It’s been SO long since I’ve written…again I’ve allowed too much time to go by without posting on either one of my blogs. There is just so much to do, and so many hours.

The band and I had our CD release party at Yoshi’s San Francisco in October. It was truly gratifying and wonderful to see so many of my friends who had driven over 60 miles to see us…from Santa Rosa all the way down to San Jose and all points in-between, I realize how many people I know! and how many of them like the music enough to travel on a week day night to hear us. Thank you EVERYONE who came to the show! I LOVE you guys!

Anyway, I woke up sick that morning, and thought I would share with you my remedies that helped me sing my heart out that night, have a great show, and feel really good about it when I was done. I awoke with a completely swollen throat and glands, couldn’t swallow without intense pain, major headache, and really bad body aches…naturally, I haven’t been sick in YEARS, so of course would wake up sick on a very important day! I allowed myself to panic for exactly 30 seconds, then made my plan. I hope it will help any singers out there who find themselves facing an important show with a sore throat or flu. Here’s what to get, and what to do:

1. Licorice root tea (loose tea, or tea bags such as “Throat Coat” by Traditional Medicinals); this is a MUST! Make sure you sip the tea through out the day, and definitely take a cup of it on stage with you if you can. It’s naturally sweet, and keeps your mouth moist on stage. Plus, it really does soothe your sore throat. I depend on licorice root tea and it’s really saved me.
2. Raw, organic, local honey: if you can get this, I’m not kidding…it’s awesome. It immediately soothes the throat, and also gives you some quick energy. I was so tired, and my body was so sore, the honey felt like an internal balm. Honestly. I had several tablespoons throughout the day, and brought it to the gig. I took a spoonful about five minutes before going on stage, and sipped the tea afterwards. Yum.
3. “Singer’s Saving Grace” throat spray: this is an herbal remedy. It also contains licorice root, as well as Yerba Mansa and others. It is in an alcohol base, so don’t use it exclusively, as alcohol will dry out your throat passages. It’s strong, and it does bring relief. I use one or two sprays, followed by a licorice root chaser…yum. (not really…it’s not yummy, sorry).
4. Lots of water, room temperature.
5. TAKE A NAP in the afternoon.
6. DO NOT WHISPER!!! That is the WORST thing you can do to your throat when it’s swollen. Whispering forces the air through your vocal chords in an unnatural way, and puts even more stress on them in their weakened state.
7. DO KEEP TALKING, AND SINGING. Talk quietly, sing a little bit throughout the day. I have some operatic vocal techniques that I have relied on for years. When I’m sick, I do a few of those exercises without straining. If I am able to do them, I continue for just five minutes or so, then stop. If I am unable to do them, I don’t panic. I stop, rest for a while, take some honey, and try again an hour later. Do this in intervals throughout the day. You want to keep your vocal chords working, and very slightly warmed up. This is so you don’t go on stage with ‘cold’ chords, and do more damage.
8. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you should NOT talk at all. That’s not true….keep your chords working gently, a little bit at a time, as the day goes on. In the evening, an hour before your show, do your warm up, very slowly, for about ten minutes. Rest, then warm up again, for ten minutes, fifteen minutes before you go on.
9. BREATHE. Deeply, quietly, alone if you can, before you go out there. Close your eyes, and imagine yourself singing the BEST show you’ve ever done. FEEL how great it is when your voice is strong and clear and you are in complete control. Focus your attention ONLY on that. It’s hard to do, because being sick might make you feel a little more nervous…I know I was! The breathing really helped.
10. Oh yes: the chef at Yoshi’s made me a HUGE bowl of some wonderful Japanese broth, with seafood, mushrooms, veggies and noodles. It was SO good, and I felt like new afterwards. I ate it in the dressing room an hour before singing, and it kept me going all night. I love Japanese cuisine! If you can’t get Yoshi’s marvelous soup, try to get some nourishing soup without a lot of salt in it. And no cream-based soups. Even though they say you shouldn’t drink dairy before you sing because it “coats your throat” or creates more mucus, my thinking is more along the lines that it just slows you down…it’s too heavy. Know what I mean? Of course, I am not a doctor, nor an expert, but my experience through many years of singing is that drinking milk doesn’t effect my throat…it effects the way my BODY feels – heavy, slow, yuck – so I avoid it.

So that’s my plan for taking care of myself when I have to sing an important show while nursing the flu or a cold. If you have other tricks you’d like to share, feel free to add your comments.