Actors are a weird bunch, voice actors included.
We all have our silly little routines and rituals on stage and in the studio.
A Dutch actor I once interviewed had to sweep the entire stage before the show. He said he wanted to get to know every square inch. His colleague always wore the same pair of striped socks for a premiere; socks his mother had given him some twenty years ago.
A famous actress wouldn’t start a performance without a waft of her favorite Eau de Toilette: “Je Reviens.” One night she lost the bottle and her assistant had to go on a wild-goose chase to find a new one. The Diva kept the whole theater waiting for over an hour until the fragrance was found.
STRANGE BEHAVIOR
These silly, idiosyncratic rituals don’t make any sense to you and me. To those who are displaying these behaviors they make all the difference. What they have in common is this. It’s outward behavior that’s meant to change someone’s inner state.
For some it’s a way to get centered and calm the nerves. For others it comes close to superstition.
I’m pretty sure that, as you’re reading this, you might ask yourself: “What is it that I do before I step up to the mic?” I bet you anything that you’re not even aware of what you’re doing because it’s become second nature.
My personal rituals are very practical and they start before I’ve even set a step into my studio. Pretty much all of them have to do with self-care. I suppose I could leave a couple of them out, but somehow I wouldn’t feel the same. To me it would feel like leaving the house half-dressed.
So here’s what needs to happen in my world.
PERSONAL ROUTINE
I won’t start recording until I have brushed my teeth. Guaranteed. I want this fresh feeling in my mouth before I taste the words I’m about to speak. This is not optional. It must happen. Of course this doesn’t qualify as eccentric behavior. We all brush our teeth after breakfast, right? But hang in there. Here’s where it gets odd.
When I have finished one project and I’m about to move to another, I go back and brush my teeth again. It is as if I need to rinse my mouth of the previous experience before I can move on. On any given day, I can repeat this a number of times. This makes my dentist very happy (as long as I brush gently with a soft brush). It also gives me a very clean sound.
I will often use a tongue scraper too. It’s a cleaner meant to clear the surface of the tongue of bacterial build-up, food debris and dead cells. I’ve discovered that after using this device, my mouth noises are drastically reduced. You should give it a try.
Warning: if you’re using the scraper for the first time, you’ll be surprised how much gunk has been living on your tongue for all these years. It’s kind of gross. This thing does have nice side-effects. Using a tongue scraper gives you better breath and you’ll taste flavors more intensely.
MOISTURIZATION
Another thing I must do before I go down to my studio, is moisturize my face. Not only is it soothing, it loosens up the skin, helping my facial muscles relax and bend into different shapes as I enunciate the words I’m recording. For that reason I also have to apply and reapply generous quantities of lip balm.
Dry lips and a dry mouth are a major source of those annoying mouth noises. If my mouth feels particularly dry, I’ll use some moisturizing mouth spray which contains the same protein-enzymes found in saliva. I also make sure to breathe through my nose. Mouth breathing may even cause something called laryngitis sicca, where the tissues of the larynx become very dry.
Frequent hydration is also part of my studio ritual. I like to add a slice of lime to my filtered water, which I always drink at room temperature. Cold water can shock the vocal cords. Not a good idea.
ANNOYING ALLERGIES
I live in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, one of the worst areas of the United States when it comes to allergies. Reluctantly, taking care of sniffles, sneezes and congested nasal passages has become part of my routine too.
I’ll often take an over-the-counter medication such as fexofenadine in the morning. Throughout the day I’ll use a gentle saline spray or a Neti Pot to relieve sinus problems. Lately, I’ve added a homeopathic inhaler with a hint of menthol.
Allergies can also affect the vocal folds. There’s even such a thing as allergic laryngitis. Symptoms include hoarseness, itchy throat, excess phlegm or mucous in the throat, a feeling of dry throat, coughing and sneezing.
Again, hydration is essential in the treatment of allergic laryngitis. The water lubricates the vocal folds and it thins the mucous.
A DUTCH TREAT
If my throat simply hurts after a recording session, I’ll often turn to one of my favorite home remedies: Dutch licorice or licorice syrup. Dutch black licorice comes in many shapes, flavors and sizes and it’s definitely an acquired taste. If you’re up for it, get the real thing (not the licorice-flavored candy) and make sure you eat it in moderation.
If licorice is not your thing, try a cup of organic tea, such as the Throat Coat blend. It contains licorice as well as slippery elm .
Less eccentric than eating black and often salty licorice, is a habit that’s more preventative. It’s part of my preparation for voice-over work, and that’s why I want to mention it.
Over the years I have learned to avoid places with loud music and loud crowds; places that would force me to shout if I wanted to have a “normal” conversation. That type of vocal abuse can -if repeated frequently- result in scar tissue formation within the vocal folds, thickening of the vocal folds and vocal fold lesions.
THE DUTCH DANDY
So, if you were to walk into my studio today, you would notice a whole lineup of self-care products, sprays and black candy, fit for a Dandy. Taking good care of my face, throat and voice has become quite the routine. Some may think I’m overly protective, but to me there is no such thing. My voice is my bread and butter and I’ll do everything to treat it with love and respect.
I’m still not sure how this whole brushing my teeth-thing started, because there’s obviously more to it than dental hygiene. Having to go up to do it gives me a welcome break. Instead of sitting down staring at a screen all day long, I’m forced to climb the stairs and clear my mind. It may be weird, but it works for me. And that’s what all these eccentric behaviors have in common.
They’re weird and at the same time wonderful.
Now, if you’ll excuse me… it’s time for my facial, followed by a nice manicure.
I wonder which one of my silk bow ties I will wear today.
Paul Strikwerda ©nethervoice
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photo credit: zilverbat. via photopin cc
Always love the blog… The tongue scraper is interesting, I brush my tongue with my toothbrush while brushing. But I’m going to put the tooth brushing before going into studio into play.
When there’s recording straight after breakfast, I avoid toast, marmalade and stroking the cat. These nice things trigger phlegmy chest and, in turn, extra editing. A brisk walk in fresh air completes the preparation.
Even so, I should evidently take a look at my tongue. Aaaargh. Take two: Bleurgghhh
Same here for the tooth brushing, lip balm – and, obviously, the good old Dutch licorice, salty, preferably. I have also adopted the motorboat warm-up, incidentally also good for calming babies…. :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFSREMp38X0
Thanks Paul for all the other tips, I will try out the tongue scraper.
scales! I do scales.
For half an hour before every job, whether I am working from my own studio or a studio in town, I do scales. My selling points are Languages, characterisations and narrations, so my range has to be as wide as possible.
So I do Scales.
It’s like fine tuning the organ, a Vocal MOT.
I start my scales with a hum, going up and down obne octave, then I go from the deepest yawn to the highest note in one continuous climb, noting if there are any dents, any “drops” or “holes” that need ironing.
Then, I work the nasal sounds, with a very high metallic “Ting”.
Finally, depending which language and/or accent I am working in, I will work each vowels and consonants, just to “place” the sound correctly, usually using poetry, or word lists.
Then I am ready to work, ready to face the weirdest directorial demands, knowing that my voice is tip top, my range ready and my voice really warm.
And it’s hugely entertaining for my fellow travellers on the underground…
Is it a ritual or is it just common sense?
Like this article! Especially like that you refer to “vocal folds” rather than “vocal cords”. I am a retired speech pathologist and one of my pet peeves is hearing the folds referred to as cords. It is a misnomer that makes some people picture violin type structures in the throat.
As for pre-recording routines: I feed my cats and myself (otherwise they and my stomach complain loudly), turn off the AC/heat & refrigerator, brush my teeth & rinse with warm water, hydrate my nasal passages, do several sets of vocal and physical warm ups, record my room tones and then get to work.
Wonderful thoughts!
I really don’t think there’s anything particular I do specifically prior to recording, but there are some general self-care points I can share; all from first-hand experience.
The most important one, as Paul mentioned, is hydration. For some reason, most of us tend to drink water only when we get thirsty, yet medical data suggests that by that point, we are already under-hydrated. Medical experts have two tips: first, rather than gulping large amounts of water every hour or so, instead sip smaller amounts, say, about 2 ounces, but much more frequently. The smaller amounts allow our bodies to absorb the water, while the larger quantities tend to just pass through us very quickly, achieving no benefit. Second, how much water to drink? Again the consensus is that we drink enough water so that urine is the color of pale lemonade.
Tooth-brushing does make for a fresh feeling, but do be mindful that – depending on the frequency and brushing technique – enamel can begin to wear down and the gumline can get raw. Both invite nasty things.
Hot tea (I prefer Celestial Seaonings Decaf Mint Green Tea) helps to relieve a dry mouth and throat, and also helps to soothe sinuses, and I also use a Neti pot a couple of times each day.
Do be very careful with OTC nasal sprays whose active ingredient is oxymetazoline (it is available with menthol). This nasal spray is terrific in that it works very quickly and lasts for around 12 hours. BUT, as is stated on the instructions, if used frequently, it can cause ‘rebound congestion,’ where a sort of immunity builds up, requiring even more frequent use to achieve freer nasal breathing.
FInally, Paul knows I am complete agreement with him in avoiding places with loud, noisy crowds and music. As it is, I’m not at all comfortable in crowded places and have a very low threshold for loud sound. But having to shout to be heard for extended periods is asking for vocal trouble, not to mention just plain tiresome.
I’m going to try Petra’s ‘motorboat’ warmups. While it may also draw some attention from the neighbors in the next condo, it certainly won’t be nearly as clamorous as if I were to attempt Stephane’s suggestion for scales.
Thank you, Paul!
Come to think of it, I don’t have a solid routine, but this blog inspires me to develop one. Being a voice teacher and vocalist, I periodically do singing warm ups to get the blood flowing. I also do face stretches. Palate stretches, aka flipping the soft palate up and down repeatedly, are used as well. A person would think that, with my background and training, I would have some daily regime. But sometimes I find myself in front of the mic with no warming up at all. These habits are so important, because we need that mental and physical prep. You’ve given me some things to think about, but that’s what you do every week. Thanks again, Paul!
Fantastic Paul … so glad I am not the only one!
When I was stage acting, I had a whole ritual that I would perform before going on. My v/o routine is less involved, but probably involves more funny looks. Since I could do my “weird” routine backstage, and everyone knows actors are crazy, I never raised an eyebrow. Now, I’m on the train, in my car, on the bus, in my thin-walled apartment, etc., doing scales (yay scales!) and facial stretches, and – my favorite – tongue twisters. I always wonder what my fellow Israelis think as I walk down the street, voicing “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers…” in a variety of pitches 🙂
Alissa – they probably don’t even notice, as they’re too busy concentrating on saying Hebrew tongue twisters like, “Baqbuq b’li p’qaq”, and “Nachash nashaq nachash”!
Great article Paul!
If I have a milky breakfast dish such as porridge or cornflakes with milk, for about 2 hours I don’t even go near my booth. Otherwise I get a lot of extra editing and swearing in 3 languages 🙂
Since I’d normally get up around 6 (my dogs wake me up actually) at 7 I have my breakfast and numerous mugs of tea with milk – when I go to my studio around 9 o’clock I am fine.
Paul, I have tried Drop Muntjes when I lived in the Netherlands, but as much as I love most of the products one can buy at Albert Heijn (I’d kill for a Karamel Vla), licorice is too pungent for me – even if it helps. The only non-Dutch that I know who loves them, is my wife 😉
Hi Paul,
I’m new to your website and blog, but have learned so much already in the few days since I found you. I have a question. I purchased your book where you describe creating your home studio and in this post you mention that you have allergies. I am in the process of beginning to put together a home studio in a small walk in closet. I need to invest in sound absorbtion and will probably mount some acoustic foam; however, the foam concerns me a bit. Like you, I have allergies and occaisionally a little athsma. The acoustic foam looks as though, in addition to sound, it will trap dirt, dust and mold. Since it is so expensive, it doesn’t seem cost effective to replace it every few months. In addition, this foam is treated with fire retarding chemicals. While in the short term, this makes it safer, in the long term, the thought of breathing that for several hours a day in an unventilated, enclosed space is concerning. Do you or any of your commentors have any thoughts about this? Is there a way to clean the foam?
Thanks for all of your advice. It has been most helpful for this newbie.
Thank you for your kind words, Mary Jane. If I were you, I would contact http://www.gikacoustics.com. This company makes acoustic panels that are formaldehyde-free, with soy-based adhesive, 100% North American made wood and sound absorption insulation with ECOSE® Technology.
According to their website “ECOSE® reduces energy consumption and pollutants stemming from the production process and is therefore more fully recyclable than standard mineral wool or fiberglass. The absorptive core has earned the toughest indoor air quality certification in the industry, GREENGUARD™, which is certified to meet CHPS Low-Emitting Materials criteria section 01350. GIK Acoustics treatments with ECOSE® technology are easy on air quality for your room, the environment, and your budget.”