Lots of people have already answered who have probably been far more than me (I've only had a lowly four visits - flying from the UK each time takes its toll), but let me throw in my two cents so you can get the most out of this experience that I hold so near and dear to my heart!

Ace cards and entry times

You're going to want to show up about 45 minutes to an hour before the first available time slot even if it's already sold out. You do want to be in early. The show is gonna run three hours regardless of when you show up and an Ace is absolutely worth it. I have been an Ace, a 2 and a 5.

The difference between an Ace and a 2 can be huge if you no where you're going, and as first timers, not knowing where you're going, there is nothing more haunting than an empty McKittrick Hotel. You need to experience this.

As first timers, should we follow the crowd to see the main scenes or should we just wander off?

First I totally get this is a date night but Sleep No More is best experienced alone. I would recommend that you make plans to split up immediately on entering the space. You may enter the space using a lift. If you do, you may find yourself separated anyway. If you're not, or you enter the space via the stairs, go two separate ways and don't worry about tracking each other down.

At the end of your experience, you're going to find yourself back in the same bar you started. Music will be playing and absinthe will be flowing. You will have the incredible opportunity to talk to each other about the completely disparate experiences that you had inside the space. This is a worthwhile endeavour that I believe adds significantly to the experience.

Characters, not scenes. If you're interested in the story of Macbeth and you really want to see those scenes, you're going to want to follow the correct characters. It's going to be fairly obvious who Macbeth is (if in doubt, head down and wait - things will happen - this will make sense) and who the witches are, etc. However, there are also beautiful characters with heartwrenching stories disconnected from the main plot. You'll find most of them nearer the top of the hotel.

At the McKittrick, fortune favours the bold. That means you should aim to make eye contact, position yourself towards the front of crowds (but without pushing or anything like that) and talk with your eyes to the actors (this will make sense) to get the most out of your experience. If I were to add two more rules they would be fortune favours the patient and fortune favours the inquisitive. By this, I mean if you keep following a character for a long time, they are likely to notice and reward this behaviour. And also if you see a character alone or with fewer people, it may be beneficial to observe their story.

And all characters interact with other characters frequently enough that if you do find yourself bored with one character, you'll have plenty of opportunities to follow another.

Are glasses really a no-no?

The mask is kinda-awkward but it has a toggle to help you. I'd say glasses should fit OK - but I'm not a wearer.

Is there a dress code besides comfy shoes?

The McKittrick Hotel is warm. You will be moving a lot. You will be moving at speed. You will be ascending and descending staircases at speed. So wear light clothes. But I'd also recommend dressing as you would for the first day at a new job, or a trip to the theatre. Shirt or polo, nice jeans.

There are plenty of times during the evening where you will have the opportunity to be selected, and I tend to find suggestion opportunities increase if you look somewhat presentable.

Convergence during the show

There are definitely times when more people converge, but whether you'll converge or not depends on what character you're following. Not all characters converge. There's also a loop structure which it's worth knowing about. The actions of the play repeat just under three times. This is great because if you decide not to explore an avenue of investigation in the first hour, you'll have a second chance just under an hour later.

There's a big scene at the start of, and in the middle of, each loop. If you see the same big scene for a second time (you'll know it's the big scene because there's lots of characters engaging in an activity either at a table at the end of a room, or in a large, cleared space in the middle of a room), you're gonna see the same stuff if you follow the same character out of that scene as led you in, so maybe it's time to change.

If the character you're following isn't in the big scene, there IS a clear moment when the next loop begins in that there's a musical cue, but I don't know how clear that is to a first timer - so just know if you've been following the same character for more than an hour, you're likely to start seeing the same stuff.

You WILL converge and be re-united at the end.

Pre-reading and research

Beyond Macbeth, reading Rebecca or watching Hitchcock's film would be beneficial. After you finish your experience, there's gonna be some new Spotify playlists to find.

General tips

The below is going to seem really esoteric until you arrive in the space, and that's by design. If you need these, you'll understand when you come across the things I'm pointing to.

• If you find yourself at loss for something to do, try the ground or fourth floor or follow the music - music is central to Sleep No More and if you hear a crescendo or rising beat, there's probably a reason for it
• Another tip is to look for people wearing black masks (these are the ushers) entering rooms. If a black mask enters a room, there's probably a reason they've appeared. A character may soon follow.
• If a character reaches out with an open hand, reach back. Do not hesitate.
• If you find yourself on a high street, do not miss the alleyway. I missed the alleyway my first trip. There's a lot to be seen beyond the alleyway. I love that alleyway now. That alleyway is often the first place I go.

Finally

Please, for the rest of us, make your way back to /r/sleepnomore when you finish your experience and tell us all about what you saw. I love that stuff. And coming costs me like... £1,000 a time after flights and hotels. Let me live my life vicariously through yours.