You're (not) the voice
Last night in Wycombe my voice started to give out in the second half and I only made it through the show by croaking and gasping into the mic like an old man delivering his last instructions to the family. It was a long old week of shouting at strangers, and this week (Blackburn/Cardiff/Dunfermline/Dundee plus two episodes of MW Kicks Off) promises to be, if anything, longer. Despite all sorts of efforts at publicising it, the Dundee show is still low on numbers because of this catastrophic mix-up with the venue, and I use ‘catastrophic’ there in its less common meaning of ‘slightly disappointing’. So I’m going to renew my efforts to make #watsondundee some sort of trending topic on Twitter next week, and ask you to mention to anyone who lives within 4,000 miles of the City of Discovery that I am well and truly playing there on Sunday.
Tuesday’s date with the largely non-bothered Blackburn public, on the other hand, will be enlivened by the now legendary Project Preston ‘massive’. The only worry is that these people will overshadow the rest of the audience. Local resident Bel writes:
I’m from Blackburn but have lived in Preston for last two years. I was about to buy tickets for the Blackburn show but am a bit reluctant after reading the blog! I didn’t realise Mark was playing Preston until the evening of the gig, I’m SO gutted I missed it. I moved out of Blackburn cos it is so grim, I don’t wanna be lumped in with the non-coach arriving blackburners!!
Bel, I can assure you, you will be more than welcome if you make it to the gig. I can’t be dividing my audience into factions. We’ll all be one small, but bigger-than-it-might-have-been, happy family.
Cardiff, on the other hand, is going to be the biggest crowd of the tour so far. An interesting week in prospect. I just need my voice back. I’m off to guzzle some honey.
Posted by josie on November 8, 2010
Good luck with Dundee! I’ve been trying to persuade my sister who lives in Lancaster to round up all her friends!
Posted by Ingrid on November 8, 2010
Hey! Im just wondering, me and my brother are both 14 and we might be able to venture down and see you this weekend, but since we are both 14 could we get in by ourselves or would we have to bring an adult or something? Hope your voice gets better!
x
Posted by Martin Bellamy on November 8, 2010
Kay,
I’ll bring my other daughter along if there’s still a space available – I’ve mailed you directly.
Martin
Posted by Emily on November 8, 2010
I like louisel’s megaphone idea (also her Facebook idea but I see you’ve done that). One of Dundee’s problems is that the population is mostly students and/or young mums, and neither of those groups are known for being able to afford things. I hope your voice improves (not just a selfish wish).
Posted by Kay@Project Preston on November 8, 2010
We have some people unable to make it on the coach tomorrow night, so 3 spots available on the coach for project Preston, if anyone can make it to Preston bus station for 6:15, email me at projectpreston@hotmail.co.uk and i will allocate first come first served as it is such short notice!
Thanks Kay
Posted by Megan on November 8, 2010
Egads, this is not a good development! Tea, honey, lemon, whisky (perhaps not all together, though).
I hope that you are feeling better very soon.
Posted by WotS (Cathy) on November 8, 2010
For what it’s worth, your poorly voicewasn’t noticeable to the audience in Wycombe – at least, not to me! If you hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have known. Though, you did seem like you were struggling a bit when signing books after.
Maybe Minchin can offer you some tips for protecting your voice?
Hope you feel better soon!
Posted by Simon on November 8, 2010
I saw plenty of your tour posters on the tube yesterday. Uncharacteristically, none of them were adorned with chewing gum!
Get better soon!
Posted by Rachael on November 8, 2010
I just ate honey, i’m a little bit addicted at the moment. Hope your voice is better really soon
Posted by louisel on November 8, 2010
Strepsils are good for croakiness
there are also these cough sweets called Vocalzones that my singer friend swears by; they taste vile, but they really work!
Maybe try posting about Dundee on your Facebook fan page thingy? There might be hundreds of people who live in Dundee without twitter, but still ‘like’ you on Facebook. Or just stand in Dundee town centre on the day of the gig with a megaphone and publicise it in a slightly more direct/aggressive way?
Hope you feel better soon
Posted by Kay@Project Preston on November 8, 2010
Bel, there are two spare seats on the coach as someone has dropped out, so email me at projectpreston@hotmail.co.uk and i will give you all the details.
Posted by Natalie-Helen on November 8, 2010
Have you ever tried the sprays that professional singers use to keep their throats clear?
I’m not sure how well they work when you’re losing your voice but they definately get rid of phelgm-y coughs. Normally taste yuk though.
Also I’m enjoying the sort of behind the scenes of the tour thing which is happening at the moment. It’s interesting to see what is happening from your point of view.
^_^
Posted by Tracey on November 8, 2010
Hi Mark, hope you soon feel better! If the honey doesn’t work, reach for the strepsils! I’m sure numbers will pick up in Dundee. Hope you get lots of rest. Take care, Tracey x
Posted by Tibbs on November 8, 2010
Does honey help? I’ve heard steam is good (possibly with ginger root added to the water, but that might be more for if you’re sick).
I hope you manage to recover full vocal faculties and that all of your upcoming shows go wonderfully!
Posted by Misha on November 8, 2010
Biggest crowd of the tour eh? I’m quite excited for Cardiff, which will also to date mark the shortest I have ever travelled to see you (35 minutes walk, door to door, less if I speed walk it).
Here’s hoping the voice picks up, although at the rate i’m going I shall be equally croaksome.
Posted by Catherine aka Cathy on November 8, 2010
What Kate W said.
Posted by Ally on November 8, 2010
I’m struggling with an awful sore throat at the moment so I don’t envy you having to do lots of work. All this talk of shows etc has me even more psyched to see you in Melbourne next year!
Posted by Beth (Bloomability) on November 8, 2010
I (also) hope you get better soon ^_^
Posted by Kate W on November 8, 2010
Honey, hot water and lemon – and sleep. Sleep helps. A day off from shouting at strangers should also help your vocal reinvigoration.
Whoever booked your tour appears to have arranged it alphabetically this week rather than geographically, which is interesting. MW Kicks Off Seems to be going splendidly; hope you have two more good records this week and that numbers pick up in Dundee.
Posted by Beth on November 7, 2010
I hope you get better soon Mark!
x