From: DEW@PSUECLC.BITNET
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Arts Appreciation, Anybody?
Date: 27 Dec 92 21:12:00 GMT
Organization: The Internet

The following article is from "Veil and Drum," a private newsletter published
for Middle Eastern personnas, dancers, and musicians of the SCA.  This article
may be reprinted in any non-profit newsletter so long as attribution to the
source is given.

"Veil and Drum" is available in exchange for stamps, articles on the subjects
of interest to the readership, and artwork.  Please direct all mail to :

Veil and Drum
165 Fishburn Hill Rd
Bellefonte PA 16823-9998


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Professionalism and Professional Attitudes (an editorial by the ed)

Two separate but related incidents happened at Pennsic which I'd like to
touch on here.  The first deals with accepting payment in any form for
instructional lessons at SCA events.  The second relates to interaction
between skilled artists, non-artists (imitators), and others.

Several folks took exception (including the autocrat responsible for
classes) to charges for dancing lessons this year.  The basic opinion
seemed to be formed around the concept that, "This is the SCA, and we
should be freely giving of our expertise to others."  While this is a
noble concept, I would prefer to leave this as a matter of choice on the
part of the instructor and student.

For instance, I am an amature musician that likes to teach drumming.  My
payment has been the thanks and praises of my students (and no, Fungus,
you don't have to keep calling me the "Drumming God of the East.")
However, if this should become tedious, or if I feel that my time to do
other things is more valuable, I would require some compensation to
offset my loss.

On the other hand, several of you are professionals performers for whom
the War is a (working) vacation.  No less than the merchants selling
various wares and/or services, you are selling your service to a
specific buyer.  Your marketing strategy is your own business (Free
sample lessons followed by lessons that cost whatever the market will
bear is not unreasonable.)  You will get students that are prepared to
accept what you have to offer at the going price.

I have already asked the class coordinator about this for the coming
War.  She doesnt care if or what you charge for classes.  (Just be
prepared to have to deal with the merchant-ocrat if you are selling
anything above cost.)

On to the second issue.  Immitation may be the sincerest form of
flattery, but sometimes it corrupts the art it duplicates.  When skilled
performers present their art for the public, one hopes that the audience
appreciates the effort.

Of course, this assumes that the audience knows what it is looking at.
In most cases (at Pennsic), they have a distinctive burlesque western
attitude (which is kind of like a non-fighter watching a
tournement...they know it is a battle, but they don't have a fighter's
appreciation of the finess involved.)  Often we are either "dancing for
other dancers" or "doing the hootchy kootchy" based on the response I
see in the audience.

Enter the immitator (or "belly-bunny.")  With little (the average seems
to be one lesson) or no training in traditional dance, they give their
best shot at what they can do.  This activity pleases the T&A crowd, but
it makes any subsequent attempt at (serious) traditional effort fall
short of the majority expectation. (Ever wonder why I never attended
Sadies belly-dance contests?)

So what happens?  The "traditional" dancers feel that "their art" is
insulted and then they stand around and condemn the "belly-bunnies".
The imitators hear of this, and gripe about the un-apporachable purists.
 It has become a Persian standoff...

So, what can we do?  I would like to take each one of them aside and
personally tell them that they show real potential (whether or not they
truely do).  Then, I would let them know that they could futher improve
their skills to really WOW their admirers by attending the classes that
my friends are offering, right here at Pennsic.  While I may not be a
good judge of diamonds in the rough, if I never pick it up and try to
make something of it, it will always be a stone in the road that I may
bruise my heel upon each time I pass this way.

In the end, remember that we are still at the beginning of a new art
within the Society.  We are setting the tone and pace for the next
generation of Eastern Arts and Cultures fan(atic)s, and as such, we bear
the burden of proof of fitness to the rest of the Known Worlde.

Salam.

Dale E. Walter     |Dur of Hidden Mountain
dew@ecl.psu.edu    |Orluk Oasis on the War Road (of Aethelmarc)

"I'm the Baron!  Ya gotta loath me!"
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca