This brings up a very interesting topic. Don, though all my local singer-performer musician friends more agree with you, for whatever reason, I can only perform 'at my very best' if followed (approx an hour before) by a satisfying (but not overly stuffed) hi protein (including meat) meal. For some reason this gives me the added energy I seem to need to go that extra mile. On the other hand I have friends who say they're able to perform all evening having only had a popiscle before hand. I'm now really interested to hear about the gig performance 'eating habits' of others here. - Scott

I like to eat something a couple of hours before, but not a huge meal. When I REALLY like to eat is afterwards, but that's generally after midnight.
DonM

I never eat before a job, and miss the after hours places I used to haunt for breakfast. For years, I played 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. for breakfast at a place where all nightclub people and customers came to hang out. Then, I made my day job at 7:30 A.M. Sadly, there aren't any more of these in Lexington.

What a shame...

Russ

I too never eat before playing--just doesn't feel right for some reason. At the most, I might pick up a pack of mints on the way to the job, but that's about it.

This is an interesting topic and leads to one that I would also like to relate to other Synthzone members. I've weighed myself before leaving for a job and immediately after arriving home. Most of the time, after four hours of playing and singing, I'll loose on an average of 4 to 6 pounds. Obviously, this is fluid loss, but when I talked with my doctor about this he said singing for four hours would be similar to doing a four-hour workout and breathing heavily the entire time.

When you think about it, he's probably right. You lug a huge amount of equipment from your house to your car, then unload it to the job and set it up--not lightweight work by any means. Then, while singing, you must breath much deeper than normal and exhale much longer than normal, which essentially removes much of your body's moisture through evaporation from the lungs. At the end of four hours, you load the equipment back on the cart, take it to the car, then drive home and unload it again. I know guys who work on loading platforms that don't work this hard. In fact, they would life this stuff without a fork lift.

A little food for thought,

Gary

I play best late at night when I have eaten and I am a little sleepy. That is optimum for me because I improvise best when I am very relaxed. I get edgy when I am hungry and don't play as well.



[This message has been edited by rintincop (edited 02-22-2004).]

No dinner at all for me anymore. It all goes to waist...

Another aspect of this subject is do you get fed at your venues, I have been playing in hotels around the south coast of the UK for over ten years and have only been offered food twice...yes twice in hotels..in TEN YEARS..and drinks are not far behind that either! The hotel management here in the UK assume that musicians just do not eat and can be in their hotels for anything up to 8 hours without the need for refreshments. Usually I sneek out and grab a sandwich at the nearest store during my break.
I spoke to my agent tonight and he has informed me that it is soon to become a legal requirment for hotels to supply addequate rest facilities and refresments
to perfoming artists...whoopie

larigot

Before.....During.....& Afterwards too ....
I play alot of "Expensive" places and I ain't giving up those cocktail hour finger goodies.....and sit down 7 course Dinner Invites with the guests ...
Like I always say "the more I eat, the better I sound" I could eat delicious Surf & Turf & then go right into a Polka like nobodys business...

Ahhhh, at Last !

F-i- n - a - l - l - y !, someone else here that 'shares' my sentiments. - Scott

Oh Yeah Scotty...

Bring on the Baked Clams & Scallops Wrapped in Bacon YummmmY!!!!

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 02-16-2004).]

Ditto, Scott.

Una bella pasta (of course)
Chico

I'll pass on the pasta ! Bring on the Surf & Turf though !

With a name like "Angelo", what do YOU think?!?

Okay, sorry to be preachy but its better before a performance if you don't eat anything (I'm talkin' about those of us who sing along with playing our Keys). But stay hydrated! Drink water (not booze, beer, or even milk) to lubricate the larynx and to stay hydrated. And the water should be 'room' temperature not ice cold. Just don't drink so much that you unexpectedly have to make a bathroom break during the middle of a song.

These are all code of ethics for singers for obtaining optimum effectiveness and results during performances. Donny is just a wild hair and does not reflect the overall attitude amongst singers and or singing Musicians.

You will find if you eat heavily before a performance you may start to find yourself losing concentration and even becoming lethargic because the blood in your body is rushing away from your noggin and racing towards your stomach to help and aid in digestion. Plus there can be other unpleasant after effects especially if the food is tainted in any way or you eat the wrong kind of food. We're talking bloating, GAS, upset stomach, diarrhea and possibly even belching. Nothing worse than smelling someone else's rancid anal emanations up on stage when playing in tight quarters in an enclosed area unless it happens to be seeing one of your band members puking his guts out on his snare drum or stage amp.

You'll feel better if you don't eat, you'll be more concentrated on the job at hand and you'll almost unequivocally even play and sing better too.

After the perfomance THEN you can DIG IN if you want to.

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Best regards,
Mike

OMG Mike ....I needed a good laugh......
I almost choked on my Beef Taco reading that besides almost going blind with no paragraphs

"Wild Hair?" I'm lucky I have any hair left at all hahahahahahhah

A "Code of Ethics" ???..................
I imagine only ethical people follow them. Just like locks and doors on windows are only for honest folk??

Sigh..................

"Okay, sorry to be preachy but its better before a performance if you don't eat anything. You will find if you eat heavily before a performance you may start to find yourself losing concentration and even becoming lethargic because the blood in your body is rushing away from your noggin and racing towards your stomach to help and aid in digestion."

Sorry Mike--the human body doesn't work that way. The brain actually protects itself from changes in perfusion (blood flow) by shutting down flows to the body's periphery, and under dire circumstances, it shuts down flow to all the other major organs to keep blood flowing freely to the most important organ--the brain.

The only reason I don't usually eat before a late night job is I just don't feel like it, or more often than not, I just don't have time. Older folks, such as myself, really don't have to eat nearly as much as the youngsters do, but it really don't make a bit of difference physiologically if you eat or not--just as long as you you don't stuff yourself until you feel uncomfortable. Moderation is the key to longevity.

As for staying hydrated, yes it is extremely important for vocalist, especially when you consider the fluid volume lost while singing. The quantity is beyond most anyones wildest imagination. As for the temperature of the fluids, it really doesn't make a bit of difference. The human laryngeal/pharyngeal system is unique and does neat things during the swallowing process. Ice cold water, lemonade, sport drinks, light beer, decafinated soda--they're all good. Only a thin layer of fluid actually comes in contact with the outer layer of the vocal folds, which are fully closed during swallowing. The contact time is usually under a second, which is not sufficient to significantly lower the vocal fold's temperature, which is the same as body temperature (98.6 degrees f.). Most of the lubrication and moisturizing process on the vocal folds are from moisture emitted from the lungs, flowing up the bronchi, then passing through the folds before entering the laryngeal/pharyngeal area. This moistened air is also the same as your body temperature. The next time you get near the public library, open a copy of Gray's Anatomy and take a close look at the respiratory system. Human physiology and anatomy are fascinating subjects.

I loved the disclaimer--it's hoot! You can only imagine if they put this on some of the medications advertised on TV. "Rocketpoop is not for everyone. Tell your doctor if you experience the following--blah, blah, blah!" Then add your disclaimer message--OH YEAH!

Gary

Gary.........AWESOME POST!!!!!!
and quite informative

I read an interview with the great Pat Metheny, and he said he performs best on an empty stomach.
Personally, I always eat before, so we're back to different strokes for different folks!

------------------
Roy-Andrè

Gary there is too much stuff in your brain. It may cause you to overload and lose concen . . .
DonM

[This message has been edited by DonM (edited 02-18-2004).]

"...there is too much stuff in your brain."

Gettin' old makes you that way--you'll find out soon enough. Think back about 40 years to a time when there was only one thing on your mind--damned I forgot what it was. Anyway, it was a time when I was lucky to remember the lyrics to a dozen songs with any degree of accuracy. Today, there hundreds swimming around in the cobwebs of my mind. Crazy how the human mind works!

Damned, I sure wish I could remember that one thing from 40 years ago.

Gary

I'll find out soon enough??? As I recall, I'm older than you. I wish I were 30 and knew what I knew then. Or now. Or something. I forget.
DonM