Michael Jackson was "fully engaged and energetic" at rehearsals days before his death, said promoter Paul Gongaware on the second day of the manslaughter trial of Jackson's doctor.
Gongaware, an executive for AEG Live, the company responsible for the late pop star's final scheduled tour, also told of how Jackson had asked him to hire Dr Conrad Murray, the man accused of administering a lethal dose of sedative, which led to his death.
The jury heard that Murray had initially asked for $5 million a year but eventually accepted $150,000 a month.
Also in the dock was Jackson's personal assistant Michael Amir Williams, who described a phone call placed to him by Murray on the day of Jackson's death.
According to Williams, Murray told him to "get here right away" as Jackson was having "a bad reaction" to the drugs.
Williams said he arrived at the house to see Jackson's body being loaded into an ambulance.
Also on the stand was Kathy Jorrie, a lawyer for AEG Live. She said that Murray had requested a CPR machine just days before Jackson's death, despite being told by Murray that the pop star was "perfectly healthy" and "in excellent condition".
Jorrie also told of how Murray wanted another doctor hired to assist him.
Prosecutors allege that Dr Murray gave Jackson a lethal dose of sedatives, including the anesthetic propofol, which caused his death in June 2009.
The defence claims that Jackson administered the lethal dose himself to help him sleep.
Murray has pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted he could face up to four years in prison. The trial, which is being attended by members of Jackson's family, is expected to last five weeks.