For many auctioneers this time of year, there are opportunities to bid call in cold weather (cold air.) Are there precautions for improving bid calling — specifically vocal cord health and warmth?
Indeed there are such considerations. Here’s a summary:
Nose breathing (in) and mouth breathing (out) allows warm air to accumulate and thus heat and moisturize vocal cords.
Upwards of 80% of body heat is lost from the head/neck area. Wearing a hat, scarf, hooded-ware, etc. will help your vocal cords retain heat and moisture.
Hydrating … drinking water as well as breathing moist air prior to bid calling helps vocal cords stay healthy and moist. Remember that your body is hydrated from ingesting water 12-24 hours prior to a vocal event.
Warm up your vocal cords a bit before your bid calling event, and arrive to the venue up to 30 minutes before to acclimate to the environment.
Watch your diet during cold weather months as it takes more energy for the body to keep itself suitably warm.
Always use a quality sound amplification system.
The best therapy for worn out or stressed vocal cords is hydration, moist air and complete rest. We previously wrote about that and other vocal health issues here: https://mikebrandlyauctioneer.wordpress.com/2017/05/03/six-auctioneer-vocal-cord-myths/
We noted much of this above from a story by Chris Beatty (The Vocal Coach) at: http://vocalcoach.com/cold-weather-tips-for-singers/
Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, CAI, CAS, AARE has been an auctioneer and certified appraiser for over 30 years. His company’s auctions are located at: Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, RES Auction Services and Goodwill Columbus Car Auction. He serves as Distinguished Faculty at Hondros College, Executive Director of The Ohio Auction School, an Instructor at the National Auctioneers Association’s Designation Academy and America’s Auction Academy. He is faculty at the Certified Auctioneers Institute held at Indiana University and is approved by the The Supreme Court of Ohio for attorney education.
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