Help the autocrat

There are lots of things you can do to help the autocrat of an event:

• weeks/days before the event
  • Book early for an event to help planning
  • ALWAYS tell the autocrat/feastocrat any special dietary requirements (or expect to not be able to eat much). Yes, this does include vegetarians.
  • If you can help with a particular job, like cleaning up, let the autocrat know in advance that they'll have a helper (and don't then cancel out for anything other than a dire emergency).
  • Often autocrats/feastocrats can use an extra driver to transport stuff from one place to another.
  • Offer to advertise their event to your local group/the group you know you'll be visiting tomorrow.

• on the day of the event, before it starts
  • Cooks always have things needing chopping up, benches to scrub, trailers to unpack.
  • Organisers may have pavilions to set up, eric ropes to lay out, etc.

• during the event
  • Give the autocrat and feastocrat a hug.
  • There are almost always dishes and odd jobs in the kitchen for a non-cook, as well as jobs serving (bringing food to the tables).
  • The kitchen is a great way to meet people at an event, and to learn to cook in a medieval way.
  • Obey any instructions by the autocrat in a timely manner without complaints (unless the instruction is really unreasonable - try not to quibble about minor things).
  • Volunteer - ask what can be done.
  • If everything's under control, don't get in the way. Relax, and enjoy the event.

• at the end of the day (packup)
  • Halls get swept/mopped.
  • Kitchens have dishes.
  • Bins need emptying.
  • Banners get taken down.
  • Pack up your stuff into a neat pile so it is out of the way of cleaner-uppers.
  • Tables and chairs often get put away.
  • Pavilions taken down.

Remember that the event only works if people work together.