Once or twice a year, you suddenly see it all around you. If you’re lucky you might avoid it. But what if the common cold virus does get ya? There are few things more annoying than having to cancel a voice over job because of a sore throat. In this blog: first aid for colds.
Today, as I write, it is the 26th September 2017. The high season for voice over work has come round again and here I am with a sore throat, and a nose that seems to get bunged up as quick at the harbour of Schiermonnikoog.
Not, nice. Tomorrow a recording job for Nespresso, followed by an explainer video and a retake, Thursday voice over for Warchild, umm…how am I going to manage this? Here, a few tips for you, for those moments when you’re afraid you may wake up with no voice at all.
Stock up on H20
We´ll start with the age old remedy against a sore throat: salt water. Warm with honey and lime. OK…that seems a bit obvious. But the idea is that you are going to gargle with it until you can gargle no more! In this way you’re also massaging, your throat, as it were.
Avoid temptation
Ooh, tempting. Those cough sweets, with the Menthol. They often come in big bags and considering you’re probably feeling a little sorry for yourself, you might even buy two bags at once. DON´T! Most cough sweets have menthol in them and menthol dries your throat out, rather than helping you sound better.
Trust to nature
For that reason many voice over artists swear by Zinc Lozenges. This is a natural replacement for the lubricant your body produces to protect your throat. Another thing that you’ll usually find in a voice over talent’s medicine cabinet are nose sprays. There are all sorts. But, in fact the salt solution is just as good and a more natural remedy to boot.
Rest it
When you have a sore throat the inclination to whisper is a big one. Talking more softly gives you the idea that you’re not taxing your voice as much. Nothing could be further from the truth. So avoid whispering at all costs; your throat will only get more irritated by it. Even if you might become world famous because of it.
This may sound a little strange: no matter how heavy your cold is, for voice over artists it is in fact good to go outside. It seems more logical to take the car or public transport. But in that way, you will keep finding yourself in heated environments, when what your voice is actually after is clean, moist air.
Coughing and spluttering
No matter how difficult, if you can, try to cough as little as possible. By coughing you are
aggravating your voice right at the moment when it is irritated quickly. Some radio makers have made a little habit out of coughing right before opening the mic. Nice way to give yourself nodules on your vocal chords! It´s also a load of nonsense.
Steaming
To be honest I´m asking myself whether steaming really belongs in this list. It does open your nose for a bit, true. But in that case you´re usually so stopped up already, that serious voice over is really out of the question. Here too: a traditional bowl of boiled water and salt is to be recommended as most of the soluble tablets you can buy at the pharmacist also contain menthol.
Avoid acidic foods and drinks
Foods like citrus fruits, tomatoes, and even chocolate contain high levels of acid; which can eat away at the delicate tissue of your vocal folds. To help your aching throat heal faster, avoid these types of food.
Just say no
In conclusion, it is very tempting as a voice over talent, to say yes to a job rather than no. But be honest with yourself, there comes a point where you need to sell ´no´ to your client. If you are recording from a home studio, you can often be more flexible. I have offered to record a job anyway, so that the client could use my hoarse voice over to arrange the video animation, and get on with that work. Then a few days later, I had my voice back and I recorded the same script again.
The customer is always right – leave it up to them
With regular jobs, such as TV programmes for example, there is often no choice but to record nonetheless. A choice that you need to make together with the client. If you have a home studio, then it´s that much easier. You are able to be more flexible about when you record the job, and can take a shot at it at the best possible moment.
What do you do to avoid a sore throat? Or how do you work this out with your client? Let me know in the comments!
Best of luck, I hope that you escape any nasty cold viruses this year.
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