what if i have a cold for waapa audition?
Mon, 21 Nov 2005, 02:47 pmWalter Plinge7 posts in thread
what if i have a cold for waapa audition?
Mon, 21 Nov 2005, 02:47 pmhello,
just a quick question if i have the last of a cold for the waapa MT auditions should i tell the staff before i sing, after i sing, or should i not tell them at all?
if i should tell them how should i do it i dont want to sound like im whinging or making an excuse. but i am croaky on lower notes.
was just wondering cause have heard some people say that they are not interested in stuff like colds etc...
also, anything i could do for my voice in next 3 days to help it along?
thanks for help,
ann
just a quick question if i have the last of a cold for the waapa MT auditions should i tell the staff before i sing, after i sing, or should i not tell them at all?
if i should tell them how should i do it i dont want to sound like im whinging or making an excuse. but i am croaky on lower notes.
was just wondering cause have heard some people say that they are not interested in stuff like colds etc...
also, anything i could do for my voice in next 3 days to help it along?
thanks for help,
ann
Walter PlingeMon, 21 Nov 2005, 02:47 pm
hello,
just a quick question if i have the last of a cold for the waapa MT auditions should i tell the staff before i sing, after i sing, or should i not tell them at all?
if i should tell them how should i do it i dont want to sound like im whinging or making an excuse. but i am croaky on lower notes.
was just wondering cause have heard some people say that they are not interested in stuff like colds etc...
also, anything i could do for my voice in next 3 days to help it along?
thanks for help,
ann
just a quick question if i have the last of a cold for the waapa MT auditions should i tell the staff before i sing, after i sing, or should i not tell them at all?
if i should tell them how should i do it i dont want to sound like im whinging or making an excuse. but i am croaky on lower notes.
was just wondering cause have heard some people say that they are not interested in stuff like colds etc...
also, anything i could do for my voice in next 3 days to help it along?
thanks for help,
ann
Walter PlingeMon, 21 Nov 2005, 04:15 pm
Re: what if i have a cold for waapa audition?
Ann, all I can suggest is that you get as much sleep as you can (even the night before, which might be difficult as you will be so psyched!)
There's a book out there by Peter Mapleson (I think) which says Do Not say you're sick, as they will notice it anyway (however the book was published in the early nineties so attitudes may have changed, yet I doubt it). Also at my audition they seemed pretty keen to get you in and out ASAP so I personally would advise against telling them that you've been unwell.
Do you have any high songs you could have as back ups if your lower voice gets worse? Or could it be a cold where in three days' time your top is gone but your lower is back?
Other people on this forum may have futher advice for you.
Chookas!
There's a book out there by Peter Mapleson (I think) which says Do Not say you're sick, as they will notice it anyway (however the book was published in the early nineties so attitudes may have changed, yet I doubt it). Also at my audition they seemed pretty keen to get you in and out ASAP so I personally would advise against telling them that you've been unwell.
Do you have any high songs you could have as back ups if your lower voice gets worse? Or could it be a cold where in three days' time your top is gone but your lower is back?
Other people on this forum may have futher advice for you.
Chookas!
crgwllmsMon, 21 Nov 2005, 07:21 pm
Re: a waapa of a cold?
BaronFelixVonGaigern wrote:
>
> Ann, all I can suggest is that you get as much sleep as you
> can (even the night before, which might be difficult as you
> will be so psyched!)
>
> There's a book out there by Peter Mapleson (I think) which
> says Do Not say you're sick, as they will notice it anyway
> (however the book was published in the early nineties so
> attitudes may have changed, yet I doubt it). Also at my
> audition they seemed pretty keen to get you in and out ASAP
> so I personally would advise against telling them that you've
> been unwell.
I reckon that's good advice. The audience in a show doesn't want to know you're sick; as an actor you're expected to know your body well enough to deliver a performance regardless of a rough voice or a strained muscle or a headache....and while this might not seem fair, you've generally got to work around it, regardless. One of the skills of great professional singers and actors, for instance, is learning how to protect sensitive areas of the voice and still be able to use it, a bit like favouring a sore leg but still being able to walk.
An audition for a professional school is intended to see if you will be capable of acquiring this level of skill....so don't use 'sickness on the day' as an excuse. It might be bad luck, but in all honesty, you ought to be so good that even with sickness you will give a great performance. And on the few days of the year when your body is absolutely 100% you will give an ASTOUNDING performance!
Having said that, some illnesses will just be a major PAIN. My personal favorite is if I ever get hayfever and have a constant nasal drip....eeeuuww.
Try to USE whatever state your body's in as an addition to your characterisation. I'm sure even Hamlet caught a cold sometimes, and while it may have drawn on him physically, the thoughts and feelings in his head would have been the same. If your character would be affected, be affected. If she would shrug it off, do the same. That way it will appear like this is a choice you have made.
Get as much sleep as you can. Stay off the painkiller-type drugs unless it's ABSOLUTELY necessary..it usually isn't.
And drink plenty of water.
Relax.
You know what to do.
Cheers,
Craig
[%sig%]
>
> Ann, all I can suggest is that you get as much sleep as you
> can (even the night before, which might be difficult as you
> will be so psyched!)
>
> There's a book out there by Peter Mapleson (I think) which
> says Do Not say you're sick, as they will notice it anyway
> (however the book was published in the early nineties so
> attitudes may have changed, yet I doubt it). Also at my
> audition they seemed pretty keen to get you in and out ASAP
> so I personally would advise against telling them that you've
> been unwell.
I reckon that's good advice. The audience in a show doesn't want to know you're sick; as an actor you're expected to know your body well enough to deliver a performance regardless of a rough voice or a strained muscle or a headache....and while this might not seem fair, you've generally got to work around it, regardless. One of the skills of great professional singers and actors, for instance, is learning how to protect sensitive areas of the voice and still be able to use it, a bit like favouring a sore leg but still being able to walk.
An audition for a professional school is intended to see if you will be capable of acquiring this level of skill....so don't use 'sickness on the day' as an excuse. It might be bad luck, but in all honesty, you ought to be so good that even with sickness you will give a great performance. And on the few days of the year when your body is absolutely 100% you will give an ASTOUNDING performance!
Having said that, some illnesses will just be a major PAIN. My personal favorite is if I ever get hayfever and have a constant nasal drip....eeeuuww.
Try to USE whatever state your body's in as an addition to your characterisation. I'm sure even Hamlet caught a cold sometimes, and while it may have drawn on him physically, the thoughts and feelings in his head would have been the same. If your character would be affected, be affected. If she would shrug it off, do the same. That way it will appear like this is a choice you have made.
Get as much sleep as you can. Stay off the painkiller-type drugs unless it's ABSOLUTELY necessary..it usually isn't.
And drink plenty of water.
Relax.
You know what to do.
Cheers,
Craig
[%sig%]
Walter PlingeMon, 21 Nov 2005, 11:20 pm
Re: a waapa of a cold?
I am constantly stuffed up (damn you hayfever!) so I feel your pain.
Go and get some lozenges with vitamin C, zinc and echinacea or similar, but make sure they have zinc, as they help your body fight off a cold by itself.
As for all the mucus, lots of steam and humidity (yes it's hard when it's hot but do ya wanna sing or not), hot drinks (try stick to herbal tea as normal tea dries you out too much) and there's also this great stuff called Fess that you can get from the chemist. There's no drugs in it, it's just saline nasal spray and it will flush out all the crap that's up your nose.
Other than that.... just rest and fluids and all that stuff your mum always told you.
Good luck!
Go and get some lozenges with vitamin C, zinc and echinacea or similar, but make sure they have zinc, as they help your body fight off a cold by itself.
As for all the mucus, lots of steam and humidity (yes it's hard when it's hot but do ya wanna sing or not), hot drinks (try stick to herbal tea as normal tea dries you out too much) and there's also this great stuff called Fess that you can get from the chemist. There's no drugs in it, it's just saline nasal spray and it will flush out all the crap that's up your nose.
Other than that.... just rest and fluids and all that stuff your mum always told you.
Good luck!
Walter PlingeTue, 22 Nov 2005, 03:12 am
Re: what if i have a cold for waapa audition?
You poor thing, there is nothing worse than the dreaded drip, hayfever/cold. Yes FESS is good to flush out the sinus and ask the Chemist their recommendation. You may need a low dose antihistamine. You dont want to wreck your chances. Its always the way though, the most important time in you life- the WAAPA Audition and your sick.
This is the worst hayfever year the experts reckon with record numbers of medications sold already.
I would not say anything to the panel. They may hear it in your voice when you speak and they may ask the question in which case you can reply honestly. Yes I do and leave it at that. Some singing teachers say that a cold should make no difference to your singing voice, you just take a big breath, brace and open up the vocal chords. I know thats all well and good but......
Please post after the audition so we can all know how you went, eg if your symptoms subsided or not.
I hope you do very well and good luck.
This is the worst hayfever year the experts reckon with record numbers of medications sold already.
I would not say anything to the panel. They may hear it in your voice when you speak and they may ask the question in which case you can reply honestly. Yes I do and leave it at that. Some singing teachers say that a cold should make no difference to your singing voice, you just take a big breath, brace and open up the vocal chords. I know thats all well and good but......
Please post after the audition so we can all know how you went, eg if your symptoms subsided or not.
I hope you do very well and good luck.
Walter PlingeTue, 22 Nov 2005, 06:03 am
Re: a waapa of a cold?
Fess is excellent
The advice here has been very good... people will sometimes give you all sorts of home remedies but trying something brand new on the day of the audition is not a wonderful idea... I've seen it go horribly wrong with glycerine
I think they are smart enough to figure out if you have a cold and may even ask
but nothing sounds worse than apologising before youi perform... some people make a habit of it
The advice here has been very good... people will sometimes give you all sorts of home remedies but trying something brand new on the day of the audition is not a wonderful idea... I've seen it go horribly wrong with glycerine
I think they are smart enough to figure out if you have a cold and may even ask
but nothing sounds worse than apologising before youi perform... some people make a habit of it
Walter PlingeTue, 22 Nov 2005, 01:30 pm
Re: what if i have a cold for waapa audition?
do no tell the panel.
just trust your body to produce the sound that it did before. focus on your breathing and resonance and keeping it all open, even though it will feel different and you dont think your producing as good a sound. just trust your body and technique.
When im blocked up and ned to sing i go to a voice occupational therapist. Health Central in Leederville are fantastic, although very busy. performers are their main clientele. just tell the receptionist your problem and they will book you with the right person. they can help clear our your sinus' with pressure. but dont go the day of your audition as you will drip all day.
Drink heaps and heaps of tea. lemon and ginger with honey.
dont get strepsils as they numb your problems and so you sing beyond your capabilities and do damage.
as most of all, dont stress about it. just chill and think that 'this too will pass'. whatever happens you will still be you and still be able to experience the joys that love brings.
just trust your body to produce the sound that it did before. focus on your breathing and resonance and keeping it all open, even though it will feel different and you dont think your producing as good a sound. just trust your body and technique.
When im blocked up and ned to sing i go to a voice occupational therapist. Health Central in Leederville are fantastic, although very busy. performers are their main clientele. just tell the receptionist your problem and they will book you with the right person. they can help clear our your sinus' with pressure. but dont go the day of your audition as you will drip all day.
Drink heaps and heaps of tea. lemon and ginger with honey.
dont get strepsils as they numb your problems and so you sing beyond your capabilities and do damage.
as most of all, dont stress about it. just chill and think that 'this too will pass'. whatever happens you will still be you and still be able to experience the joys that love brings.