What are some tips to keep your voice hydrated and lubricated during a long hosting session?

1 Drink plenty of water

Water is essential for keeping your vocal cords moist and flexible. Dehydration can cause your voice to sound dry, hoarse, or raspy, and make you more prone to vocal damage. Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water a day, and more if you are sweating, drinking alcohol, or consuming caffeinated beverages. Avoid drinks that can dehydrate you, such as soda, coffee, tea, or energy drinks. Drink water before, during, and after your hosting session, and keep a bottle handy on stage.

2 Warm up and cool down

Just like any other muscle, your vocal cords need to warm up before you use them and cool down after. Warming up your voice can help you improve your range, tone, and clarity, and prevent vocal injury. You can warm up by doing some gentle humming, lip trills, tongue twisters, or scales. Cooling down your voice can help you relax your vocal cords and reduce inflammation. You can cool down by doing some gentle humming, yawning, or sighing. Warm up for at least 10 minutes before your hosting session, and cool down for at least 5 minutes after.

3 Avoid vocal abuse

Vocal abuse is anything that can strain or damage your vocal cords, such as shouting, screaming, whispering, coughing, clearing your throat, or smoking. These habits can cause vocal nodules, polyps, or hemorrhages, which can affect your voice quality and require medical treatment. To avoid vocal abuse, use a microphone when you host, and adjust the volume and position to suit your voice. Speak with a natural pitch and volume, and avoid forcing or pushing your voice. If you feel any pain, discomfort, or loss of voice, stop speaking and rest your voice.

4 Eat well and rest well

Your diet and sleep can also affect your voice health and performance. Eating well can help you nourish your body and voice, and prevent acid reflux, which can irritate your vocal cords. Avoid spicy, acidic, or fatty foods, especially before your hosting session. Eat light meals and snacks that are easy to digest, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, or yogurt. Rest well can help you recharge your energy and voice, and prevent stress, which can tense up your vocal cords. Aim to get at least seven hours of sleep a night, and avoid staying up late or working too hard before your hosting session.

5 Use vocal remedies

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you may experience some vocal issues, such as dryness, soreness, or inflammation. In that case, you can use some vocal remedies to soothe and heal your voice. Some common vocal remedies are honey, lemon, ginger, chamomile tea, apple cider vinegar, or salt water gargle. You can also use some vocal sprays, lozenges, or humidifiers to moisturize and lubricate your voice. However, be careful not to rely too much on these remedies, as they are not substitutes for proper vocal care and hygiene.

6 Consult a professional

Finally, if you have any persistent or serious vocal problems, such as hoarseness, loss of voice, difficulty swallowing, or bleeding, you should consult a professional voice therapist or doctor. They can diagnose the cause of your vocal issues, and prescribe the best treatment and advice for your voice. They can also help you improve your vocal technique and habits, and prevent further vocal damage. Don't ignore or neglect your voice health, as it is your most valuable asset as an emcee.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?