Quote Originally Posted by Pleater View Post
If you were getting an introduction from someone not in costume then they might get away with a bit of information, but I don't think that many audiences would take the same from someone in costume.

As a general rule, if you are in costume then you are the entertainment and should behave accordingly.

I have a long experience of folk clubs and there are lines drawn, believe me.

I also read 'Glasgow', the time of 10pm and assumed that the cellar used for changing was in a pub or club and that there would have been alcohol imbibed.

It would have been one memorable performance to have got away with doing a learned introduction in those circumstances - in my opinion.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:
The location was a Glasgow pub and I have to agree with you again, after 10pm and most punters with a good drink in them. What they wanted was a laugh at the guy in the costume and to listen to the poem and get some entertainment out of it. I suppose this makes you think what is the purpose of reciting Holy Willie's Prayer and the chap after me reciting Tam O' Shanter if quite a few of the punters did not follow what was happening in the poem.
Was there any purpose in doing that and I still agree with you that you can't educate or lecture in this situation, that was apparent.
So this leads me on to the other posts that say a Burns Night in whatever format should be a learning experience, for those not familiar with his works, then a short introduction to explain the purpose of the verse, I again agree with them but this seems impossible to put into practice.
Anyway, the poem went down well and I got a good applause and a few handshakes and the barmaid put a pint up for me, so a good night all in all.