The traditional Jewish day starts at sunset, the modern business day starts in the morning but the performing day generally starts in the afternoon. I’m not Jewish so the first scenario doesn’t affect me much. When I’m at home I get up at 4:30am and try to do anything that is important before noon, especially writing. Appointments and other errands are relegated to the afternoon, if possible. Also trombone practice and any exercise. By the time supper is over I’m operating at about 70% and fading by the hour. If I’m not in bed by 11pm I am wishing I was. By contrast, when touring it’s not even relevant to think of the day as beginning when you get up in the morning. Like a farmer, day begins when the work begins. For us that is Lobby call, the time when the cast meets to go to the concert hall, usually some time around 1:30pm. We make our way to the venue, have a daily sound check and brief rehearsal, eat dinner and then do a show around 7pm. In that scenario we may not even be walking off stage before 9:30pm and are lucky to be back to the hotel by 10pm. At this point I am what I like to describe as “tired and wired.” “Tired” from putting out for the past 2 1/2 hours but “wired” from the adrenalin that’s still having its effect. After a show I want quiet and it can be several hours before I can think of sleep. Many performers who wind up with drug or alcohol issues began with the simple expedient of taking meds so they could go to sleep after performing. A quiet, light, meal and hot shower are my drug of choice. Bedtime can be single digits, a time I try never to see when at home. Concert mornings, whenever they begin, are spent in devotional activities, reading, writing and light exercise.
