|
Arriving at the Gig
Be
Early
One of the worst feelings in the
world is rushing to prepare to take the stage.
If I’m speaking somewhere within
a reasonable driving distance, I’ll leave early enough
that I can arrive at my gig at least an hour early, and
usually earlier than that. It’s important to find the
location and get comfortable once there, so that I can
go through my pre-gig rituals, discussed in the rest of
this chapter, as well as in chapter eight.
Leaving early also allows me to
take my time when driving, so my mind is free to
rehearse my presentation at a comfortable pace, knowing
that I have loads of time to get where I’m going. That
rehearsal time is of tremendous value in helping me
confirm in my own mind that I’m as prepared as I can be.
When I have to fly somewhere, or
when it’s a longer drive, I avoid traveling on the day
of the event. I’ll travel the day before I’m scheduled
to present. The primary reason is the likelihood of
delays. At the time of this writing, I have never missed
an engagement due to travel delays, all because of this
policy of mine.
The other reason I prefer to
travel the day before an event has to do with physical
energy. Even a comfortable train ride, a short flight or
a leisurely drive can be tiring, and I like to conserve
my energy for the stage. I recommend that you consider
following the same policy, whenever practical. When you
give yourself enough time to relax, to run through your
mind exercises, and to properly prepare yourself for
show time, it reflects well on you as you deliver on the
stage.
So, what’s the lesson? Arrive
early, and give yourself time to prepare mentally and
emotionally. |