During August I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Italy to give four vocal concerts. It's been a while since I've traveled that far to sing and I was reminded of just how involved touring can be for a singer. I feel the subject of being on the road is appropriate to discuss while the experience is still fresh in my mind.

Traveling really presents quite a few very interesting problems for a singer. First of all, you are changing your environment which means that your regular schedules, patterns and habits all change, too. Yet in order for you to perform at your best, you must maintain certain constants. Creating a familiar environment, even in a foreign country, can be done and it should be your first order of business.

The most obvious step is to bring enough of your own belongings with you to give you a taste of home. You should also bring any information or items that you make use of as a vocalist. What you bring with you will, of course, depend on how far from home you will travel and what kind of facilities will be available to you when you reach your destination. It is wise to find out as much as you can about where you are going. You must consider your specific health, exercise and nutrition needs, as well as professional requirements. They are important factors in giving consistent, quality performances.

So, where do we start? I think the best place is with your itinerary. Check for climate and altitude changes, make note of the length of time you will be in one place and try to find out about available services in each particular city or country. If the climate or altitude you are going to is extremely different from what you are used to, you will have to make a lot of adjustments. Going from one extreme climate to another makes you more susceptible to colds and viruses. In high mountainous regions the air is thinner and if you're not used to that type of altitude you will have difficulty in breathing. Usually it is easier to breathe near water or closer to sea level, however if you are used to mountain tops you will still have to make adjustments.

Let's take a look at two different areas and see what preparations you should make. Say that you live in a dry climate and the place you are going to is near water in a slightly mountainous region. There are hills to climb and places to swim. The weather is hot during the day and cool in the evening. Make sure you pack clothing to cover the temperature range. And be prepared to treat your own colds -bring vitamin C, acidophillus capsules, Golden Seal capsules and bee propolis drops. You'll save yourself a lot of money and energy this way. You can always find a pot and boiling water to breathe steam, but there may not be a health food store or a doctor easily available.

On the other hand, if you are traveling from a wet climate to a very dry climate you must guard yourself against dehydration. Bring lozenges and drink lots of fluids to keep your voice lubricated. The best thing to drink is water. In foreign countries drink only bottled water. In other parts of the U.S. natural spring water is the best.

Another important thing to consider is the length of your journey and the length of your stay. If you've traveled in a plane or bus for several hours you will need to do exercises to loosen up your muscles. Yoga is great for this. I brought a wonderful book on yoga by Richard Hittleman with me on my trip and did just the beginning postures after traveling. It did wonders for me physically and mentally. I also used those exercises as part of my warm ups and warm downs. If you normally run for exercise and find yourself in a place where this isn't possible, pack a jump rope. Both yoga and jumping rope allow you to turn a small hotel room into a complete exercise facility.

Taking care of your voice also means eating properly. It is difficult in some places to get health foods, yet most places have fruit and vegetable stores in the vicinity. If you get enough nourishment from raw foods you should be able to stay healthy and have enough energy to perform at your best.

It is also vital when on the road to work on your singing. If there is no keyboard player in your band, try to find a piano so you can vocalize. If not, bring tapes of your vocal exercises and a cassette player. (Don't forget an adaptor for different current).

The next most important thing you can do for yourself when you are traveling is to get proper rest. Sleep is a necessary ingredient for a good performance. There is usually so much going on during a tour, so much to do, so many people to meet, so many new things to think of and deal with, that you get more tired than you normally would. In addition, the sense of freedom and relaxation of your regular routine that comes with travel releases a lot fo tension and your body's reaction to that is to sleep. If you are going to give your best to an audience each night, you must conserve your energy.

Success is most often achieved by attention to detail. With a bit of effort you can assure yourself of a successful and enjoyable experience on the road. When you know you are prepared, then your mind can relax and be free to receive all the wonderful experiences of your tour.

See you next month!