462 Posted June 13, 2003 Share Posted June 13, 2003 Ok, here's the scoop: My bands got a show tomorrow night at a bar (first bar show ever, and I'm only 17 ) and everyting was looking perfect. Then I woke up this morning. All day my throat has been feeling like I chugged a gallon of hot sauce and my voice is being a little scratchy. I got a nice headache too, but I can live with that. The problem is that I'm really worried about the backing harmonies that I sing in nearly every song. Do any of you guys got a secret remedy, or just some tips to help me out? These words, are sledgehammers of truth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted June 13, 2003 Share Posted June 13, 2003 My wife has been teaching voice for the last 30 years. There are no secret remedies. If there were, they wouldn't be secrets for long. Avoid talking in between sets. Drink lots of liquids. Hot tea will help...apple or orange herbal tea...no caffeine, no chamomile. Do not drink alcohol. Do not smoke. Do not get chilled...wear a scarf to keep your neck warm. Do not take throat lozenges, they will numb your throat and enable you to do damage to your vocal cords without you knowing. If you have to use something, use Ricola cough drops. Get lots of rest....skip the after-show party. No cocaine...it's really bad for the vocal chords and nasal cavities. Leave out some of the vocal parts, if you can get away with it. Play a few bass solos to fill up the time so that you're not singing constantly. If you have shows every night of the week, singing through your illness is not a good idea. It will catch up with you later. If it's just this one show, hang in there, and go to bed immediately after the show and stay there. There will be many more shows in the future, this one is not life or death, even if it seems that way at the moment. We'll be praying for you. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prague Posted June 13, 2003 Share Posted June 13, 2003 Hot tea (even Lipton is fine) and eat an orange. Get sleep, too. Works every time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattC Posted June 13, 2003 Share Posted June 13, 2003 If you can't sing, don't. My singer has been sick much of the winter and as a result can't ever seem to be physically able to sing anymore (though I'm sure it'll pass). If you can't, don't. ...think funky thoughts... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
462 Posted June 13, 2003 Author Share Posted June 13, 2003 Originally posted by jeremyc: My wife has been teaching voice for the last 30 years. There are no secret remedies. If there were, they wouldn't be secrets for long. Avoid talking in between sets. Drink lots of liquids. Hot tea will help...apple or orange herbal tea...no caffeine, no chamomile. Do not drink alcohol. Do not smoke. Do not get chilled...wear a scarf to keep your neck warm. Do not take throat lozenges, they will numb your throat and enable you to do damage to your vocal cords without you knowing. If you have to use something, use Ricola cough drops. Get lots of rest....skip the after-show party. No cocaine...it's really bad for the vocal chords and nasal cavities. Leave out some of the vocal parts, if you can get away with it. Play a few bass solos to fill up the time so that you're not singing constantly. If you have shows every night of the week, singing through your illness is not a good idea. It will catch up with you later. If it's just this one show, hang in there, and go to bed immediately after the show and stay there. There will be many more shows in the future, this one is not life or death, even if it seems that way at the moment. We'll be praying for you.Thanks, I'll do everything I can. No cocaine though? It's just one show, then we got a week off, I'll survive. These words, are sledgehammers of truth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flemtone Posted June 13, 2003 Share Posted June 13, 2003 I find that throat lozenges with Zinc and Echinacea work really well for me and my bandmates. Living in the NorthEast and gigging a lot during the 'cold and flu' season makes this a necessity. Good luck, Tim from Jersey Play. Just play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PETE_COMBS Posted June 13, 2003 Share Posted June 13, 2003 Yeah if your able to sing dont try caise it will hurt even more after,I would listen to though, because you can try to help it in anyway possible. Pete Combs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dohhhhh6 Posted June 13, 2003 Share Posted June 13, 2003 I believe lemons clear your throat up very good. During the play Teahouse of the August Moon at my school, the main character had like a horrible cold or something and his small voice grew even higher and mumblier (if that's a word) so we gave him some stuff that numbs your vocal chords or whatever (which apparently is bad) and some lemon juice and he was alright, sorta... the show must go on! It was only an ok play because of that. In Skynyrd We Trust Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clatteramy Posted June 14, 2003 Share Posted June 14, 2003 This is probably too late, but I would recommend a few things: 1) Get some throat spray called "Singer's Saving Grace." It's available at the health food store and comes in different flavors. I live by this stuff! 2) Try to avoid beverages that are very hot or very cold. If you drink hot tea to soothe your throat, be sure it isn't extremely hot. There are some good throat teas out there like Throat Coat. 3) Be sure to warm up!!! This is a good idea always, but especially important when you're sick. Start singing scales at your lowest register as softly as you can. Continue to your highest note, then go back down again. Vocalizing on "ee" and "zee" is also supposed to be good. Be sure to start early and give yourself lots of time to ease into it, and don't just start singing in full voice right off the bat. It's usually no surprise that a person gets sick right around a big event -- stress is a big factor in compromising your immune system. Being nervous will just make your throat muscles tighten up more, so try your best to take lots of deep breaths and relax -- breathe from your diaphram when you sing and get lots of breath support. Sorry if this is too late, but maybe it will help for next time! Hope it goes / went well! Just remember, have fun and your audience will, too! www.clatter.com MySpace YouTube videos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clatteramy Posted June 14, 2003 Share Posted June 14, 2003 Oops...forgot the most important one...gargling with warm salt water! If you can, try to use canning and pickling salt rather than table salt because the latter has unwanted additives. Another method passed on to me by an ear, nose and throat doctor is a water / salt / baking soda mixture that you squirt down your nose with a bulb syringe. Sounds disgusting and feels awkward at first, but believe me, it works wonders! It gets the salt water to the area that is draining all that irritating goo from your nose to your throat. It's much less expensive than OTC or prescription meds, too! I highly recommend it. www.clatter.com MySpace YouTube videos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uber Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 i find gargeling bleach helps , i am being silly please dont try this , bleach tastes nasty , dont ask ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gogrick Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 Another method passed on to me by an ear, nose and throat doctor is a water / salt / baking soda mixture that you squirt down your nose with a bulb syringe. Sounds disgusting and feels awkward at first, but believe me, it works wonders! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ So is it just me, or is everyone gonna picture Amy with a syringe stuck up her nose from now on? Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; one lick and you suck forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clatteramy Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 Ha ha!!! That could be a good look for me! Maybe I could color-coordinate with my hair! I'd better see about getting some new promo photos taken with it... Yeah, there's nothing like sharing your personal health tips for all the world to read, but I figger it might actually help someone, so what the heck! www.clatter.com MySpace YouTube videos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie Z Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 Amy! Thanks for the tip about the baking soda part of the nasal wash. I have only used salt water. I have only had to do this a few times, and never have really gotten it right yet. I've heard that people from India do this a lot (my husband is from India), and they have a special little water pot to use. I think it's called a "neti pot". (I found this link: Neti Pot The technique was shared with me by my uncle, who is a motivational speaker. He speaks to very large audiences, and can't have a bad throat, or it's a major disaster, since he's the only one on stage. He and I both religously use a product called Emer-Gen'C, which is a vitamin/mineral powdered drink mix, which keeps our throats in pretty good shape. We also use a bunch of other holistic type of nutritional stuff, but it really helps. I was referred to the Emer-Gen'C by a friend who is a singer, and I've been using it for the last 3 years. All of these tips are so helpful! Now, 46&2, I hope your gig went well! Thanks... Connie Z "Change comes from within." - Jeremy Cohen The definition of LUCK: When Preparation meets Opportunity! http://www.cybergumbo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clatteramy Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 Connie, I'm glad you found that helpful! I think it works great, and my ENT doctor said that people with all kinds of nasal problems have found relief with the nasal rinse rather than use medications. The recipe is: 1) 1-quart glass jar filled with water 2) 2-3 heaping teaspoons of pickling/canning salt 3) 1 rounded teaspoon of baking soda Stir or shake before each use. Store at room temperature. After a week, pour out any mixture that is left over and make a fresh batch. Rinse nose with this solution 2-3 times per day. It definitely takes some getting used to! I'm glad to know about the Emer-Gen'C, too -- I have always seen it but didn't know if it worked. I'll have to give it a try! www.clatter.com MySpace YouTube videos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeR Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 Do any of you guys got a secret remedy, or just some tips to help me out?In severe cases, a doctor may prescribe Steroids to help an ill voice make it through a show. Some "Fisherman's friend" will usually do a great job for other cases just to keep from coughing - nothing to do with singing though. Other than that, I only have a story to remember, when I was in a jazz band and we toured down to Washington DC to play a gig at a convention of school teachers. Damn air conditioning on the tour bus made me sick, and I was lead Trombonist back then so it was a real treat to keep from coughing into the mouthpiece during solos! I'll bet the shape of the Trombone's horn is perfect for maximizing the spread of germs too! For me, it's always without variation the cigarette smoke that makes me ill though, and after playing a gig or two where the smoke turns the air blue I'm coughing up bits of me for days afterwards. For some reason I've got this picture of a head of bright red hair, with a Turkey baister beneath it! Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; one lick and you suck forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
462 Posted June 16, 2003 Author Share Posted June 16, 2003 The good news: Thanks everybody for the help, the show went (almost) 100%. I took it really easy until the show and drank lots of warm tea and gargled some salt water. Before I went on I downed a few fisherman's friends as well (They could possibly be the worst tasting things on the planet). Everything was great and my throat was feeling good, and when it came time for my first back-up, which was in G, it went from G to someting like a Bb 10 octaves up But after that all was well, and I laid down the groove nice and phat. The bad news: It turns out I have strepthroat(sp?) and now I'm reallly hurting. At least I got a week off Thanks again for the help everyone. These words, are sledgehammers of truth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clatteramy Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 Hope you're feeling better soon!!! Glad you got it diagnosed -- strep is nothing to mess around with. Get lots or rest! www.clatter.com MySpace YouTube videos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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