Most of you reading this will have some concept of what event heraldry should be at least in your minds eye. At an event someone usually wearing a tabard of some sort with either a groups arms on it or the yellow trumpets on green of the college of arms runs around shouting out matters of importance to some or all of the attendees at the event. However do any of you know how this comes to be or why? Who are these heralds and where do they come from and how can you get them to help you run your event? Well, sit back and read on, and I will explain to you exactly how this should be done and who should do it.

Responsibility:

Who’s job is it to make sure these heralds are there and know what they are supposed to do anyhow?

Well simply put like all other aspects of YOUR event it is the responsibility of the local group running the event to ensure that proper provision of voice heralds for all aspects of the event are made. Look at it like all aspects of your event, it is YOUR event and YOU and YOUR EVENT STAFF are the ones that will make sure the event goes well and is a success both financially for your group and in terms of smooth running enjoyment for your guests. You don’t plan an event to fail or cost your group money and would never plan an event and leave the cooking of feast to the chance that someone will walk through the door as a “Paying Customer” and run your kitchen for you. So why should any other aspect of the event be any different? The same goes for heralding your event, yes the College of Heralds is the support you can draw upon to get the job done, once you have laid the plans, but you the group organizing the event must make those plans first. (Coronations, Crown Tournaments and some other major events are special cases and some of the heraldic needs of these are already looked after by the College but you should still be checking to make sure this is in fact done as required and you will still be responsible for other elements of the event heraldry even on these days) Either the local/group pursuivant or the Autocrat should ensure that someone is appointed to oversee the voice heraldry needs of the event. This includes all needs for announcements of general interest (schedule changes, lost kids, class or event happenings and their locations etc.), field or list heraldry as required for any tournaments to be held that day and finally court. Yes it is the local groups responsibility to ensure court has been looked after (they may not have to do it all, but must ensure its covered.) As I said, it is important here to note that all of this does not mean that the local pursuivant or the person appointed to oversee this is the one who will end up doing all of the shouting, but they must ensure that it does get done. This does not mean scanning the crowd and going “ah ha - a herald.. here! make these announcements for us”, it means making sure an event herald or heralds have been assigned and knows their duties during the day and that a herald (be it Trillium, another senior herald or the local pursuivant if need be) is looking after court as needed. In many cases the Kingdom level heralds are more than willing to help out (read on for details) however in some cases they also have other duties lined up that day, be it a meeting or doing a court etc. and have either no time for making announcements about bar openings or class schedules etc. or are trying to save their voices for the court to come or they have attended just to spend a day relaxing and enjoying your event and have no plans to herald any part of the event.

Besides, what if you held an event and no heralds showed up? It has happened or nearly happened in the past and entire court orders had to be re read at a second event in order to be legal under SCA rules. As the events organizers its better to have planned ahead and have this covered in advance than risk the fact that no heralds show up at all.

The person looking after heraldry for an event should ensure that well in advance of the planned event they begin to look into the possible needs of the days activities in terms of voice heraldry. Once this person has an idea what needs they have heraldically for the event and they have done all they can to organize and recruit their heralds for the day if they find they need back up then the person on the Trillium Heralds Staff responsible for liaison with groups is the Bucina Herald (educational herald contact info at www.ealdormere.sca.org/ecoh/). The Bucina Herald will endeavor to assist by recruiting additional help or advising the event staff how to reach other heralds who may be willing to assist in event heraldry.

The following areas are those that must be considered for an event to run well and smoothly and should in all cases be planned out well in advance.

EVENT/GENERAL ANNOUNCMENT HERALDRY:

-One or more persons should be assigned to be the PA System for the day as needed. (have some spares on hand for the day and in case any others do not show up)Also keep in mind for larger halls and/or outdoor events you may need multiple heralds to cover the whole area as quickly and efficiently as possible.

-These people do not have to be warranted heralds or have any knowledge of things heraldic what so ever but merely must have clear loud voices able to be heard as needed.

-These announcement heralds should be clearly identified (heralds tabard or baldric etc. and some sort of system (heralds point/troll etc.) set up to handle all requests for them to make announcements as required. Make the populace and other event staff aware of the proper procedures for getting heralds to make announcements etc. This is also an educational matter that will be worked on as we progress so the people get back in the habit of knowing the event heralds are the people to bug. The College of Heralds is working to make sure our heralds are educated to the fact that we need to make our status as far as being on duty or not known to the general populace as well.

-The populace also will need to be educated in these procedures as well so we don’t have merchants etc. grabbing the court herald and begging for an announcement about their last minute sale etc. while the poor herald is rushing to get some business attended to for the Crown before court.

-Plan and Schedule the heralds. They should be kept clear as much as possible from other duties or needs during the day or at least their time on duty as a herald (no sense having a herald assigned to make announcements only to have to haul them off the fighting lists in the midst of their bout or out of the kitchen every time something needs done.)As heralds we also need to educate our selves to this fact and not volunteer your services as the event herald when you know you plan to spend all day on the archery field or cooking feast.

LIST HERALDS:

-as many as needed for the types and size of tournaments being held that day if needed. (Crown and some other major tournaments fall to Trillium and their staff. You should still touch base with them to ensure they are in fact doing their jobs and to offer your support to them as needed.) Have as many heralds as you think it will take plus a couple spares to rotate in and out as needed for meals and other breaks and to give everyone some time off to enjoy other aspects of the events.

-list heralds do not have to be warranted heralds but should have clear loud voices and be some what familiar with the rules and dangers of working in close proximity to the fighters or other martial activities being conducted.

-They should work closely with and under the direction of the marshal running the field.

-Assign at least one herald who has experience working in and around the lists to co ordinate and instruct the other heralds in proper list heralding procedures and safety around the combatants.

-they should be clearly identified by a heralds tabard or baldric and carrying of a heralds staff in the lists is a good idea should the need arise to protect oneself from an errant blow or falling fighter.

COURT HERALDRY:

-it is the responsibility of the local group/herald to ensure that court heraldry needs are looked after.

-contact the Royalty and Baron/Baroness either yourself or through the events Royalty liaison person to determine if they are attending your event and if they plan on holding any courts there. Ask if they have made arrangements for heralds and who they are. This is usually already worked out and in most cases the Trillium or someone designated by them or chosen by the Royals will be doing Royal courts and the Baronial Heralds or a designate will handle Baronial courts. However it still must be checked on and ensured that it is handled.

-contact these heralds and ensure they are aware of the needs of the Royals/Barony and that they have everything they will need from you as event staff for the days needs.

-if no heralds have been assigned or chosen by the Royals/Baronial Nobles contact the Trillium Heralds office via the Bucina Herald and express your needs to them and ask about heralds being assigned as needed.

-it is possible depending on the needs or wishes of the Royals/Baronial couple that the local pursuivant will in fact be the one doing court. (it is also a desire as part of our push to heraldic education that as much as possible with their Majesties permission that heralds other than the Trillium and Trillium Staff get to, at least, assist in, if not, run some courts to improve their voice and ceremonial skills.)

-keep in mind that the person actually doing court as a herald does not have to be a warranted herald as long as there is a Warranted Herald present to oversee them and assist them in filing the court report as needed. (A Warranted herald must file any Kingdom court reports in order for the business of the day to be “legal”, as per Kingdom law)

-be prepared for a worse case scenario and have some idea who can if needed step in to handle court should the designated court herald not show up.

-make sure your local herald or heralds attending the event, even if not scheduled to do court, have a copy of the book of ceremonies at the event or arrange with them to get this book to the event if they are not attending, just in case. If a sudden change of plans happens and someone other than the designated herald has to do a court and needs a ceremony, oath or other item of protocol, they are all in this book. There is supposed to be a copy of this book in the Royals Regalia box but even the Royals occasionally travel light and may have left the book or the entire box at home for some reason.

CONSULTING/SUBMISSIONS HERALDRY:

-if your group wishes to have a table or area for heraldic consultations and or submissions this MUST be coordinated through the Trillium Staff level of the CoH via the Green Mantle Herald’s office.

-only the Green Mantle Herald or a Warranted Exchequer can accept submission funds and unless special arrangements are made to do so, all submission tables should be under the direct supervision of Green Mantle.

-should the Green Mantle Herald not be at an event where submissions tables will be run, the only method of payment for said submissions will be via prior arrangement and approval of either the Green Mantle or Trillium Herald and all funds MUST be paid by the submitter DIRECTLY to the group’s Warranted Exchequer and a receipt for said funds issued as proof of payment for the submitter.

-efforts should be made to staff consulting tables with experienced heralds in both name and armorial heraldry and contact should be made with the educational team via the Bucina Herald to try and arrange for these heralds to attend events with consultation tables to offer assistance as needed.

DISPLAY AND HALL HERALDIC DECORATIONS:

-some effort should be made when ever possible to try and make the mundane locations most events are held in a little more “period” in appearance and heraldic displays and banners can go a long way to help in this area.

-event staff and heraldic coordinators should contact the Stave Pursuivant of the College of Heralds for ideas and suggestions on how this can be done. If your group has no banners, flags or other decorations etc. you should do this well in advance of your event so you have time to either create some or find out who to ask to borrow some.

GROUP/HERALDIC CO-ORDINATOR:

-ensure all of the above people are in place and are doing their jobs. Have back-ups handy in case needed.
-be prepared to step in or make changes as needed should one or more of the above elements fail to materialize as planned.

-contact the Bucina Herald with heraldic needs and requests if you are unable to fill any of the above needs.

-stay on top of things the day of the event to make sure all the pieces are in place and needed heralds are doing their jobs.

-do not hesitate to contact any member of the College of Heralds with any last minute needs or emergencies but keep in mind not every herald is a voice herald and they may point you to another for the assistance you require.

The bottom line is YOU have to PLAN for YOUR EVENT and then call upon the people you need to help you achieve your goals. The feast-o-crat doesn’t grab the first cook they see in the crowd to come roast the beef for dinner and likewise the herald coming to an event as a PAYING CUSTOMER to enjoy a class, battle or other activity should not have to constantly worry about suddenly finding themselves on the Dias with a thick court docket and no preparation time, regalia or time to have enjoyed their chosen activity that day. The heralds are here to be a service to the Kingdom and its people but by the same token we do not want to burn out the good ones that are always at events and suddenly find they are either refusing to do any heraldic work or begin to avoid events because they are sick and tired of constantly having members of the populace or event staff tagging them to do what should be a pre-planned and assigned job. Yes, emergencies do happen, but if properly planned for, even these need be no more than a minor bump on the road to a well run event.