VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

David Swinehart

And so here I am, still new to the biz, and I received my biggest job yet a day ago - a full IVR/Phone System/VM set for a major company. So naturally, I wake up to the worst head cold I can remember. I sound like the "before" voice in a NyQuil commercial! Angry

Anybody have a magic cure out there? (I'm on my fifth cup of hot tea and have breathe-right's plastered all over me) Or is it time to buck up and tell my client it's going to be an extra day or so until I can speak without sounding like Lily Tomlin on Sesame Street? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocBO0fr1Ui4
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David Swinehart
an actual Dave
Kinetic Sound Labs

CarynClark · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 7:20 am Post subject:

Hi there,

What a bummer! If a decongestant doesn't work well enough, then I suggest you ask them if you can wait until it passes. It's Saturday... do they need it today??

To avoid this predicament in the future, I highly recommend Thieves Essential Oil (check out the Young Living web site) and MANY people swear by a daily rinse with the Neti Pot.

I hope you feel better!
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Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

"A positive mental attitude and having faith in your ability is quite different from being irresponsible and downright stupid." - Dave

Bruce · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 7:26 am Post subject:

Professionals get colds too....and wait a minute, you're a professional now, too. If it's a bad enough cold you're going to sound off for 2 to 4 days. Just tell them you'll record it Wednesday or Thursday depending on how you sound because you want it to sound the best it can be.

I suggest saline nasal spray (some like neti pots) as a non-pharmaceutical way of opening your nose and partially opening your sinuses. This helps your sound a bit. There are lots of things you can take to make yourself feel better (or not as bad) but resting and letting your immune system work is the only way I know of getting your normal sound back fastest.

To your health,

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

David Swinehart · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 7:31 am Post subject:

Thanks, Caryn & Bruce. Hopefully, this crud will run its course and I can get back to business. It's just a bummer to get off on the wrong foot with a new client and have to delay a project. Rolls Eyes

Cheers to Neti pots and nasal sprays. Wink

_________________
David Swinehart
an actual Dave
Kinetic Sound Labs

CarynClark · Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 9:09 am Post subject:

... and Thieves!!! Smile

It's my miracle "drug" for sure.

Don't be hard on yourself... it happens. They should understand. They get sick too. Smile

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Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

"A positive mental attitude and having faith in your ability is quite different from being irresponsible and downright stupid." - Dave

Chrissy · Guest

A humidifier is also a major help. It can be used any time of the year that you have heat on. Heat tends to dry out the air. It can be used a night when your sleeping especially if you know that you sleep with your mouth open.

Mandy Nelson · Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 7:47 am Post subject:

This does you no good but I'm in the same boat. Trying to match previous recordings and not having luck. Throat coat tea is helping the throat part, though. Blah. Feel better!!
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 11:02 am Post subject:

I'm also sick, so hopefully misery will love some company.
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

bobbinbeamo · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 8:18 am Post subject:

Lately I've been dealing with perpetual sinusitis I thought was just some lingering cold symptom, that never seemed to go away. My Doc suggested Claritin, plus she prescribed a nasal decongestant....and I am noticing a difference in the way I feel and perform now.

My doc said.."Don't do too much of the over the counter nasal sprays...they produce rebound congestion as your body develops a tolerance".
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Bobbin Beam
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Nelson Jewell · Guest

Sorry about the misfortune. I recently went through a similiar situation. Listen to your VO buddies on this board, especially about the Neti Pot. It'll shorten your illness considerably and get you back in the game in a hurry. The client that I was working with when I was hit with the cold/flu was understanding and patient. They wanted me bad enough to wait a few days.
Hang in there.

Pam · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:34 am Post subject:

It's not a pretty experience but the NetiPot did wonders to help with my second cold in a 2 week time slot a while back. I would highly recommend it. You can get it at Walgreens now, you just have to look as it is usually on the bottom shelf.
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Now what did I come in here for?

donkin · Guest

David Swinehart · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:40 am Post subject:

Mandy and Jeff - my sympathies that you're in the same boat.

After three days of rest with the humidifier whirring, Musinex, saline, and hot tea, I finally got down to the drugstore and picked up a Neti pot (thanks to all that suggested this). It was certainly a.... well..... cleansing experience. I still sound like a Robitussin commercial, but I feel a lot better! Wink

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David Swinehart
an actual Dave
Kinetic Sound Labs

Mandy Nelson · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:56 am Post subject:

Glad to hear you are feeling better! I'm about to use the neti pot one last time before I pack it for our trip tomorrow. I will be taking that thing with us, for sure, but leaving all recording gear behind. Gasp! A real vacation!!

I'm plowing through a huge pile of VO work right now and glad for the throat coat b/c my voice isn't really bothered. As long as I keep my voice out of my noise, that is. I can do it. I can do it. I can do it.

I hope you're on the mend as well, Jeff! What a PITA.
_________________
006 member of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Mic. Bonded by sound.

Manfillappsoc: The Mandy and Philip mutual appreciation Society. Who's in your network?

Have you seen my mic closet? ~ me to my future husband