In several previous articles I have talked about going on the road and what personal equipment you can bring with you to make it a better overall experience. Lately I've felt the need to put all this separate information in one article to make a concise list available to everyone. At first my list might sound hilarious. Not everyone who goes on the road brings an entire gymnasium with them! But I wanted to have my list include all the possibilities. If you have a professional career and a professional road crew, you really can include a lot of these items. Just pack them along with the rest of your equipment.

You can pick and choose from this list those items that will be practical and sensible from your point of view and for your situation. A full-fledged national tour and a full road crew could handle all of these items, however the probability of using them all is most likely slim. Take only those things that are practical for you.

For massage, I recommend that everyone take an electric massager of some kind on the road. There are some excellent small ones with one or two speeds and include attachments for the face, scalp, heavy muscles of the legs and back, manufactured by Wahl. Many of my students have found these to be very efficient and successful in reducing the tensions of traveling and singing while touring. Other companies make large ones which allow you to reach behind and get at your back. Most of these can be purchased at drug or department stores where home products are sold. Rollers made of wood for the feet, back, spine etc. are light weight and very useful for releasing tension. These are available in most health food stores.

Another product that is great for the relief of tired and sore muscles is mineral salts for use in bath water. One particular mineral bath that I am fond of is Baththerapy, available at health food stores. Singing rock and roll is a strenuous business and whenever you can take a hot bath while you're on the road, do so. Laying down in a tub of hot water is quite a different experience from taking a shower, and with a mineral bath or something similar, a lot of tension can be relieved.

Often, on the road, your only sources for food are diners, delis or fast food chains. These do not provide a healthy diet, especially for vegetarians. If you care about your voice, you should care about your diet. Some performers go on the road with an entire kitchen. If you can't afford that, though, there are still machines you can choose from that will improve your food situation. Hand operated vegetable cutters allow you to get raw food salads, freshly cut. Small juicers, which can be easily disassembles, can provide fresh vegetable and fruit juices. Hot plates, electric skillets and machines for boiling water will allow you to cook just about anything. This is especially helpful if you are on a special or restricted diet.

Many hotel and motel rooms are heated with dry heat in the Winter so I absolutely recommend that you bring a portable humidifier along. The dryness in those rooms is similar to the dryness of a desert and can really burn your throat and nostrils. Your larynx is mucous membrane and must be lubricated to function properly. If it is dry, not only are you likely to get hoarse or develop laryngitis, but you can damage your voice. (That, by the way, is why singers should avoid antihistamines.) Breathing steam is one of the best things you can do to moisturize your voice and a facial steam machine is wonderful for that very thing. Cosmetic places sell machines designed for facials that work fine. And, of course, giving yourself a facial and getting rid of all the stage make-up isn't a bad idea either!

Sometimes you can find yourself stuck with no place to exercise or, if you're a jogger, no place to run. Some people I know bring equipment with them on the road so that they can be sure of getting an adequate workout and keep in shape for performing. One of the simplest things to do is bring a tape recording of a workout and do your calisthenics in your room. The Jane Fonda Workout comes to mind. It is a fabulous, and difficult, routine and it does not require too much space. One pound wrist and ankle weights are easy to pack and good for building strength. A jump rope is also an easily packed yet effective exercise item. If you feel self-conscious about jogging in an unfamiliar city, buy a rebounder and have the road crew pack it with the other equipment. There are also small, light-weight rowing machines or bicycle machines (approx. $40) which fold up and require little space to operate.

Just in case you get sick, make sure to have a good supply of vitamins on hand, including E, C, B Complex, a good multi-vitamin and some iron. Golden Seal bee pollen and ginseng are also reported to be very good for you. Of course you should check with your physician to make sure that your body can handle these supplements. Cough drops are easy enough to come by so I wouldn't worry about them, but I would make sure that any specialty items were packed, like herbal teas.

Last, but not least, bring a good, soft pillow for your personal comfort! See you next month.