Rachel’s guide to making performances a regular part of life: Part two
Originally published on The JOLT News on January 8, 2026
Part one of this guide described the ways you can save money and budget well to make performances a more regular part of your lifestyle.
Once you have your ticket to a show, there are little things you can do to make your life easier and your time “on the town” stress free and fabulous. When you get into the swing of attending performances at a greater frequency, you can get a feel for it and rely on spontaneity.
There is a part of me that has become more adjusted to going with the flow and even liking it, but admittedly I quite enjoy the act of planning.
Regardless of where you find yourself on the spontaneity spectrum, these are tried and true tips that can benefit everyone.
The planning
The people: Are you attending a show with someone? Make sure that everyone has “the plan” of when to meet up, carpool, etc., ahead of time. I have someone in my life who attends performances with me on occasion who is chronically late. If you have such a person in your life, tell them the performance is 30 minutes earlier than it actually is.
Pick your outfit out ahead of time: Just trust me on this one.
The parking: Most theatres ask their volunteers to be a 60 to 90 minutes early for the show in order to fulfill their duties. They need parking, and so do you. Another logistical insight is that there is typically more than one show happening in downtown Olympia on weekend nights.
Personally, I will make it a goal to be downtown 90 minutes to 2 hours early depending on how busy the show is, if I have reservations to a restaurant, and what time of day it is. Also, download the parking apps (yes there are multiple) for downtown and pay for more parking than you think you need. Rule of thumb is that a show will likely end nearly three hours after its scheduled start time.
Eating prior to a show: Always plan ahead for a meal before a show. Do not let there be more than two hours between a meal and a show otherwise you will get hungry. It is a rule of anatomy that overrules any other theories. Even with this rule, pack a snack in your purse and eat it in the lobby during intermission. Personally, I love to go out to eat every show night when possible.
Restaurants and reservations: Plan where you want to eat ahead of time and when possible, make reservations. This has saved me on multiple occasions. Just as ticket prices can have a sort of sliding scale, so do our restaurants. Most restaurants have a cheaper option or more expensive option. Being a gal on a budget and being celiac myself, these are my go-to places:
Nou Thai: Can make about anything gluten free.
Bayview Thriftway Deli: For yummy sandwiches and a great view of the waterfront. Plus, because it is a deli, you don’t have to tip.
McMenamins Spar Cafe: For when you don’t know what you are in the mood for or are with people from out of town or group with multiple food moods. They also have a dedicated gluten free fryer.
Pizzeria La Gitana: The only place in town that I can trust to make celiac safe pizza. They also have live jazz typically during the weekends, a fabulous lunch special, and have the best ambiance any day of the week.
Da Nang: Best pho. Only gluten free pho (veggie pho with tofu only), but it is insanely good.
Bring $10 to $40 extra: This is for concessions, potential souvenirs depending on the show and venue, drawings (aka raffle fundraisers), and for extra shopping depending on the time of day of your show. I love spontaneous trips to Rainy Day Records, Hot Toddy, Lolli Llama Candy Shop, Captain Little and Browsers Bookshop.
Bring your reading glasses: Seriously, nothing is worse than not being able to read the program.
Bring a mask: In case the person next to you is coughing or is wearing a perfume that gives you a headache. Anyone else allergic to perfume?
If you know someone in the show: Bring a small gift, card, or camera to take a photo with them after the show.
Respect: Turn off all alarms and silence your phones or anything else that makes noise.
Recite this to yourself at least once if going to an orchestra performance: “I will not clap between movements.”
https://thejoltnews.com/stories/rachels-guide-to-making-performances-a-regular-part-of-life-part-two,27732