Just
like any product, everyone has a favorite brand. But also, like any product,
if a celeb has a favorite it's because, luckily, it may be the one product
that helped them in a pinch or on the more practical side, the
product's manufacturer sponsors them. Just like a vehicle, whether you
need a van or a pickup today depends on what you're hauling people or
plywood but if Tiger Woods helped you decide on a Buick, you're in trouble.
It's best to keep your mind open and be in touch with what's happening
in your throat and to your instrument to make the best choice.
Some vocal coaches would tell you that if you are singing
properly "you don't need that stuff at all." I agree if their
student is completely healthy, has no bad habits and has absolute control
over a venue's atmosphere. But let's face it, virtually every medication
has a diaretic, very
few in this industry lead perfectly healthy lives and every venue
has air and to top it off, most singers don't know what singing properly
means.
At
a customers request, we put together a regimen that explains the timing
and prime quality of the products we carry. The "Guidelines"
are designed to help decipher which product is best suited for your need
as well as help present how they work together. We now send this with
every package and the response has been great.
These
“Guidelines” are from the experience of students in studios,
countless testimonials from customers and personal testing/experience
with each product. Of course, everyone is unique and results may vary.
A singer, performer, teacher or speaker can use all or part of this regimen
depending on the incidental symptoms.
BEFORE - Prior to your engagement
(about an hour before) dissolve a sugar free slippery elm lozenge in your
mouth. This coats and helps protect your throat from performance abuse.
FDA approved as an over-the-counter, Thayers Slippery Elm Lozenges are
great for indigestion and acid reflux sufferers and help maintain a healthy
instrument and throat.
About 10 minutes before the show, 2-3 squirts of ClearVoice
or Singer’s Saving Grace® Throat Spray will help clear your
throat of excess mucus that could adversely affect tonality. You
want to give enough time to get the loosened mucus clear.
These sprays have ingredients that encourage the opening if the air passageway
and have others such as aloe that help protect your instrument during
performance by providing pliability. We have found great tasting Thayer’s
Peppermint Spray to have a similar yet milder vapor effect.
DURING and immediately before - A great all around throat
spray before and during the performance, Entertainer’s Secret provides
optimum hydration to your throat as well as help prevent “vocal
blowout” due to dryness. While the others work for specific symptoms,
we like this as the best overall hydration spray. This spray is used about
3-4 times more than the others since hydration is so important. If you
stay hydrated many problems may be alleviated.
The Thayers Dry Mouth Spray is another great citrus or
peppermint-flavored spray when used beforehand, supplements hydration
by encouraging salivation during dry mouth incidences caused by stage
fright or from side effects of medications. Excellent for keeping your
mouth lubricated if you suffer from stage fright dry mouth.
AFTER - Slippery Elm lozenges also aid in the reduction
of swelling and rawness in your throat and work well combating postnasal
drip effects and acid reflux. We found one secret is to dissolve one in
your mouth before bed. The ingredients, including Echinacea, in Singers
Saving Grace and ClearVoice can also help encourage healing the damage
the performance may have done. Make sure you read label and follow manufacturer
directions and don't abuse.
Dryness, improper technique and abuse are commonly the
cause of most vocal damage symptoms. Drink water. Avoid using products
with Alcohol or Menthol; there are many products out there advertising
the cure-all for the voice. Study the ingredients in all products or remedy
you use and know their effects. Feel free to ask them or us questions.
A few sprays, especially the licorice root based sprays, are very similar
and preference is personal, try for yourself.
I’m
not a doctor so make sure to research related symptoms and
cures at sites like a2zvocalhealth.com and modernvocalist.com
or feel free to contact me to discuss your specific product
needs. Just Gotta Sing takes pride in providing quality
products and advice to singers worldwide. We don't carry
them all so some are not mentioned and although we feel
we picked the best, this should not be a reflection on competitor's
products. We receive many products for review and try to
keep these guidelines updated. Thanks for reading, we hope
you found this helpful.
