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losing voice
I've been working in a high hustle club for 4 or 5 months now, and I've really learned how to hustle and pretty much bank every weekend. I work Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night, and by the time the last night comes around, I can barely talk because I'm not used to the ciggarette smoke. Is this normal? It happens almost every weekend. Is there something I can do to help ease the pain? :'(
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Re: losing voice
i use to gargle with warm salt water and use throat spray. i am actually allergic to smoke, so i would gargle and spit up blood, how serious is that???!!! when it got like that(on wkends) i would stay up in the dressing room for like 30 mins. try to stay away from lrg smoking groups if you can,$$$$.
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Re: losing voice
Is it just the smoke? Or might it be trying to shout over the ambient noise? Bet it's a combination of the two. You might try talking into the customer's ear, even during the initial conversation, rather than try and hold a normal conversation across the table. This will help save your voice and, coincidentally, make you seem more engaged and intimate with the custie.
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Re: losing voice
Throat spray? What kind and does it reall help. I hate spending my Sundays miserable because I can't hardly talk to my hubby.
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Re: losing voice
i use sore throat spray, like you'd buy at the drugstore. i bought strong kind, that numbs it good!
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Re: losing voice
beware the antibacterial throat sprays because they are extremely drying, which is the opposite of what you want in this situation. the cig smoke, fake smoke and muscle drain speaking over the noise = disaster for the larynx.
do what club singers do -- drink as much water as you can - i mean lots! Hydration is your friend in the larynx. steaming your head over a bowl after work each night also helps.
all you can do is choose whether it's worth your voice/health to work in that environment. it's harsh, but it's the reality. the ambient noise level is ridiculous, and if you don't have a piercing, high-pitched voice naturally, it just won't carry over the noise without muscular/vocal strain. smokey clubs destroyed my voice.
luckily it comes back over time, when you treat it properly.
if quitting isn't an option, do what my sexy russian friend does - body language and minimal words. (she doesn't have enough english words to use. LOL).