What do you do when you get behind the mic and what comes out of your mouth doesn’t sound the way you want?

Believe me, if you do enough voice work, this WILL happen. For example, earlier today, I was working on an audio book for a client,  I got behind the mic and ALL of my energy disappeared. All of the sudden, I wanted to lay down and take a nap. So, I got up from my stool, stopped the recording and did something else for a little bit.

Often, getting your mind off the task at hand is the best way to get things done faster. I know that sounds counterintuitive, but  honestly, if your mind is not focused upon what you have to do, and you still go through with it, you’re making a BIG mistake.

A couple of chapters earlier in the book, I woke up an hour earlier, just so I could get an early start on the book. Big mistake! NEVER use your voice heavily in the morning! You’re setting yourself up for failure later in the day. After lying dormant all evening, your vocal cords are not prepared for constant vibration right away. Give your voice some time to warm up. Drink a warm fluid like coffee or tea. Hum some tunes. Take a shower and breathe in the hot steam from the water. All of these things can and should be done BEFORE a proper warm up. Your voice is just like an instrument, it’s not going to be in tune if you just start playing it. Warm up first!! Always! Not warming up is often one of the reasons my voice “doesn’t happen” later in the day.

If you do all of these things and your voice STILL doesn’t want to cooperate, there are still things that can be done. Find ways of clearing your throat without clearing your throat. Yet again, counterintuitive, but totally necessary. Clearing your throat helps nothing, it only agitates your vocal cords and makes things worse. The remedy that helps me more than anything is deep breathing through the nose and LOTS of water. Swallowing harder than normal has often helped me as well. This is often best accomplished with some water at room temperature. Avoid grease, dairy, and heavy sugar. All of these will dry you out or create a mucus issue.

If your voice still doesn’t work, just stop. Sometimes the best thing for your voice is complete and total rest. Continuing to work through voice trouble only causes more trouble. Sometimes there is no other option. Clients will understand in most cases, but make sure you notify them!  As long as there is not a swiftly approaching deadline or a hint of client dissatisfaction, you should be in the green.

Next time: tips on what to do when your VOICE is working but your brain isn’t! It happens to EVERYONE. My tips for success when your brain becomes a failure.

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