Autocrat
An Autocrat, also known in some kingdoms as an Event Steward, is the chief organizer and overall coordinator of an event within the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). In the Kingdom of the Outlands, the Autocrat is responsible for guiding an event from initial concept through final reporting and serves as the primary point of contact for the event.
Autocrats may oversee events of any size, from small local gatherings and demonstrations to major kingdom-level events with hundreds of attendees. Depending on the scope of the event, an Autocrat may perform many tasks personally or may assemble and manage a team of deputies and staff.
Duties and Responsibilities
The responsibilities of an Autocrat typically include:
- Selecting and securing an appropriate date for the event
- Coordinating with their local branch and relevant kingdom officers
- Arranging for site selection, rental, and logistics
- Submitting required event proposal and registration forms
- Developing schedules and coordinating event activities
- Overseeing event finances, including budgeting and final reporting
- Advertising and promoting the event through official channels
- Acting as the primary authority for handling emergencies during the event
Because the Autocrat holds both significant authority and responsibility, the role often requires a substantial investment of time before, during, and after the event.
Event Planning in the Outlands
In the Outlands, Autocrats work closely with the Kingdom Calendar Deputy and other kingdom officers to ensure events are properly scheduled, approved, and promoted.
Checking the Kingdom Calendar
The first step in planning an event is reviewing the Outlands Kingdom Calendar, which lists both approved and tentative events across the kingdom. Events range from small, single-day gatherings to major annual events with hundreds of participants.
Autocrats are expected to avoid conflicts with nearby events that may draw from the same population.
Reserved Kingdom Weekends
Certain weekends are reserved for kingdom-level events and may not be used for other events:
- Kingdom Weekends: Third full weekend of each month
- Coronations: January and July
- Crown Tournaments: April and October
- If Easter falls on the third full weekend of April, Crown is held the weekend before
- Kingdom A&S Competition: Fourth weekend in March
- A&S Collegium: September
Autocrats should also consider major interkingdom wars and common holidays when selecting dates.
Proposing an Event
Once a suitable date is identified, the Autocrat submits an Event Proposal Form to the Kingdom Calendar Deputy. The required form depends on the type of event being proposed (local event, kingdom event, or demonstration).
Autocrats are encouraged to work with members of their local group to identify suitable sites, develop schedules, and plan budgets before submitting a proposal. Completed forms are submitted to the kingdom events office for review and approval.
Promoting an Event
Promotion is a critical responsibility of the Autocrat. In the Outlands, official promotion occurs through several channels:
- The Outlands Kingdom Calendar
- The Outlandish Herald, the kingdom’s official newsletter
- Official Kingdom social media outlets
To conduct official business at an event (such as Royal Court or Peer Circles), the event must be published in the Outlandish Herald. The newsletter is published around the 15th of the month prior to the event month, with submission deadlines on the 5th of the preceding month.
The Outlandish Herald also offers expanded promotional listings and advertising space for events.
Event Web Pages
Each event must have a publicly accessible web page where attendees can find essential information. This may be accomplished in one of two ways:
- Hosting the event page on the local group’s website, typically arranged through the group’s Web Minister
- Hosting all event information directly on the Kingdom Calendar, including descriptions and promotional images
Terminology
While the term Autocrat remains in common use throughout much of the SCA, some regions and kingdoms use alternative terminology. For example, in the Principality of Tir Righ, the term Event Steward has increasingly replaced “Autocrat.” Both terms describe the same role and responsibilities.