How do you make sure you hit the right note time after time? How do you give yourself the best chance at nailing your set? How do vocalists deal with changes in music style, venue, event type, sound system, gig location and – most importantly – the volume of the band?
The advice in this blog comes from hard graft and some targeted expert advice in a vocal career spanning everything from metal and punk to jazz. If you want classical training or are interested in musical theory, I’m probably not the right man. But if you’re looking to keep yourself in good shape vocally for regular gigs or for a run, this is definitely a good place to start.
I don’t proclaim to be an expert or even a trained singer: these tips are based on my own experience, what works for me and what I have seen and learned from other singers, teachers and performers over fifteen years in the business. I’ve tried to make the most of my voice simply by not taking it for granted. There is a big difference between singing and being a gigging singer able to replicate a performance – including all the high notes, screams, and growls – night after night.
As a vocalist/frontman, there are so many things to think about that the role is not just that of a singer: it’s more like being an athlete. Of course, if you want to be an athlete, you have to prepare like one.
Vocal Care
Top vocalists work hard at training themselves, their voices, and their bodies - not just when performance demands, but as a regular habit. It doesn’t matter your genre: if you gig consistently, you owe it to yourself to invest in your voice.
An opera singer once told me that if we don’t focus on vocal care for even a few days, our voice tends to slip back toward its “default” state. You can’t push hard at the weekend and expect to simply pick up where you left off the following Friday. Good vocal care and attention are essential if you want to improve and sustain your performance.
Here are some key areas to keep your voice ready:
Breathing and Lung Capacity
- Practice diaphragmatic breathing (belly breathing), letting your ribs expand and your diaphragm engage.
- Do cardio work: swimming, jogging, rowing - anything to improve lung efficiency. Underwater breath exercises are often mentioned by vocalists as helpful for lung strength and control.
- Use breath‑conditioning drills: inhaling slowly, holding, controlled exhale. Over time, build up capacity and control.
Physical Fitness, Posture and Rest
- Core strength and flexibility help support singing posture. Yoga, Pilates, or stretching help a lot.
- Keep shoulders, jaw, and neck relaxed. Tension in these areas often causes vocal strain.
- Prioritise sleep. Vocal folds regenerate during rest. Without enough sleep, even simple singing feels harder.
Avoiding Irritants and Harmful Habits
- Stay away from smokers’ environments and avoid smoking/vaping. Smoke and pollutants irritate vocal folds.
- Use humidifiers in dry rooms or during heating seasons; dry air is a common culprit in voice fatigue.
- Be cautious with caffeine, alcohol, spicy or acidic foods - they can dehydrate or trigger reflux.
On the Night and Performance Preparation
When you're preparing for a gig, your goal isn’t just to perform - it’s to perform well and protect your voice so you can do it again at the same level.
Pre‑Gig and Daily Warm‑Up
- Always begin with breathing exercises: deep inhales, steady exhales. Remember to activate core muscles.
- Gentle humming or lip trills to set resonance and loosen vocal folds. (These are low strain warm‑ups which help ease into heavier use.)
- Sirens or slides (low to high, then back) to connect registers smoothly.
- Perform semi‑occluded vocal tract work, like using a straw phonation exercise, to help maintain efficient airflow.
- During sound checks, make sure you can hear yourself well in the monitor/mix. If not, you may end up pushing to compensate, which strains the voice.
During Gigs or Practice Sessions
If there are breaks, use short warm‑ups or gentle hums to keep the voice limbered. Hydrate between sets; avoid cold, carbonated, or very cold beverages during these times. Build your set list in a way that allows recovery: alternate demanding songs with easier ones; save the most strenuous ones for when your voice is warmed up.
Post‑Gig / Cool‑Down
After intense singing, do descending scales or soft humming to let the voice relax. Avoid finishing on a loud or high strain note; allow your voice to settle gradually.
Supplements, Remedies and Recovery
While these tips will all help aid vocal health, they are supportive tools only and not a replacement for good technique.
- Honey and lemon lozenges are good during a gig. I like Lockets but there are plenty of options on the market to try.
- If your voice is tired between gigs, use recovery remedies like warm water, gentle gargles, or throat pastilles such as Vocalzone.
- After intense shows, rest your voice: limit speaking, and avoid shouting.
- Sleep well. Good rest helps muscles, including vocal folds, repair, and regenerate.
- Plan rest days into your schedule, especially after heavy gig weeks or tours.
- Try using steam and humidity, especially in dry months or rehearsal spaces with low humidity. A humidifier in a green room, or inhaling steam at night can be helpful.
Supplements, Remedies and Recovery
A lot of people have asked me about supplements I use to keep my voice sharp. For me, Lockets Honey and Lemon lozenges are the best lozenges I’ve found for use during a gig. If you are really struggling, try Sanderson’s throat cure mixture as a rinse/gargle during a show (use the pastilles for recovery afterwards or during a run of performances). In fifteen years I haven’t discovered anything better.
If your voice is a bit beat-up between gigs, I suggest VocalZone lozenges (but don’t use them during a gig). Put them aside before you warm-up, and make sure you are drinking more than enough water.
These are just a few tips to get you started and keep you rocking as the work starts to come in. As I said, your guitar player won’t expect you to look after his/her axe, and nobody else is going to look after your voice for you. As the singer, you need to take charge, and hopefully this brief bit of advice will help you take better care of your instrument. Good luck and good gigging!
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Sometimes knowing what not to do helps more than knowing what to do. Keep the following in mind to avoid vocal damage and keep your voice in tip top condition:
- Over‑singing - pushing volume or intensity too often leads to strain and fatigue. Use amplification if needed rather than pushing with throat tension.
- Skipping warm‑ups or cool‑downs. Without a warm‑up, your cords are more at risk and without a cool‑down, tension can linger.
- Singing while sick or when already hoarse -this often makes things worse and prolongs recovery time.
- Whispering or throat clearing (excessively) - these habits stress the cords so try to keep them to a minimum.
- Exposure to irritants - smoke, dry air, and pollutants can all take their toll on your instrument.
Conclusion
Your voice is your instrument. Nobody else will care for it the way you will. With consistent warm‑ups, smart set planning, mindful diet, and good recovery, you give yourself the best shot at delivering great performances time after time.
Good luck — and enjoy the stage.
