[MR] Regarding Royal High Table Guests and Events

[Telara at aol.com]

As to the subject raised by Their Highnesses, I've read the paragraph in 
question from Their Highnesses' letter. Here are my thoughts. Perhaps they will be 
of help.
 
It is my understanding that kingdom-level events require a 10-15 percent 
payment to the kingdom for the attendance of the royals, etc. I assume that SCA 
Corporate will be fine with having the royal guest's meal cost deducted from 
this percentage. If that is the case, then there is no problem. 
 
However, if that is not the case, we may have a problem. I have been an 
autocrat - it is not an issue of profit. It is an issue of breaking even. Today, 
the cost of a site, the cost of food and gas, port-a-johns, etc is all very very 
high. The populace cannot afford huge event fees and feast fees. So there is 
a balancing act to try and charge enough to cover the costs for the event but 
not really any more then that, assuming a certain number of people attend and 
a certain number eat feast. 
 
When you factor in the list of free items required to be provided for royals 
and royal guests, and additional food costs for kings/queens who do not eat 
period feasts and prefer steak or pizza, things become more pricey and you run 
the risk of not breaking even on the event - which means the money will come 
out of the barony or canton's bank account. Most bank accounts only have a few 
hundred in them at a time. A barony or canton cannot absorb a huge loss at an 
event they are hosting. Rain on the day of an event can kill the event, no 
matter who is attending it.
 
It is not a matter of being a good host. I believe it is a matter of being a 
good guest. If invited to Christmas dinner at a friend's house, you don't show 
up at the door with six additional people and expect them to be fed as well. 
Further, what happened to using high table as a reward or an honor for someone 
at the event who does something wonderful? If you fill the table with your 
attending friends, there is no room for such an honor. Once again, it comes down 
to being a good guest. Would you push your host or hostess from their own 
table, or their children? 
 
We must remember this is a game we all play - for the benefit of each other. 
Royals serve the populace, and in turn, the populace serves the royals. A 
break in that mutual service and trust would be bad. It is with sadness that I 
read Their Highnesses letter. I believe it means they will not be attending many 
events. 
 
Regards,
Honora



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