The 5 sure-fire ways to loosen up your voice and not lose it!

By: Direk Brian Ligsay

Allergies, bad perfume, the weather, temperature changes, smoke, pollen and dust… God forbid you don’t inhale them all at once. Maybe what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, but what doesn’t make you available, will kill your career in doing voices. So let’s have some 5 sure-fire ways to keep your voice healthy for the next studio adventure:

1.     Stay Hydrated! The most unappreciated drink vital to both our survival and work is water. People suffer all sorts of ailments when they are dehydrated, and it definitely affects how your voice work. If you are dehydrated, your throat will feel dry, you make a lot of mouth noises, you will have headaches, and feel weak – and these are just the minor effects. Your body will be working overtime to keep moisture in and your kidneys will be overworked. Prolonged dehydration can lead to serious medical conditions and even death. So stock up on water, especially before a performance. Keep a water bottle nearby and drink plenty at least 20 mins before your scheduled recording. Because it takes 20mins for the body to absorb just 1 glass of water! Make it room temperature or lukewarm. Nothing Cold.

2.      Stay away from Coffee! – Or any caffeinated drinks for that matter. Including black tea, energy drinks, sodas, chocolate drinks or alcohol. A definite no-no. Soft drinks and chocolate contain tremendous amounts of sugar and may make your throat itchy. (No dark chocolate too!) And you don’t need the sugar rush, only to crash during a performance.  Caffeine in these drinks will cause you to take more bathroom breaks than needed, dries your throat, resulting in a lot of clicks, and other mouth noises. And let’s not even talk about alcohol. Do you really want to smell and move funny in front of a producer? What to drink then? Life’s just not complete without coffee... These liquids I mentioned - you can take in moderation, as long as you are not scheduled to perform. So coffee away or maybe latte? But not during a recording.

3.      Stay Dry and keep away from rain and fog! The weather nowadays is extreme. In a country that regularly welcome typhoons, it doesn’t rain cats and dogs anymore, but horses and carabaos. So stay dry and avoid the cold. Wear extra protection and clothing against the elements. Keep yourself covered in a foggy environment, and don’t inhale the “clouds”! The cold virus is the worst enemy of a voice actor - working in tight enclosed spaces. That is why a lot of DJs will suffer the same fate when someone from the team has a cold, because they are using the same mic! Don’t give your producer a bad impression by going to a recording feeling ill. Call in sick and they will understand, and cross your fingers they don’t choose another talent.

4.      Shoo that smoke away! Keep distance from smoke, pollen or dust. Anything that can make you sneeze or cough. Take careful note of what gives you allergies and learn how to combat them. Prevention is key. Second-hand passed smoke is even more dangerous than actually hitting the stick. So take note - Smoking is bad for you, it gives you bad breath and smell, destroys your lungs and brain cells, and you are at the mercy of a variety of unspeakable illnesses. Did I say it’s bad? Find the need to quit smoking and save yourself the hassle. No, Vaping is not an excuse. The same smoke dries your throat and makes it itchy. The relief is not worth the cheap cancer.

5.      Seek the right lubrication for your voice. You now know water is good for you. Any potable kind is ok, but there’s mineral, purified, spring, sterilized, distilled and criminal. Criminal water comes untreated directly from the tap. Who knows what lingers from contaminated old pipes your building has. But of all varieties, distilled is still the best to gobble up as it contains no impurities. However, doctors say you can’t drink it too often as you need the minerals found in water. Milk and its derivatives (dairy products, butter or yogurt) is not a substitute as it is made up of protein enzymes coating the tongue - making you slur and lose the end of words (N,D,S,T). Tea is ok as long as it is not too strong. Green tea, camomile or jasmine is ok, though they still have tolerable amounts of caffeine. Add a twist of lemon, 1 teaspoon of honey and a dash of cinnamon for a tasty treat. Have warm drinks to lubricate your throat and keep your vocal chords healthy. Don’t take ginger tea or salabat (I’ll discuss that in another topic). Speak gently and don’t clear your throat violently.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to “Voice-over Secrets Revealed,” a book written by voice coach guru Direk Brian Ligsay. For more than 13 years, he has been instrumental to developing countless individuals - improving their personality and confidence to perform, both off and on stage. For professional help in doing voices, and to order an advance copy of the book “Voice-over Secrets Revealed,” email: mothershiprecordingstudios@gmail.com