Anyone who has ever sung professionally knows that there is more to a vocal performance than simply walking onstage and belting out a song. A voice is a musical instrument, and it should be treated as such. This means knowing what to do and what not to do to prepare your voice for your next vocal performance. Preparation is important whether you have an important audition or are singing something just for fun.

Do Not

In order to prepare for a performance, there are several things you should not do. First of all, be careful about what you eat and drink. Dairy and caffeine should mostly be avoided about three days before your performance. Dairy products produce phlegm and caffeine can lead to dehydration, both of which can make singing more difficult. Spicy foods should also be avoided if you have issues with acid reflux, but some spicy foods will be okay. Use your best judgment here and remember what you can and cannot handle as far as spiciness.

Relevant: SonicBids

Second of all, you should also avoid spending too much time in dusty, smoky, or dry areas if you don’t want to irritate your vocal cords. Naturally, this includes not smoking anything before you have to perform.

Finally, be careful about how you use your voice. Do not scream or attempt to talk over loud sounds or voices, and do not speak in loud stage whisper if you can help it. All of these can irritate your throat and lead to a subpar performance.

Relevant: Robert Wimer

Do

Most of what you should be doing before a performance will involve relaxing and not straining your voice too much. There are some other things that you can be doing, however. First of all, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and drink eight to ten glasses of water a day, especially if you have a performance coming up in a few days. Second of all, invest in lozenges and tea that coats your throat. They will be incredibly useful when you need to get rid of a sore throat before you have to perform.

Finally, try using a steamer for your voice. Inhaling steam that contains essential oils can help soothe your throat and improve your vocal performance when the time comes. Add a few drops of a protective blend (like OnGuard by doTerra), lavender, or frankincense essential oil to make your steam inhalation treatments more effective.

Even though these tips will certainly help prepare your voice for your next performance, the most important thing to remember is that you keep practicing. As long as you keep these tips in mind and continue to hone your skills with practice, you will do just fine during your next performance.

To improve your voice and your performance ability, contact us today to learn how Confident Voice Studio can help!