What should I do to prepare for an OTB Tournament?

Hello everyone! 
I may be attending a tournament at a local chess club in the next 2-3 weeks. It is an "official" one- one that is certified for USCF rated tournaments. The games I will most likely be playing are 24 minutes with 5 second delays. I'm reasonably excited for this new experience, as I haven't put otb skills to the test much at all, as I've been using Chess.com. I'm also a tad bit nervous about this as well, so I've been searching up on chess etiquette, the USCF rulebook, and other preparation-related things. I want to ask those on chess.com (assuming this is even seen, not unlikely that this will be buried) who have participated in otb tournaments (pre-Covid or during Covid, it doesn't matter) what should I do to prepare? 

Thank you!

Do you have a set, board, clock and score sheet? Have you ever kept a score by hand? It takes practice.

Do you know how to set your clock?

They might provide boards but most won't provide sets and clocks.

We used to always shake hands before a game. I would guess that isn't the case anymore.

Good luck!

Thank you for your answer! I have a standard portable chess board, with green and white squares and the plastic pieces, Several score books, and experience with writing down chess moves on a score sheet quickly. (I have done occasional games with friends and against myself when studying, so it isn't new to me.) 

Do you have anything to share about how to mentally prepare myself, setting up a repertoire, and any other tips that would be helpful to know? 

Probably most important is to try to enjoy the experience and have fun. If this is your first time, then you will almost certainly be nervous (and this is amplified again for rated tournaments of longer time control like G90 or more). No matter what happens, try to take in the experience because everyone is nervous the first few times playing OTB. 

Good luck

p.s. No way I'm going outside unless I have to during this pandemic, but when it ends (maybe in a few more months from now) I'll be eager to go back to playing USCF rated events and play at my local chess club again.

i record my moves on my opponent's time, those precious seconds add up to your advantage. 

Even though I have little OTB experience, I have played in a couple OTB tournaments before..

I would suggest to go over your openings just so you don't blunder in the opening, and also go over tactics again and again.. in rapid and blitz, blundering simple tactics is something that happens way too often.. so just focus on playing Your best chess & have fun!

https://www.chess.com/lessons/your-first-tournament

Thank you so much for your response! I will definitely try to make the most of it, I'm not so sure how many games I'll be playing that night.. I hope there's at least some interaction or analysis time afterwards, but I don't know what to expect, really. I'm also probably going to have extreme nerves because this will judge my original placement, (at least I think that's how it works, I'm not educated on their first-time process) 

I don't have a set repertoire yet, especially for black. I am comfortable against most openings with white but with black, I'm basically always e5 for e4 moves and always Nf6 against d4 and any other first move or two against other opening moves. I really don't have a set repertoire (something I've really been wanting to fix, but never can find a place to start.) I'm mostly worried about unfamiliar positions and endgames, really. 

As of now just go through what you know very well. Strengthen your strengths. During the OTB rated game, whenever you gain/lose material - relax, drink some water then with the fresh thought process continue your play. In time controls of each 45mins or more you need more energy to play the game with your full capacity. For preparation - Solve tactics and study endgames.

Thank you for the advice. Bottled water, pencils, a sharpener, my score books and my set are all on my list of things to bring. Definitely going to touch up on as many endgames as I can, especially rook ones, as that is my weakness. 

And 32 bananas to keep up your energy levels and get you through the tournament.

I know this is a joke, but pretty sure that would be super bad for you lol

Bananas are a healthy choice (very fattening, but it is the "good fats" - not the "bad fats" from sugary stuff), but two portions of fruit per day is generally recommended and half a banana is one "serving" so one banana a day is better...

just taking a "healthy" food won't make you healthy if not balanced in the same way that doing "healthy" chess puzzles won't optimally improve your chess ability if not "balanced" with games, analysis, endgames, opening principles, positional motifs and so on

Yeah I know... I just turned a quick joke into an actual post about health xD

Do you have any other tips for me? I'm going to spectate a tournament in a few hours, so I can get a firsthand understanding on how it will work. 

Playing or spectating doesn't matter much, the advice is the same...

enjoy the experience

Yup that simple. This is especially true the first few times you do play because it is a learning process and OTB features a few differences than online - chess is chess, but your heart won't race as much as it does in person versus online and there is a different "human element" that online lacks.

Go through your openings at a basic level a few days before so you have confidence in them when you arrive.

You need energi when you playso get some Coke to bring with you. Not too much though.

And be very aware of your clock! Try to make 0,5 minute per move or so and keep that pace. Then you have extra for the end. Never ever get into time trouble.

I don't have a set repertoire to study or refresh on! I've been really trying to make this happen but I never know where to start. I've explored some common lines in detail but really don't know anything incredibly well. Most opening concepts and knowledge of lines I've picked up through experience, not studying.  

Well, last night was a great experience! I spent over four hours playing casual blitz with players above, below, and equal in skill. It was a good crowd and I had a great night. I played several 1700s, some unrated, and a 15 year old master (Pretty much all blitz)

During the game versus the master in particular, there's a special energy that resonates in the later stages.. when both of you are shooting around the board moves pieces and slamming the clock.. nothing like online. Was so exciting and just a whole other level of fun compared to clicking around on a screen. 
Because most of them were blitz, I only have two games recorded, here they are:

I got some good conversation about openings with more experienced players and overall had a great time. Am very looking forward to next week, when I will play my first rated otb tournament! 

Very cool; happy to hear it