Okay Singers, I Need Your All's Help PRONTO!

[broadwayboy430]

Posted: 3/4/06 at 1:20pm

I am Daniel in Colorado Springs's Repretory production of Once On This Island. We are currently going into night three of our run. Nights one and two were great, my voice was as on as can be. Then suddenly without warning, I wake up this morning after a refreshing 11&1/2 hours of sleep with the most obnoxious vocal chord problem ever. I litterally feel as though somebody secretely snuck into my throat with a sand paper machine and rubbed the **** out of my vocal chords. While I could put my standby on tonight at 7:00pm I would rather not. I am on complete vocal rest at the moment. I do not have time to go out and buy anything because a) I have not yet been paid and b) I need to go to brushup rehersal in four hours. What I do have are:
oral demulescents for opera singers
a throat spray for opera singers
throat coat tea
lemon
honey
water
salt
a bath/shower
a steam room
gum
a scarf
and a piano
When I woke up, I croaked, like La Carlotta. Make it stop. Please. Help me.
Thanks!

[IdinaRocks]

Posted: 3/4/06 at 1:58pm

Don't talk all day, but hum at a comfortable volume, only where you are comfortable singing, even if it's only on one or two pitches. just get your chords to start vibrating wherever they can, don't push it. and drink lots and lots and lots and lots of water, and especially after the show don't talk, just go straight to bed, and if you coudl get a vaporizer or something to that effect for while you sleep it would probably help. good luck!!

[erikaamato]

Posted: 3/4/06 at 2:03pm

(Copying my reply from the Off-Topic board, since you posted there as well...)

First of all, your voice is probably just tired. Vocal rest is key. Don't keep trying to sing, just rest, and then start warming up very gently about an hour before you have to be at the theater. All day today, drink so much water that you have to pee every fifteen minutes. Seriously. You'll be amazed at how much re-hydrating will help. No caffeine, (de-caf or herbal tea is good), honey just for its soothing, calming properties, and again, DRINK TONS OF WATER.

Good luck with it! (I'm sure you'll be fine!)

Posted: 3/4/06 at 5:20pm

steam...lots of it..
no lemon, caffeine or menthol cough drops.
sounds like you're dry and fatigued.
get a humidifier in your dressing room if possible ..or if there is a shower in there RUN it FULL hot for all of half hour.
the best thing is the vicks vapo personal steamer.
how long is the run?
go to the doc on monday if you're still having trouble...and remember that you will do more shows after Once On This Island..you don't only have to think about YOUR responsibility to THIS show but you have to think about your future career as well. be sure and take care of yourself so you don't cause any permanent damage!
best to you!
A~

[Stagerage2003]

Posted: 3/4/06 at 5:29pm

Sounds like acid reflux to me...next time before bed you shouldnt eat so much pizza But seriously, eating within the hour that you are going to be sleeping is bad. Drink alot of water and maybe steam it out...hot shower. Tea is always good, and as odd as it sounds food is really good for your vocal chords. Chewing and swallowing will warm you up faster than a vocal warm-up sometimes. Try an apple, that was a favorite of Pavarotti!

Hope you get better!

[TLKfan]

Posted: 3/4/06 at 5:33pm

This is for more when you are sick with a sore throat, but if you are drinking water use room temperature and never cold water. Also, no dairy but that's mainly for the mucus buildup in your throat.

Posted: 3/4/06 at 5:33pm

ah yes! the good old reflux...if you're eating even within three hours of bedtime..take a gavison table with a half of glass of water..it makes a barrier and the acid can't get to your chords!
great advice stagerage!
and is that a pic of brian? he is THE BOMB! hubby worked with him..he is a total GEM!

[Stagerage2003]

Posted: 3/4/06 at 5:37pm

Yep its Brian, He and I are from the same home town, we are pretty close. His mom is a hoot. What a great family in general.

[Doogie]

Posted: 3/4/06 at 7:45pm

Andrew-

what is a galvison table? or do you mean Galvison tablet....if so, what is a Galvison tablet? LOL

[Katurian2]

Posted: 3/4/06 at 7:51pm

And make sure you warm up and down your voice after every show to prevent this from happening again.

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 3/4/06 at 10:29pm

Make frozen Minute Made pink lemonade and heat a mug of it in the microwave for THREEE minutes. It's absolutely amazing, a miracle cure.

[actormcfamous]

Posted: 3/5/06 at 12:16am

Vocal rest is good.

Also, spend ALL day warming up. Be outrageously gentle... a lot of humming in your mid-low range is great, as is lip buzzing. Whatever you do, don't cough or clear your throat - it's one of the worst things you can do because the force of impact just creates more mucus. If you need to cough/clear your throat, say "Mmhmm" instead - it vibrates the mucus off your chords instead of bashing them together.

Always, from now on, warm down after the show. When you're driving home, just do a bunch of gentle humming for 15 minutes or so to keep them from cramping up overnight.

As far as long term goes, also be sure you aren't pushing yourself too far vocally. Not necessarily that you're belting incorrectly (though that may be something to check into), but that when you sing you aren't putting too much pressure on your chords. This just means that especially on top notes, you're carrying too much of your chest voice up that high. It's not a bad thing when you're just singing a one night cabaret, but when you're doing 8 shows a week, belting with too much chest voice can be extremely exhausting on your vocal chords. Focus on width, and maintaining a speech-like quality when you sing. A good exercise for this is to start towards the bottom of your range, going up and down a major 5th saying "bah" on each tone. Don't focus on musicality, just let it flow out. When you get up high, give it more support and width in your face and mouth. If the note wants to go into your head voice, let it. The goal, though, is to still be belting but in more of a "mixey" place (it should be very distinguishable from your mix, if you have one). Basically, your belt should be lighter and ring more. It sounds just as good, but is MUCH easier on the chords.

I have no idea if that last sentence made any sense at all, but if you have questions, PM me!

Hope you were able to go on tonight, and more importantly that you feel better! Keep us updated on your status!

Posted: 3/5/06 at 1:31am

NO!! i meant a whole table made of Gaviscon! haaaaaaaaaaahahahahah!!!! DUH..sorry...typo!
gaviscon is a type of antacid but not just like tums...
it actually foams up and makes a barrier to block acid from coming up the esophogus! pretty cool and highly recommended by the top ENT doc in manhattan!
very good tips, BTW, from actormc....i hope the starter of this thread has even read all of this! LOL!
the lemonade thing is good i think when there is a lot of mucus involved because it helps dry it up...but if you're dry to begin with..it might not be the best choice.
water and steam..the BEST!

[broadwayboy430]

Posted: 3/5/06 at 12:49pm

Hey all, thank you all soooo much for the help. I was checking my laptop up untill curtain. Amazingly, all of the tips helped, and I was able to get through the show with modifying some notes. My voice didn't sound horse, and I also didn't sing in any of the big belty chorus numbers, so that helped too. Amazingly, the second after the final note in the show, I went to say congrats to my co-star, and my voice said so long, and now I sound like a kick ass bass. Maybe I can take advantage of that. All the press came last night, so that is why I wanted so badly to go on, but my standby will be going on as me for the next two nights, so I can just recoup. Anyway, thanks. The show will be going on for the next two months, and I realized that Broadway stars really are athletes in the sense that they can maintain their voices. I am going to a voice doctor tomorrow. When I called him about my problem, he said that it sounded like a callus, and I about died right there. I mean, wow. The kiss of death at 16 years old? I hope not. So anyway, thanks again, and think good callus killing thoughts for me today.

Posted: 3/5/06 at 1:59pm

i am proud of you for taking the time off that you need and i am really glad that you called the doc.
NO ONE should ever be ashamed or riduculed for having to rest their voice and miss a show. you need to ensure that your instrument is in good condition for the rest of your career, not just THIS ONE show. just like it is impossible to play a violin with a broken string..it is impossible to make your self sing if you just can't.
i applaud you.

[broadwayboy430]

Posted: 3/5/06 at 2:01pm

hey thanks!