- Question: How do the ingredients in e-cigarettes and vaporizers affect respiratory health? - August 16, 2019
- Bad Technique and Vocal Injury - January 9, 2019
- Is Edible Marijuana Dangerous for the Voice? Myths Dispelled - December 18, 2018
- Surprise! You have a hemorrhage - January 31, 2018
- Graves’ Disease: Treatment Overview - September 25, 2017
- Adele and the Stigma of Vocal Injury - July 11, 2017
- Vocal Curbside Consult: How does the thyroid affect the voice? - May 16, 2017
- Vocal Curbside Consult: How do hormones affect the voice? - May 3, 2017
- Vocal Curbside Consult: How do emotion and stress affect the voice? - April 17, 2017
- Vocal Curbside Consult: Vocal Recovery After Illness - April 7, 2017
The professional voice user population has always had a great work ethic, sometimes to their own detriment. Their “get it done” attitude often has meant pushing their voices to the point of pain or total voice loss. Those symptoms are temporary, and so the trajectory continues. Until injury occurs. Unfortunately, these injuries can be devastating, and even career-ending.
But when advocating for themselves, they often found themselves in a situation where they had to do it, or they would be replaced. It was a lose-lose situation where in one direction, they faced a shortened career, and in the other, there was the potential to never have one in the first place. Most had to choose the former.
However, SAG-AFTRA is trying to change this for their members. Taking the direction of focusing on vocal health and advocating for their membership, they are starting with the most critical step: education.
Last night, members were given an opportunity to listen to a panel of experts in the world of voice, including:
Reena Gupta, MD – Laryngologist at Osborne Head and Neck Institute
Linda Gasson, CCC-SLP – Providence St. Joseph Medical Center
Misty Lee – voice actress, comedian
Mary Elizabeth McGlynn – actress, singer, and director
Natascha Corrigan – voice teacher
Steve Blum – voice actor
Keythe Farley – director, panel moderator
Issues that were discussed included how the voice works (anatomy), injury, injury prevention, warm up, tips and tricks for voice preservation, and how to advocate for yourself in a session, protecting your voice, your career, and your relationships. This is a step in the right direction for the voice world, one that all involved should be taking together.
