Singers who vape?

[juicynoos]

Consider easing back on the vaping in the days/hours leading up to the gig. It's still hot vapor that isn't great for the body. Higher nic might help prevent desire to chain vape. Then you can chain vape when you get off stage

Few more tips you probably already know: room-temp (or better hot/warm) water with honey/lemon (no cold water!). Warm up your voice properly. Don't drink coffee or caffeine in hours before a gig. Caffeine and cold liquid constrict vocal chords. No milk or thick liquids.

This is some SOUND advice lol. I entertain most every night of the week and drink only room temp water on stage. If I am having any issue I use a pastille called Euphon which contains Glycerol (VG) as already mentioned. I vape very occasionally during performances and my liquids are minimum 50/50; high PG dries the throat too much. In theory, vaping high VG juices on stage should help plus adds a nice mist effect to the stage lights for which you can charge extra

 

[yzer]

PG and VG are both hygroscopic and won't do your vocal cords any favors.

 

[Cacique]

I like these little xylitol candies called Ice Chips, they really get your mouth and throat wet when you pop 1 or 2 in your mouth. I also find coconut water to hydrate me better and make my mouth and throat feel more hydrated longer. Wish I could help more, good luck!

 

[Amraann]

Excellent! I'll have him ask his doc about aquoral.

I just looked up Singer's Saving Grace - I worried that most sprays would be just honey... this is apparently VG and osha root? (I had already wondered about VG - but I thought it would be too short lived to be of any use... hmmm) I'm ordering some to give it a try! THANK YOU!!

There is an OTC spray for dry mouth called Biotene. It also comes in gel form and works pretty well for dry throat.

 

[Bunnykiller]

and what about vapors who sing?

 

[jcco]

There may or still is a spray called Chloroseptic [I think that's what it's called/spelled]. It's an OTC spray for sore throats & remember that it works really well.
My brother in law is a professional opera singer that had vocal chord probs. & I told him about it. He uses it when he sings & swears by it.
I think I've seen their lozenges too. You might want to give it a try.

Hope that helps.

JC

 

[jcco]

Just Googled it & found it almost everywhere. Wally World, Walgreens, many more & yes there are lozenges.

Sorry about 2 posts. Should'a Googled 1st. Ha.

 

[TyPie]

Musician here also, and my lung capacity and endurance on the trumpet has increased dramatically. My voice, however (tho I'm not claiming to be a singer by any stretch) is also noticeably more raspy. Water seems to be falling short for me as well, but I do drink more of it lately.

Robino, one of the moderators here, is also a singer if I'm not mistaken. I think she's had some success keeping the dryness under control. Hoping she'll see this and chime in.......

 

[Johntodd]

I have the same problem. I sing on demo recordings (a lot) for composers.

Here's what I did: Learn how to rebuild (make your own coils), and switch to 100% VG. Get a rebuildable that has lots of airflow so you can draw in with out any back pressure. Back pressure seems to make me cough from irritation. Dunno why, just does.

That, and lots of hydration makes all the difference to me. And I am a "tenderthroat", by any measure.

Hope this helps!
-Johntodd

 

[KattMamma]

Thank you all for the advice - I will pass it all on to hubby and hopefully one of these ideas will work for him. Vape on!!

 

[Amraann]

There may or still is a spray called Chloroseptic [I think that's what it's called/spelled]. It's an OTC spray for sore throats & remember that it works really well.
My brother in law is a professional opera singer that had vocal chord probs. & I told him about it. He uses it when he sings & swears by it.
I think I've seen their lozenges too. You might want to give it a try.

Hope that helps.

JC

Yes they still make chloreseptic spray as well as losenges.

 

[Markill]

I am hugely into theater, so singing is kinda necessary for me. Something I used before vaping, and use even more now, is an herbal tea called Throat Coat. It also comes in lozenges. Doesn't taste the best to me, but brew a strong cup of the stuff, throw in some honey, and your throat will feel like magic. It's an organic tea, so you can look for it in any sort of organic food shop, and the like. I had a tough time finding it, my mother was actually the one to find it.

 

[WonderDude32]

I took vocal lessons to keep my upper range and my teacher made me drink lemon water. Just lemons and water. Kinda bitter but you don't dry out for reasons I know not. And stay away from any sugars as they can cause phlegm. Alcohol will dry out your throat and we all know that smoking will end your career. Vape on.

 

[Robino1]

Musician here also, and my lung capacity and endurance on the trumpet has increased dramatically. My voice, however (tho I'm not claiming to be a singer by any stretch) is also noticeably more raspy. Water seems to be falling short for me as well, but I do drink more of it lately.

Robino, one of the moderators here, is also a singer if I'm not mistaken. I think she's had some success keeping the dryness under control. Hoping she'll see this and chime in.......

I stay away from any caffeine. No alcohol and I go through a lot of water.
I'm not doing much singing these days, too much drama for me, but I still sing around the house

Biotene does work for dry mouth. Gum will help create saliva. Since Katmamma's hubby is doing some major sweating before hand, that probably isn't helping. Make sure he is hydrating long before the gig. That might help counteract the sweat he is losing.

When you find the key, let us know what works for him

 

[FlamingoTutu]

Most of the time and if I have a choice I work outdoors in the summer heat all day long in TX, southern OK, LA, NM, AZ, NV, southern CA.

What works best for me is; I mix 1 32oz bottle of gatoraide and 32oz of water (50/50).
I pour it into empty bottles to make 4 almost full bottles.
I carry a 3 gallon industrial water jug /cooler filled with water and drink 2-4 bottles of water to every bottle of the 50/50 mix. I alternate between plain water & 50/50 so the 50/50 lasts most if not all day.

IMO, The most important thing is to hydrate before exertion or thirst, like drink one bottle of 50/50 on the way to the gig, water while setting up, then another 50/50, then alternate between the 50/50 and water.

Some folks I know that sing swear by the 50/50 mix and sugar free hard candy.
------
The short version is try 50% water 50% gatoraide mix and hydrate before during & after exertion.

^^^^This, this this!^^^^

Used to work as a wildland firefighter and it got a bit toasty out there. It takes several days to get yourself fully hydrated. You can't just drink a bunch of water and rehydrate yourself. I learned the hard way, several times, lol. Your husband should start drinking more fluids several days before he sets up and then stay hydrated throughout the day. When you are thirsty, you're already starting to dehydrate.

Since my singing voice sounds like a hoarse squirrel at best, I've no advice to offer in that area but it looks like many knowledgeable have contributed in that area.

Wonder what Robin sounds like when she sings.

 

[bullet08]

i don't sing.. but i'm a piper. i play, or rather used to play until 3 yrs ago great highland bagpipes. used to smoke 2 packs a day and still played in competition band. one of my teacher back in 80's was this old gent.. was in his 80's from scotland. he smoked unfiltered camel.. 3 packs a day. too much commitments and i'm just not good at managing my time to have a family, a job and be in the competition band all at the same time. so piping went.

 

[KattMamma]

Thanks again guys - he's always drank lots of water and gatorade - never thought about mixing them but he alternates. Not sure he's starting well in advance, so I will push that idea!!

When you find the key, let us know what works for him

Not sure there is a key, but am just hoping for an improvement in the situation. Plus he's a bit hard-headed, so he's probably not going to want to try the gum, but maybe some of the other suggestions. If we learn anything, I'll definitely share.

Wonder what Robin sounds like when she sings.

A beautiful song bird?

 

[Jorge22]

I haven't sang much lately but from what I can tell (I took up vaping and quit smoking 4 and a half years ago), my singing has improved in some ways which I can't explain but at the same time, sometimes, it seems to be the opposite. I'm really not sure... It could be lack of practice - I used to sing daily and now, for quite a while, it's not like that at all.

 

[KattMamma]

I haven't sang much lately but from what I can tell (I took up vaping and quit smoking 4 and a half years ago), my singing has improved in some ways which I can't explain but at the same time, sometimes, it seems to be the opposite. I'm really not sure... It could be lack of practice - I used to sing daily and now, for quite a while, it's not like that at all.

You may be experiencing the same thing as my husband - better lung capacity, better vocal range, but issues with vocal control due to dry mucous membranes in the mouth and throat.

 

[Shipwreck]

Hey @KattMamma I'm a singer and I have always stood by licorice tea with honey, and also pineapple juice is awesome. I too have noticed my vocals are a lot better since I quit smoking. I can now hit ranges I use to hit when I was in my late teens and early twenties. As Thespis mentions above the better air flow is a huge factor.