[Sca-cooks] Re: IKA - head table seating?

[iasmin at comcast.net]

Katira wrote:

> Here in the West, the hosting Royalty (K&Q or P&P)  or the hosting landed 
> B&B take center stage on the long table with all facing the hall.   All 
> other Royalty can expect to be seated in order of precedence sitting 
> left/right/left/right of the center.  Same way they are seated in court as a 
> matter of fact. 

Thankyou for this. Question. When you say they are seated as if in court, which method(s) do your Court Herald follow in seating them? Some kingdoms seat the King and Queen center stage, with the prince at the right hand of the Queen and the Princess and the left hand of the King.  If more than one P&P are there, some kingdoms continue adding them left and right alternating boy-girl-boy-girl. Some kingdoms pair multiples in order of precedence. That is. 1st ranking P&P to the Queen's right, 2nd ranking P&P to the King's left, and so forth.

The reason I ask is because I'm trying to get a sense of how prevalent it is to split up royalty or dining partners at head table. Within the Midrealm the practice is mixed, at times depending on the whim of Royalty. But despite the fact that "The Royalty is Always Right" seating a head table always seems to be a source of stress for the retainer in charge of ensuring said head table is filled with the appropriate invited guests.

> So you see there are conventions and there are exceptions. 

Exactly so, but I think that a lot of retainers are unfamiliar with seating a head table and I'm trying to come up with some sort of head table hand-out that would help the newest learn for the first time and provide the experienced ones with a refresher or a quick reference if the rush of an event seems overwhelming. 

> In planning for a feast and the head table, one usually checks to see 
> which Royalty is  coming, 1 or 2,  w/ or w/o guests, etc. and plans for 
> at least that many total.  

At least on the reigns for which I've worked, the number of spaces available at head table is a standard question we asked when preparing for an event. We then planned accordingly. Because of the feast halls we typically have access to, the standard seating at head table is 8, 4 each along the long side of two standard "church" tables, butted end to end. It is typically only at the larger events like crown tournament and coronation that the table is any larger than this. I have also been at a few feasts where only round tables were available, no long ones, and royalty assumed the position in the center of the room at a "table of honor" rather than a true "head table" or "top table."

> I am sure there are things done differently in other Kingdoms and I am 
> curious to hear about them myself.

I am as well, if only because I want to ensure a good bit of information that might help retainers understand that setting up head table isn't half as scary as it sounds. I suppose is anyone were to have ideas in this regard, I'd be happy to hear them. What troubled you the most in this if you've done it before? If you've never done it before, what would you want to know?

> If you don't want to post this somewhat OT topic to the list, you may reply 
> directly to me.

Good heavens, I think it's perfectly in keeping with the the topic of food and feasting in the SCA.  I doubt Papa Gunther would disagree, but 'tis his call. :)

Giano wrote:

> I've never seen it done any other way. Most high tables seat between 
> 6 and 8. The royals are seated in the centre, with the highest ranking other 
> members filling the places to their right and left, proximity being governed 
> by rank. 

So were the couples invited to sit at head table seated together or split to the left and right of the Royals? As I mentioned it before, I've seen it a number of ways. I've even seen it with the host and hostess split, with the honored guest of the opposite sex sitting to their right.

> There have been some acrimonious debates within earshot whether a 
> representative of the hosting group (seneschal or marshal) should be seated 
> there, but I gather the answer is 'not unless s/he has the rank'. 

That would be the case in our areas as well. Unless specifically invited to sit at head table by the Crown, even if there is room, the Baron and Baroness of an area can assume they sit at an honored space in the hall, not necessarily at head table. I know that some people will diagree with me on this, though. My opinion is based on personal experience. 

> Drachenwald has lots of local variety, though. This may just be the way they 
> do things where I happened to be at the time. 

I suppose this would be true just about anywhere. "Yes, Your Majesty!" is our mantra, no? ;-)

Iasmin
iasmin at comcast.net