I've spent the last year teching for three bands. Anyone who spends as much time in the PRF Tech room as you do could probably do the job blindfolded, but I also understand the anxiety of walking into a situation like this. Y'know, if. you fuck up, it's just you, the Talent, and 10k of your closest friends.
I watched both strap pins give way on a guitar during Rock Lobster, in front of 9000 people. That was a fun time.
Here's what I know after my one year:
1. Get a Pelican case and put the tools you use all the time in it. I know you're supposed to be using the other tech's tools, but man, why add the extra stress? Use your tools. No one is going to argue with you if you say "Hey, I'm gonna bring my tool kit and I'm going to check it for the flight." Good techs are hard to come by and chances are this won't be your last gig. If you don't want to buy a new Pelican case, get one used off of eBay or get the imitation from Harbor Freight.
2. Make a checklist. Actually, make two: one is for "before soundcheck" and one is for "before the gig." Put EVERYTHING on the checklist. "Before the soundcheck" list should have pedal order, amp settings, any weird tunings on it. If you're supposed to have fresh strings for every show, put that on there. "Before the gig" list should have everything that needs to be in place for the show on it: IEMs, towels, water, setlists, etc. Put EVERYTHING on the lists that you can think of. In the heat of the moment, I forget things. IMPORTANT things. A checklist has saved my ass more than once. Make copies for every show you work so you can strike through things as they're completed.
3. You should get a setlist as far in advance as possible. Tape this setlist to your table/workstation. Next to each song, put the guitar that's going to be used. Make sure you can see this in the dark.
4. Get a maglight with the little belt pouch. You're going to use your flashlight more than any other tool.
5. Get a clipboard. Get one of the ones that opens up and has storage inside it. You're going to put all of your receipts in there. You're going to put your checklists on the outside of the clipboard. Have a legal pad on the clipboard for when you need to make lists on the fly.
6. Get a box of black sharpies. Get a handful of regular pens. You're going to need them all the time.
7. Put AA batteries for your maglight in your toolbox. LED bulbs don't go dim when they start to die, they flicker. You'll know your maglight is dead right when you need it the most, and you will have no warning.
8. If you have IEMs, let the monitor tech know, and she'll probably give you a wireless belt pack. If you don't have IEMs, you may want to grab some headphones with some sound dampening qualities. All of the communication that happened between techs and engineers happened over IEMs on two of the tours I worked this year. I use my GK Ultraphones on the B-52s tour (because my mix for the drums was wired, not wireless, and I had to take them off to go put the Glockenspiel out for "Give Me Back My Man") and I used my Westone IEMs for Culture Club. Best price/quality on sound isolating earbuds are the Shure SE215s, I think!
9. Wear shoes you can walk in. I walked an average of seven miles a day on tour.
10. Speaking of walking, this shit will save your life:
https://www.goldbond.com/en-us/products ... on-defense
11. Make your deal re: pay, get on the bus and don't talk about it. I made the mistake of discussing pay ONCE and it blew up. Everyone is getting different money, that's the nature of the thing. You'd think that solidarity would make for stronger bargaining positions for everyone, but mutiny gets everyone fired. I have heard the stories.
Remember that it's not the Emergency Room. No one is going to die if you make a mistake.
Now would be a good time to update your passport if you haven't already. Once you establish that you can do the job, work comes flying at you. I set out to do one five work tour last year and ended up working for the next ten months.
Good luck. Have fun.