Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
#0Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/2/06 at 12:47pm
So...let's say you have a few drinks the night before you have to sing the next day. Let's say...you'll be singing around Noon and you had a few drinks at 11pm the night before...
Right - so how would alchohol influence the voice? Restrict it? Open the chords? What?
Does it depend on the drink? Rum? Whiskey? Vodka? Wine? Beer? Mixer? Green Apple Smirnoff?
--Aristotle
SueleenGay
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/9/03
#1re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/2/06 at 12:49pmGotta sing? Don't drink. Period.
JamieMcG
Broadway Star Joined: 6/12/03
#2re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/2/06 at 12:52pmAlcohol has a drying effect on the chords and it can cause long-term damage if you're a heavy drinker. On top of that, it also can ignite some bad reflux which also isn't a terribly good thing for your voice :)
#3re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/2/06 at 12:54pmPoor Elaine Stritch.
--Aristotle
twogaab2
Broadway Star Joined: 5/19/03
#4re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/2/06 at 12:55pmI don't know. How loaded were you planning on getting?
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#5re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/2/06 at 1:56pmA Broadway/Cabaret performer told me that a little wine right before you go on isn't so bad...it relaxes you. I've never tried it, though. I don't think I would risk it.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#6re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/2/06 at 1:58pmAnti-depressants are very helpful, though.
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#7re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/2/06 at 2:20pm
You'd know all about this topic if you'd attend one of my talks on "The Perils of Alcohol".
I'm not fooling when I tell you it could change your life.
#8re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/2/06 at 2:28pmIt's simple chemistry. You know that alcohol is a drying agent. Don't use it if you are a singer.
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#9re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/2/06 at 2:34pmDon't use it period! First it's an ocasional drink...then it's a game of dice... then it's infidelity...then you're life is ruined.
iluvtheatertrash
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
#10re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/2/06 at 2:35pm
From personal experience, I've found that if we go out to a cast party and I allow myself a glass of wine, I'm fine to sing the next day. But I do not have more than that until after the show has closed.
In the middle of a run, don't get plastered. Period.
JamieMcG
Broadway Star Joined: 6/12/03
#11re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/2/06 at 2:42pmdollypop i love you.
iluvtheatertrash
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
#12re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/2/06 at 3:21pmDollypop, I just saw your post. I adore you even more now after reading that.
MatthewAddison
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/04
#13re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/6/06 at 5:02amUpdated On: 3/18/08 at 05:02 AM
Jazzysuite82
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/6/05
#14re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/6/06 at 11:19amThere are no rules. It really depends on the person. The one fact that everyone keeps mentioning is that alcohol dries you out. Drink lots of water. I mean no one here can tell you what your voice will be like. Wanna be safe? Leave it alone. Me personally if I even have 1 glass of any alcohol, I can feel it the next day. If I'm smashed it actually takes a couple of days to get my voice back. On the other hand I know people who were smashed the day before a show and go out a tear the roof off the place. I say know what you voice does. Try it when you don't have to sing for a couple of days and see what the effect is.
#15re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/6/06 at 12:36pmThat's very true...it just depends on the person. But I definitely wouldn't advise you to risk it. And no...alcohol is not "Every Actor's Friend." You'd be surprised to learn that many of Broadway's strongest, most disciplined actors...don't touch a drop.
#16re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/6/06 at 1:31pm
hey i've done some of my best performances being hung over!! 
robbiej
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#17re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/6/06 at 1:46pmI find the 'day after' to be very difficult. But it usually doesn't affect me if I have a drink just before or during a show (if I'm singing at a benefit, I enjoy a nice cocktail before I sing...and sometimes I'll bring the drink up on stage with me).
#18re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/6/06 at 1:49pm
Opera friends in college always said to drink as much water as you drink alcohol. But, if you know you are going to sing, don't get hammered. And don't hang out in a loud bar--trying to talk over that can screw up your voice.
I understand that sipping whiskey (or other things) can be good when you are in certain kinds of vocal trouble--but I would think lemon would be better?
I can't have a single drink before I perform--I forget all the damn words!
#19re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/6/06 at 1:53pmOh--and as for dryness, coffee should be a concern, too. Def one of mine.
Kringas
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
#20re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/6/06 at 2:01pmWhile playing Hedwig, I always partook in a liberal amount of alcohol, both before and during the show.
#21re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/6/06 at 2:01pmI so wish I could do that! I so wanna have a few Janis Joplin moments onstage before I die!
Kringas
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/05
#22re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/6/06 at 2:13pm
I had talked it over with my director who was all for it, since it was totally in line with the character. I wouldn't have done it if I was doing Ibsen or anything.
It really worked well, helped to loosen me up and whatnot, so I remember very vividly doing a little too much celebrating before our final show. When I first got to the stage, a "whoa" feeling rushed over me, and I thought that I was going to hurl on the stage. I didn't, and actually went on to give what several people thought was my finest performance.
#23re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/6/06 at 2:18pm
you are SOOOO Method
I bet it was fun. I would forget ALL the words! Ugh.
#24re: Every Actor's Friend: Alchohol (How does it influence the voice?)
Posted: 2/6/06 at 2:49pmI've laid off hard liquor (god, but I do love Bourbon) at times when I'm singing often, and try to stick to a few pints of Guinness if I'm out. I try not to drink the day before a show, and I NEVER drink on a day I'm performing.
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