For many of us, we aren’t (or in my case, weren’t) able to make our entire living performing. We have day jobs, responsibilities, and avocations that involve use of the voice all day long. So you may be thinking, “There are so many demands placed on my voice before I even get to my gig or my presentation” or whatever professional voice use you engage in. Let’s face it: there’s family to care for, friends and coworkers to talk to, concerts and sporting events to attend…and the list goes on. It seems like everything is working against the voice before you ever get to use it professionally. It sure wouldn’t be worth it to give away all that vocal effort for free, and then have nothing left for the gig.
So we have the solution: be a Vocal Diva or Divo! Of course, in this case, I mean Diva in a good way. Let me tell you how. (And if you’d rather watch this in video format, check out our Be a Vocal Diva video here:
DON’T BE THE HUMAN LOUDSPEAKER
Many people don’t realize how they’re always calling out to someone who’s not in the same room as they are. This can be a voice-destroyer. Instead, “train” your family members to come to you, instead of calling you from another room and expecting you to call back. If you can, walk to them. If not, text them, use your Alexa, or even an intercom. The rule is, if you can’t reach out and touch someone, then you probably shouldn’t be talking to them…certainly not through a door, up the stairs, or over running water or noisy appliances.
If your spouse or partner wants to converse, ask them to mute the TV, turn off the running water, or lower the car’s sound system.
YOUR TEAM CAN’T ACTUALLY HEAR YOU!
As far as loud sporting events or concerts are concerned, it’s an exercise in futility to try to yell over the noise. And it’s a real voice-killer. Instead, try talking normally directly into your friend’s ear, or better yet, text them. Just whistle or clap for your team, instead of screaming. And rather than singing at the top of your lungs along with your favorite recording artist, just hum or sing quietly. You can pop a finger into one ear if you want to hear yourself. But let’s face it: for the price you must have paid for that ticket, you really should just listen to the artist!
VOCAL CONSERVATION AT HOME AND WORK
Try saying what you have to say in five words, instead of twenty-five words. Say it with a soft to medium voice, not with a loud barking shout. No offense to my dogs, who certainly bark, but THEY don’t lose their voices like we can.
Instead of long phone calls on the day of a gig, send texts or emails instead. If you must talk on the phone for work, use good posture, keep water nearby, take frequent replenishing breaths, and modulate your vocal volume.
If you need to clear your throat (and who doesn’t, what with pollution, wildfire smoke, drying air conditioning and heat, etc.) don’t do the typical forceful throat clear, which tends to smash your vocal folds together. Instead, do a tight swallow with water or saliva, by tucking your chin in toward your neck, like you’re giving yourself a double chin, and scrunching your throat closed as you swallow. It will squish the mucus right off your vocal cords without banging them together. A silent forceful huff of air, like an unvoiced “h”, will also help to vacuum that mucus right off your cords. (For some helpful how-to videos on safe throat clearing, see our videos on the subject.
SOME FINAL WORDS FOR ALL YOU DIVAS AND DIVOS
Above all, stay hydrated, avoid caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated beverages that can “dry and fry” (i.e., dehydrate and acidify) your vocal folds, especially on gig days, avoid smoke, vaping, and irritants like aerosols or cleaning products with fumes, avoid very salty foods that can make your vocal folds retain water and swell up, inhale steam or nebulized saline, and don’t yell! Remember, you are the DIVA! And Divas and Divos don’t yell!
Wishing you the Diva-esque Choice Voice you’ve always wanted!
