Society Face/Secret Identity

[Palanan]

I have a character who needs some sort of respectable public face in the city where she lives--something unremarkable that would still grant her access to reasonably high society, circulating among the fashionable without making her the center of attention. This would need to be an occupation appropriate for a large Renaissance-era city.

She's trained as a dancer, but an active performing career might bring too much attention to bear. What would allow her to move freely in the right social circles, and yet not make her stand out too noticeably?

[Beneath]

Someone's handmaid, maybe? Or a waitress at some highly-placed venue.

Close enough to hear people's secrets, unobtrusive enough that they don't suspect.

[QuickLyRaiNbow]

I have a character who needs some sort of respectable public face in the city where she lives--something unremarkable that would still grant her access to reasonably high society, circulating among the fashionable without making her the center of attention. This would need to be an occupation appropriate for a large Renaissance-era city.

She's trained as a dancer, but an active performing career might bring too much attention to bear. What would allow her to move freely in the right social circles, and yet not make her stand out too noticeably?

Jeweler's assistant. Bodyguard. Priest of the appropriate god. Nothing in particular, just somebody from some place who fostered with someone else. Escort. Investor, in something.

What kind of society is it?

[Palanan]

Originally Posted by Beneath
Someone's handmaid, maybe? Or a waitress at some highly-placed venue.

I'm thinking something a little more independent, which would let her attend events in her own right.


Originally Posted by QuickLyRaiNbow
What kind of society is it?

It's a large Renaissance-style city, population somewhere around 200,000 or above. Major trading hub, plenty of small-scale industry, lively markets and people from all across the continent.
.

[QuickLyRaiNbow]

I'm thinking something a little more independent, which would let her attend events in her own right.



It's a large Renaissance-style city, population somewhere around 200,000 or above. Major trading hub, plenty of small-scale industry, lively markets and people from all across the continent.
.


In that case, perhaps a diplomat or representative from some extremely noncommittal organization or nation. Jeweler or some similar worker in small, portable goods much in demand. Perhaps a clothier or seamstress, maybe an artist. Something skill-based that carries prestige and would come with demand from high society types. Eligible bachelorette.

[jaydubs]

-High class courtesan. There were periods of time in various societies where they could hold relatively high social status.
-Representative/ambassador from a minor foreign country.
-Slightly rustic country noble.
-Nouveau riche merchant potentially looking to become a patron of the arts.
-Government official from an office that no one wants to upset (like tax collectors) or that many people want to please (someone that approves licenses).
-A somewhat popular author or philosopher.

[chainer1216]

Paris Hilton.

By night you are the heiress to a large fortune you inherited from a family member, by all accounts you are talentless and only interested in the life of a socialite. In a world without mass media such a person would be still invited to the events you describe but would be viewed as the dregs of the party.

[Palanan]

Originally Posted by chainer1216
...such a person would be still invited to the events you describe but would be viewed as the dregs of the party.

Dregs of party = too much attention. She needs to blend in, not stand out.


Originally Posted by jaydubs
Nouveau riche merchant potentially looking to become a patron of the arts.

All of your suggestions are interesting, but this one in particular catches my attention.

I don't want her to be too rich, though, or at least not visibly so…maybe modestly well-off by urban middle-class standards. She's also fairly young, early twenties, so the patron aspect might have to wait. Some modest sort of commerce, especially something that lets her be independent and keep an erratic schedule.


Originally Posted by QuickLyRaiNbow
Eligible bachelorette.

Very much so. Talented at putting off suitors…but only after they've told her everything about their prospects and their connections.

[Segev]

"Modestly well-off" doesn't get one access to high society. One needs at least the reputation for being wealthy.

Do it "wedding-crashers" style. Just show up at a few parties, dressed to impress, and blend in. Don't let on that you aren't invited, and always be "here with somebody else" who just happens to not be in this conversation. Schmooze, socialize, and network. Prove to be socially adroit or politically (in the social scene) useful, and you'll land a few genuine invitations. Make sure to get yourself introduced by new friends to some of those you've claimed to already know, so that when the third parties to whom you've made the claim talk about you to the people you claim to know, those people recall you and assume the third party is talking about their new acquaintance (you) as opposed to the long-time friend (you) they don't have.

After a few weeks of this, your high society personna should be well-known enough that people don't bat an eye when you show up. Don't make yourself the center of attention, and nobody will look too deeply, either. Don't make demands on them, don't seek to get access to their wealth. Share yours as generously as they share theirs (getting one's generosity to help you appear equally generous to another and vice-versa, if needs be) and just be around.

You won't avoid people noticing you. The whole point of parties and balls and the kinds of events you want to attend is to be noticed. But make your efforts to be noticed on par with those of everybody else, and you'll just be another useful member of a lot of people's social networks. And they'll all be part of yours. Yes, you'll be well-known in the right circles, but you won't be "famous." There won't be rumors flying about you in ears who've never met you and never will; you'll just have a lot of friends and acquaintances.

[Beneath]

I'm thinking something a little more independent, which would let her attend events in her own right.

In that case, what Segev said

I don't think you'd be too out of place having no visible means of support. A lot of super-rich live off rent as absentee landlords, in those days, or are supported by family who do. Act and look like you belong and they'll assume that you have a landlord somewhere in your family who's supporting you.

[Red Fel]

"Modestly well-off" doesn't get one access to high society. One needs at least the reputation for being wealthy.

Do it "wedding-crashers" style. Just show up at a few parties, dressed to impress, and blend in. Don't let on that you aren't invited, and always be "here with somebody else" who just happens to not be in this conversation. Schmooze, socialize, and network. Prove to be socially adroit or politically (in the social scene) useful, and you'll land a few genuine invitations. Make sure to get yourself introduced by new friends to some of those you've claimed to already know, so that when the third parties to whom you've made the claim talk about you to the people you claim to know, those people recall you and assume the third party is talking about their new acquaintance (you) as opposed to the long-time friend (you) they don't have.

After a few weeks of this, your high society personna should be well-known enough that people don't bat an eye when you show up. Don't make yourself the center of attention, and nobody will look too deeply, either. Don't make demands on them, don't seek to get access to their wealth. Share yours as generously as they share theirs (getting one's generosity to help you appear equally generous to another and vice-versa, if needs be) and just be around.

You won't avoid people noticing you. The whole point of parties and balls and the kinds of events you want to attend is to be noticed. But make your efforts to be noticed on par with those of everybody else, and you'll just be another useful member of a lot of people's social networks. And they'll all be part of yours. Yes, you'll be well-known in the right circles, but you won't be "famous." There won't be rumors flying about you in ears who've never met you and never will; you'll just have a lot of friends and acquaintances.

This, entirely. This is precisely how to do it - a more ostentatious version of it is called "being famous for being famous," but this is essentially it. It doesn't require you to actually be anyone; in fact, the upper crust would take offense to the question "What are you doing here?" Don't bother to explain, don't bother to justify, simply look like you belong, and you will.

You don't have to be the jeweler, or the venue owner, or the "help," or any other person. You can come and go as you please because that's what's expected of the apparently wealthy. You answer to no-one for precisely the same reason. Don't draw more attention to yourself than necessary - false modesty sticks out more than pomp and circumstance at these events. Eventually, as Segev describes, your presence will simply be a given; there will be wine, there will be hors d'oeuvres, and there will be "the usual faces," and yours will be one of them.

[Kol Korran]

Here is an idea, that might work?

If she has some decent social skills, knowledge of nobility, knows how to carry herself respectably, and has some decent wealth, how about the following:
She leads a small, yet highly luxurious school for the proper upbringing of young ladies. The elite "boutique" school teaches a select number of students per year (Under 10 students) about the right table manners, social manners, ways a proper lady should act and so on. The character would have a small stuff (which may or may not know of her true identity) that takes care of the normal running of this fine establishment, with the character appearing mostly to give special lessons, perhaps lessons in dance (Using it as a metaphor for "The social dance"- If a young lady can carry herself with grace, accommodate her partner's moves, be led and lead when need be, and be gracious and graceful, she has mastered being a lady... sort of...)

Advantages of this set up:
- Enough freedom to act as you wish.
- Desirable enough to be invited to events. Not important enough so that your absence is noticed.
- The school itself is a good source of info (Young women gossip like no other), and future connections.
- As long as a noble family has a young woman or a young man in the family, a visit from you is most likely quite welcome.
- A small, respectable, useful establishment, but in no way drawing competition, or seeming dangerous to anyone. You're a sort of... high class servant.
- The place is quite a good cover for less... "legit" things, if need be.

I hope this works?

[Jay R]

Either she's noble herself, or she works for a noble in a position that requires visiting and speaking to the other nobles. I recommend a noble's herald or an archbishop's clerk.

[Palanan]

Originally Posted by Segev
Do it "wedding-crashers" style. Just show up at a few parties, dressed to impress, and blend in. Don't let on that you aren't invited….

I do appreciate the suggestion, but I don't think that'll work well in this situation. Despite the city's size, this is still a community where people know each other, and she needs to be a legitimate part of that community. She's not creating a fictitious persona; she really will have some occupation that she's involved in, which is what I'm trying to work out.

Put another way--she's not trying to bluff her way into a certain social standing out of nowhere; rather, I'm looking for a "day job" in which she'll be automatically welcomed into certain social circles.


Originally Posted by Segev
Make sure to get yourself introduced by new friends to some of those you've claimed to already know….

And this in particular would cause all sorts of trouble when the people you've claimed to know don't actually know you.


Originally Posted by Kol Korran
If she has some decent social skills, knowledge of nobility, knows how to carry herself respectably, and has some decent wealth, how about the following:
She leads a small, yet highly luxurious school for the proper upbringing of young ladies….

I really like this idea, even though it doesn't quite fit this particular character--she's a little young still to be running her own school. But what you've described is interesting enough I may add it into the general urban mix. Definitely a lot of story opportunities, for all the reasons you've noted.


Originally Posted by Kol Korran
Desirable enough to be invited to events. Not important enough so that your absence is noticed.

And this is exactly what I'm going for.


Originally Posted by Jay R
Either she's noble herself, or she works for a noble in a position that requires visiting and speaking to the other nobles.

In fact, I'd wondered if she might serve as a dancing instructor for one or several upper-class houses, or even part-time for the sort of establishment Kol Korran described. That would give her plenty of contacts among the minor nobility and urban gentry, and would give her plenty of opportunities to be invited to events.

[Jay R]

In fact, I'd wondered if she might serve as a dancing instructor for one or several upper-class houses, or even part-time for the sort of establishment Kol Korran described. That would give her plenty of contacts among the minor nobility and urban gentry, and would give her plenty of opportunities to be invited to events.

She might even be in charge of the dancing at some of the parties.

[Segev]

I am missing something, then: what's secret about this identity?

[Terraoblivion]

An important thing to keep in mind is that nobility is probably pretty common, so she could just be a minor noble. Being nobility means neither great wealth nor huge amounts of power, but it still comes with a lot of respectability and access to hanging around the nobles who actually matter. If she's also clever and got good manners instead of being an uncultured bumpkin just having the status will get her invitations. Then you just need trusted servants to run the estate.