Playing A Gig When You’re Sick

IIt’s the day of a gig, and you’ve woken up with a sore throat and feeling horrible. You spend the morning drinking orange juice, pounding cold medicine like it’s candy, and begging your friends on Facebook for suggestions on how to make this go away quickly.

But nothing’s working. Enter one of the downsides to being a musician: you can’t just call in sick or take a vacation day. If you’re really in this business for the long haul, you know that every opportunity to build your fan base is critical, and having to cancel a gig is the worst thing you could do. Unless you’re truly unable to get out of bed, you know you’re going to have to get up and just do it.

Image credit: rslblog.com

So here are a few tips to get through playing a gig when you’re sick. Let’s face it, we’ve all had to do it, and it’s going to happen again, so let’s make the best of it.

• Stay away from cold medicine that will make you drowsy. Personally, some medicines that advertise “non-drowsy” still make me drowsy, so try to know ahead of time what works for you and what doesn’t.
• Drink water and lots of it. Fluid is the best thing when you’re sick. It will help move toxins out of your body quicker and it will keep you hydrated.
• Alcohol does not count as a fluid. Sorry buddy. I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes a little “self-medication” can help you feel better momentarily, or at least more relaxed. So I won’t stop you, but I will recommend sticking with water and saving alcohol for after the gig if you really hope to put on the best show possible.
• If you sing, try not to talk too much prior to the gig. If your voice is really going, try sipping on some apple cider vinegar diluted with a lot of water. It’s totally disgusting, but it really does help! And have the sound guy turn up your mike so you don’t have to push too hard.
• Another tip for singers: make sure that you’re really singing from your diaphragm, especially when sick. Make the best use of your breath and if you have to phrase things differently or not hold that big note as long, do it. I once pushed a little too far during a gig and was singing from my throat by the end. Once the gig was done, so was my voice—it was out for the next three weeks. So just do your best but don’t push it—you already know this won’t be your best show ever so be good to yourself.
• Make fun of yourself. If you sound like Lurch from the Addams Family, incorporate that into the show. Be creative.
• Two words: crowd participation. Drop all the instruments out except for the drums and make the audience sing a few bars so you can catch your breath or take a drink (of water).
• Plan ahead before you ever get sick. Recruit some friends that you can call on to know your music and fill in when someone can’t make it. I fill in myself as a singer for a local band when they get into a bind, and they’ve got coverage ready for almost every other position as well.

How do you get through a gig when you’re sick? Help your fellow musicians out and share your remedies in the comments below!

Kerri Randall is a singer, performer, writer, and… (wait for it)… fitness instructor. She has performed throughout Milwaukee and Wisconsin with multiple bands, and has even sung at the historic Pabst Theater with the Milwaukee Police Band and Jazz Ensemble. Her passion is entertaining and inspiring others to think, laugh, and have fun. Kerri believes the artist community can only thrive when we all encourage and support each other!