On SCA Bardic Arts (Unofficial), we invented the "What is a Bard?" drinking game. Every time someone ask, "What is a Bard?" you drink.
We dropped the drinking part fairly quickly when we realized that it would lead to alcohol poisoning.
On that page, we welcome pretty much any performing artist, even though there are more specialized groups for any Period entertainment you might name. So I suppose I should define what a bard is.
Except I won't just yet. Heck, my completely unofficial opinion would probably be that any performing art at all would be welcome to sit in on SCA Bardic Arts (Unofficial) and chat about both the process and the performance, with occasional long threads on IP law that are best summed up by, "If you think this applies to you, hire a skilled IP attorney."
But much as I take the inclusive approach to Whatever Everyone Else is doing, I don't take that approach myself. I tell my Laurel that I'm a performing musician and storyteller, especially interested in fretted instruments that aren't lutes. I also test rye bread recipes, 'cuz YUM. If you've a few hours, ask me about Renaissance 4-course guitar music.
Lots of people call me a Bard, to the point where I took one of these essays and adapted it into one of my most popular stories, and by "Bard" they mean "Provider of entertainment," whether music or spoken word. I don't mind, especially if it leads to a bit of fun banter, and there are even a few people who when they say it make me think, "Wow . . one of the best Bards I know just called me a bard . . . "
But I don't call myself a bard.
See, "Bard" and "Skald" and a few other words are the words of particular cultures that describe cultural roles that exist only in those cultures. There are people in the SCA doing serious research on the history and role of bards, and are working to emulate that role for us in the Modern Middle Ages. I know some wonderful Skalds, and some serious Bardic researchers. I'm not doing what they do. I can't be a bard.
There are also bards who record our oral history. The Ansteorra bard who wrote a song capturing the excesses of a King who let his role go to his head;.the amazing Autocrat for Pennsic XX, who has MANY tales to tell of Incredibly Stupid Things people have done. Key takeaway is NEVER to piss off this Bard. The Bard who writes songs to persuade us that, no, there are NO "Those People" and that we need to be open and accepting to ALL people. These Bards are speaking Truth to Power, reminding us of the ideals to which we aspire, and the pitfalls we avoid. I can't do what they do. I can't be a bard.
Then there are bards who write songs for us to sing, songs that capture our culture, that rouse us to war, that tell us about Midrealm and why it's different from Calontir, of our customs and traditions, and while I sometimes do those songs becuse they're fun and popular, but I can't do what they do. I can't be a bard.
I perform Period music and stories. I'm always looking for a new song, and am delighted when a popular tune turns out, yes, to be Period. I play "Tavern Ready" versions of songs about drinking and wenching, in the hope that someone gets interested in learning the originals. I play Period music on the Modern analogs of the "right" instruments, hoping that someone will notice that I'm playing the music on an inexpensive ukulele, rather than an expensive lute, and that the music really is fun and accessible. I tell the ancient stories, because the stories we tell speak to universal truths that haven't changed in thousands of years. The Emperor was, after all, always naked, even if Andersen was the first to say so in so many words.
But I'm not a bard . . except when I am . . it's complicated okay?
Buy me coffee and we can discuss it at length.