Long Gigs... When To Rest ???

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musicworld

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Hi

I've recently been asked by a venue owner to sing three hours a night six nights a week at there hotel lounge. I've never performed this long before and was wondering how often i should be breaking to rest my voice, any suggestions?
 
A lot of it will depend upon your set-list and the type of songs you sing.
Don't start with a song where you have to use a lot of range...make the first few songs nice and easy where you can warm up your voice.
I would suggest 3 sets of 45 mins to 1 hour and then a break of 15-30 minutes.
When I played in my acoustic duo thing we'd play for 3 hours straight with no breaks...as soon as we got people listening we'd keep them there.
Like I said I think a lot of it depends upon the type of music you're playing.


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Back in my cover-band-playing-dances days, we played one hour, then a 15 minute break and a 45 minute set until the end of the gig.
 
It's really gonna have a lot to do with how well your personal voice holds up. It's not a one size fits all sorta thing.
I actually gig and sing that much myself and I rarely have problems.
But a lot of singers will ...... so it's gonna be a matter of how yours does and you'll just have to see.

Personally, most of my gigs are 4 hours and I like to take 2 twenty minute breaks. I HATE that 45 and 15 thing ..... it just makes the night drag by for me. It's not unknown for me to go 4 hours with only one break if people are around and it's a party.

On a 3 hour gig, as you're gonna do, I would typically play 90 minutes, take one 15 minute break and that'd be all. .
But, once again ..... if it's happening, I'll frequently go straight thru with no break at all.
But for me, a 3 hour gig is short. I'll often do two 4-hour gigs in a day

bdenton has it right though ....... the industry standard in clubs is an hour on and 15 minutes off. On my own gigs I NEVER do that ....... 45 minutes just gets me and the crowd going good so I try to never a set less than an hour and twenty.
But it's just so voice dependent ...... I'm lucky in that I rarely have vocal problems but that's just luck ..... not anything wise that I do.
:)
 
Different for everyone. I don't think it will be about the three hours/night as much as it will be about the 6 nights/week. Is that 6 nights in a row, or do you do 3 nights on and 1 night off?

I too think it also depends on what kind of material you're doing, how much strain that puts on your voice, and your ability to control your voice. It might also depend on how well you can hear yourself through monitors, too, so you're not pushing your voice in order to hear.

Heed all other good advice mentioned above; warm up, start off with tunes that don't test your range. Consider singing some tunes in a key that is better suited to your range. If you feel like you're straining your voice, or getting a sore throat, stop.

Take care, and good luck!
 
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Is that 6 nights in a row, or do you do 3 nights on and 1 night off?
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Six nights straight. The set list is swing, motown, 70s 80s ballads. Are the any remedies for the voice? apart from drinking water in between songs. I was told pineapple juice was good? anything else.
 
Personally, I'd consult with a reputable professional vocal coach. Katie Agresta is one of the best.

There are some good articles to read that you might find helpful.
 
musicworld said:
I

Six nights straight. The set list is swing, motown, 70s 80s ballads. Are the any remedies for the voice? apart from drinking water in between songs. I was told pineapple juice was good? anything else.
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that too varies from individual to individual.
You can go to a lot of different singers and have all of them tell you something different. Some will swear honey and lemon while others will say that the citrus damages their voice. Others like only water ...... others have their own favorite tonic and still others will say that same tonic made them lose their voices!
I think at least some of it is just psychological although you certainly want to stay well hydrated..

For me a good glass of Johnny Walker Black fixes me right up but I strongly suggest you don't go that route even though it clearly works for me.

Do some reading and just try a bunch of different things and find what works for you. Biggest single key is learn to sing without straining ...... if you get where you simply DON'T strain ....... you can sing forever.
 
I think it depends what you're doing but also on your physical fitness, microphone technique and attitude.
Singing requires physical strength (support), I've found my singing can go as long as my physical muscle endurance holds up, once my support starts wearing down I lose power and gradually some tone.. To put it another way, when I'm in the audience shouting to friends over some loud music (with little or no support) I usually get a sore throat and at Jam Nights I've got up with a rough throat from shouting thats gone away while singing (using support). I've found taking up the trumpet a bit over a year ago has really improved my support but there are exercises you can try that will do the same thing.
As to Microphone technique and attitude, it's about knowing how to do less work when the sound will be appropriate and generally getting the best from your equipment.. and also knowing when it's appropriate to try wowing the crowd and when to pace yourself.
Sorry if the above sounds a bit patronising, I don't mean to
 
Lt. Bob said:
that too varies from individual to individual.
You can go to a lot of different singers and have all of them tell you something different. Some will swear honey and lemon while others will say that the citrus damages their voice. Others like only water ...... others have their own favorite tonic and still others will say that same tonic made them lose their voices!
I think at least some of it is just psychological although you certainly want to stay well hydrated..

For me a good glass of Johnny Walker Black fixes me right up but I strongly suggest you don't go that route even though it clearly works for me.

Do some reading and just try a bunch of different things and find what works for you. Biggest single key is learn to sing without straining ...... if you get where you simply DON'T strain ....... you can sing forever.
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That last sentence is the MOST important....do not STRAIN your voice.
I agree if you don't strain you can sing for hours.
 
I just got done with a 3 hour solo gig. I do them often. Like any other form of exercise you need to start off slow and ease your way into full throttle. Once you are warmed up then alternate between easy and intensive songs. Save the songs that strain your talent until last. That way if you blow out your voice your done anyway for the night. Also keep in mind instrument volume. You are setting yourself up for disaster if you have to sing over loud instruments.

I'm not sure if 6 nights a week is a good idea. Like any other job, 6 day weeks can get to be emotionally draining.
Good luck to you!
 
Yep - avoid straining your voice at all costs. Change the key down if necessary or drop the song if need be. We gigged 9-1 6 nights a week in the 80's no problem. 45 on 15 off. The hard part will also be to keep it interesting by having a large repertore.
 
That last sentence is the MOST important....do not STRAIN your voice.
I agree if you don't strain you can sing for hours.
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When you say strain the voice.. do you mean hitting high notes to the point were you can just about reach? or are you talking about dynamics?. I'm an intensive singer and use a lot of power in my voice when performing but always find the following morning my voice is a bit rough after last nights gig, but always soothes out through the corse of the day (after much water and lozenges) i try to avoid talking which always helps up until the next gig.
 
Sounds like you're straining mate, both for dynamics and range, going for notes you can barely reach once in a while is okay, doing it a lot is a bad thing. Same with going for loads of power. relying on water and lozenges 6 days a week is going to get old real fast.
 
What do you suggest i do to maintain the voice given I'm at work six nights a week with it ???
 
musicworld said:
What do you suggest i do to maintain the voice given I'm at work six nights a week with it ???
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voices aren't given .... they're developed. The fact that you think that your voice is the way it is and nothing can be done to change that doesn't make it so.

First off ..... you may be able to sing nightly pushing your voice.
I've seen singers who could. If so then great ..... you're in business.

But, in general, straining your voice is gonna lead to nights where you can't sing very well or at all.

On the very rare occassions when I have any hoarseness I can play more guitar or sax to give my voice a break. If you have no alternative to singing, then at those times you're gonna end up losing your voice.

Understand, I don't care even a little bit. It's your voice and your gig.
But you asked how to not lose your voice and we told you one of the things is to learn to not strain.
You want a magic drink or something .... there is no such drink.
 
musicworld said:
When you say strain the voice.. do you mean hitting high notes to the point were you can just about reach? or are you talking about dynamics?. I'm an intensive singer and use a lot of power in my voice when performing but always find the following morning my voice is a bit rough after last nights gig, but always soothes out through the corse of the day (after much water and lozenges) i try to avoid talking which always helps up until the next gig.
Click to expand...

If you are trying to hit high notes that you can't hit then yes you're straining your voice.
The solution, lower the key of the song until you can hit the notes without straining.
The voice is an Instrument and needs to be looked after as such.
If you are continually straining your voice night after night, trying to hit notes you can't really hit, then eventually yo might be in trouble.

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If your voice is rough the next day, you're overdoing it. Some people can do it, look at Blackie Lawless or Brian Johnson, they can belt it out night after night for an entire world tour, most people can't. Look at the guys who do the Vegas thing for years, very laid back stuff.
 
Thanks! for all the feedback everyone, some great suggestions.. will take it on board.

Mm.
 
Also depends if you smoke or drink and how much. I was going to light up one night even before I started singing. I heard a question in my ear asking me why was I going to mess up the gift that was given me. I didn't somke at all that night nor do I any more, when I play.
 
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