Karaoke Forums

My wife and I have caught something, we suspect at a little greek restaurant we visited on Wednesday.

Both of us have runny noses and sore throats. I'm on 100mg Amoxycillin twice a day for the next week.

I HAVE TO SING TONIGHT! Any tips to fixing your voice up quick?

I run a one man show for 2 - 3 hours before karaoke begins...

HELP!

Vic in Sydney.

There is another thread regarding this, though at a quick glance didn't see it. I myself am partial to sipping on butterscotch schnapps, and then finishing it right before you go up. It's a thicker soothing liquid. To better this, gargle some salt water before you leave. Works for me at least.

Time for all the home remedy cures....


Alkolol (sp?) - You can get this at a CVS Drug Store (they usually carry it in the back by the Pharmacist's counter). You dilute it with water and gargle.

Throat Coat - An Herbal Tea. I like the brand name Traditional Medicines. You can get this at your local GNC or Vitamin Shoppe. If your throat is really sore, you will feel the Ginger burning through a bit.

Ginger Tea - Also, you can get this at your local GNC or Vitaminn Shoppe. Also, some Supermarkets carry this one.

Regular Tea with Lemon and Honey.

Entertainer's Secret - This is a mild spray with Aloe in it. You have to order this at your local Pathmark store (by the Pharmacist's Counter).

Riccola (sp?) herbal cough drops - you can find these at any drug store and even your local Newspaper and Candy stores.

Rest. I try not to sing if I don't have to & just do light talking throughout a night while explaining the fact. If it was show where I HAD to sing, I would cancel the night.

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Choose songs that doesn't require a super voice. Stuff like Rainy day women.

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If you can find it at the local health food store then go for "Singer's Saving Grace". Most professional singers that I know use it and love it. You may even be able to find it a drug store but I doubt it

Alkalol is excellent, herbal, inexpensive, and really works well. I had to do some studio work and was just recovering from a pretty bad sore throat/cold. The guy I was doing backup work for was a screamer and I had to emulate that with my backup. I was scared to death. Gargled Alkalol all day long and I got through it. Barely, but I got through it.

Simple for me, "Fruit Breezers" found at any grocery store. Very soothing and tasteee too.

Low voice songs--One Bourbon One Scotch and One Throat Lozenge, Johnny Cash, etc

I went to a karaoke show where the KJ played some comedy DVD half the night. And I don't think he had a sore throat either!

Low voice songs--One Bourbon One Scotch and One Throat Lozenge, Johnny Cash, etc

I went to a karaoke show where the KJ played some comedy DVD half the night. And I don't think he had a sore throat either!

If at all possible DON'T sing.
Your voice is trying to tell you something. Listen to it!
Stop smoking if you do. It's terrible to you vocal chords.
Avoid Alcohol and coffee. They are also drying to the chords.
Singer's Saving Grace, as someone else on here stated, is great if you can find it.
Tastes and smells like sh*t, but it works!
Try sipping licorice tea throughout the night. Make sure it has REAL licorice in it and isn't just flavoured with anise. If it's just flavoured, it won't work. An alternative is to put a REAL licorice stick in a cup of hot water or add it to your tea.
Lemon tea is a good second choice, and barring all of the above, cold water with a squeezed slice of lemon in it is good, as well.
Avoid over talking and sing "easy" songs.
The number one reason that singers end up with nodes on their vocal chords and end up requiring surgery is that they continue to sing when they should rest. It's also because they don't sing they correct way. They "push" rather than just let it come.
I've had nodes, caused by horrible coughing when I had bronchitis and pneumonia. I also had the surgery and lost half my vocal range because of it. I definitely baby my voice these days and these are all tried and true methods I've learned over the years, but the only really effective method for saving you voice is to shut your mouth and not open it.

Thanks for all of your suggestions.

I am in Australia, so some of the product you suggested is not resdily available.

I will try some of them over the next few days and report on progress... for now - this is day 4 on antibiotics and not much progress.

I am dreading the coming weekend - HUMUNGOUS show 500 people... oh no!!! Hopefully I am better by then.

I know people that swear chewing raw lemons works, but others say this is a bad idea. I guess to each his own. Cough drops with menthol work well for me. BTW, Singer's Saving Grace is available online if your interested. I may give this a shot to see how it works.

Drink lots of water, use slippery elm, have tissue available and songs like

"La Grange" by ZZ Top -- a bit of "ah ha ha ha" and a bit of talking for 1:22 out of the 4 minutes. The rest is rocking guitar which gives you time to rest the cords some more, spit some of the crap out and figure out another low one...