I like to have a volume pedal in the chain, but the volume pedals I have do not go completely to zero, and I like to have the guitar silent in the PA when I plug in/out, or tune.

I happen to have a multi f/x box, a Zoom G1Xon for my electrics, so I started using it for my volume pedal, as it does go completely to zero. I set up one channel that has no effects and one that has a slight chorus; reverb I apply at the board. I also use the looper function for one song, Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game."