8 Essential Vocal Health Items to Pack

Often glamorized in movies and television shows, the life of a singer is filled with a lot of physical and emotional stress.

From adjusting to time zones to getting ready for interviews, it seems to be almost impossible for fellow vocal athletes to find the time to relax your voice before a concert!

So before you jump on that tour bus and start promoting yourself, here are 8 essential vocal health items to pack prior to your next magical musical mystery tour!

1. A Mouth Mask

More than just a cool accessory for your next Halloween party, a mouth mask protects your vocal cords against the elements, especially during flights.

As a singer, being able to maintain your vocal health is super important. Unless if you’re one of the lucky few to either have a partner who can take your place on stage and/or have huge gaps in between your touring schedule and still make a decent living, it can be difficult to prevent yourself from catching a cold without having a decent mask on hand.

If your tour is especially long, we recommend that you purchase both disposable and reusable masks ahead of time!

2. A Steamer

When it comes to keeping your voice crisp and clean on the road, it’s important that you keep yourself hydrated at all times!

While it’s one thing to keep bottles of water on the bus at all times, it’s another to have a travel-size humidifier with you at all times. Especially if you plan on touring in places that have extreme weather conditions!

3. An Organic TVS Voice Inhaler

The Vocal Inhalers from The Vocalist Studio for Maintaining Vocal Health on and off Tour

Yes, you read that right! There is such a thing as an organic TVS voice inhaler.

While some voice inhalers are made with using steroids and other dangerous chemicals, the TVS voice inhaler is made with using eucalyptus, menthol & other vaporous organic herbs.

This way, you can keep your voice in good condition as you practice your warmups and cooldowns on and off the tour bus.

4. Organic Herbal Tea

Whether you prefer to use the loose-leaf kind or the bagged kind, drinking plenty of organic herbal tea is a great way to help you relax prior to an interview or concert. Plus, they’re filled with lots of antioxidants, which can help protect your cells from damaging and prevent the risk of developing cancer.

Not to mention that they taste great with or without sugar and milk.

5. A Gravity Blanket

On average, a typical gravity blanket can cost anywhere from $60 to $300 each. However, as expensive as these blankets may be, they are a worthwhile investment to have on hand.

Light and easy-to-carry around, a gravity blanket is great for combating those restless nights sleeping on the tour bus.

6. Healthy, Light Foods

As you’re touring on the road, your body will go through multiple periods of time zone adjustment. In order to combat that, it’s important that you keep your voice nice and healthy by eating foods that are light and full of nutrients such as kidney bean salad and manuka honey with ginger.

Otherwise, the moment that you go on stage, you might accidentally make a scene in front of your adoring fans (and not the good kind…).

For more information on this subject, check out this article on What to Eat and Drink Before Singing.

7. A Personal Vocal Trainer

Regardless as to whether you’re a first-time musician or not, having a personal vocal trainer on board is crucial for maintaining your vocal health as a musician.

In a world filled with constant interruption and interacting, it’s important to have someone on hand to help you maintain that singer work-life balance that you always dream of having.

Who else but a personal vocal trainer can help you maintain those vocal health skills that you work tirelessly on end for?

8. A Pair of Noise-Cancelling Headphones

To be fair, the idea of a singer bringing a pair of noise-canceling headphones may sound counterintuitive. However, when traveling on the road, it’s important that you spend some time resting and relaxing your voice.

As a professional voice athlete, you can’t spend the rest of your life being someone else’s singing jukebox. If you want your voice to last, it’s important that you treat it as the treasure that it is.

Anything Else?

When going on a tour, it’s important to pack along some vocal health tools in order to keep your voice perfected on the road. Here at The Vocalist Studio, we especially recommend these 8 vocal health items to pack:

1. A Mouth Mask
2. A Steamer
3. An Organic TVS Voice Inhaler
4. Organic Herbal Tea
5. A Gravity Blanket
6. Healthy, Light Foods
7. A Personal Voice Trainer
8. A Pair of Noise Cancelling Headphones

This way, you should be all set and ready to go for your next tour!

In the meantime, are there any other vocal health items that we should add onto our list? Let us know in the comments below!

Otherwise, be sure to pick up a copy of Robert Lunte’s “4 Pillars of Singing!” Also, make sure you join The Vocalist Studio Group on Facebook for help from our community of singers and coaches and subscribe to The Vocalist Studio YouTube Channel for More Help and Content!