Market Peddling Doggerel – Activity Preparation and Visiting

| Our dress code |

Through learning about the art of Shuo-Chang, we learned that storytelling with clappers and doggerels originated a long time ago as beggars begged with percussion instrument (two pieces of ox bone) in accompaniment. This gradually transformed into a unique form of Shuo-Chang art. Our teacher wanted us to bring the art of Shuo-Chang into the community, and hence we decided to go to the traditional market located across the street from Yu-Tsai and help stall owners designing peddling doggerels. We would then combine them with clappers and movements to peddle for the owners.

Each group started off by selecting the type of stall to work with. Then we started on designing a doggerel, a sign board, and a questionnaire for each stall. When it was all set, we went across the street to Zhu Lin market to meet with the stall owners!

Preparation

Making the shuochang pouch (for carrying clappers and stationary)

Our teacher told us that besides researching, interviewing, and learning, we would be heading out to do lots of performances throughout the Cyberfair project to promote the art of shuochang. Therefore, we are going to make a shuochang pouch for carrying our clappers and stationary every time we go out to perform. The pouches will also provide us with convenient access to reach our clappers.

Steps:

1. Materials: 100 cm by 4 cm cloth x 1 (for the strap); 13 cm by 32 cm cloth x 1 (for the pouch body); button x 8; needle x 1; thread; name foam stickers

2. Fold the cloth for pouch body in half, close the sides, garnish with any decorative pieces if desired. Sew the strap piece onto the pouch body, sew the buttons for decorative purposes.

3. Paste name foam stickers on to complete this personalized shuochang pouch.

*Mind the use of needles and thread!

Designing Peddling Doggerel

After confirming the type of stall that each team was responsible for, we discussed and wrote doggerels with student shuochang expert teachers. They told us to first write down whatever that came to mind. Then we would work on the number of words, diction, and then rhyming words. Next, we sent the finished products to Ms. Li, and she would give us some suggestions as how to make our doggerels flow more smoothly and elegantly.

Designing the Sign Board

Each team must provide a rough sketch to the teacher for inspection before designing the sign board. We first wrote the doggerel on a big sign board, and then we added pictures and decorative stickers to finish up our dazzling sign boards!

Peddling Practice

Before visiting stall owners at the market, each team took advantage of shuochang class time to practice clappers and doggerels. Some teams even choreographed team formation changes!

Final Presentation

Teams		Type of stall	Doggerel	Poster
Teacher: Jackie		Butcher	This fresh-cut meat stall, Got pork belly, tenderloin, attracting customers to shop and buy, High quality cut, not the greasy lot,  Try our meat, you’ll be amazed. This fresh-cut meat stall, Quality meat, safe indeed, One bite is never enough to satisfy, Folks! Hurry before they’re history!
Student: Tim, Ryan
Teacher: Tony		Greengrocer	Hurry over here, take a look and buy, We got fresh veggies for your desire. Carrots, corns, fresh to say the least, Tomatoes, sweet peppers, sweet in every bite. Pumpkins, loofah, and zucchini, Lots of greens for you to pick, Walking by, but don’t miss out, Fresh greens here will make you shout. Make any dishes as you wish, Grown-ups and children will enjoy. Natural, nutritious, just simply fine.
Student: Howard, Cathy
Teacher: Jasmine		Fruit stall	Shopkeeper, selling fruits, Lots of varieties, lots of choices, Fruits are absolutely sweet and juicy. Hey guys let’s eat lots of fruits, Nutritious and healthy guaranteed. Look over here, quick, quick, quick, Energy filled with good things to come. Come here! Come here! Shopkeeper’s fruit is absolutely delicious, Come and buy fruits here, Buy more, save more, need I say more?
Student: Candy, Ariel
Teacher： Dora, Carol		Hot pot ingredient stall	Tongue twisters, doggerels, Work out for our tongues when you idle. There is a female hot pot supplies shopkeeper at the market, The things she sells are delicious and honest. Fish balls, meatballs, mushroom balls, Pork dumplings, shrimp dumplings, squid dumplings, Quail eggs, crab meat, fresh taro. Winter is here, time for hot pot. Easy and delicious without fuss, You’ll never grow tired of our taste. Hurry over, and buy while supplies last. Come over here and buy.
Student： Nicole, Jessica
Teacher：Maxine		Seafood stall, Grocery stall	【Seafood Stall】 Shopkeeper’s fish store, Lots of varieties for you to choose. Oysters, prawns, and halibut, Delicious and fresh is their mark. Good reputation and quality control, Stop thinking and start buying! Hurry up and buy fresh seafood. 【Grocery Stall】 Come over here, right over here, Dry goods stall, delicious and all! Boss’ dried food stall, Great selection for you to choose. Sweets, cookies, and jerky, Delicious and rich, hurry, hurry. Walking by, but don’t miss out, Stop thinking and start buying! Hurry up and start buying, start buying now!
Student：Jenny
Teacher：Casper		Integrated version	Little shuochang experts of Yu-Tsai are here to perform Welcome you all to join us here. Cheering, clapping, and rooting, Let us describe it by saying. Goods at this market are of good quality, Quality goods are here to for thee. Delicious, healthy, and aromatic, Quality poultry, fish, and meat, Zhu-Lin market is the place to be, The place to be!
Student：Andrew

Visiting Stall Owners At The Market

Round up & Prepare

After morning self-study class on Friday, the thirteenth of November, the Original Artsy Shuochang Posse and the student expert shuochang teachers got our name tags on, clappers in the bags, flyers and sing boards ready, and activity agreement forms printed. We followed our teachers from school and marched confidently towards Zhu Lin Market to meet the show owners.

Visiting the Bosses

After arriving at the market, every one was still quite reserved and shy. Luckily, our teachers broke the ice and started explaining to the stall owners about our intention. If the stall owner agrees to let us peddle, we would ask the owner to sign an agreement form and record the name of the owner and the type of stall we are peddling for, and the time for us to peddle.

Peddling Demonstration and Blessing

In order to help the stall owners better understand how we peddle, we showed our peddling performances with clappers and a doggerel on top of that. They enjoyed our clapper performances and the scripts we have written, and they all laughed wholeheartedly!

Mission Accomplished, Back To School

The time for self-study in the morning ended very quickly. After we returned to school, we handed the completed forms to our teachers, marking an end to this morning’s visit to the market.

Text: Cathy, the Original Artsy Shuo-Chang Posse │ Pictures: the Original Artsy Shuo-Chang Posse