Perhaps the most important part of this has to do with maintaining a rapport with the place's support staff and management. Very important.

You will find it a much more pleasant and rewarding situation by opening those lines of communication while at the same time not being too pushy about things, defer to the schedules and doings of these overworked and often underpaid staff members.

Let them know that you are there for them, not the other way around.


--Mac