http://www.pcisys.net/~lyssa/guide.html leofsige@iwon.com Autocrat's Schedule 6 Months to 1 Year in Advance Get approval from seneschal. Ask exchequer for site deposit. Select and confirm site and price. Declare event name, site, and date. 4 to 6 Months in Advance Choose co-autocrat, crew chiefs. Prepare preliminary budget. Fill in site diagram. Draft menu. Contact officers, guilds, and entertainers. Meet with seneschal. 3 to 4 Months in Advance Send publicity to newsletters (kingdom, nearby groups, and special interests). Line up any missing crew chiefs. Ask exchequer for expense advance. Reserve porta-sans, order water and firewood. Meet with seneschal. 2 to 3 Months in Advance Meet with seneschal; discuss progress and budget to date. Attend official meetings, events, and practices; announce plans. Collect reservations. Reserve items from group storage; note damaged, missing items. 1 to 2 Months in Advance Prepare "trial feast"; finalize and print menu. Meet with seneschal, crew managers. Confirm all commitments of assistance. Purchase prizes, paper goods, decorations. Prescreen performers and entertainers. Hold poster party; print all signs. 1 Week to 1 Month in Advance Call people who were too busy to be crew chiefs, but who might spend some time working at the event. Hold final meeting with seneschal. Close reservation list; type up master list for the gate. Deposit last of reservation fees. Visit site with crew chiefs. Ask exchequer for food expense advance. Order feast items. Purchase non-perishable feast items. Borrow cooking and serving equipment. Call all crew chiefs for last-minute checks and changes. The Day Before the Event Prepare checklist of items to be transported to site tomorrow; organize and pack. Pick up perishable feast items. Deliver ingredients to advance cooks. Transport as much as possible to the site. Get some sleep (well, at least try). The Day After the Event Take down all outdoor signs. Thank all of your volunteers. Clean and return all borrowed items. Return non-perishables to group storage. Try to recover; treat yourself nicely. Within 30 Days After the Event Meet with crew chiefs to discuss event. Do accounting; calculate profit or loss. Type up autocrat's report; give to the seneschal. Gird your loins for next time.