Retaining

From MiddleWiki

Retaining is the traditional term given to providing service to the royalty. There are many types of such service, but the general goal of those retaining is to free the royals from mundane tasks and to assist in permitting them to provide an appropriate royal presence.

Many events will provide opportunities to sign up to be a retainer. A "royalty liaison" is often a staff position at events to coordinate retaining and is especially needed at events that many royals, both Midrealm and otherwise, are attending.

Types of Retaining

Some examples of retaining include:

• Guarding the royalty room.
• Personally serving the royals

Some Advice on Serving as a Retainer

(Note that some of this text originated on a Facebook post by Lydia de Bequerel.)

• Introduce yourselves to the royals and let them know you are retaining. Let them know if you are retaining for the first time!
• Talk the the prior retainer to find out important things you may need to know.
  • Find out and be mindful of the royals' schedule. They're busy, and have many distractions.
• Follow the royalty; don't let them escape!
  • But also don't be intrusive. Respect, and help define the royal presence.
  • Rule of thumb, observe a ten foot rule.
  • If the royals are in a conversation, presume it is private, unless you are invited into the conversation.
• Often times the biggest role of a retainer is being the extra hands, and the holder of things.
  • Everything not used goes into the bag.
  • The bag will assuredly hold a notebook and a pen.
• Things given/gifted to the royals should go into the bag, but those doing the gifting should write down their name and important information about the gift.
• Remind the royals to take care of themselves: Eat and Drink. They have a busy schedule and need to keep up their energy.
• Retainers are often entrusted temporarily with the regalia. Don't surprise the royals by disappearing on them unexpectedly!
  • Never put fingers on the crown. Open hands, palms up, with the crown resting on its edges. The royals have better things to do than to polish the shiny stuff!