the re-introduction of this thread. I won't name names (already did plenty of that in a locked blog entry); but the indicent stands as one good example of the problem.

At the beginning of this camping season I bought a brazier. This was because I'd gotten tired of the Firepit Wars (for lack of a better name to call them) and wanted a portable home-fire. That way, no matter what type of entertainment I was in the mood for, be it bardic, drum-and-dance, or NOTHING WHATSOEVER, I could host it.

Last weekend we camped at a demo where we lit one of the only fires. We were in the middle of settling in from a town run — just looking to relax, eat our takeout, ice down our boozytreats, get into garb and ease into a party mood at our own pace. It had also gotten dark and chilly, so for the moment the fire was practical, as we needed the light and heat.

A bunch of camp-hoppers saw our fire from a distance, and came spilling across the bridge towards us. Mostly a mixture of Rennies (a jousting troupe and/or their hangers-on) and bellydancers, maybe a handful of actual SCAdians. Several seemed drunk, or well on their way there. And they basically commandeered the fire.

My lord and I weren't exactly ready for company just yet. But we endeavored to be laid-back and cool about it. That is, as opposed to being "Those Tight-Asses Over Yonder Who Don't Like To Party". So decided to treat it like a friendly invasion, unless one or more of them should begin acting like real d*ckheads.

Well, within 45 minutes there were at least twenty-five people present; our uneaten food was ice cold, our wood was mostly gone, and my lord had nowhere to sit. A drunk (I hope) guitarist had started bellowing out covers of contemporary pop-songs that were miles away from any key known to music theorists, while others banged on their doumbeks with all the percussive artistry of pissed-off orangutans.

I'm three different varieties of Celt, and not known for my restraint when angered. But I was still trying to stay classy; earlier I'd brought out the harp and set it on its perch, very pointedly. It stood waiting for a lull where I could jump in and inject some decent mood-music.

When that moment seemed to arrive, I sat down, started to play and vocalize. Halfway into the first verse, Hack-y McNoTalent launched into an encore performance right over me.

Somehow I maintained white-lipped silence until the end, then coldly spoke: "I’m sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you all to leave."

Collective "buhhhhr?"

"Look. I don’t know how much you know about Celtic culture, but you don’t do that to a harper. EVER. I’m not some vagrant singing for my supper here, either; I was in my own camp, next to my own fire, when you came here and pulled that stunt. You've overstayed your welcome. Please get out."

Baffled looks, followed by low grumbling and scattered apologies (a couple of them even sincere, perhaps) and sulkily they slunk off.

Most of them. About five people stuck around who were actually in the mood for a more laid-back sort of jam. Which was all we wanted in the first damn place (sheesh.)

So, collective SCAdians: what would YOU have done?

ok, at the risk of much gritting of teeth and "he said what?!" I am going to look at the other side of the coin in this instance.

First off, in the inciting incident sparking this thread it was mentioned that it was a chilly night and the young lady posting the critique had lit one of only two fires at the event..

-Be aware of your circumstances and cognizant of how those circumstances...particularly incliment temperature are likly to impact other people's perception.

- If you don't want to be percieved as that "tight-ass camp who doesn't like to party" and then allow people to just storm your camp because you have a fire, I say be a tollerant host and unless they verbally insult a camp member, abuse hospitality by hitting on someone unwanted, or invade the privacy of tents uninvited, or consume food/beverages uninvited.....or other large "party foul" type offenses, let the party run it's course. Sending them all away because one of them was uninformed of normal SCAdian musician protocol and played over you, all be it badly ( but here's the thing, in his head he may have thought he was making a contribution and may not have been cognizant of his skills not doing the tune justice, and the same acn be said of the drummers and their lack of rhythm.......in their minds they could have been thinking they were giving something to the collective party) is going to do several things:

1-you will definitly be that "tight-Assed-SCAdian-Camp" who doesn't like to party

2-you have missed your chance at leading them by example and by doing the very thing to them that you were ejecting them for......cutting into performing uninvited. I would have suggested possibly picking somthing more contemporary-ish that you could ask the guitar player to accompany you on.......and then testing out his improv skills after by seeing if he can lend an ear on some more period tunes, and thus a bit more deftly shift the tone of the party without becoming the wicked witch of the east.

3-you will now be the story those guys, or some of them at any rate, tell for the next few weeks ( or longer) so this will needlessly live on in infamy.

-If it is a colder evening, know you are going to attract "moths to the flame" no matter what you do, and as such be clear to any
and all who approach precisely what sort fo an evening you are in the mood for, not specifying to them makes it too easy to
misread. Remember, the bulk of people who are going to an event are not going for "quiet relaxation", they are going to kick up
their heels in one way or another for a weekend ( or longer) and a fire on a cold night is pretty much going to be percieved as
an open invitation to fun, thus being clear with whomever decides to show up is key to making it possible for them to know your boundaries and comfort zone and then behave graciously within those parameters.

I camp with Elizabeth at Pennsic, and granted our camp is somewhat more aggressive in both it's partying and in it's desire to be left alone some nights, but I agree with her completely that sometimes the direct approach right at the start is best. Don't assume anyone who comes to your fire is going to be blessed with very subtle wit and capable of reading nuances of speech or behavior such that you don't have to express your preferences clearly and simply. We have had to turn people away in the past and we just tell them politely that we are not open to company at the moment, we are still eating and getting ready and please come back in an hour or two when we will be more then happy to welcome them properly.

Once you have let them in, just grin and bear it till they leave unless they do something truly horrible, They are not likly to get the etiquitte lesson if you kick them out for playing over you and interrupting what you were playing.