My voice is tired.
Change is good, but always involves re-adjusting. One of the re-adjustments I’ve had to make involves the new demands on my vocal cords. Three to four shows a week, at three and a half hours of stage time per show, coming out to between 11.25 and 15 hours of stage time per week. Now, I split this stage time with my partner, so as far as actual singing time, we’re looking at between roughly 6 and 8 hours of all-out singing per week, not including harmonies. I don’t care who you are – that’s a lot of singing. And that’s a reserved calculation.
Now, I’m used to exerting my voice – I had been doing the freelance Dueling Pianos things now for just about five and a half years – but this takes it to a whole new level of responsibility.
All of this being what it is, I’m noticing that my voice is starting to show some signs of strain. I’m also noticing that I am becoming increasingly preoccupied with this fact. I might even go so far as to say that this preoccupation is accompanied by some concern, even worry.
We’re all familiar. Everything else may be going just beautifully, but this one thing just seats itself here, and we can’t help but focus on that one thing, and now it becomes a problem. It becomes a problem because we know that, although small and bothersome now, like a thorn in the side or a chip on the shoulder, it could grow into something much more tangible and challenging, if unattended.
I’ve found that, in my experience at least, I am usually carrying around at least one of these little “problems” on any given day. If it’s not one, it’s another. I don’t think it actually ever goes away.
So the “little problem” that could become a Big Scary Problem is always hanging out, always there, in some form or another. “But it’s different this time,” I might say. “We’re talking about my livelihood here.” Yes, and?
The reality is, it seems to me, that this “problem,” this “chip on my shoulder”, bears no more potential harm than yesterday’s “chip”. I had one yesterday, and I don’t really remember what it was. I’m guessing that’s because I took care of it.
So, if you’re anything like me, and your Movie is just great, and every scene wonderful, except for this “one thing” … Calm down. Chill out. You’ll get it taken care of.
You’ll get it taken care of, just in time for the next one.
