Every experience our team creates is different, but they all have one thing in common — no matter how meticulous and thorough my extraordinary team is in pre-production, going on site to do the damn thing is always intense.
As a producer, I’m responsible for the overall delivery of our projects. As we load shows in, make them happen, and load them out, usually over just a few days, I lead production meetings, conduct client walkthroughs, coordinate across the venue, our partners, and the MAS team, zoom in on minute details, zoom out to see the big picture, and triage the inevitable on-site surprises.
The fast pace and high pressure of getting a world-class event on its feet mean that there’s never a shortage of things that need attention, so a major part of my job is to continuously assess and re-assess priorities. On site, anything that can’t be classified as both “urgent” and “important” typically doesn’t make it to the top of my list.
Taking care of myself on site usually feels important, but it never feels urgent. So, when MOREMore asked me to share my best on-site wellness tips, I wondered if I was the right girl for the job. I do my best to take care of myself, but never as thoroughly or with the consistency I’d like to. Honestly, the idea that I’m an expert on on-site wellness made me laugh.
But then, I reminded myself that despite what the internet would have us think, taking care of ourselves doesn’t have to be elaborate or aesthetically pleasing to make us feel better, and despite what our culture of efficiency and productivity would suggest, taking a minute to feel better is always a good use of time.
In writing this, I realized the irony of on-site wellness: when things are moving quickly, it takes slowing down and taking care to be clear-eyed about what matters and to have the energy to address it.
Without further ado, here are my top ten tips for taking care of yourself on site:
1. Get high-quality sleep
Going on site means that you’re unlikely to get your 8 hours of sleep, and when you aren’t getting enough sleep, the quality of your sleep matters. What makes for restful sleep is different for everyone, but anyone would benefit from resisting the urge to collapse face-down onto your bed with your shoes on at the end of a long day of load-in. (No shame. We’ve all been there.) For me, a couple minutes to wind down is like the difference between properly shutting down your computer and holding down the power button until the screen turns black. Winding down could be a track on Headspace, or an episode of that garbage reality TV show I won’t even pretend I don’t like. Whatever my brain needs to let go of the day makes my sleep more restful.
2. Get ready
Every time I have to wake up for an early call time, I am tempted to sleep for as long as possible, then roll out of bed and head to site in my sweats. Honestly, sometimes I do. And honestly, I usually regret it. By no means do you need to implement an elaborate morning routine, but the corollary to winding down is winding up, and I always feel best when I take a minute to get ready for my day. For me, that means getting dressed (for real) and going over my schedule and to-do list alone over coffee. Getting up half an hour earlier to feel put together(ish) and up to speed gives me that sparkly “I’ve got this” feeling.
3. Wear good shoes
When you’re spending all day on your feet, comfortable and supportive shoes are mission-critical. I am a big fan of my New Balance 9060s and Hoka Clifton 9s for load-ins, casual event days, and load-outs. And I learned from MAS’s Chief Experience Officer Aaron Levinthal that you should always bring two pairs of comfy sneakers and wear them on alternate days so that the foam in the soles has time to recover between wears. The more you know! For event days requiring nicer footwear, insoles are a lifesaver. I like Superfeet.
4. Keep your energy up
When energy is in limited supply, it’s helpful not to blow everything you’ve got in the first hour of the day. Take a second to figure out where and when your best self needs to show up, then find strategic times to eat and recharge. The schedule will definitely change and your breaks may not be possible as planned, but you’re much more likely to take one if you’ve thought the day through. Bonus points if you tell someone else about it and ask them to cover for you.
To make sure I don’t turn into a monster if a break isn’t in the cards, I try to keep a snack on me. MAS’s Director of Production, Melanie Primeaux, got me obsessed with the vitamin B12 patches from The Good Patch because they do wonders against an afternoon slump. And if you’re in a fake-it-til-you-make-it place, The Good Patch also makes awesome under-eye patches.
5. Stay hydrated
Step 1: remember to drink water in the first place. When I’m busy on site, I need unmissable reminders to hydrate. Visual cues work well for me, so I keep a water bottle next to my computer in the production office so that I am more likely to drink water when I sit down to work. I also try to walk around with a water bottle sling. It’s dorky and kind of annoying, but I certainly don’t forget to hydrate.
Step 2: make the most of the water you do drink. I don’t go on site without a huge stash of Liquid IV.
6. Stretch (or something)
You certainly won’t find me in the gym before an early call time or doing hour-long yoga classes after show days, but I try to sneak in moments to take care of my body wherever I can. Production meeting? Sit on the floor and stretch while you talk. Bathroom break? Touch your toes. Also, put a mini Theragun in your production kit. You will use it all the time and be the most popular person in the production office.
7. Go outside
It’s easy to lose track of time on site, and you probably haven’t been outside in longer than you think. I am always amazed by how many problems fresh air can solve. If we can swing it, we like to take “Hot MAS Walks” as a group on breaks. But if time is tight, could you have that midday check-in outside?
8. Don’t take it personally and don’t take it home
People get curt when they’re stressed and busy. Nine times out of ten, whoever barked at you is not angry, and you don’t need to add stewing over what you did to anger them to your already long to-do list. At the end of the day, if you genuinely still think someone is upset (or if you are upset at someone), talk to them before you leave the site for the day and squash it.
9. Say when
We all have limits. When you hit one of yours, call it. Take a nap. Take a walk. Don’t be a hero.
10. Take care of your team
These tips are well and good, but despite our best intentions, it’s still very easy to de-prioritize taking care of yourself on site. Fortunately, if we can all commit to taking care of each other, we’re covered. Ask your art director if they’re drinking enough water. Make sure someone can bring bagged meals to the show team that’s locked in the theater rehearsing keynote. Send people home early whenever you can. Take that stressed-looking coordinator outside for a pep talk. Order a roll of dumpster fire stickers and sneakily place them all over the production office (my personal favorite). Remember that you’re not going at it alone.