Ask Misty by Misty Green

  This past year I felt very unprepared and like everything had been thrown together for my first time stepping on a national stage.  I had no clue on where to stay or what the area was like and ended up staying at hotel that was to far away and my tanning lotion came out terrible, not to mention I got there at midnight the day before the show.  I’m trying to think ahead to get ready for next year.  I just want to come in prepared in every way, from show prep, to airline tickets, hotel, tanning and so on.  I just don’t want to make the mistake of working so hard and looking like I just fell out of the plane and onto the stage. Is there any advice you can give?
Angie

Misty Green

Angie, I think at some point we have all been there and done that.  You are taking a step in the right direction by trying to prepare yourself well in advance.  I have always felt that your preparation for your first show of the new year should start the day after you finish your last show of the prior year.  What I suggest is give yourself a couple days to take a break after your last show of the year.  At that point our minds and bodies need the time off.  Then get with your trainer and reevaluate your goals based on what you have accomplished and what you want to strive for in the future. You can then start to look at what shows you want to compete in for the next year.  Unfortunately, the new npc schedule doesn’t typically come out until December.  But shows are typically in the same place and around the same time frame. Once you have and idea the main thing is working it out with your trainer on what needs to be done leading up to your competition(s).  When the new npc schedule comes out what I like to do is go ahead and book my plane tickets (if needed) and make hotel reservations.  When it comes to the hotel, if I am going to a new area, I will mapquest the competition venue with the hotel to make sure I am fairly close. You can also call the hotels you are considering and ask them how far it is to your venue, the time it would take to get there and @ how much a taxi cab would cost.  Some of the other things you can take of early on are:
*Email Jan Tana (if you are doing tanning with them) to reserve your space
*Email photographers you would like to try and work with
*Send out for your new npc card
*Send out your entry forms
*Make sure you have your competition suits, bikini glue, shoes and jewelry taken care of
(especially you suits-I always try to order them at least 3 months in advance)

Here are a few reference articles for you as well:
Issue #1 “Things to Pack for Contest Day” by Amy Peters
Issue # 27 “The Cost of Competing” by Rebecca Slatt (she has a nice checklist for potential costs you might incur)

Good luck, keep training hard and always enjoy the journey!

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