Barional Q&A from 11-22-2024

Barional Q&A

Held at Wyewood Full Contact Social, 11/22/24
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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.