Record-playing Rituals?

This is why I don't have vinyl anymore!!!!!!!!!!!

I usually end up cleaning my records (typically just by dusting them off) before I play them. I do a more thorough clean as I see fit. I still love listening to records.

I dry-brush clean my record each time I play it. I also dry-brush the stylus with each side. When I worked in high-end audio, my record guru steered me away from any liquid on the stylus.

Ritual: Clamp record to platter; tap with fingernail to check for bubbles, if bubbles, loosen clamp and turn record; spin record and dry clean; dry clean stylus; place stylus on record and enjoy!

Do not use your fingertips to tap the record! Your fingertips naturally have oil on them. The backs of your fingernails do not.

I clean my records on a VPI 16.5 periodically. I haven't decided what is the best fluid yet -- I am researching it...
Cheers!

run a brush along the record for a few rotations before playing.

open a bottle of wine.

run a brush along the record fora few rotations after playing.

repeat.

Dear Fightingwords,
Great ritual! I forgot to write in to my protocol the part about pouring the glass of wine or pint of beer. At this point it is implicit in my record playing ritual.

Funny how the sound improves with each glass!