how do you prepare for the evening's performance?

I use to be a performer, now I am a technician, so I have an appreciation of how nerve racking both aspects can be. I have a fulltime job that I do during the day that is about 20 minutes walk from the theatre, so at about 4.30pm is usually when my night begins. I usually don’t eat before hand, I have a tendency to get a bit nervous as show time approaches and would rather have tummy rumbles during the show than having to run for a bucket. There usually isn’t anybody around when I arrive bar the food and beverage guys setting the tables, talking and clanging in the kitchen. First thing is turning on the lighting and sound equipment and then set up backstage for the casts arrival.. i.e. turn on the lights and aircon, clean up a bit, have some water available, make sure they have there mics and packs if needed, then set the props on stage. I like pottering around on my own in the quiet just getting things sorted before the director walks in. We usually have a quick discussion on any other aspects that need to be addressed and then the cast arrives. After the cast get sorted its setting up mics in costumes, then sound checks and lighting checks before the audience is invited in. I don’t really venture backstage again until 10 minutes before curtain to turn on the mic packs. Then its show time. I give the cue to backstage and I start to pray all goes as it should. All the lighting cues are right and in the right spot and the music is blending well with no mic failures, feedback or too loud it makes the audiences ears bleed. At the end of the show its time to bed everything down for the night and I might get the chance to go to the toilet. The cast mill around for a while with thanks and hugs all round. I usually don’t end up leaving till about 10.30 – 11pm then its home to sleep and back to work at 7.30am. 4.30pm comes around and it’s time to do it all again… But really..isn’t it great … ZZZZZZZZZZZ!!