<p>So my first audition is a week from tomorrow, Thursday Jan. 28th, and of course today during rehearsal, phelgm started comming, a sore throat is evident, and I'm slowly but surely losing my voice. </p>
<p>Does anyone have any advice on how to battle this "all-to-convient" cold?</p>
<p>No good, no good.</p>
<p>I wish there was a magic solution I could tell you about. My D just does all the usual things: lots of water, lots of rest, saline nasal washes, humidifier at night, those packets of powdered Immune Defense in a glass of orange juice, Umkacare, Wellness Formula , Echinacea, chewable vitamin C. There’s also Roxalia for sore throat/hoarseness although I’m not sure how much it helps. And Fruit Breezers throat drops. Also, I’m sure there are different schools of thought on the usefullness of these things.</p>
<p>Get rest, drink lots of water and rest your voice. That means cut back on talking, singing, everything. </p>
<p>Gargle with warm salt water, followed by Listerine. Use a personal steamer and get a neti pot (sinus rinse system) if you don’t have one. I think the zinc, Airborne, etc. is a waste of money but I like Mucinex to thin the mucous. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Tea tea tea tea tea!</p>
<p>Yes, my D drinks lots of tea. If your throat is sore, drink it warm, not hot. You don’t want to inflame the throat even more.</p>
<p>I just bumped an old thread about vocal health. It has very important info regarding do’s and don’ts for singers.</p>
<p>The MOST important thing you can do right now is vocal rest. You cold makes your vocal folds swell, between the “drippage” and coughing, so you should do NOTHING but gentle humming a few minutes every hour, if you can do that easily. If you are too hoarse to hum GENTLY (if you have to force it out), you shouldn’t even do that. </p>
<p>It sounds like you’re in a show - go to rehearsal and MARK through any speaking or singing. I know this is so difficult to do and that people (including adults like your director) may get mad at you, but it’s essential so you can bounce back as quickly as possible.</p>
<p>The other big thing is to SUPPRESS YOUR COUGH as much as possible. Take a cough suppressant, making sure you drink LOTS of water because they dry you out - BUT right now reducing any cough is a priority. Some effective cough suppression strategies when you feel the urge:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Take a sip of water and swallow hard, almost like a cartoon, several times. This swallowing acting dampens the need-to-cough sensation</p></li>
<li><p>Exhale fairly forcefuly through pursed lips or with the sound “shhhhhh”. Inhale slowly though your mouth (or nose if you aren’t too stuffed) and exhale again. The forceful exhale with the front of your mouth constricted somewhat causes your vocal folds to separate, meaning you can’t cough! (A cough is your vocal folds slamming into each other to try to clear an irritation to your voice box; it’s your body’s attempt to protect your airway from foreign stuff going into your lungs.)</p></li>
<li><p>Hold your breath! Sometimes this helps the cough urge pass.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>If you have mucus in your throat, you probably WILL have to cough some - but the more you suppress it, the more quickly you will bounce back.</p>
<p>Make sure any tea you drink is NON-CAFFEINATED!!</p>
<p>Hang in there!!</p>
<p>Vocal rest is always good, talk less, don’t whisper or shout, refrain from carbonated soft drinks or alcohol.</p>
<p>Nettipots are great to clear out the sinuses and get rid of germs, check one out! They sell them at many conveniance drug stores (CVS, Rite Aid, etc.).</p>
<p>Drink tea- the warmth helps the throat but can also dehydrate. So drink tea, but drink water as well. </p>
<p>Also, I find emergen-c is a good energy and vitamin booster, drink it before the auditions and in situations where you are around lots of people!</p>
<p>Lastly- Where is your audition on the 28th? I have one for Cincinnati in NYC.</p>
<p>THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE ADVICE! It really helps a lot! My audition next thursday is for Marymount Manhattan in San Francisco! Once again, thanks!</p>
<p>Dillbird1453 - My DD will also be auditioning for Marymount in San Francisco that day. I hope you feel better soon!</p>
<p>showmom858 --how awesome! What time is her audition at? I’m in Group B at 2 pm! And I’m already feeling a bit better–thank goodness! A lot of rest this weekend for sure!!</p>
<p>Dillbird1453 - My DD is in the A group so we have to be there at 9:00 am. We are flying in from SoCal Wednesday night.</p>
<p>Glad to hear you are feeling better!</p>
<p>Oh! Well tell your DD to break a leg!</p>
<p>We fly from Colorado on Wednesday as well!</p>
<p>Dillbird1453 - “Break a leg!”</p>
<p>I hope you are feeling well and that your first audition will be a good experience.</p>
<p>This will be my DD’s second audition. She wanted to have two out of the way before she hits the Unifieds in LA in less than two weeks.</p>
<p>Dillbird1453 - Hope all went wll with your Marymount audition today. DD had a good experience and is looking forward to LA Unifieds.</p>