Actors getting colds during a run

[jimmirae]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 9:53pm

I have been thinking about this for a while now since I am still healing from an awful cold that hit me on Dec. 22nd, And I must give great admiration to those on Broadway and Tours who go out and perform while sick. I also do not know how the whole casts don't come down with something, But it seems to work well, I'm affraid of a big relapse on the cold I am healing from.
Anyway, I know LuPone has went on ill and that Michael Ball has been ill, also I believe a lot of the gang at DRS as well - Just have to say you all ROCK and I feel for ya!

[SirLiir]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 10:18pm

Yeah I am just getting over a cold and I must say it's murder on the voice and drains your stamina like anything.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 10:34pm

They do it the same way the rest of us do. Grin and bear it. Just like at any other kind of job, a cold can spread through the company. You take your DayQuil and suck it up (no pun intended).

And any singer worth their salt can sing through a cold - especially mic'ed.

Updated On: 1/2/06 at 10:34 PM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 10:46pm

Pretty harsh, Rath. And I can't agree that "any singer worth their salt" can sing through a cold - I've known singers break blood vessels doing that. The "rest of us" don't have to appear onstage, constantly worrying whether they'll have a coughing fit, or sneeze, and so on.

The rest of us can bundle up, cough, sneeze and blow our noses at will - actors can't do this.

[WhatAWay]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 10:47pm

Speaking of cold...........

Coming from a performer, it is extremely difficult to deliver in a job that regularly requires more energy, stamina, and power than any other. This is a tough time of year and no matter how sick a performer is, there is no doubting the mental and physical strength they must display. They should be given all the credit in the world!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 10:50pm

I've had to sing through a cold many times. Not showtunes - classical singing. And unmic'ed. If you've had the correct training, you can do it. I've had a hoarse speaking voice and been able to sing as if nothing was wrong - because my singing technique is much better than my speaking technique.

It's not fun, and it's extra work, but you do it. Steaming, medicating, hydrating - all on your off-time. And if it's really bad, that's what understudies are for.

[WhatAWay]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 10:53pm

I think you should speak for yourself instead of saying "you" grin and bear it" and "you do it". In fact, "you" are coming off as if you don't care. Trust me, if one performs enough they know best what to do in the case of a cold or illness. Grining and bearing it is not usually an option.

[kjklo]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 10:56pm

"any other kind of a job" is not like performing on Broadway. Geeze, have a heart. Sometimes you're too sick to go on and perform effectively and that's that. It's even possible that someone with an office job can be too sick to go to work. Let's not go back to the 19th century, before the era of sick days and health insurance. No one needs to be that stoic.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 10:57pm

How am I coming off as if I don't care? I'm telling you how it's done. Obviously they do it, or they'd be out all the time at this time of year, and in the spring, and all the other times when crap goes around. They figure it out, like teachers and office workers who have to deal with the same problems. Maybe their jobs don't take the same physical stamina, but those jobs are longer hours. It all balances out.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 11:01pm

""any other kind of a job" is not like performing on Broadway. Geeze, have a heart. Sometimes you're too sick to go on and perform effectively and that's that. It's even possible that someone with an office job can be too sick to go to work. Let's not go back to the 19th century, before the era of sick days and health insurance. No one needs to be that stoic."

Scroll back up to where I mention understudies. Why is everyone jumping down my throat and getting all defensive? Actors are humans who perform jobs like the rest of us. I used to sing in a classical group - I would ALWAYS get sick before a concert, like a week before - it just always happened to be the times of year when people got sick. And I usually had big solos. I would go to my real job every day, drinking tea and water and going home and steaming and drinking more water and tea, and then at night go to rehearsals. I didn't have the days to rest my voice - in fact I had to use it. But I loved singing - I loved performing - so I did what I had to do.

Updated On: 1/2/06 at 11:01 PM

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 11:01pm

Rath, just a question...were you performing in a show eight times a week for a year or so while you were singing with a cold?

Oh, and as someone who sings, classical seems to be much easier to sing with a cold than something belty.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 11:04pm

No, I wasn't. Again, I had a regular job during the day, so instead of resting my voice then, when the performers do, I was on the phone all day at work - as any singer knows, one of the worst things you can do for your voice.

And you can sing "belty" with a cold if you have the right training. The reason it seems "easier" to sing classically is that the technique is there. You should be able to apply that technique to all styles.

Updated On: 1/2/06 at 11:04 PM

[kjklo]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 11:06pm

Sorry, Rath. I'm a slow typer and was still writing my post before I saw your next two.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 11:07pm

No problem.

[carlobarlo]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 11:20pm

I just recently was in rehearsals for one show during the day and performing evenings when, wouldn't you know it, I came down with a nasty cold. Although I would have liked to rest, I didn't really have a choice. If I took a break I would have no money SO I guess I'm agreeing with Rath on this one. Actors usually find a way to "suck it up" It was a rotten experience though I definitely admire those who can do it 8 times a week(I had only 6)

[singtopher]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 11:23pm

As far as I am told, it is perfectly fine to sing while sick. As long as your vocal chords are vibrating, you're good to go. This doesn't mean the sound is always as pretty as it is when you are healthy. It when you're having issues making vibrations that you should sit out, and let your voice rest. It also depends upon where you are sick. If you have a stuffy nose, a brighter sound is going to be muddy because your resonators are blocked, and therefore unable to resonate. I personally find it soothing to a sore throat to sing.

But I agree that going on sick is no easy task. It's even worse when you're queasy. Years ago I was playing Benjamin in "Joseph.." I had to go on one night despite the fact that I had thrown up twice prior to the show. (It was community theatre, and we were short a brother as it was) The stage manager put two trash buckets on either side of the stage for me. I took some medicine before I went on, which held up untill the pharoh's song in the second act. I slipped off stage real quick to puke, then slipped back on. It wasn't fun going through it, but I laugh about it now.

Posted: 1/3/06 at 12:40am

while it is fine to sing while you're sick, a professional singer should always check in with a reputable ENT doc..mine is celine dion's doc gwen korovin. when i felt under the weather i didn't hesitate to go to her. if she said vocal rest was in order than i let my understudy go on. i really had no choice. sometimes in order to sing when you're sick you have to compensate in ways that are not good for the chords. so for the times when we have to sing over a cold..just be careful..let your sound man know to turn you up a bit and TRUST your technique even if you feel a little wonky..or think you sound bad..you NEVER sound as bad as you think you do when you're sick!! but just be careful...listen to your body and rest if thats what it is telling you to do.
and remember this too..not everyone has the same constitution. someone may be able to smoke, drink and scream all night and not have any vocal trauma the next day. I WOULD!! someone may be able to sing through a sinus infection without a problem. i can't..its beyond painful and the constant dripping and irritation on my chords is out of my control and i can't sing over it. i am an excellent singer with excellent technique. not to name drop again..but i study with Judy Kuhn's teacher and he says SOMETIMES ya just gotta shut up and rest when you're doing 8 shows a week, week after week..after week!!!! there is life after whatever show you're in and sometimes ya just gotta slow down and rest! any singer worth their salt knows that too!
Updated On: 1/3/06 at 12:40 AM

[thespian geek]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 1:00am

I'm about to open a show and came down with a nasty cold on Friday. Let me tell you, NyQuil and lots of honey tea have been my best friend the last three days.

Posted: 1/3/06 at 1:04am

i also love theraflu daytime..it seems to dry me up just enough to get through and sing as long as i drink A LOT of water with it!
hope you're feeling better soon thespian!!
ps..warm jello feels GREAT DURING the show!

[SirLiir]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 1:07am

Being actors, how do you combat the sometimes drowsy feelings antihistamines and cold medicine can cause?

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 1:13am

Rath, if you get involved in a thread about actors getting colds, expect to have something as stupid as getting flamed happen.


Although sometimes you do get so sick you just can't sing. I have a tendency to lose my voice a lot and sometimes I can sing through it and sometimes I'm shot. And if you have a really awful head cold it affects your breathing.

Although it should help you be less nasal

[jimmirae]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 1:15am

I had heard years ago that Nyquil was the answer, so I took some the next time I was sick. I was packing to move and fell right across a suitcase I was packing knocked out cold! It took like 6 hours after I was back up to even think straight, so I suppose our systems and what they will tolerate are different. There was a humorous staory about a reporter interviewing Stritchie with a cold during "At Liberty" I believe it was in a playbill. You have to be aware who is ill around you as well I see, Too bad I did not and was sick.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 1:25am

Jezzis, you passed out on the floor?

Posted: 1/3/06 at 1:31am

sirliir..
try the daytime formula's and the non drowsy.
claritin d over the counter is excellent. you MUST drink a TON of water with the daytime formulas as well. always stay extremely hydrated.
i envy you Rath that you can sing through anything from what you're saying. i wish i could do that! and good for you for going to work every day too. like i said, everyone has a different constitution.

[SirLiir]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 1:45am

Interesting Andrew. I know sometimes that even if it is a non-drowsy medicine, you can still get drowsy (at least thats happen to me). The hydration certainly sounds like a smart solution (Of course not too much or you may have a *ahem* situation on the stage