Yves' advice for the aspiring SCA court herald

What to do, how to behave, what can go awry, things to say,
and links to similar articles by other people.

	Ýves’ advice for the aspiring SCA court herald
	Updated: Feb 9, 2003

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CONTENTS

> The basics

> Complications

> What if YOU are called forth

> Making announcements

- Opening Court

   - Calling people forth
   - "Bad news" schtick
   - Closing Court

> After Court
> Closing
> Recommended articles on this topic by other people

The basics

A lot of the job is in my interactive class on court heraldry on this site and in the recommended articles at the end of the page.

Activity overview

The court herald organizes Court, leads the procession, opens Court, makes announcements during Court, closes Court, and leaves Court with the procession. There's also paperwork, but that's not the focus of this article.

What needs to be heard

During Court, the court herald should make sure three things heard by everyone at Court:

Announcements to call people forth.
What awards and other recognition are received.
What gifts (if any) are given to the Hats.

Note: In this article, the "Hat" refers to the territorial ruler holding Court — King, Queen, Prince, Princess, Tanist, Ban-Tanist, Baron, Baroness, etc.

Court as theatre

Being in Court is the same as being on stage. Court Is Theatre. The herald plays a specific role in the production: "master of ceremonies". As such,

The superb court herald (SCH) stays in character. Emotions and reactions are pleasant, but subdued.
The SCH does what the Hat wants them to do — it's Their show — but remains a herald.
When appropriate, the SCH helps the Crown make decisions by informing them of the available options.
When making an announcement, the SCH avoids prolonged eye contact with any one person.
When reading an award scroll, the SCH reads it — even if they have it memorized. The SCH keeps their eyes down, their head up.
- The SCH avoids eye contact with the recipient.
- Why? It's not them giving the award — it's the Hat.
- When the reading is done, the scroll goes to the appropriate Hat.
When the populace gives applause, the SCH applauds lightly — if feasible. In other kingdoms, the court herald leads the exhortation (Hip, Hip!, Vivat!, etc.)
The SCH deals with changes and complications as well as they can.

Complications

The things below can and do happen at an actual Court. The superb court herald (SCH) can handle these situations without missing a beat.

The Hat could switch the order of business items
The Hat could delete business items
The Hat could add business items
The recipient could be absent
The scroll could be missing
The award regalia could be missing
A recipient has not yet been dismissed, they may be getting an award that may or may not be on your list of court business.
The SCH may know that one of their friends, or another court herald, is going to get an award. The SCH stays cool, keeps a straight face, and lets it be a surprise.
The SCH also keeps that straight face when THEY are called forth — whether or not it is to receive some form of recognition.

What if YOU are called forth?

The SCH remains cool, keeps a straight face — even if they "know" they are getting called forth to receive an award or some form of formal recognition. Even if they "know" what is supposed to happen, the Hats are fond of surprises - read: it might not happen like you thought!

When the SCH is called forth, they remove their tabard (or whatever heraldic attire), and leave it with a member of the entourage. They circle back and around to enter the Presence. Walking between the thrones should be done only if the Crown directs you to do so.

If the SCH is actually receiving an award, they do not to flinch when something is mispronounced. Like their name. Or Societatus. So-Key-Ay-Tah-Toose. Practice saying it. Please.

Neat, eh? All five pure Romance (and Japanese) vowel sounds.

When the SCH is dismissed, if the Crown wishes them to go back to work (as it were), the SCH goes back the way they came, stores the scroll (if any) in the back of the folder, puts the heraldic attire back on, and continues with Court as before. Even though the SCH may have just received some super-cool recognition, they are super-cool about it. The show goes on.

Making announcements

Voice heralds use their voice a lot. (Duhhh.) You can learn to help both save it and use it for maximum effect in the section on how to make announcements in the field heraldry article on this site.

Opening Court

You've led the procession to the door of the building or about ten feet before the edge of the gathered populace. If you (or your second) have a staff and a solid surface — bang it thrice to get people's attention. Then announce something like,

All rise for Their Majesties K. and Q. of Meridies!

Some Hats might want you to do some boasting about them. Others will think this is sufficient and prefer to process in silence. Others might want you to save the boasting for the recession after you close Court. When the superb court herald is called to boast, they have the material memorized and well-practiced.

Calling people forth

Note well: If time is short, keep announcements short. The Hat might point to a name on the list of court business, or ask you to call N. forward.

Rather than saying a plain (or even plaintive) "Would N. please come forward?" try these:

(At this time) the Crown
-- calls forth ...
-- doth summon ...
-- summons ... unto them, before them ...

Called now / Summoned now

-- into Court is N.
-- into the Presence is N.
-- before their (adjective) Majesties is N.

Some adjectives: August, Benevolent, Dread, Royal, Serene, etc. (use what fits the current tone).

"Bad news" schtick

Basically these are things the court herald can say when the person called forth is in "trouble"!

The Crown requires the presence of N. immediately!
The King commands that N. be brought forward, by force if necessary!
The Queen calls forth N. to grovel and beg for Her mercy!

Also use the adjectives above for alternatives to just saying "The Crown". If one of the Hats is currently the lead character, just name them: (Baron P. commands ..., Baroness Q. insists ...)

Of course, by "trouble" I don't mean REAL trouble.
People in charge of real security handle real trouble.

Closing Court

After the last item of scheduled business, the Hat might ask you to see if there is any further business. (If Court has run Really Late, you might remind them of this - but ONLY if you can basically whisper in Their ear.) You could say:

The Crown wishes to know if there is any further business for this Court.

After all business has been conducted, or if the Hat simply desires to end Court, They might say, "Close Court" or something less terse. You need only say:

This hereby closes Court. All rise and make way!

You could also say more, including the aforementioned boasting.

After Court

Update your list of awards received as appropriate. Meet with the Hats to make sure they were happy with how you did in Their Court. This might be during feast, after feast, or even after the event. If they do have some feedback for you, listen objectively, take notes. Likewise, ask other experienced court heralds if they have any feedback on your performance. Be not defensive.

Closing

I've made many mistakes as a court herald. The advice above is hard-won. When given the honor of serving as a court herald, I do my best to make sure people can hear the announcements and get people's names right.

Note: The author is not an SCH as described herein, but aspires to be one.

Ýves’ advice for the aspiring SCA court herald