Been sick with a sore throat all week. This morning I woke up and my voice was gone. Today my throat feels like it’s been stabbed. I had been looking forward to the Gospel Echoes banquet tonight, but the way I’m feeling I ain’t goin’ nowhere. (Here is a little bit on the banquet tour they’ve been on recently.)
Over the course of my occasionally long and briefly lustrous singing career, there have been many times that sickness has overtaken me when I was committed to sing. One of my most consistent fears/concerns has always been, what if I get sick when I have to sing?!
And it certainly happens. You just deal with it, there isn’t much choice in the matter. Last year I hadn’t been singing much at all, then I got a gig filling in for my buddy Norrell on baritone with my now current quartet, Vocal Witness. What do you know, I got sick right before the gig. Hadn’t sang in ages, but the old viri and flu vermin knew just when to kick in.
So now I’m actually in the quartet. My first official gig is, yes, this Sunday night. Figures. I’m planning on being much better by then. But if I’m not, I’ll do what I’ve done the rest of my career and just deal with it.
I’ve tried all manner and sundry of home-brewed concoctions and quackery, but alas, I never did find a miracle cure. However, there are a couple things I’ve found that are soothing and I like. Steam is one, and I’m drinking the other right now. I think I got it from my Mom.
Dissolve some honey and lemon juice in a cup of hot water. Tastes good, feels good too.
6 Responses
May 12th, 2005 at 3:47 pm
I know exactly what you mean, even though I don’t do as many ‘big gigs’ as you. It’s miserable.
May 12th, 2005 at 5:34 pm
I use the same concoction of honey, lemon juice, and warm water. Mom could get me to take that when I wouldn’t take Tussin.
May 12th, 2005 at 6:21 pm
I love Nyquil. I drink it straight from the bottle.
May 12th, 2005 at 10:35 pm
I really dislike the taste of Nyquil, but a half dose will let me sleep through night when I’m congested and coughing. A full dose will let me sleep through the morning! I always buy the green generic kind.
May 17th, 2005 at 8:24 am
Don’t forget to tell us how it went. Did you have to lipsync?
May 17th, 2005 at 2:01 pm
Actually Dave, I was saved. The program was cancelled due to family emergencies for our tenor.
I could have made it, but it wouldn’t have been pretty.