10 Vocally Helpful Things You’ll Find at my Dressing Room Station

By Jenna Pastuszek

This weekend, I opened HONK! at Delaware Theatre Company, and when brainstorming what  to write for this week’s blog post, I thought it might be helpful to list some of my “must haves”  for vocal hacks during a long running show. All of these will fit on your Equity allotted space at  your dressing room station! 

1. Mini humidifier: This travel humidifier is a life saver in a dry theatre. 

2. Portable Steamer: Nebulizer or Pure Mist. Save your pennies. These are WORTH IT.

3. Lozenges: I prefer sugar-free Grether’s Pastilles or Fontus drops. AVOID cough drops with  menthol in them (it’s a numbing agent so you can’t feel if/when you’re doing vocal damage).

4. Preventative Medicinals: Oil of oregano. Someone in your cast coming down with a plague?  Avoid this by putting a few drops of this on your tongue. It tastes like a disgusting highly  concentrated amount of pizza and then slightly burns but helps. 

5. TEA! Throat Coat and Manuka honey. 

6. Other beverages: Coconut or Aloe water. Both are super hydrating. Mix it with a little  pineapple juice for an added hydration/de-inflammation boost! 

7. Alkalized water. This brand is great (try the ginger or the cucumber-mint) or check it out at  TJs or Whole Foods. 

8. Metal straw: You can attach this one to your key chain. See Tom Burke's youtube video for a  refresher on how to use it. 

9. Tools for Muscle release: Lacrosse ball to roll out cranky muscles. If that's too hard, check  out these spiky massage balls. You could also get a mini massager (see our toys page for links)  or a portable foam roller. 

10. Meditation apps: I love Breethe for customizable breathing exercises or Headspace.

What are your healthy voice go tos? Help us add to our list!