ROYALTY ETIQUETTE GUIDE

Revised August 1, 2003 Prepared by
Tamara Marks 2003

• Have fun and be yourself! You can't be someone or something you're not and trying to do so for the sake of a sash is futile. You need to be comfortable being who you are.
• Smile and talk to as many people as you can.
• Team positive! Keep personal grievances toward each other private, if any. In public you love each other. In private - settle it!
• Talk to your team not everybody else if there is a problem. It reflects on the team as a whole.
• There is more to being Royalty than the party. It's a job. It is only thankless if you don't do it &/or if you whine, bitch, moan & complain the entire time you do it.
• Be a part of the solution not a part of the problem.
• Keep your ego in check.
• Do not expect anything, plan ahead and confirm.
• It's not about you; it's about the team
• Never talk bad about teammates! Learn to get along or work it out.
• Never badmouth any contestant or other royalty, even if they do it to you. Always take the high road - people will watch to see how you handle things. And anyone can be a judge at finals for royalty - so you never know who may be deciding the next IGRA team.
• Never make demands. Always ask! Nobody owes you anything you have to earn it.
• Be nice to everyone, you are the perception of Gay Rodeo.
• Watch your expectations! When in doubt ... ask!
• Represent yourself and your organization at every possible function that you can in your city.
• Respect earns respect!

• Get out and be seen - with your sash!!
• Wear your sash when representing your association at other functions.
• Wear your sash at all IGRA events and sanctioned rodeo's, registration, grand entry, when not competing in the arena, and awards.
• Sash care:
  • Scotch guard ASAP!
  • Keep pins on by using either e-6000, hot glue or super glue or use duct tape.
  • You can better balance your sash by strategically placing your pins. Put the larger/heavier pins at the bottom. And who says that you have to place them all on the front!
• When wearing your sash, you should look nice. Clothing should be clean and pressed. If you are not wearing a hat, hair should be combed and/or styled. Exposing you underwear is not appropriate! "No shirt, No shoes, No sash!"
• Do not need to wear your sash when performing, as a rodeo official, or as a rodeo contestant. If only competing in a couple events, you should wear your sash when not competing.
• Do not wear sash when inebriated or in a situation that will cast a negative image to your association. When getting smashed, remove the sash.
• Rodeo weekend, you should remove your sash after midnight.
• Rodeo weekend, it's okay to take your sash off while eating.
• On Sunday of Finals weekend, if you did not receive an IGRA Royalty Team sash, you should still wear your Associations sash as you still represent them. However, you should not wear your crown.
• It is not appropriate to steal someone's sash!
• Do not exploit your sash by performing on a non-function night to get cash for your own purposes.
• It is not the sash or crown that makes someone Royalty. That is just a title or costume. Where the true feeling of being 'Royal' comes from is through the rewards received, such as self-fulfillment and personal and team accomplishments from the works we do.
• Sash is not a burden. It is an honor to wear it. You should never be without it! When in doubt - wear it! You can always take it off.

• Communicate!
• Advertise your events and get it out early!
• Communication tools available: web page, contact lists, phone, Internet, & newsletters.
• ommunicate:
  • With each other as a team!
  • With other Association Royalty!
  • With Associations!
  • With your Board of Directors!
  • With your Liaison!
• It is imperative to foster communication within your team and with other association teams across the country. We must work together for the common good of this thing we call 'gay rodeo'. We must provide a network of support for each other that spreads the word of our causes, boosts membership, and promotes our country and western heritage and lifestyle in a pro-active manner. Keeping the purposes of IGRA in mind will help us reach this goal together.
  • ommunity Outreach:
  • Reach out to other organizations.
  • Reach out to your charities.
  • Reach out to the bi-sexual community.
  • Reach out to the trans-gender community.
  • Reach out to other minority groups such as Women, African Americans, Hispanic etc-
  • Reach out to the membership within your Association. Personalize the invitation for them to participate. Whether it is to entertain, attend, or volunteer.
• Announce/Recognize all IGRA and Association sponsors during all of your events. Ask your Trustee to obtain a banner from your local Bud Light Representative with all the sponsors' logos on it and display it at all your events.
• When being interviewed by the media, be sure that banner is in the background.
• When being interviewed or when being announced - Say it don't spell it!! Do not use acronyms unless also saying what they stand for. (i.e. don't say IGRA say International Gay Rodeo Association) Not everyone knows what those letters mean.
• Royalty is a working position! If you are not competing or if only competing in a couple events, please volunteer. Find out where they need help.
• Every Rodeo needs volunteers.
• Be pleasant when you visit. Acting like the king or queen bee won't make you any friends.
• when planning to attend another association's rodeo, by all means contact them. Don't just show up and expect to be put on the entertainment roster. Be flexible as to your performance times and be willing to pitch in as a volunteer for other things such as ticket sales or security.
• If planning a fundraiser at a rodeo other than your own associations you should contact the Association to obtain permission.
  • Grand Entry:
  • Saturday: All Royalty participates!! Miss's should be in face.
  • Sunday: IGRA Royalty participates in the parade unless Association states differently. Association Royalty should be there either in the stands or on the side line, supporting! Miss's should be in face!
  • Be on time and prepared so as not to delay the rodeo.
• Every rodeo handles entertainment differently; you should contact the Association to request an entertainment packet and who the contact person is. This should be done at least 60 days prior to event.
• Miss's listen up - It is not your Mr.'s job to carry your bags - nor is it your significant others - unless they offer, do not expect them too!
• Be considerate of your roommates! Do not hog the bathroom. You are probably not the only one who needs to get ready.
• Don't procrastinate! Don't wait until the deadline to take care of business.
• It is not about the title (which is a great honor), but about the work you do and the strength of character and passion for the organization that you show. They'll forget the ones that do nothing but wear a sash. The ones that make a difference didn't need a sash to do so.
• Never forget about your partner or any of your teammates partners. Include them and introduce them because they are in this with you.
• Pay attention! Read all information provided. Answer all questions in a timely manner! Know your bylaws and standing rules! Know your duties and protocol! Ask questions. Remember to say please and thank you.
• As royalty you are educators and leaders in the community. As liaisons to the public, the team takes on the responsibility to educate about the nature of rodeo events, as well as the history and future of gay rodeo.
• Each new IGRA and Association Royalty Team chooses its own path; the legacy they will leave behind to help shape the future of the IGRA and GLBT community is unique each year.
• It is with great pride, each rodeo year that the International Gay Rodeo Association announces its new royalty team members - for they represent not only the honor and endeavors of those before them, but the future of rodeo advocacy, charity, and sportsmanship.
• It's never too early to recruit next year's team, so talk it up as much as you can and get people interested in what you do! They could be next year's contestants!
• Follow through & Follow Up! Follow through with what you say and/or promise. Likewise, follow up with each other and with those you are working with.
• T.E.A.M. - Together Everyone Achieves More!