Fastest way to get my voice back

Julie Williams · 10-31-2007, 01:42 PM

Hi LYdia,

For the past few weeks I've been dealing with a hoarseness... a more raspy sound than normal. Fortunately, it hasn't been enough for clients to change their mind about hiring me.

However, Friday I am scheduled to fly to Los Angeles to redo my commercial demo. A demo needs to reflect our normal sound.

Is there anything I can do to get my voice back in full in TWO DAYS?

Julie

speechlady · 11-01-2007, 03:19 PM

Hi Julie,
I've been having a silent spell myself lately...post bronchitis in my case! What do you think is behind this hoarseness? Since you say it's been a few weeks...you need to go see your ENT/voice specialist and get it looked at. No shortcuts here, unfortunately. If you didn't start out on this road with a cold or upper respiratory infection, then my first guess is you're overworked. Rest is the answer to that one but you still need to get it officially checked out. In the meantime...long hot shower, facial steamer at least 2-3 times per day; try gentle easy humming in your comfortable pitch range to warm up, but avoid strenuous vocal exercises for now; drink more water than usual, and make sure you're hydrated about 2 hours before you need to perform. Get all the sleep you can. Conserve your voice as much as possible when not working...speak gently and easily, don't whisper, avoid the phone, no yelling at the kids. Eat healthy (no dairy). Manage any acid reflux and sleep on an angle/propped up with pillows, just in case this is affecting you when you sleep. Do full body stretches and upper body/shoulder/neck/jaw stretches and make sure everything is limbered up before you begin work. Repeat every hour. Take a 10 minute break every hour...that means no voicing past 45-50 minutes at a stretch...preferably even less than that! Good luck hon, and get to that doctor.

Julie Williams · 11-01-2007, 09:22 PM

Thanks Lydia,
Yes.. I've been working very hard... Piles of scripts coming in. Today I just did four jobs, though, and it took just a little over an hour... I put all others off till Monday. Tomorrow is the demo... and my voice is a little better. I was hoping for no jobs today, but I can't let clients down if they have deadlines. Throat hurts a tiny bit. I bought some tea and honey...that'll soothe it, and I'll turn off phone and just watch tv.

I'm going to not talk tonite. But I've had jobs I've had to do...and on air each day too.

I won't voice anything till Monday. That'll give me 2 days off. Then maybe I'll tell clients I need 48 hours...and just voice on MWF instead of 5 days a week, if this hoarseness doesnt' go away!

Thanks for all you help!

Julie

PS I got your invite on linked in...but I haven't been there so long that I don't even remember my username and password.

speechlady · 11-01-2007, 10:02 PM

well, that sounds like a plan for now, but i still say a doctor's visit is in order. Good idea to reduce your voice load next week and spread out the work. Hang in there.

10-31-2007, 01:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Julie Williams Administrator Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California Posts: 582	Fastest way to get my voice back Hi LYdia, For the past few weeks I've been dealing with a hoarseness... a more raspy sound than normal. Fortunately, it hasn't been enough for clients to change their mind about hiring me. However, Friday I am scheduled to fly to Los Angeles to redo my commercial demo. A demo needs to reflect our normal sound. Is there anything I can do to get my voice back in full in TWO DAYS? Julie __________________ POWERED BY CHOCOLATE Julie Williams "Voice-Over Chocolate" julie@voice-overs.com www.voiceoverchocolate.com www.voice-overs.com Currently on National spots for Eyeglass World; Narrations for US Steel, Point of Sale VO for Gutter Grip-- playing soon at a Home Depot near you! Julie will be heard nationally on a tribute to Ruth Bell Graham in December.

11-01-2007, 09:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
Julie Williams Administrator Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California Posts: 582	Thanks Lydia, Yes.. I've been working very hard... Piles of scripts coming in. Today I just did four jobs, though, and it took just a little over an hour... I put all others off till Monday. Tomorrow is the demo... and my voice is a little better. I was hoping for no jobs today, but I can't let clients down if they have deadlines. Throat hurts a tiny bit. I bought some tea and honey...that'll soothe it, and I'll turn off phone and just watch tv. I'm going to not talk tonite. But I've had jobs I've had to do...and on air each day too. I won't voice anything till Monday. That'll give me 2 days off. Then maybe I'll tell clients I need 48 hours...and just voice on MWF instead of 5 days a week, if this hoarseness doesnt' go away! Thanks for all you help! Julie PS I got your invite on linked in...but I haven't been there so long that I don't even remember my username and password. __________________ POWERED BY CHOCOLATE Julie Williams "Voice-Over Chocolate" julie@voice-overs.com www.voiceoverchocolate.com www.voice-overs.com Currently on National spots for Eyeglass World; Narrations for US Steel, Point of Sale VO for Gutter Grip-- playing soon at a Home Depot near you! Julie will be heard nationally on a tribute to Ruth Bell Graham in December.

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11-01-2007, 03:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
speechlady User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ma Posts: 74	Hi Julie, I've been having a silent spell myself lately...post bronchitis in my case! What do you think is behind this hoarseness? Since you say it's been a few weeks...you need to go see your ENT/voice specialist and get it looked at. No shortcuts here, unfortunately. If you didn't start out on this road with a cold or upper respiratory infection, then my first guess is you're overworked. Rest is the answer to that one but you still need to get it officially checked out. In the meantime...long hot shower, facial steamer at least 2-3 times per day; try gentle easy humming in your comfortable pitch range to warm up, but avoid strenuous vocal exercises for now; drink more water than usual, and make sure you're hydrated about 2 hours before you need to perform. Get all the sleep you can. Conserve your voice as much as possible when not working...speak gently and easily, don't whisper, avoid the phone, no yelling at the kids. Eat healthy (no dairy). Manage any acid reflux and sleep on an angle/propped up with pillows, just in case this is affecting you when you sleep. Do full body stretches and upper body/shoulder/neck/jaw stretches and make sure everything is limbered up before you begin work. Repeat every hour. Take a 10 minute break every hour...that means no voicing past 45-50 minutes at a stretch...preferably even less than that! Good luck hon, and get to that doctor.

11-01-2007, 10:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
speechlady User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ma Posts: 74	well, that sounds like a plan for now, but i still say a doctor's visit is in order. Good idea to reduce your voice load next week and spread out the work. Hang in there.