having a star chart and understanding the basics of that will make planets easier to find... i use cartes du ciel on my puter. its free and works great.
at the moment saturn is the easiest planet to observe rising in the east in gemini, a fair way below orion. most most other planets either rise in the early morning or are of the type that are hard to find.
I start viewing from about 10- 10:30pm and rarely stay out after midnight or i get nagged
