Roll up, roll up!


Ladies and gentlemen,
Kings and Queens,
Magnificent folks of ambiguous designation,

It is my great and inimitable honour to present to you...

The Troupe!

What is the Troupe, I hear you ask? Why, the Troupe is just that: The
Troupe.

'The' Troupe, you will correctly note me declare, for indeed this is no
mere and ordinary troupe that may be announced as 'a troupe' of
unknowable repute; I stand before you today to announce no less than the
greatest, the grandest, most magnificent and gobsmacking troupe in all
the lands! The Troupe will dazzle you and disarm you, educate and
inspire you; for it sources only the most talented performers in all the
lands, and it sources them from ALL the lands; far and wide, high and
low, ethereal or perhaps... you?

You, esteemed news-reader? Why, step right up! Do you too have an
unstoppable song in your heart and a spring in your step? Do you long to
turn your party-tricks into stage transformers? Do you too have talent
bursting at the seams, a story up your sleeve, an ace in spades worthy
of making crowds 'ooh' and 'ahh'? Do you yearn to travel the world
earning fame and glory*, uniting with like-minded artists like you? Then
step right up, step right up, you special snowflake of a star! Today
might just be your luckiest day!

The Troupe is recruiting. You heard me right! But I won't promise it'll
be an easy feat to join our ranks; after all, there can only be so many
Talents in the land recognisable as its 'most talented', and we do have
a reputation to keep... or create! Not scared off just yet? Good soul!
You're a person after my own heart, I can just tell, which is why you
are cordially invited to partake in our first ever audition season.

Nervous? Don't be! If you think you're Troupe material, then it is our
absolute intention to have you showcase the best of your talents any way
you feel most fit to. Which is why:

1. You may choose the location of your audition; or defer the choice
to us, if you prefer.

2. You may bring as many or as few props as you so desire, including
even other people! However, please note that while you may audition
in a group, each performer will be judged individually.

3. You are encouraged to arrange your audition in advance, so that we
are well-prepared to receive you and you are well-prepared to
receive us! If you have any questions or reservations, it is best
to ask them in advance, and if there's a specific time where you're
likely to be at peak performance, we'll do our best to accommodate
you.

4. There are TWO styles of audition that we are willing to assess you
on, with different criteria for each. A successful audition in
either style will be recognised as carrying equal merit, and each
is likely to suit a different kind of performer. Pick whichever one
you're most comfortable with! You will only choose ONE:

a. IMPROV:
-------
Think you're quick on your feet and terrific on the fly? Too
lazy to go through the arduous trouble of preparing in advance?
Then this is the style for you! You will be given TWICE as long
to conduct in improvisational style, since we think you deserve
some room to think, BUT! There is a catch: if you choose this
style, you will not know the subject of your performance until
immediately before you are tasked to perform it. You will be
given a subject by the Troupe representative judging your
audition, which will consist of either one word or one short
phrase. You won't get to choose another one if you don't like
what you're given to work with, but you will have a few minutes
to introduce yourself and discuss your talents, so we'll try to
give you something we think you can reasonably work with. So
think fast and do your best! This style is perhaps best suited
for daredevils whose creativity thrives in the heat of the
moment.

If you choose this style, you will be judged on:
- The ease and agility with which you think on your feet.
- How well your performance fits the theme you're given to work
with. A loose, technical fit through loopholes or casual
mention won't much impress!
- How entertaining your performance is for what it is, and how
little time you had to prepare. We won't expect absolute
perfection, just don't let us fall asleep enduring you!

b. MASTERPIECE
-----------
Don't like the idea of having your creativity rushed? Prefer
to go in with a plan to offer no less than your very best?
Great! We need people like you just as much as those
half-baked layabouts! If you choose this option, you will be
given absolute autonomy over what you perform, how you perform
it, and you will have unlimited time to prepare in advance
what you feel will let you shine best. You choose the subject;
we'll sit back and watch. You will be given a fairly
reasonable amount of time to conduct your masterpiece, and may
use up as much or as little of it as you like; length is not a
factor.

If you choose this style, you will be judged on:
- The overall quality, personality and creativity you put
into your performance, which must be your original work.
- How well you pace your performance, given ample time to
prepare. It should move along fast enough to keep your
audience interested, but not so fast that we miss half of
what it is you're doing every time we blink.
- The flow and structure of your performance: they should
typically have a beginning, a middle and an end that have
us hooked from start to finish, barring unorthodox but
equally palatable structural choices.

In either case you have one main goal: entertain! Be your
performance a tragedy or a comedy, make us feel something,
learn something, and try to show us something worth showing the
world.

5. Acrobat, actor, dancer, fire-drinker, knife-juggler, mime,
musician, singer, songwriter, storyteller, or creepy clown:
whatever talent you've got, if you've got it, we want it. The only
firm rule is that you must perform. We aren't a Trade Guild, a
Crafters Union, a Library or a Gallery: the Troupe are performance
artists. So you'd best be prepared to get up and perform!

6. Our audition season will last until the 1st of Haernos this year,
giving you plenty of time -- nearly one full year! -- to prepare if
you need to, steel your nerves and arrange a suitable date for your
audition. Of course, if you audition sooner and are successful,
you'll strengthen your chances of attaining a position as a formal
Troupe representative early on.


Oh, and one more thing... All auditions are open to public attendance
and entirely free! Yes, that's right! Even if you ain't Troupe material
yourself, you're welcome to get an exclusive sneak-peak at some of the
up-and-coming Talents we're no doubt soon to employ**! Come support your
friends or laugh at your enemies, and if you like what you see, you had
better make your approval known: tip the performer, bribe the judges,
applaud them heartily, and you just might increase their chances of
making their bardic dreams come true.

Unfortunately, if you're scared off by the idea of having to perform in
front of an open audience, it's unlikely that you'd make good Troupe
material. Performing for audiences, after all, is just what we do. Rest
assured that all in attendance will be told to shut their silly traps
before you start, and hecklers will be dealt with in accordance with the
Harlequin Code.

Ah, yes, the Harlequin Code! If you or your leaders have any
reservations about your involvement with the Troupe, we encourage
reading through HELP LAWS TROUPERS. In fact, everyone is encouraged to
do so anyway. It covers many concerns you may have about association,
autonomy, potential biases and your rights to be recognised for your own
work. If any concerns remain, we are also happy to negotiate a
resolution with you and your leadership. Our performers are valued
assets, as are all of our existing and prospective hosts.

We hope to hear from you soon! At present, you will have to message or
send a letter to Miss Nia if you wish to audition. As more artists from
across the land join our ranks, we will be sure to appoint more diverse
representatives and ambassadors for the Troupe from the various corners
of Sapience and beyond -- so make sure you encourage your guild, city
and order to make a fierce showing of talent if you want to see your
list of local contacts in the Troupe expand!

Much like Esterport, the Troupe is a neutral organisation, and we are
eager to forge diplomatic ties that will offer superior golden
opportunities for our audiences and performers in the years to come. I
encourage the leaders and common people alike from across the land to
contact me with any ideas, concerns, requirements or words of
encouragement they wish to offer the Troupe.


Break a leg,

Miss Nia














* - Fame and glory are not guaranteed.
** - Employment is negotiated on a strictly voluntary basis. Troupers
are expected to manage their own fees.

Terms and conditions apply. Please review HELP LAWS TROUPERS and
CLANHELP TROUPERS before deciding that the Troupe is the right troupe
for you.

Penned by my hand on Tisday, the 7th of Arios, in the year 462 MA.