ATC

It works and is safe. Sometimes this is the best option but generally not. I would highly recommend buying a belay device with guide mode (black diamond atc guide is cheap and good) so that you can belay directly of the anchor masterpoint. For almost any hanging and standing belays that is both safe

Crack gloves are a great idea. Ocun and black Diamond are popular. Rockie talkie is the Cadillac of walkies for rock climbing and you need walkies for some multipitch. I actually asked my boyfriend for a rockie talkie for Xmas initially but then changed it to an ember cup because I drink a lot of co