Merritt ... I appreciate your comments, especially regarding what I call "vocal stamina." I know excatly what you mean when you mention that sometimes after two or three hours, you feel your voice is just starting to "hit it's stride." I know that feeling and it's very good when it happens. As has been well and frequently mentioned on this thread, reguliar vocal workouts are what prepare you for the long haul.

Here's another focus on the subject, unfortunatly somewhat negative, but true.

Over the last 6 years, I have spend countless hundreds (thousands?) of hours caring for my elderly parents. At times, the strain on me was horrible and impossible to describe. Bride Judy helped me through it, as did many of my friends.

During those years, I was trying to keep up with my singing obligations, and I fell short. I would start a program that should have lasted an hour, or an hour and a half, and barely 30 minutes into it, my voice would start to fail. Of course, I knew the reason.

I simply wasn't able to get enough rest. I wasn't able to get enough preparation time, especially the MENTAL preparation that was required.
Stress takes a terrible toll on us. And my voice and throat problems are usually the first sign of strain for me.

So, for me, the bottom line is, I can only give a good performance when my head and my body are well rested.

... Just another part of the equation ... CHEERS, Bob