View source for Barional Q&A from 11-22-2024

=== Barional Q&A ===

Held at [[Wyewood]] Full Contact Social, 11/22/24<br>
Notes taken by [[Michelino di Gino Martini]]

Panel participants: 
* Baroness [[Aline Swynbroke]], Baron [[Alarich von Thorn]], 3rd (current) B&B of Wyewood 
* Baroness [[Alessandra da Montefeltro]], 2nd Baroness of Wyewood
* Baroness [[Gabrielle Lepinay]], 1st Baroness Wyewood. 
* Barun [[Christopher MacEveny]] and Barunin [[Gera Gangolffin]], 13th (current) B&B of [[Madrone]]
<br>

==== What made you do it? ====

* Void, nobody had been stepping up
* Thought it would be interesting, didn’t expect to win
* Changed from hard no to only candidates
* Should step up if you are able to do so
* Excited about creating an atmosphere, where people could be what you wanted to be, including silliness 
* Wanted to start [[sergeantry]]
<br>

==== Top three things you wish you had known? ====

* Coronets can be stupidly uncomfortable, and consideration should be given to those with chronic illnesses
* You don’t have to look perfect all the time 
* Tech issues (Outlook)
* Had not thought about how Fridays as events would change due to having to look the part
* Hadn’t realized how you can’t do normal service jobs at events, because you have a job
* How much help you would need and how horrible one can be about asking for it
* How much the decisions to who to give awards to falls on the B&B, the number of recommendations you receive is small
* Felt that they didn’t do quite well of the sergantry 
* Regrets not knowing about some expectations (scrolls) 
* Didn’t expect how much of the job would fall on her (baron had to work Saturdays)
* Didn’t know how much it might be expected to visit neighboring events
* Having to be on so much while in public while being an introvert
* Surprised by number of events that they had to hit
* Travel / gate expenses can be considerable 
* Again, how much assistance one actually needs, having retinue is surprisingly needed
* Travel, travel, travel
* Wish they knew everything (hadn’t done royal retinue / rules / corpora)
* Wish I would have known how many friends I had, who would support you, was terrified that they would let the barony down
* Didn’t realize how much of an impact a casual word or gesture would have as B&B, need to be more kind/diplomatic 
* Not your job to do other things at events in the same way you are used to doing them, you are busy acting as host, even at Kingdom events
* As a host, you can’t fight in your own tourney, or even anyone else’s
<br>

==== Thoughts on retinue ====

* Adaptive retinue - perhaps have ret just at certain times of the day, to keep folks free to volunteer elsewhere as needed 
* Check in retinue - checking in periodically to see if you’ve eaten, taken meds, etc, but only actively doing it when they check in
* Sergeants are not retinue by default, they are busy doing other volunteer things, they are generalists
* Madrone and Wyewood have been sharing a pavilion at events, and have been working well. Pavilions can be a pain to transport. 
* Sometimes there hasn’t been a lot for help at some events setting up / tearing down pavilions, which can be very hard
<br>

==== What do you need to take to an event? ====

* Court - chairs, covers, hospitality tables, tablecloths, banners, pavilions, kneeling pillows 
* Skips thrones if they aren’t sitting court 
* Extra seating for the pavilions to welcome guests 
* Lots of water, cooler for the pavilions, garbage cans 
* Travel trailer that always has some/most of the items is helpful 
* Bringing largesse, you have to bring a lot. Actually wants to avoid exchanging with other baronies as it makes for too much to bring 
* There may be both outgoing and incoming largess 
<br>

==== Thoughts on Largess====

* Largess has been one of the more stressful things, especially staring out with none on hand
* Explaining what largess is not appropriate can be stressful
* Food items in general are difficult (doesn’t last long, ingredient issues)
* Hate getting things that people have put a lot of time into, but that you can’t use (not period, items not in demand, other issues)
* Can be very hard when you get things that you can’t use and have to donate them
* One way to deal with it is if you get a nice item in bad fabric, arrange to give the donor correct fabric and ask if they can do more with that fabric
<br>

==== Cost associated with being a coronet. Garb, supplies, largess, etc. ==== 

* Generosity of garb was astounding 
* Step up clothing - you want to wear something beautiful, but also think about comfort and re usability. Also if you can get into/out of it by yourself.  
* Remember that sometimes you won’t have help, so you may need to do things yourself.  
* Garb that is seasonally appropriate.  
* One or two pieces that are in the barony colors are fine, don’t make it everything as you won’t always be B&B 
* Don’t have to be matching all the time, feel free to be your own personas style. 
<br>

==== Miscellaneous thoughts ====

* Being a sergant can be excellent training for this job. 
* Getting feedback from the populace. Sometimes the populace is very happy to let you know. Sometimes you have to travel to different areas, and / or invite folks over to event days to get feedback as well. 
* How to express individual needs without it being the voice of the B&B - ask for specific things, be clear about what your are asking, and that it’s for you the person. 
* Social media - you become a quasi public person, might have a persona page. Be prepared for petty criticism and complaints as some overhead. You can ask for personal stuff on your personal profile, and B&B stuff on your persona profile. 
* Agree, spinning up a persona page can be important, you can keep what you need private. It will likely not be politic to deny friend requests. 
* Sometimes you will get criticism/ hate, it just happens. Let it roll off your back. You have to be teflon. 
* It is important to have some folks you know who understand the culture of your barony.