Entertainer Archive
Thread: Charm Forum: Why I Love This Profession.
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PoetDancer
Wed Feb 18, 2004 6:23 pm
#1
Hello Dears!
While I see many posts on how to entertain while away from the keyboard, I have yet to see many posts on how to entertain while at the keyboard. There are many posts on the use of macros and such, which deal with the technical aspects of our profession. These are all well and good, but I think that we need to look at some of the more social aspects of what we do within the context of the game environment. After all, this is for all intents and puropses, a social profession.
I would like to start a discussion on that topic: how to entertain while at the keyboard. Because while I am not going to get into the subject of unattended entertainment, I do know that many players find great enjoyment at being at the keyboard. That is why I am posting this, so that those of us who enjoy playing an entertainer can share some of the things that we do to make the most out of this genre of professions, and perhaps to give the new players who are having trouble making the most out of what we do while at the keys.
And I think that it would be a good start to share why we all enjoy playing entertainers. I'll begin:
I enjoy playing these professions for the simple reason thatthey areperhaps the only professions where neither the items, nor theskill boxes determine the success or failure of the player. That is to say, the real challenge I see in these professions is to create a high level of showmanship through my wit, attentiveness, ability to play a role, and personality. Though the skill boxes, instruments, dances, costumes, and speed at providing servicesare thereto attach us to the game world, the ultimate expression of the entertainer in my opinion is to combine these things in such a way as to make them appealing to other players. I think that the patrons we service, too, appreciate these things when the creativity that comes from the person behind the keys is brought forth, and cannot help but encourage the creative work that was done on their behalf. Nothing pleases me more than when another player tips me for all the right reasons: wit, attentiveness, ability to play a role, and personality. Because unlike the crafter or the medic, the tip is ultimately not an expression of how we combine resources to producean item; but rather how we use our intellect in order to create something that provides our patrons with enjoyment. I think it is hard work sometimes, but REWARDING work. Because at the end of a good day at the cantina, I know ultimately that the deciding factor in that enjoyment was my own personality. Andthat feeling is more rewarding to me than any other achievement in the game.
So why do you all like to play entertainers?
Goldshadow
Wed Feb 18, 2004 10:13 pm
#2
Madame Sirii Ajaan (Poet)-
As a soon-to-be Master Musician, I would like to personally thank you for all your posts on this and other boards.
As part of a rotating crew of entertainers, musicians, and dancers that wander about the Bria server (Cantina Crawlers), I have found a lot of what you have posted especially useful. I have recently started my own personal means of welcoming people into the cantinas because of you and your recommendations. I start simply by greeting them by name with a simple "Hello <CharName>". I have found that 9 times out of 10 I'll at least get a response and many times they'll come over. Once I had someone reply that they weren't going to talk to me because I was probably using a macro to greet them. It was a simple matter of correcting his assumption. When I do get a response, I ask the individual if anything exciting has happened that they'd like people to know. I offer a service of spreading the good word to others.
I've just started with this and I haven't had any good stories come my way quite yet, but I have received a few pretty decent tips as a result of it. I expect that as I continue, it will make my interactions more enjoyable for everyone involved. I can see it now:
Grrrrbecky: Rondino. . . Hey, are you the guy that stood toe to toe with a Rampaging Bull Rancor withnothing more than a CDEF Pistol and a bad attitude?
Rondino: Yes. Yes I am. How did you hear about that?
Grrrbecky: Roho was in the Cantina in Moenia telling everyone about it. Congratulations man, you're amazing.
While this example is a bit extreme, I get Rondino in a position that he gets to brag about something he's proud of, I get to entertain Grrrbecky with the tale, and Rondino and Grrrbecky (who may never have talked otherwise) get to have some fun with a little character RP on several occasions. Heck, I know that I've been on a couple of hunting expeditions where I would have loved someone to brag to (the two Kimoglia that were locked in a death struggle was certainly one of them).
Now the tricky part is getting my fingers to type quickly without mistakes. Touch typing fast is easy. Touch typing fast without errors . . . . well, that's a Wookie of a different color.
Again, thank you for all your helpful hints on these Forums.
Roho Traideb, Bria Server
Beloved of KirahFaye
P.S. If you ever find yourself wandering around Bria, join the Ent Chat. We'll tell you where to find us.
Tiaga
Thu Feb 19, 2004 2:05 am
#3
I like to comment on people's wounds sometimes when they walk in.
If someone has a lot of black, I'll even describe some tragic yet embellished event that they look like happened to them.
"Wow, you look like you jumped out of a burning shuttle into a stampede of bantha, leaving your broken body in their wake just in time for the shuttle to crash land right on top of you."
If someone has a lot of black, I'll even describe some tragic yet embellished event that they look like happened to them.
"Wow, you look like you jumped out of a burning shuttle into a stampede of bantha, leaving your broken body in their wake just in time for the shuttle to crash land right on top of you."
dannius
Thu Feb 19, 2004 3:41 am
#4
PoetDancer, this thread you started should be a inspiration for entertainers out there. It really does put a joy and sense of self-happiness into the profession that we chose to play. You've pretty much said everything I had in mind. Well, here's my take on the two questions...
1) So why do you all like to play entertainers?
I do it simply because I have fun playing with the role that I've given my character. The possibilities of roleplaying is endless being a entertainer. The more personality in your character will usually end up with more entertaing interaction with the on-looker. I agree with you on the tips, I truly believe that determines if you're entertaining the customer or not. Even a small tip shows that you've done your job. However, I really don't look at it as a job, I see the profession as a way to express your creativity either through music, dance, or both. That's why I continue playing as a entertainer because it allows me to search and do creative things through a beautiful setting like starwars galaxies with other entertainers who has the same feelings of the profession that I do.
What else can I say about the reason I like to play as a entertainer? Well, its for the people not of the entertainment profession. I really do want them to have a good time. After all, they play the game the same reason we do...to have fun. Knowing that I'm supplying them with entertainment is all I ask for. Another reason is my fellow entertainers. I believe the entertainer communities are the most tight-knit profession. Without my entertainer friends, helping me not only as someone to dance or play a instrument with to make the atmosphere better, but simply being there to help me out for whatever problem there is, is really important to me.
2) How to entertain while at the keyboard:
There are so many ways to entertain at the keyboard, so I'll just throw out a couple. First off, having nice emote macros works well. To pull it off just right, set up the emote macros that suits the personality of your character. In those macros, make use of the different social interactions given to us. For example, there are many social interactions you could use, like /pointup . This is one particular emote I use...
/say This one is for you, my dear love.
:looks up to the heavens.
/pause 3;
/pointup;
:starts playing with her band.
Such emotes like that can really make your character stand out. Another way to entertain while at the keyboard is simply getting everyone involved, other non-grouped entertainers and the on-lookers. Allowing this not only gives attention to the entertainer but the customer as well. Also, it can create a more fun-filled roleplaying atmosphere.
Well, those were just two ideas that I use to entertain the crowd. Whatever the case, I'm a entertainer now, have been since the game came out, and always will be. Why? Probabably the theme of this post...roleplaying and simply having fun. If you're not having fun, why even play at all. Again, great thread and hope to see many posts to follow, knowing what other entertainers has up their creative sleeves.
Pris Valentine
Master of the Snugglesbear Hug
Self-Proclaimed Queen of Love and Desire
Resident of the fun loving Flurry Server
1) So why do you all like to play entertainers?
I do it simply because I have fun playing with the role that I've given my character. The possibilities of roleplaying is endless being a entertainer. The more personality in your character will usually end up with more entertaing interaction with the on-looker. I agree with you on the tips, I truly believe that determines if you're entertaining the customer or not. Even a small tip shows that you've done your job. However, I really don't look at it as a job, I see the profession as a way to express your creativity either through music, dance, or both. That's why I continue playing as a entertainer because it allows me to search and do creative things through a beautiful setting like starwars galaxies with other entertainers who has the same feelings of the profession that I do.
What else can I say about the reason I like to play as a entertainer? Well, its for the people not of the entertainment profession. I really do want them to have a good time. After all, they play the game the same reason we do...to have fun. Knowing that I'm supplying them with entertainment is all I ask for. Another reason is my fellow entertainers. I believe the entertainer communities are the most tight-knit profession. Without my entertainer friends, helping me not only as someone to dance or play a instrument with to make the atmosphere better, but simply being there to help me out for whatever problem there is, is really important to me.
2) How to entertain while at the keyboard:
There are so many ways to entertain at the keyboard, so I'll just throw out a couple. First off, having nice emote macros works well. To pull it off just right, set up the emote macros that suits the personality of your character. In those macros, make use of the different social interactions given to us. For example, there are many social interactions you could use, like /pointup . This is one particular emote I use...
/say This one is for you, my dear love.
:looks up to the heavens.
/pause 3;
/pointup;
:starts playing with her band.
Such emotes like that can really make your character stand out. Another way to entertain while at the keyboard is simply getting everyone involved, other non-grouped entertainers and the on-lookers. Allowing this not only gives attention to the entertainer but the customer as well. Also, it can create a more fun-filled roleplaying atmosphere.
Well, those were just two ideas that I use to entertain the crowd. Whatever the case, I'm a entertainer now, have been since the game came out, and always will be. Why? Probabably the theme of this post...roleplaying and simply having fun. If you're not having fun, why even play at all. Again, great thread and hope to see many posts to follow, knowing what other entertainers has up their creative sleeves.
Pris Valentine
Master of the Snugglesbear Hug
Self-Proclaimed Queen of Love and Desire
Resident of the fun loving Flurry Server
Simulation
Fri Feb 20, 2004 8:24 am
#5
I've always tried to banter with people, as I do role play, and ask them how their hunting is going.. comment on things about the place.. (Like all those criminals in Eisley on Starsider in the cantina <g>
, and sometimes I sing, though not always. I entertain, because I enjoy doing it. I figure as long as at least a few of us are still out there being the best we can be, and I know I can learn some things myself always, this profession isn't dead, and it won't be.
, and sometimes I sing, though not always. I entertain, because I enjoy doing it. I figure as long as at least a few of us are still out there being the best we can be, and I know I can learn some things myself always, this profession isn't dead, and it won't be.
Pristine
Fri Feb 20, 2004 8:29 am
#6
When I first started the game, I had this grand plan of being a creature handler, medic, and then I picked up dancing just to be able to heal our battle fatigue on the rock that is Rori..
Then I got off the rock, came to Kaadara, and ran into a great bunch of entertainers, which included T'a, Calyndra, Hailey, Kasdan, Chula, and some others. These are a great bunch of people still, and though differences and time have divided our paths for some of us, I can always say that these people, live entertainers that were nice to each other, cared about what they were doing, interactive with the customers, made that cantina, and later Theed and others a joy to dance in.
Of course, I went to Theed, and later met Pris, Odessa, Kalisti, and others that also made it a joy to dance with them, and I enjoyed our times interacting in the Theed cantina, and making the place.. just .. I don't know. it really did shine some nights..
I remember a time when we had all of us in grand healing robes, tossing out smoke, and it was just fun. The master Dancer's witchery circler, I suppose. -chuckles-
I enjoy entertaining so much I do it elsewhere now as well part-time, anyway.
I do it because I do love it.. from the Dawn Hot Pants Dancer's tours.. to everything.
Besides, the universe needs hot blonde dancing zabraks.
kirah_ashlin
Tue Feb 24, 2004 6:05 am
#7
I love to dance! I love to help people! I love meeting newcharacters (and their players)and making new friends! I love being in a profession where I get to "work" with my beloved! I love the clothes!
In RL I am not the talkative type - at least not with groups of people I don't know. However, ingame, I get to interact with an array of interesting personalities. I do find myself lapsing into my "quiet" mode sometimes, but Kirah's bubbly nature usually manages to break through that.
Beings of all species usually like to talk about themselves. When I buff, I find myself often in a /tell conversation with the client which I'm afraid looks as though I'm a robot to the rest of the cantina, so I'm trying to get into the habit of talking more spatial - hard to do without a macroed buff dance!
I love getting together with a bunch of other entertainers and crashing a cantina - the Cantina Crawls are a joy to behold! We have the most fun!
kirah_ashlin
Thu Feb 24, 2005 6:05 am
#8
I love to dance! I love to help people! I love meeting newcharacters (and their players)and making new friends! I love being in a profession where I get to "work" with my beloved! I love the clothes!
In RL I am not the talkative type - at least not with groups of people I don't know. However, ingame, I get to interact with an array of interesting personalities. I do find myself lapsing into my "quiet" mode sometimes, but Kirah's bubbly nature usually manages to break through that.
Beings of all species usually like to talk about themselves. When I buff, I find myself often in a /tell conversation with the client which I'm afraid looks as though I'm a robot to the rest of the cantina, so I'm trying to get into the habit of talking more spatial - hard to do without a macroed buff dance!
I love getting together with a bunch of other entertainers and crashing a cantina - the Cantina Crawls are a joy to behold! We have the most fun!
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