TromboneChat

Forumites, I'm looking for ideas.

I got myself into playing in a pit for a local school production of Addams Family (the musical). It's a fun book to go through! But I'm looking at the schedule they want to do and it makes for every single day next week being pretty full, and as musicals tend to go kind of late (especially the dress rehearsals) I may have set myself up for some pretty significant sleep deprivation.

So - the only thing I've thought of to cope is to go to my car in my work parking lot after work, crank the A/C, and get a power nap before heading to the gigs. I could theoretically go home first, but that gives me no room for error between the drive home and the drive to the gig.

Thoughts?

As a freelancer, I sleep in the car all the time. Better to lay down on the backseat though.

I've done some parking lot camping in the past when I was traveling a lot. Even 30-45min of shut eye can be a big boost for my day. I recommend a pillow or neck pillow, and a coat or blanket to throw in the car during this week. My head resting on a soft cushion and a coat thrown over my chest significantly reduces to sheep counting for me.

The one trombone version of that book is kind of annoying. It calls for tenor and bass, but it doesn't tell you where to switch, and some of the switches are impossible.

brassmedic wrote: Fri Jun 13, 2025 6:03 pm The one trombone version of that book is kind of annoying. It calls for tenor and bass, but it doesn't tell you where to switch, and some of the switches are impossible.

This is the book they gave me and yes that's annoying. I've decided to simply ignore all that.

BPBasso wrote: Fri Jun 13, 2025 4:07 pm neck pillow

Good idea! I'll have to go grab one.

I also do shows and manage full days of teaching and home life with a young daughter, lots of late nights and early morning starts! Also big on car naps…learn how to fall asleep quickly and even a 10-15 power nap makes all the difference.

I suppose going straight to the school and sleeping there would imposing?

Nothing wrong with a car nap, but yeah i’ll climb in the backseat

Another concern: today I spent a bit of time shopping for supplies. I need to make sure I don't run out cat food for my kitties, and that will be a lot less stressful for me if I front-load my supplies.

I'm sure the cats will wonder what happened to me, why I suddenly am spending a lot less time (except sleeping) around the house.

Rusty wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 6:05 am I also do shows and manage full days of teaching and home life with a young daughter, lots of late nights and early morning starts! Also big on car naps…learn how to fall asleep quickly and even a 10-15 power nap makes all the difference.

Any recommended strategies on how to learn how to fall asleep quickly?

EriKon wrote: Sun Jun 15, 2025 2:14 pm Any recommended strategies on how to learn how to fall asleep quickly?

Having 3 kids largely improved that skill for me!

Some more serious suggestions:
- Make yourself as comfortable as possible. This can be clothing, a blanket (obviously depending on where you want to sleep), maybe headphones/relaxing music or noise cancelling
- Depending on where you want to sleep, make sure you feel "safe" and don't have to worry e.g. about your luggage
- Do not do sports or anything to exciting immediately/shortly before you want to sleep
- Consider your coffein and sugar intake
- You may need to find strategies to get things "off your brain" before you sleep. E.g. putting any open tasks on a task list, getting some urgent mail done etc., but maybe also auto suggestion/autogenic training may help
- You can also consider some (mild) medication. I don't want to go into this much more as I am in no way qualified

Car naps are great. Eye masks are great too for sunny days. I keep one in my glove compartment.

Not a medical recommendation, but I’d consider a multivitamin if you don’t take one. I have noticed a difference when I don’t take them for a while, especially when I’m not on much sleep. If I’m not getting enough sleep I want to make sure my water/nutrition are optimized to minimize the impact from too little sleep.

EriKon wrote: Sun Jun 15, 2025 2:14 pm

Rusty wrote: Sat Jun 14, 2025 6:05 am I also do shows and manage full days of teaching and home life with a young daughter, lots of late nights and early morning starts! Also big on car naps…learn how to fall asleep quickly and even a 10-15 power nap makes all the difference.

Any recommended strategies on how to learn how to fall asleep quickly?

https://www.verywellmind.com/military-s ... od-7111161

There’s a bunch of articles you can read on similar methods. It works better some days than others, but generally means you can go to sleep quickly in even less than ideal circumstances, or at least have a routine to shut your brain off and relax.

Even if I don’t fall fully asleep, 10-15 minutes of eyes closed works wonders.

Rusty wrote: Sun Jun 15, 2025 11:44 pm

Even if I don’t fall fully asleep, 10-15 minutes of eyes closed works wonders.

EriKon wrote: Sun Jun 15, 2025 2:14 pm Any recommended strategies on how to learn how to fall asleep quickly?

Yes: take a warm shower, and then sit, reading a book (not from your phone or computer), drinking a warm tea without caffiene.

I can affirm Rusty’s post citing the Military Sleep Method…it works well for me. Also, I highly recommend “4-7-8 Box Breathing” for sleep and tension issues:

https://www.healthline.com/health/4-7-8 ... w-to-do-it

Best wishes to all,
Eric

Rusty wrote: Sun Jun 15, 2025 11:44 pm

EriKon wrote: Sun Jun 15, 2025 2:14 pm

Any recommended strategies on how to learn how to fall asleep quickly?

https://www.verywellmind.com/military-s ... od-7111161

There’s a bunch of articles you can read on similar methods. It works better some days than others, but generally means you can go to sleep quickly in even less than ideal circumstances, or at least have a routine to shut your brain off and relax.

Even if I don’t fall fully asleep, 10-15 minutes of eyes closed works wonders.

I was able to catch a bit of extra shut-eye in-between today's double-header. Felt great.

This show does have some pretty fun moments. These pages are especially good: