Playing a gig with the cold – advice

Subject: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: avrosimones
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 07:44 AM

Hello everyone,

I've got a gig tonight and have come down with the cold… typical.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone here had any good advice on how to get through it/prepare for it.

Any advice would be appreciated – I'll literally give anything a go!

Thanks,

David

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Scrump
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 09:54 AM

It might help to know what you do. I assume you sing (or having a cold wouldn't be quite such a nuisance), but do you play instruments?

If so, you might considering playing more tunes and singing fewer songs, if that fits in with what you do.

Otherwise, the usual cold treatments will help. But I think this has come up before, so maybe others will have more specific advice.

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Marc Bernier
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 09:58 AM

THroat coat (Slippery elm tea) and whiskey.

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: avrosimones
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 10:08 AM

I play guitar and sing...

Tea and whiskey is a good idea, so is playing more tunes (and singing less!)

Does anyone else have experience with this?

-David

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 10:53 AM

Lots. You just do it. Tough it out. I find that somehow the focus or excitement or adrenalin or something takes over and the cold fades into the background for awhile; however, a five or six-hour gig can be trying under those circumstances ... Along with the other suggestions, you've just got to throw yourself into the music when you hit the stage; concentrate on it, and not on the cold symptoms.

I'm suffering from a terrible cold right now, and I find that the only thing that I can really do is play my fiddle - it takes my mind off the cold and actually seems to make me feel better. Of course, that's me and this particular cold ...

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Scrump
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 11:04 AM

If there are other musos or singers present, you could always invite them on stage to join you for the odd 'guest spot', and help take the load off your voice, but of course this depends on the gig, the audience's expectations, how well you can accommodate the guests, etc. - obviously better if you know them well and have performed with them before, and have a chance to forewarn them.

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Bee
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 11:09 AM

It's old, but I find it works in some situations - fresh squeezed lemon juice, large dollop of honey, hot water. Dark rum optional.

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: GUEST,HW
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 11:16 AM

Test your repertoire first ( but briefly, so that you don;t use up too much voice!). My reactions to colds varies - sometimes I lose a note or two from the top of my range, so I drop keys a little if necessary (perversely I sometimes find my top notes come out better - explain that, someone, please!.) and sometimes certain word sounds suffer. After you've been at it a while I guess you get a feel for which songs will work with a cold and which to avoid. Funny ones are usually OK whatever. And as has been said before, whiskey works a treat (not if you have to drive yourself, though!) Lockets aren't too bad, either.

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Hamish
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 11:17 AM

Use a mic on a stand. You won't have to sing so loudly. Avoid a headset mic cos you can't turn away if you need to cough/splutter/sniff*/blow nose/etc.

*Take lots of hankies. Don't sniff.

Good luck!

~8^)

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Jim Lad
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 11:42 AM

Antihistamines work for me. Any over the counter medication which is aimed at drying up the sinuses. During busy seasons, I use them even when I don't have a cold. Coated medications should last you for four hours and kick in fairly quickly so if you take two before you start, you should be good for the night.
Nasal sprays, disgusting as they are, work well in tandem. Other than that, you probably sound much better than you think, when you have a cold.
Interesting advice, Hamish. I've often thought about getting a headset but that's the one thing that stopped me. So I'm not completely nuts!
Good Morning All, from the cool grey Highlands of Victoria, BC on this the first full day of Spring, 2007.
Jim

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: GUEST,Mr Muso
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 11:46 AM

"you might considering playing more tunes and singing fewer songs"(Srump)

"Tea and whiskey is a good idea, so is playing more tunes (and singing less!)" (avro)

This is good advice in general, ill or not! :-))

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: GUEST,MrMuso
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 11:57 AM

"..the only thing that I can really do is play my fiddle - it takes my mind off the cold and actually seems to make me feel better" (GUEST meself)

there we are - get that fiddle out!

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Scrump
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 11:59 AM

whiskey works a treat (not if you have to drive yourself, though!)

True, but I wouldn't go overboard if you want to make a good impression with the audience. It's not just the driving, but the playing... however, if you fluff any lines, etc., you could use that as the excuse :-)

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: IanC
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 12:28 PM

In the past, I've used a proprietary oral rinse called Difflam. It certainly does the trick and I've been able to sing/say all evening when I've previously had no voice.

The next day's another thing, however, and you will certainly suffer. Also, don't - whatever you do - swallow any of it. It will do whatever to the rest of your system.

:-)
Ian

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Splott Man
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 12:57 PM

To keep the voice from croaking, Her dameship and I swear by Vocalzones, avilable across the counter at any chemist (and they contain Myrrh - so that's what it's for!).

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: greg stephens
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 01:03 PM

Whisky, lemons, hot water, honey. If this fails, add more whisky. You'll sound rubbish to start with, but miraculously improve as the evening progresses.

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: GUEST,linctus
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 01:05 PM

Drink your own urine. The taste will take your mind off the cold. Don't let the audience see you or they'll know you're taking the piss.

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Scrump
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 01:11 PM

Having a cold should improve your nasal-sounding delivery of long, rambling, traditional songs and ballads, in the approved 'traddie' style :-)

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: DonMeixner
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 01:12 PM

I rfecall a thread on this topic last year about this time.

Anyway...

I'll sometimes have a very good brandy while I sing if I have a cold. Or a liquor with a very smooth, buttery, texture.   But generally I just ask the waiteress for some bread and butter.
Seamus Kennedy swears by candied ginger. Probably as many remedies as there are vocalists with colds.

Don

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Wesley S
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 01:17 PM

How many Bob Dylan songs do you know?

And fo heavens sake don't share the mic - no sense passing the cold along to the next performer.

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: avrosimones
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 01:28 PM

Great advice so far, thanks folks.

I know quite a few Dylan... so you never know!

I'm just about to have some tea, then after dinner and before the gig, I'll make myself a whiskey/lemon/honey/hot water mix.

I'll let you know how I get on!

-David

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Jim Lad
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 01:33 PM

I just love all of the "Alcohol" advice. Feeling better and sounding better are two different things.
You were all supposed to say "You're right, Jim Lad! No need for further discussion here. Thank you for the advice". But no! There you all go thinking for yourselves again.
hmph!

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Bee
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 05:27 PM

It's a curse, Jimlad, it's a curse...

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 08:36 PM

Times have changed - when I went to do my first Prac Music Exam Grade 1 - I was very young - my mum got dad to buy a small bottle of brandy and I was give a teaspoonful in milk about 20 mins before.

Sailed thru it!

Whee!

Today they'd call that child abuse.... it was a common 'old wives remedy' for babies who wouldn't settle too... :-)

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Linda Goodman Zebooker
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 01:00 AM

It's probably too late now, but I find that quickly taking zinc gluconate will stop most of my colds in their tracks so that they last only a few hours, or at worst a few days with mild symptoms. You should do this at the very first suspicion of a cold (for me always a slightly sore throat). It's much less effective if you wait a few hours or a day.

I don't know if this medicine is available to you. Here it's a homeopathic medicine available over the counter in drugstores and grocery stores. It's sold as losenge called "Cold Eeze" and also something called "Zicam" that's a swab or spray. I have more experience using the losenge.

Cold Eeze was introduced to us by our choir director in 1998 and I've suffered only a few mild colds since then. Before that, I USED to get lots of colds, and lose my speaking voice for a week and my singing voice for a month. Now this isn't much of a problem any more.

The zinc works best if you take it immediately, before the cold has a chance to settle in. I keep some handy all the time, so I don't have to take the time to go out and buy it. Taking it even now might still do some good to make your current cold shorter, though.

I also take it for what the duration of a cold would be - otherwise the cold sometimes breaks through. And even if I've nipped all the symptoms in the bud, I still consider myself contagious for 3 days to a week and stay away from the elderly and immunocompromised people.

Linda

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: GUEST,Rev
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 02:35 AM

Don't forget to drink plenty of water too. Just keeping hydrated will help you feel and sound better.

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Wordsmith
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 03:12 AM

I got here late, so this is for next time: Ricola cough drops...there's now lots of different flavors. Honey, lemon, whiskey, also a good combo. Straight honey on a spoon. I once had a recipe for this cough syrup, but I can't recall the measurements...it was whiskey, lemon, and vegetable oil...I'd err on the side of the liquor...or have a bathroom nearby. Blackberry brandy. If you try all of the above on the same night, I don't think you'll make to the gig, let alone through it. Hope you feel better.

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: avrosimones
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 06:54 AM

Hello everyone,

Thanks for the great advice... Mudcat never ceases to amaze.

Anyway, I had some of the lemon/honey mix beforehand, which seemed to help a lot.

I took a lot of what was said onboard, and I think the advice from 'Guest, meself' was really useful. I concentrated on the music and not the cold. I played more and sung less/not too loudly (as I had a microphone).

Overall the gig went well, very well in fact. Got some great feedback and managed to get rid of some CD's!

So thanks again, I'll keep an eye out for some of those Zinc tablets as well!

-David

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Scrump
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 06:58 AM

Today they'd call that child abuse.... it was a common 'old wives remedy' for babies who wouldn't settle too... :-)

I'm not 100% sure, but I think some of those child remedies for teething pain, etc., such as Calpol, have alcohol in. Once when we were camping with our son as a baby (a bad mistake - don't do it!) we gave him a dose of Calpol to help him sleep. Unfortunately it seemed to have the opposite effect, and made him start 'singing' just like many of us would after a pint or two :-)

We had to take him away in the middle of the night for a walk (with us carrying him of course), to avoid disturbing the other campers, until he finally dropped off to sleep, by which time we were knackered! :-)

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Jim Lad
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 03:23 PM

"I think the advice from 'Guest, meself' was really useful."

Now there's a phrase you won't hear too often.

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Mo the caller
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 04:05 PM

Does anyone else find that eating makes a cold feel worse?

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: GUEST,Sparticus
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 04:30 PM

"Feed a cold, starve a fever."

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 05:04 PM

"Now there's a phrase you won't hear too often."

Methinks the green-eyed monster doth raise its tweed-bonneted head again. I'll have you know that I am often thanked enthusiastically for my free and useful advice, by complete strangers at bus stops, in grocery stores, in public houses, in the corridors of power, in the elevators of impotence, and yes, even on the internet. Furthermore, I shall never let envious carpings deter me from doing what I can to help my fellow man deal with the buffets and blows of cruel fortune. And my advice to you, Mr Lad - well, if you're going to be that way, I just won't give you any advice!

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Jim Lad
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 05:18 PM

Well thanks for that, Meself. I'll take whatever attention you care to give me.

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Old Grizzly
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 05:40 PM

Eh up Scrump,

Had same problem with calpol & our kids - one spoonful and they were bouncing off the ceiling ... Doc advised us that it is full of 'E number' additives and colours.

Found out the secret though - Marstons Pedigree always seemed to do the job a treat :o)


Hot pop and beechams powders used to be the standard cold remedy in the potteries.

I never get colds - I am pure toxin to all viruses :o)

Dave

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Scrump
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 10:55 AM

Hmm, maybe I should try that Calpol meself then Dave :-)

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Old Grizzly
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 01:11 PM

LOL

Stick to the Pegigree Mate :o)

Dave

Subject: RE: Playing a gig with the cold – advice
From: Jim Lad
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 01:43 PM

Wouldn't be the first time, I gave the wean an extra spoonful of cough medicine when I thought Brenda wasn't looking!