|
|
Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Well considering Cliff's experience and vocal range I'd try the tea.
Wonder what the licorice root actually does?? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4817
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by cliff:
I keep a stash of about 6 teabags in my GigBag at all times. Honest officer, that's what it is! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 482
Location: enid, ok | A stash of... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | a company called "traditional medicinals" makes a tea called "throat coat". two flavors, licorice and lemon echinacea. the licorice works the best. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | iced drinks freeze the vocal cords and hot drinks swell the cords. it is best to drink room temperature (liquids, not eggs!) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Southern Comfort Smoothie... :eek: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Oh! The licorice... That would be an Anisette Smoothie... :cool: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | Originally posted by Northcountry:
Wonder what the licorice root actually does?? Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin (and other derivatives). There is a list (some proven, some claimed) of positive effects on the body. The hydration of the vocal cords and throat are aided by its anti-diuretic effect (opposite of caffeine). Its expectorant and anti-inflammatory effects also help the singer.
REQUIRED WARNING: Too much of a good thing can be bad... too much for some people might only be a small amount... "It contains glycyrrhizic acid, which increases the body's retention of sodium and water. It may interfere with the effectiveness of anti-hyperactive drugs, diuretics, and those used to treat heart disease. Development of hypertension, edema, muscle contractions, and convulsions may occur if consumed with alcohol. Long term use, of more than four weeks, can produced hypertension, cardiac problems, diarrhea/constipation, and ulcerations. Long term use can also deplete potassium stores. Licorice should be avoided if there is high blood pressure present, or if there are irregular heartbeats. It is contraindicated in the presence of chronic liver disease, severe renal insufficiency, diabetes, and pregnancy."
Cliff, please pass me the... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Yeah but if it makes ya sing like a bird, I'll do it until I have to wear glasses. :cool: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | First of all, it doesn't MAKE you sing, or LET you sing.
It just kinda' "soothes" your vocal cords and keeps them from getting dry & "raspy" . .
Secondly, Noah's right. There CAN be too much of a good thing. I've heard stories of people in the Netherlands (evidently licorice candy is VERY popular there) that were eating it . . well, like "candy" . . .
There's been cases of people just falling over dead from cumulative adverse effects.
Here's what I do:
I take one of those tall, insulated "travel" mugs with the snap-on lid. Two teabags of ThroatTea, maybe a dash of honey, and top it off with hot water. That sits around and "steeps" while I load up the car, etc. I'll "sip" at that while driving to the gig, setting-up, etc. When it gets depleted, I'll ask a waitress to top it off with more hot water and set that aside while I guzzle pint-glasses of regular water because by that time, I've been sweating like an absolute pig and need to re-hydrate. I'll take an occasional "hit" off the mug just to keep the throat "comfy".
Occasionally (but not often), I may throw another bag in, but not usually.
Of course, I've been known to "sip" a Myers on the rocks(or three) during the "break" but by that time, I've been singing for about two hours and everything's all nice, "stretchy" & loose . . .
It's not adviseable, but people oft-times get perturbed if you don't let them buy you a drink, and if I can't enjoy myself, what th'f@ck am I doing it for???
Lotsa' WATER is key, tho . . .
(also helps you to develop the bladder-control of a SuperTanker) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 3408
Location: GA USA | I don't prepare in any way. If I'm raspy, I figure it's just the way I sound that day.
I have a singer friend who will not use toothpaste to brush with the day she sings. Says it dries her out. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Is she brushing her teeth with it?? . . . |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487
| What do I do if I am already wearing glasses? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5327
Location: Cicero, NY | Realize that you're probably overstepped your limit and fell asleep on the bar again. Thankfully, your forehead hit two glasses and kept your etire face out of the mess you made when you passed out. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 283
Location: Portland, OR | 5 ounces of fresh squeezed lemon juice in an 8 ounce glass and a bottle of Bushmills. Throw out the lemon juice and fill the glass up with the Irish. Drink down in ten seconds. You'll think you've never sounded better. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2004
Posts: 86
Location: Detroit area | I take a hot shower first, to loosen up all the sinus gun. Then I eat a banana - the natural oils seem to coat my throat well. Add to that plenty of water and an occasional Halls Mentholyptus. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | Beer. Before, during, and after the performance.
Sometimes if conditions are right you can actually belch-sing certain notes. It's quite a stunning effect. Belching can even help you get those really low notes that otherwise are out of your range. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 270
Location: Yorkshire, England | As a singer/guitarist in various bands, and as a solo act gigging around the UK, I honestly don't think anything makes a big difference to your natural voice, unless for some reason you feel it's under par maybe because you're ill - (like you have a sore throat or a cold.) It always helps not to be tired, so a good nights' sleep beforehand is advisable - (Best of luck with that one, I haven't had a good nights sleep in the past 15 years!) Your vocal chords are muscle & must be kept in shape & looked after. Of course, once you get one or two beers down you to loosen the vocal chords, as with many other things, you tend to THINK you sound better but probably don't - although it may calm the nerves a bit for some! Smoke filled rooms in my opinion were the hardest thing to overcome from the point of giving a good singing performance - The smoking ban in the UK has been the best thing to happen for vocalists here, although clubs etc, are feeling the pinch because of smokers staying at home. It'll be interesting to see how it all turns out. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2005
Posts: 486
Location: North Carolina | Water. Plenty of it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | Steam inhaler
Works for Celine Dion :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | If only she'd inhaled a .38 we'd ALL have been spared . . . |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487
| WEEZIE Where ya playing? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5327
Location: Cicero, NY | I'm not "playing" anywhere - just trying to get a hint or two on improving what I put out there when I do (wherever that might be). I've played my share of bathrooms and basements, the occasional wedding (three under my belt now) and, once in a while, a backyard bbq but I'm not planning a world tour just yet. I'm also toying with a recorder and the thought of me putting something down that actually might be around for a little while is a bit daunting as well. Just having fun doin' what I'm doin' and looking to lift it a notch if I can - thas' all. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Singing in front of a crowd is among the scariest things on earth... "Cheers" to those who have the nerve and the voice to pull it off.
(or the egomania... whatever works) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Weas;
Find yourself a couple of OpenMic Nights (or even (ugh!)Karaoke).
If you're "self-conscious" about it, find 'em in an area where nobody "knows" you, and if you feel you were THAT "bad" . . . they'll never see you again . . .
Go there a week or two ahead of time and "scope" it out. A lot of these people will be in the same boat as you, and can be surprisingly "kind".
You need to learn the Fine Art of Singing Into a Mic (when to to back-off and "belt", when to get up close and "eat" the mic).
The only thing that will make you "better" at it is to keep DOING it (and of course, "have fun" while doing it).
(whatever you do, avoid ANY "singing tips" from Schroeder . . . ) |
|
| |
For the singers out there
