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Red Shadow Inner circle 1788 Posts |
Hi guys,
Ive been very ill for the last seven weeks, and for the first time ever, I had to pass on three of my shows to a fellow performer as I had lost my voice and my hearing. If I couldn't have found anyone to fill in, I still had a plan to turn up and do my best, but I knew for the sake of the child it was better to find someone healthy. In case your wondering, I was hit by the flu on Januray 23rd and I still have it today (March 15th). I lost my voice for two weeks in the middle, followed by losing the hearing in my right ear. Both were serious issues that come from the flu that don't effect everyone, but hit me serverly. My hearing has finally returned and my voice is almost there. Its the almost part that is the reason for this post. I did have to do a full day school show while I had no voice, for which I took my sister with me to speak when needed and a three-hour birthday party which I will admit was a struggle to get through. Prehaps doing those shows set back my recovery time, I don't know. Today I did two shows and I have still have a sore throat. I could not reach the normal speaking (higher pitched) voice for one of my puppets still and I'm wondering how long it will be before it comes back. For the vents out there, if you have ever lost your voice - how long was it before you could reach your full spectrum of voices? And while I have kept quiet during the very long recovery time - is that in your experience the best way to recover or is talking naturally a better way to exercise the vocal cords back into shape? Steve P.s. Im still suffering from fatigued and diminsihed energy levels but I do my best to never let the client or children know any of that. To them I look like I'm 100% healthy. But I'm starting to regret the high-energy all-dancing shows that I'm famous for, as no-matter how much I want to, the audience want my energy and I want to give it them, even when its probally not best for me. |
danfreed Inner circle West Chester PA 1354 Posts |
Yeah, that sucks. I lose my voice a few times a year, after getting sick. It's stressful, because you don't want to cancel and you don't know how you will get by. Usually it's only a problem for 2 or 3 days. Sometimes I think my voice is OK to do a gig, then when I get there it goes out after 10 minutes or whatever. It really throws me off. You can use honey and gargle salt water, that helps. You can get honey sticks and keep using them through the gig. Don't talk when you aren't at a gig to rest your voice. that's what a doctor told me. There are a bunch of other solutions and posts here on the Café about that. The clients are usually nice about it, though you might want to tell them in advance that it might be a problem.
Dan Freed
AKA The Amazing Spaghetti https://www.magiciandanfreed.com/birthday-party-magician-for-kids http://thecaricatureartist.com http://danieljayfreed.com |
harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
Quick thoughts include..,I hope you continue to mend and heal.
Rest isn't easy for some of us When I start to feel better I want to go go go. Following Dr's suggestions are important. As far as high energy shows a few things come to mind. .. My super hyper shows slowed down as I got older slowed down. Even though at 60 I am in fairly good shape( cycle and weights 4-5 times a week) I still use a mike even in small venues. (Not smaller b/day parties) I don't crawl under tables or lift them for comedy. Once I picked up a small round table and used it as a steering wheel during a a challenge improv moment. The next day my back told me I wasn't 35 any more. Regarding voice , warm ups and exercises and warm drink. Cold beverage before talking or singing was not suggested to me. Will give your questions more thought. Harris
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
I have also used Halls, slippery elm and sipping warm tea.
Though I have nothing against alcohol , I would think it would dry out your throat and could be avoided. Following your Doctor or Doctors guidance seems like a good start. Second opinions and specialist also could be consulted. My health issues have been upper respiratory , nose and throat. Though I don't like the long term effects (no not more home runs) certain prescribed by your doctor steroids are sometimes in order. In my case side effects versus breathing ....breathing always wins. Sometimes though I hate to do it I have to cancel shows. Resting as prescribed by doctors and other performers when followed. ... Priceless. Happy are those that can reach any note even if they aren't the high ones needed by some of your vent characters My honorary title of Dr laugh is not a license to prescribe medical advice. Only my opinion. Harris Remembering it is good to "vent at the right time"
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
TonyB2009 Inner circle 5006 Posts |
Steve, I feel for you. A number of years ago I was doing a school show, and the PA system cut out just as I began. There being less than 300 in the room, I decided to carry on regardless. I had a powerful voice. Forty minutes into the show my voice suddenly went. From a strong powerful roar, it reduced to a thin croak, and I had to end the show.
The doctor told me I had severely damaged the vocal chords, and would need to rest them for an extended period. The bad news was it took three months to recover. In that time I limited my speaking in my private life to absolute essentials, and for shows I never went above a whisper, and was amplified even when facing five or six kids. It was a nightmare time. Since then I have gone to an acting coach and had my voice trained. I no longer have the strength in it that I once had, but in the car on the way to gigs I do warm-up exercises, and I project properly instead of naturally. Now I have no problems. My advice is to gargle with warm water, hum on the way to the gig to loosen the chords, relax the throat, take full breaths, and try not to strain things. The good news is that I can do everything now that I could before the problem. Hope your recovery is quicker than mine, and every bit as full.
Check out Tony's new thriller Dead or Alive http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alive-Varrick-Bo......n+carson
http://www.PartyMagic.ie |
Wes Holly Special user Cincinnati, OH, USA 644 Posts |
Quote:
On Mar 15, 2014, ku7uk3 wrote: Actually, speaking normally is hardest on your voice (I trained in opera in a previous life). On the other hand, total silence can lead to atrophy, like any other muscle. I'm not discounting the medical instructions to let your vocal chords rest & heal, but IMO you can't go from full stop to normal use. Find a qualified voice coach in your area and explain your situation. His/Her advice might include: soft humming with your teeth apart and lips closed while humming go from soft to loud and back again, (back off the volume if you feel pain) humming the different pitches from low to high (again, let pain be your guide) "work out" your voice a few times each day. As you get better you can move on to other standard voice training techniques. |
Jolly Roger V.I.P. Sedona, Arizona 1667 Posts |
Sorry to hear that Steve. You never mentioned it to me when we talked at Blackpool, so thanks for not passing it on to me lol!!! There is something in America called throat coat tea which works wonders for the voice. Whiskey and hot milk mixed is great for the flue. Good luck! JR
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wizardpa Inner circle The New Orleans area 1011 Posts |
Steve-Did you get a flu shot this year? If you hadn't, maybe that might be something you'll think about getting from now on.
I never got one until I was 56, and now I get one every year. So far, I've avoided getting the flu. |
harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
The acting coach combined with doctor is a brilliant combination.
Even more, at least for me is too follow their suggestions. Why do we call them doctor and coach and not do what they say. The older I get the more I benefit from sage suggestions Thanks to all that share theirs here at the Little Darlings branch of the Café.
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
Red Shadow Inner circle 1788 Posts |
I didn't get the flu shot, but you can be sure I will be getting it every year now for the rest of my life. Im still pondering whether its worth getting this years shot now. It might be the end of the season but anything that can even help a little I'm tempted on doing.
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