I understand that when you sing long sets that your throat tends to get a little dry. I know because I have sang first tenor/alto in different quartets (local) over the years and I, myself, like to take a drink of water every once in a while to keep my throat from getting dry. I tried to do it discretely, though.
My question is : How do you feel about artists taking drinks of water, or whatever else they drink, on stage during performances or while another member of the group is singing? Is it too noticeable, distracting, does it matter, does it look unprofessional, etc. ?
It is necessary sometimes after singing for a period of time, but my opinion is that it has become a habit with most people - same as with ministers (pastors) who, by the time they have read a scripture for their message, have to stop and get a drink of water. What did we do before “bottled” water became so popluar??? Just an opinion!
I understand that when you sing long sets that your throat tends to get a little dry. I know because I have sang first tenor/alto in different quartets (local) over the years and I, myself, like to take a drink of water every once in a while to keep my throat from getting dry. I tried to do it discretely, though.
My question is : How do you feel about artists taking drinks of water, or whatever else they drink, on stage during performances or while another member of the group is singing? Is it too noticeable, distracting, does it matter, does it look unprofessional, etc. ?
To me a quick drink BETWEEN SONGS is not too bad. It seems a bit rude to be doing anything other than paying attention to the singer if there is actually a song going on.
I would totally agree that it is not a big deal. I actually chew gum as well. It keeps my throat wet, thus helps me not have to drink as much. But I do drink water a lot on stage too. Singing tenor can do that to you. LOL
Actually it doesn’t bother me at all. I know from singing in our choir, when we would put on lengthy productions during those special seasons and events how dry our throats would get. So I certainly understand why they need to do it and I really don’t even pay much attention to it. I just enjoy the wonderful singing and the music!
As the MC for my group there is no time unless it’s during the solo of another group member sorry if that bothers some.
This is exactly right. The emcee doesn’t get a break, except when another member sings a solo. It’s even worse, in our case, when I move to the piano for part of the set, and play, sing and emcee.
I never really used water much on stage until I took some voice lessons in the mid-nineties. I then learned that it was dangerous to sing when your voice wasn’t properly lubricated, and certain types of damage to one’s voice could be avoided if the throat was kept lubricated.
At that point, having had friends requiring surgery for nodules in the past, I decided I couldn’t care less what others thought.
Granted, I cringe every time I see myself taking a swallow on our DVD concert, but I was there - and I remember being on stage and thinking how bad it would look on the video - but also thinking how bad it would sound if my voice cracked on an up-coming solo or if I became hoarse.
This is my primary concern, and it is in everyone’s ultimate best interests.
When I first saw this post I was excited. There are many of us out here that can learn from the “pro’s” and a thread of this sort is just what the doc ordered. I would love to see more of them; i.e. constructive posts that help those struggling with the problems of presentation in concert.
Cliff, you said it well. I watched, just last night, a concert that we taped from several years ago…......and I was “disgusted” with my many trips to the water bottle, my “prancing” and “fidgeting” while Maxine was singing….but then I remembered how hot the sanctuary was, and there were side issues we were dealing with concerning someone who was in attendance that we were greatly troubled for. At one point in the concert we broke from singing and prayed for those in attendance who were dealing with issues. I don’t know if it was the “professional” thing to do but it was the Godly thing. Amen
The BLESSING in watching the video was “constructive criticism” of self. I will learn from it.
I would ask that others reading this, ponder what I am referring to, what the original post was about…...........and come up with some other items that we singers should watch out for as we travel in HIS will. It will make OUR presentation more profession…......more ministerial…..and be better received by all.
It is easy to criticize those of us who are “amateurs” but the Godly thing to do would be to “educate” us from your experiences both as fellow singers and dedicated fans. I thank God for opening this door. Thanks Music Daddy for posting your question.
Could it just be a habit rather than a necessity? I sit in church and watch people just sitting there taking a drink of water. I think it’s water.
We used to tape Gospel Singing Jubilee, the Caravan, the Wally Fowler Show, Bob Pooles Favorites and we would stand for two to three hours under bright lights and never see a bottle of water. When someone is paying several hundred dollars an hour for studio and recording time, you don’t break for water.
Many all day singings with dinner on the ground would be in churches before they had air conditioning. Never see water. Sweat rolling and funeral fans swaying in everyones hand.
I guess if it is a necessity now days, maybe they should do it to perform better. I understand times do change.
Could it just be a habit rather than a necessity? I sit in church and watch people just sitting there taking a drink of water. I think it’s water.
We used to tape Gospel Singing Jubilee, the Caravan, the Wally Fowler Show, Bob Pooles Favorites and we would stand for two to three hours under bright lights and never see a bottle of water. When someone is paying several hundred dollars an hour for studio and recording time, you don’t break for water.
Many all day singings with dinner on the ground would be in churches before they had air conditioning. Never see water. Sweat rolling and funeral fans swaying in everyones hand.
I guess if it is a necessity now days, maybe they should do it to perform better. I understand times do change.
Back then, I never took water on stage either. Pastors would ask if we would want 3 glasses of water brought to the stage, and we would say,“No thank you.” We didn’t like how it looked.
Then singer and preacher friends of mine started dealing with hoarseness and surgery for nodules. I had some voice problems back in the late 70’s, due to strain. You heard much more back then of singers losing their voices. Now, if there’s a problem, it gets corrected and they can continue their ministries.
Again, keeping the throat lubricated is said to help prevent the kind of stress that kills voices.
I do believe at times it becomes a crutch or habit for some singers, but to me there are some strong reasons for having water on stage. First off Cliff is right and as a voice major in college the lack of lubrication when speaking or singing can end a ministry in a hurry. Second conditions play a big part of it I never hardly touch my water in a church setting but in a gym or concert hall or outdoors I go thru 2 in a full concert, Lastly I think in years past having a glass of water compared to having a plastic bottle makes a big diffrence.
This is something we have been discussing as well. My husband (low tenor, baritone, bass, lead) doesn’t drink a whole lot of water on stage and rarely misses a note (I know it and hear about it all the way home when he does) but the youngest brother (and tenor) is a diabetic and is required to drink a lot of water. The oldest brother is the MC and he has the same problem Cliff has with trying to find a discreet place to drink some water to keep his throat lubricated. Our newest brother also has to drink some water, although not as much as the youngest.
The thing to remember is that lubricating the vocal needs to be done regularly, even and especially before an event. Add to that if the group coming in is also doing the setup on a hot Texas day. It is essential for good health and good vocals.
As the MC for my group there is no time unless it’s during the solo of another group member sorry if that bothers some.
JWE,
I think it’s understandable. As the MC you have to get sometime in there to lubricate your voice, if not you could wind up doing damage to it. I usually try to take a drink of water, when needed, while Cliff is talking, but I have had an occasion when he didn’t talk between songs and I have a tickle in my throat, I have had to get water when someone else is singing. If it’s only a 20 minute set, we usually don’t take a water bottle on stage, unless we are having trouble with our throats to begin with.
Once, I went for the water bottle, which was on a shelf of the pulpit and as I got to it, the song started, I had to go back to start the song, the crowd cracked up laughing, they thought it was hillarious. That was a hard song to get through because my throat was really dry.
Cliff, I know all too well about not having time to take a sip now and then since I’m our piano player and well, needless to say I have my hands full all the time.
When I was singing baritone with Wesley Smith, we never took water on stage because we thoroughly hydrated ourselves the week before (drank large quantities of water 2 or 3 days before we sang). Granted that required numerous trips to the bathroom but it always helped us. For me, I ALWAYS sang better and smoother after I ate something fried. I attributed it to the grease and oils in the food lubricating my throat. When I started telling about my observations about that, there were others that told me the same thing. The other guys singing with us couldn’t do that. They said it always put a coating of phlegm in their throat. Not me! I always looked forward to singing at homecomings because I knew I’d get to eat before I sang. Maybe that’s why I’m as big as I am LOL!
My current quartet sang at a church a couple of months ago and they had just elected a new preacher. He complimented our singing when he stepped up to the pulpit and then said “they must have something other than water in those bottles”.
Cliff, I know all too well about not having time to take a sip now and then since I’m our piano player and well, needless to say I have my hands full all the time.
When I was singing baritone with Wesley Smith, we never took water on stage because we thoroughly hydrated ourselves the week before (drank large quantities of water 2 or 3 days before we sang). Granted that required numerous trips to the bathroom but it always helped us. For me, I ALWAYS sang better and smoother after I ate something fried. I attributed it to the grease and oils in the food lubricating my throat. When I started telling about my observations about that, there were others that told me the same thing. The other guys singing with us couldn’t do that. They said it always put a coating of phlegm in their throat. Not me! I always looked forward to singing at homecomings because I knew I’d get to eat before I sang. Maybe that’s why I’m as big as I am LOL!
My current quartet sang at a church a couple of months ago and they had just elected a new preacher. He complimented our singing when he stepped up to the pulpit and then said “they must have something other than water in those bottles”.
Bryan,
If I read this right, you are saying that it is necessary to eat fries, fried chicken and other righteous foods just before singing?
Bless you, my brother. I can sense that you are a wise man and a great Gospel singer.
