speaking the truth

Have scratch paper on hand to work out what's going to go on the forms, and have the clients fill out the personal information on the forms while they wait. Then consult directly onto the form. Clients can then either take it with them to show to their hometown herald or submit at the point. And remember, John Smith's mundane name, etc. stays the same whether he wants to be John the Blacksmith of London or Johan Schmidt von Berlin, and whether he wants or, a hammer gules, or some monstrosity involving a basilisk, gorgon's heads, a lion, and a piping beast (carefully constructed to have stuff on different layers, and mostly in purpure and vert, of course.)

If they choose to submit at the point, there is a charge, of course, for submission, but I'd also institute a surcharge for copying, coloring, etc. This charge would be waived for an hour's worth of coloring. That way, you only need 1 or 2 people who read blazon to put a slash of color onto each charge and on the field. Part of that surcharge, of course, goes to supplies like markers, paper, copying, etc. Part of it goes to stuff like water bottles, gatorade, chocolate yummies, chips, etc.

Essentially, if you don't need heraldic training to do it, get non-heralds to do it, if you can. If the client wants the kind of personal kissy-poo that Pedro described in his post with the poster idea, recommend that they merely get the basic layout and take it with them for more in-depth heraldic consultation in their kingdom. Define your mission. What are you there to do? And how can you efficiently accomplish that without folks burning out? If the client wants something simple, maybe have some basic resources out for folks to sign up (say with their Pennsic token or something) to sit in the reading area and look at some basic stuff while they wait for a herald to be free.

Also, make volunteering there at least semi-pleasant - munchies, drinks (of the non-alcoholic variety - save the rum for the party), breaks. C'mon, Caesar's not here and you're not chained to that oar. Put out invites to as many heralds as you know even slightly. I saw next to no faces I didn't know at the party - yeah, I was there at the end, and I know a *lot* of heralds (I spent Known World last year just flitting about and visiting friends and want to go to New Orleans next year.), but there should have been more than 1 introduction.