Pre-flight checklist

It is the eve of the opening of the 6th annual SouthSide Film Festival.  Opening night  - of anything - is always exciting. 

When I worked at a theatre, opening nights were full of stress-eating and over-primping and lots of up-to-the-final-moment OCD-like double checking everything and then fretting that nobody would come and then fretting that we would have to turn people away.  The latter rarely happened.  Post-performance, I'd come down from the adrenaline shot at a bar with a few shots of vodka. 

This being the 6th festival, we all have the routine down.  I'm doing little more than being a liaison this year, which is a big step forward for me, me who used to plan parties and run mini-film series and facilitate press-filmmaker interactions and manage volunteers. I'm actually thinking I might be able to enjoy myself.

But because a festival doesn't always go as planned, I also have to plan accordingly for my personal comfort (I love that phrase- personal comfort.)

Here's my pre-opening checklist:

• Wash festival t-shirt.  I got an XXL this year thinking I could cinch it at the waist and wear it as a dress with leggings but...it's a small XXL.  Really, it is.  I'm not just bigger than I was last year. I swear.
• Instead of wearing a t-shirt dress, I'm wearing a cute black dress from Target.  Cut tags off of dress.

• Get forearms waxed for the first time. Check. At 41, I have developed gorilla arms and I like to feel slightly feminine during the festival to counteract the sweaty frizzy oily mess I usually turn into by the end of the week, and I can add to that description, "with arm stubble."  And bruises from the poor waxer.  I know, guys, you didn't need to know that.

• Drive to mom's house to pick up vintage beaded handbag of Grandma's to wear to opening night because it matches my shoes and I also feel like being slightly vintage due to the feature film being resurrected from 1927.  Reassure my mother the volunteer that everything will be wonderful.  Make a personalized list of movies and times for my dad, who says, "I like any films, as long as they're really, really good." And if he doesn't like the films I recommend, then I get an earful of film criticism from him.

• Stop by opening night caterer's house and look into the pot of simmering pineapple chutney on the stove that smells absolutely delish.

• Eat fried chicken and watermelon. This usually isn't the plan, in fact, I don't know why I had a sudden craving for it tonite.  But anyway, I have leftover melon and chicken for my pre-party snack so I don't drink on an empty stomach.

• Resolve not to drink at opening night party because the first few years I did so and then fell asleep in the theatre and/or said something stupid to our sponsors.

• Make sure my chosen footwear is appropriate for walking in a bagpipe-led procession, reminding myself that for the past 5 years, my opening-night-strutting-footwear which has ranged from sparkly flip-flops to high-wedged red vampy shoes has, without fail, caused me to have bloody stumps for feet. 

• Pack a bag with extra necessities in case I do happen to drink and then pass out somewhere, such as spare undies, Gatorade, toothbrush, ibuprofen, pillow and deoderant.  Ya never know.

• Use a Crest Strip. That is what ballroom dancers do just before they hit the floor.  The local media will be at the party taking photos and filming so if I happen to be caught on camera, I will nervously laugh and say something stupid, but at least my teeth will be gleaming white.

• Remind myself that I look and feel better than when I started going to all these theatre and film opening nights!  The years have flown but I'm feeling fine these days.  So let's roll with it.

Comments

[Krisitin]

Good Luck!!! And enjoys the shows.

[Lurker Girl]

Of course you'll look amazing! Just relax and enjoy yourself!

And wear the hottest shoes you have . . . comfort be damned, I say!

(P.S. You can get one of those blister-preventing sticks if you want to prevent bloody stumps. Never tried them but, then again, my feet are used to be crammed into uncomfortable shoes and don't bother complaining any more.)

[blaugra]

So, three weeks later. ...
the festival was fabulous, probably the best ever.

I immediately broke my rule about not drinking on opening night, when I had to have a pre-party shot of vodka to calm my nerves. I tried to calm myself by playing Enya while braiding my hair, but then my hair started to friz really big and the Enya didn't work AT ALL. During the festival I really didn't work, only a fraction of what I'd done in the past. But the realization of all the plans and efforts wiped me out, again. Oh, that, and the gin. Ooops.