I also chew gum to help keep my throat lubricated. I do drink water a few times during our typical sets which usually include a total of 12-15 songs for the entire concert.
I see nothing rude or unprofessional about doing so. Especially when it allows you to sing better for the audience by helping maintain your voice.
If you hydrate yourself well before taking the stage, you’re not as likely to need it as much during the actual concert. From an audience member’s viewpoint, it doesn’t bother me to watch performers sip, unless it is after every song; then, it can become a little annoying to watch, but it’s nothing to fuss about. As Cliff has said, it is better to keep your instrument in proper working order and if it requires an occasional sip, so what. Like anything else, though, it can become more of a nervous habit than necessary, if we let it.
Something that is more annoying to me while watching a performance is group members talking to each other on stage during someone else’s solo. Distracting and rude. All eyes and attention should be on the soloist. Again, there are rare exceptions when you may not have a choice—like if the mixer or piece of sound gear is about to blow up.
Some great hints and suggestions about water, greasy foods, etc. so I am going to start a set and just carry a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken on stage. Kill two birds with one stone. Great subject. I agree with drinking on stage is a distraction but alot of singers do it. Even in our group. Maybe we need to get an IV before we perform like the Nascar drivers.
Some great hints and suggestions about water, greasy foods, etc. so I am going to start a set and just carry a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken on stage. Kill two birds with one stone. Great subject. I agree with drinking on stage is a distraction but alot of singers do it. Even in our group. Maybe we need to get an IV before we perform like the Nascar drivers.
A good performer knows and is accomplished at “stage magic”. “Stage magic” is the ability to deal with situations that come up on the fly - all the while the audience knows nothing is going on. This is quite possible, I have found out from experience. This is a skill that isn’t just a natural thing - it must be honed and studied. Once a situation comes up you must 1) find a solution, 2) find / make and avenue that will allow you to execute the solution and 3) go through with it without anyone noticing what is really going on. It is in a sense it’s being an illusionist. There are many examples that I could give you but I’ll briefly tell you of the last time I had to use “stage magic”.
A group I used to play keyboards for was in my area and I was in town - so I naturally went. They had a new kid on keyboards so I had to go give him a hard time - right? Lol. Since it was in my area, the audience knew me and my connection with that group. It happened that the lead vocalist got ahold of a dud battery in his mic. He noticed it about to go dead and signaled me for a new battery (located in a case back stage). The problem: I wasn’t on stage, I had to find an avenue to deliver the battery. So, I made one. I got the battery (they happened to be on an upbeat song by this time) so I charge the stage, kick the new kid off the piano and took over for the rest of the song. In doing so, when I charged the stage, the lead singer gave me a high-five. In that high-five I passed the battery on the him (delivery complete) - the audience, not knowing what’s really going on, thinks I’m just kicking the new kid off the piano and “showing him really how to do it right” - the high-five…well it was a gesture of excitement and a “welcome back to the stage”. He replaced that battery during a short exchange between myself and the emcee - problem fixed, the audience had a good time without knowing anything - mission successful!
As far as drinking on stage: don’t. Make a time for that during intermission. For example: While two are giving a product pitch, the others can be catching some H2o, they can then watch the table while the ones giving the pitch catch a swig - and the audience knows nothing. They just think that the ones giving the pitch are on their way to the table…and they are with an added pit stop….but that’s just my two cents worth.
I understand that when you sing long sets that your throat tends to get a little dry. I know because I have sang first tenor/alto in different quartets (local) over the years and I, myself, like to take a drink of water every once in a while to keep my throat from getting dry. I tried to do it discretely, though.
My question is : How do you feel about artists taking drinks of water, or whatever else they drink, on stage during performances or while another member of the group is singing? Is it too noticeable, distracting, does it matter, does it look unprofessional, etc. ?
The chewing gum thing affects the audience in a negative way. For whatever reason, watching someone chew gum gives off the ambiance of the performer not really being serious, of being too laid back. Subconsciously, it gives the audience member the impression that the particular performer chewing gum is not taking himself or the event seriously.
I DON’T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. MYSELF SITTING IN AN AUDIENCE HAVE HAD TO BRING SOMETHING TO DRINK INSIDE SOME PLACES WHERE NO FOOD OR DRINK WAS ALLOWED , BECAUSE OF THE HORRIBLE BUILDINGS LACKING ADEQUATE AIR CONDITIONING . IT IS VERY HOT ON STAGE…. SO IF I AM HOT AND THIRSTY IN THE AUDIENCE ....I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE SINGERS ON STAGE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think the whole concept of being professional comes into play here you can take water up on stage and look like a big distraction or you can do it in a very non intrusive way let me give you two good examples. First if you watch the Tonight show you notice from time to time that while a guest is answering a question Jay will take a sip of water or whatever from his coffee mug now the key is a sip to wet his mouth not a drink to quench a dying thirst but a sip to lubricate the chords. Second my Pastor Dr. John Marshall is a master at giving a text or point and taking a sip of his water before returning to his point or sermon. Once again the key is a sip not a gulp. Just my thought
Much ado about nothing…Professionals in all genres, Christian or secular, drink water on stage, most openly, and no one in another genre thinks anything of it, nor do the fans. In a lengthy concert, it is a necessity, so as not to harm your vocal chords and to keep them lubricated. My personal opinion is that those who are really bothered by watching someone hydrate himself/herself during a concert will be bothered by other things as well and not attentive to what is most important, the message being presented. We, as concert goers, can find the craziest things to nitpick about. Seriously, folks, that’s just part of life.
However, some talk about ways to keep the vocal chords in great shape would be a great discussion. For example, did you know that coke or soda is a horrible thing to have before performing? Did you also know that water temperature should be room temperature, not ice cold or even warm/hot, if you are going to perform? Did you also know there is a product called “Entertainer’s Secret” which your pharmacists can get for you, which you spray in your throat to moisten the vocal chords with oil/ loosen them? Those kinds of things would be helpful here.
The only things I have ever found extremely distracting on stage for groups to do, especially regional groups are: 1) Group members talking to each other while another member is talking to the audience or doing a solo. 2) Looking at each other and rolling eyes or making a face when someone makes a mistake. (Actually, the audience doesn’t even notice sometimes until they see group members make faces.) 3) Pointing out what was wrong with a song, that someone is missing and the group doesn’t sound as good, saying this is only the first time the song has been performed and may not be good, etc. As soon as you do this, everyone is watching for what is wrong. Death comes to that song or performance night. Just don’t say it. Let the audience decide for themselves. They may think it is a great song, concert, etc. and not notice a thing that you are noticing as a group. Let them think you are great and everything was perfect.
