Welcome to SRP. For someone new to classic style of shaving, all that is involved can be bewildering. The advice that is already given is good. Some of the fun of classic shaving is figuring out what you like and then other ways of doing things. The SRP Wiki, is found on the top menu bar, it is an excellent place to get started. To answer your specific questions. You can keep the soap in the cup and make the lather over the soap. It is very common for guys to leave their brushed in the cup, (at this point you will hear other members screaming, wailing, gnashing teeth) however, this is not recommended. It is best to rinse the brush and let it air dry between uses. You will find that mug and brush lathering is great for your own shaving needs. I let my wife use my brush and soap. After she tried it, she promptly threw her can of shaving foam in the waste basket. I quickly gave her own brush, bowl, and shaving cream setup. I needed to keep peace in the bathroom.