1. LACK OF SLEEP
   Late nights followed by catching a few winks on the drive to the next show (if you are lucky enough to have a driver) can spell trouble for your body and voice. Limiting your tour time, planning more days off between shows and sleeping in a hotel room rather than the back seat of a UHaul can go a long way to meeting your sleep needs.
2. NOT STAYING HYDRATED
   Your vocal cords need to be hydrated in order to keep elasticity (vocal agility and range), viscosity (mucus membranes help the vocal cords vibrate without friction) and prevent vocal trauma. So learn to love drinking water! Adding a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime to your water will hydrate you more deeply. Also, a “personal nebulizer” (I recommend this one) can help directly hydrate the vocal cords before a performance.
3. SMOKING, ALCOHOL, CAFFEINE
   Inhaling smoke, whatever its source, dries out the vocal folds. If you want to stay in top vocal shape, quit smoking or leave the room if it is smoky. Alcohol and caffeine also cause dehydration. For every cup of coffee or pint of beer, increase your water consumption to compensate.
4. BAD TECHNIQUE, NO WARM UP
   You may be able to sing that note over several takes in the studio but did you plan on how you’d do it live – night after night – for months on end? Meeting regularly with a vocal coach in the months leading up to a tour can help you establish good technique and head off vocal issues before they start. That and a proper vocal warm-up can make those challenging choruses feel easier and make sure you can keep repeating your performance without harming your voice.
5. TOO MANY PERFORMANCES, NOT ENOUGH RECOVERY TIME
   Early morning radio shows after a late-night concert that involve meet-and-greets accompanied by alcohol, cigarette smoke and yelling over a crowd will take its toll on any voice. If you want your career to last beyond your first tour you need to set some limits and be prepared to draw some boundaries.

As an artist, you are your own best advocate. Before the tour is planned, meet with your manager and establish your limits right from the start. Having some days in between to recover is always better than cancelled shows. In addition, ironing out potential vocal issues before you head out will lead to fewer problems while on tour. I’ve prepared many bands and singers for tours and would love to help you get ready for yours.

P.S. If you are already on tour and experiencing vocal issues I can meet with you over Skype to help you sort things out so you can keep your focus on sharing your music with your fans!