[MR] From a SCA Cook

[Michael Houghton]

Howdy!

On Aug 19, 2007, at 10:37 AM, Hrothgar wrote:

>
>> I feel compelled to point out a few things regarding the topic of  
>> whether
>> guests at high table should pay for feast.
>
> Greetings Unto the Tavern,
>     I'm a bit confused by this whole conversation. I realize that  
> Crysarra
> and I have been away for a while, but I can't understand how basic  
> attitudes
> have changed so much regarding event budgets and how our people are  
> treated.

I'm not sure that they have changed, at least, not in the way implied by
further discussion. Many years ago, the clear expectation was laid  
out that
everyone pay the appropriate event fees. Everyone.

Further, it was noted that groups should consider (strongly)  
declining to
take the money of royalty, as a kindness taking account of the financial
burden of being royalty.

Somewhere along the way, this seems to have been changed into an  
expectation
verging on an entitlement.
>
> Crysarra has done about a dozen feasts, and all were relatively  
> inexpensive
> and well within budget. This even though, in every instance, we  
> planned to
> feed at least 10 or 12 for free. Not charging High Table is  
> automatic. The
> Royals spend a huge amount of money BEING Royals, and not charging  
> them is
> more than just a courtesy. The people They invite to High Table are  
> Their
> guests, which by definition means that they are they are OUR guest,  
> and
> proud we should be to have them.

I don't follow that chain of reasoning. Nor do I equate "not charging  
the
royalty" with "not charging high table". As an example that comes to  
mind,
at Storvik Investiture, I was invited to eat at high table. It never
occurred to me that I should not have to pay for my feast (which I had
already done). Eating at high table was an honor bestowed on my by the
crown. The (small) further benefit was access to whatever special dishes
were prepared for high table.

The guest of my guest is not necessarily my guest.

It is not uncommon for people to be invited to sit at high table moments
before the feast. Certainly, it is not common to know in advance of an
event a full list of who will be asked to sit at high table.

On the other hand, if certain guests of the crown will be known to be
attending an event and expected to sit at high table, their identities
can be provided to the event steward in advance so that the question of
waiving fees can be considered in an orderly fashion in advance of the
event. As has been noted by Adriana, doing so on the day of the event
may be difficult to do while following the kingdom and group policies
that bear.

yours,
Herveus
--
Michael and MJ Houghton | Herveus d'Ormonde and Megan O'Donnelly
herveus at radix.net       | White Wolf and the Phoenix narrowwares
Bowie, MD, USA          | http://whitewolfandphoenix.com
Proud member of the SCA Internet Whitewash Squad