how do you prepare for the evening's performance?

I generally like to get to the theatre at least 2 hours before curtain up - I like to think I'm attuning my energy to the theatre but it's probably more a case of maximising the time I have to socialise before getting down to business :) I will usually belt out a few songs in the car on the way which is a truly awful way to "ease the voice in" but it's fun, so I don't really care. Plus, I will undoubtedly smoke about 5 or 6 cigarettes before curtain up so whatever advantage I may have gained from a sensible vocal warm up would get destroyed anyway. I delay getting into costume/make-up for as long as possible so that I can maximise the energy boost I get from those things. I like to have the energy right up for curtain up as I find if I hit my first scene strongly the rest of the show will fall into place. I ALWAYS join in the whole cast warm-ups. More of that attuning stuff I was talking about - except this time it's about attuning myself to the ensemble. I like to think of my fellow cast and crew as a family and the warm-ups work as the family get together. Plus, most of the shows I've ever worked on the director/choreographer/MD like to give a few notes (even if it's just to say chookas for that show) at the end of the warm-up. I do try and find 10 minutes just before curtain up to sit quietly in my own little corner and focus - thinking about who I am about to be and the journey that I have ahead of me. I remind myself that I'm making the journey anew - I think it's important to approach each performance as if it's the first time I've done the show so that the audience gets a fresh performance. And I also try and channel the ever present nerves into energy for the performance. And last (but definitely not least) I do a walk around and share hugs and well wishes with the crew and cast :) DazzaB "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." Scott Adams