advanced timing school please

ive got my vac gauge, timing tape is on the way, timing light, working tach, and another guy to help out. anything else i will need?

also just looking for step by step instructions to figure my advance timing number out. it seems my dist. (Proform is the brand) needs some help... recurve kit? i have no experience under the cap, and dont know what to look for.

how do i know when the distributor is "all in" and when its not?