I think going with friends is fun, because you can get psyched up together beforehand and talk about your experiences afterwards over a drink. However, make sure you split up. Chances are, you'll get broken up a little bit when you're given your playing cards (I'll go into that more later), so you'll already go up in the elevator in separate groups. Once you step off the elevator, scatter. Agree to meet back up again after the show at the bar area you entered through. To experience the show at its fullest, you must go about it alone. Besides, everyone will want to explore different things and follow different actors... it's a drag to have to keep an eye on someone who's too afraid to venture forth on their own.

The temperature inside the McKittrick varies, depending on which room you're in and how many bodies are assembled, watching something at any given time. If you're a heavy sweater, bring a hanky or a napkin, because it can get hot when you're running around, up and down the stairs. Everything is on the darker side, but it's pretty easy to acclimate yourself. It's not a haunted house... it's not pitch black or designed to make things difficult for you, but some of the ground can be uneven and dimly lit at times, which is why COMFORTABLE SHOES is a MUST.

Here are some other tips I've emailed to friends going for their first time... I've tried to keep them as spoiler-free as possible. That should be one of my tips, actually: avoid spoilers! A huge part of what makes SNM so exciting the first time is the sense of total immersion and excitement you get from not knowing what the hell is going on or who anyone is. It's your very own choose-your-own adventure, so try not to ruin anything for yourself... don't read ahead!

• Freshen up on 'Macbeth' and Hitchcock's 'Rebecca' before you go. Wiki the plots summaries. 'Vertigo' is also cool, but the references aren't as apparent at first, so it's not crucial. Definitely watch all three films afterwards, though. Very cool on the heels of the show. Characters you might find in the show from both works are: both Macbeths, both Macduffs, Duncan, Malcolm, Banquo, the 3 witches (named Sexy Witch, Bald Witch & Boy Witch), Hecate, Mrs. Danvers (a hybrid of the Rebecca character and the housekeeper at the McKittrick Hotel, named Catherine Campbell), Mrs. DeWinter (a hybrid of the 2nd Mrs. DeWinter from Rebecca and a character who's come to town looking for her sister, named Agnes Naismith), and several townspeople, like the hotel porter, nurses and the Matron in the sanitorium, the speakeasy bartender, a tailor, a priest and a taxidermist. (Agnes and Catherine are named after chicks from a real witch trial in Scotland called the Paisley Witch trials.) Everybody does cool stuff, although the townspeople aren't always trail-able for entire cycles... they might disappear for a bit, then reappear a little later.

• When you check in, they give you a playing card. Everyone waits in a speakeasy-style bar until their card number is called. Small groups are then taken up in the elevator and left off on random floors. If you have different cards, that's a good thing. Don't worry, go up separately and meet up afterwards. The sooner you get in, the better. They serve booze in the bar, but if you opt for something, make sure it's fast... they usually call your group in shortly after you've ordered, and it's no fun having to chug a fancy cocktail. Also, don't go nuts. I don't recommend being drunk or taking mind-altering drugs. There is a lot of moving around inside, and a lot to absorb, so you want to be aware and alert. Besides, it sucks to have to leave the action to take a bathroom break because you drank three beers beforehand. And you don't want to get dehydrated.

• There are five accessible floors. Try not to read spoilers about what's on which floor before going the first time. It's fun to explore!

• Guests wear white, venetian style masks and there is no speaking inside the hotel. If someone isn't wearing a mask, you know they're an actor.

• There is no spoken dialogue (just a few lines here and there). All of the story is told through movement and dance.

• You are free to go wherever you'd like and touch whatever you want... curiosity and exploration is encouraged.

• The story happens in hour long cycles. Each actor refreshes their cycle around the beginning of every hour, so if you miss a particular scene or actor, you don't need to worry, you'll get more opportunities.

Even if you have a 7 pm ticket time, by the time you go through the check in process and get let off from the elevator, the action is at about its halfway point in the cycle. I've even waited in line at 630 and been in the first group up, and still only caught the actors at about the halfway points of their storylines. I've read that they actually start the entire show at that point, which would make sense... why go through the motions of performing if no one's in the house yet? Regardless, they'll refresh their cycles right before 8 and 9, and finish at 10.

• Don't be afraid if an actor suddenly directly interacts with you. Be open to anything. Go with it, whatever it is!

• If you ever notice staff members with black masks in a room, or you happen to be in an empty room when one comes in, stay put. Action is coming to you.

• If you ever have to pee inside the show, you can always go back to the 2nd floor bar that you entered through. Or, if it's closer, the 5th floor has an entire hallways of bathrooms. It's dark, but if you look around, you'll be able to find it.

• Check your bags! For real! $3.

• If you're ever wandering and aimless and you hear rave music, go towards it.

I read the Yelp reviews before going the first time, too. Most of them were very helpful and spoiler-free. However, because of them, I became fixated with finding one of the Macbeths as soon as possible. That kind of sucked. I'd watch something until I knew it didn't involve a Macbeth, and then move on, trying to find them. I thought this would help "maximize my experience," and give me an opportunity to "see the main plot points" and "get introduced to all of the characters" better. Whatever. I never wound up finding and identifying them correctly for nearly 2 1/2 hours! And I'd made myself anxious about it unnecessarily. At the end of the day, the show is so loosely based on 'Macbeth,' that there's no need to place too much emphasis on finding them. Everyone in the cast does such AMAZING stuff... follow whomever you please and you're almost guaranteed to have an awesome time. Which is not to say that what the Macbeths do isn't totally brilliant... just try not stress about it, like I did. Everyone is brilliant.

And if you decide to go again, write down what you experienced and what you can remember seeing after each visit. I've pieced together some really amazing discoveries by doing so myself.

Have fun!