So you’ve booked a stand-in job, and your work date is fast approaching.

What are some things to consider the night before your next stand-in gig?  Here are some ideas.

Get the Weather Report

Just in case you’re outdoors, it would be a great idea to get the weather report for the next day so that you can dress accordingly.  Will it be cold or hot?  Will it be sunny or rainy?  Will it be windy or humid?  Each of these conditions influences not only your clothing, but it may also influence whether you wear sunscreen, bring an umbrella, or even pack a change of clothes.

Even better, get the hourly projection for the next day’s weather.  That way you’ll be able to better anticipate dramatic changes that might be predicted in tomorrow’s weather.

Lay out Your Gear

Given that weather may influence your clothing choices, it’s obvious that you want to lay out your gear for the next day.

If the weather is going to be fairly comfortable, obviously you don’t need as much preparation time than if you were going to be working in severe cold temperatures, when you’re going to want to layer up.  Laying out your gear the night before helps prevent you from forgetting an important piece of gear if your morning routine gets frantic.

The night before, you may also want to set aside your pen, any bag you’re planning to take, your breath freshener, as well as a portable chair if you like to bring one to set.

Charge Your Devices

If you bring a portable television or a Comtek with you to set, you’ll want to make sure you have those set aside and fully charged.  If you need batteries for those devices, consider also setting aside additional batteries.

Also, you’ll want to make sure your phone is fully charged and any charging equipment you need for the next day is charged and/or set aside.  Doing so means your attention can be focused on the work at hand rather than on your dwindling power situation.

Check IMDb and Other Online Sources for Information

The night before might be a great time to check for information on the project.  The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is a great resource for cast and crew information for a project.  Doing a simple online search for websites, news, blogs, and even tweets about the project may reveal additional information about your shoot tomorrow.

If you’re working on a film, you might look into the director, the 1st AD, the 2nd 2nd AD, and the director of photography (also known as the cinematographer).  You might also look into the stars of the project and — if you know the actor for whom you’re standing in — your actor’s credits.

If you’re working on a television episode, some of this information may not be available to you because cast and crew often changes from episode to episode, but you still may be able to glean important information.  It can be helpful to know the names of producers should you see them on set. A search of recent episodes may indicate some of the crew members who might work on your episode.

Gather Your Entertainment

If you’re anticipating the possibility of some downtime during the day, you may want to print out a crossword puzzle, collect some reading material like a book or magazine, or download any apps or books you want to enjoy the next day (especially if internet access is unknown).

If you’re planning to get some side work done during downtime from standing in, before you go to bed tonight get together the things you need for work on that business.

Plan Your Sleep

Sometimes calltimes aren’t out until late, and when you do get them, they don’t afford you a full night’s rest.

If it helps you toward getting a full night’s rest, you might try to nap before your calltime is scheduled to be released, then awaken to call for your calltime at the time when casting told you to call.  You might find that the release of your calltime information keeps getting pushed; in such a case, getting a nap before means you are less likely to cut into your necessary sleep.

Should you have trouble getting to sleep the night before your next stand-in gig, some people benefit from supplements like melatonin for getting to sleep.  You might want to have some on hand in case you have trouble getting back to sleep after a nap or getting to sleep after getting your calltime.

Plan Your Commute

Once you have your calltime information, you’ll want to map out where you’re going.  Whether you’re driving or taking public transit, you’ll also want to estimate how long it will take you to get to your location.  In so doing, you’ll want to consider traffic slowdowns as well as any time that might be eaten up while you track down color cover and breakfast before your calltime.

Other considerations are whether your car is gassed up, your subway card has money on it, your bike tires are full, etc.  Weather may also factor into your commute, so consider that information when planning your commute.

In Conclusion

Whether you anticipate an early calltime or the chance of your getting rushed to set, preparing yourself the night before for your next big stand-in gig will help you get out the door and to your job without issue.

What things do you do when you prepare the night before your next stand-in gig?  Share your tips below!