Care package for touring singer

January 7, 2018 11:18 AM

I'm dating a professional singer who's about to go on a long tour, and I'd like to make a small tour care package for her. I already have Thayer's lozenges and a book- other general ideas from touring singers would be really helpful! She mentioned some sort of herbal remedy that singers use for vocal chord health that has, I think, a tiger as part of the brand, so leads on that in particular would be welcomed.
posted by deus ex machina to Shopping (14 answers total)

Inflatable neck pillow.
posted by sexyrobot at 11:45 AM on January 7, 2018

ThIs tea! It’s requested on tour riders by every type of singer.
posted by little mouth at 12:06 PM on January 7, 2018 [3 favorites]

Some small trinket to remind her of home/make her hotel room homey. When I toured I would put up fairy lights over my bed in every town--something simple to make the parade of endless hotel rooms feel more "mine."
posted by mollymayhem at 12:41 PM on January 7, 2018 [1 favorite]

I’ve heard licorice root is good for singers.
posted by Annika Cicada at 12:51 PM on January 7, 2018

Is the tiger balm, uh, Tiger Balm? To rub on he neck maybe?
posted by PussKillian at 12:59 PM on January 7, 2018

This site suggests it's Tiger Balm, which you might find at your local pharmacy (probably near the Bengay, if I had to guess; pungent salve in a small container).

(On preview: foiled!)
posted by cdefgfeadgagfe at 1:00 PM on January 7, 2018

+1 for Throat Coat, linked by little mouth. A cute, small squeeze bottle of honey. A soft knit scarf.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 1:16 PM on January 7, 2018 [1 favorite]

Very warm soft slippers

Uggs type fluffy-interior boots if she wears heels onstage (on film sets, most actresses alternate between wearing their high heels for the actual shots, and then slipping into Uggs for comfort when rehearsing or travelling from dressing room to soundstage)

Small electric heating pad or cute hot water bottle

Fairy lights for sure, most tour accommodations will have ugly fluorescent lighting

Agree that Throat Coat tea is great

Valda Lozenges are beloved by opera singers

Face masks and undereye patches

Earplugs
posted by pseudostrabismus at 2:21 PM on January 7, 2018

I think I'm the only singer who can't stand Throat Coat tea! Toss a box of Twining's Lemon & Ginger tea in there too, I vastly prefer it before performing. Maybe also some zinc lozenges or Airborne packets. A portable humidifier (for car or hotel room...or both). A microwavable heating pad for shoulders.
posted by AliceBlue at 3:02 PM on January 7, 2018 [1 favorite]

i personally like vocal-eze for fixing my voice.

xmas lights are a good suggestion. also, a couple of phone chargers with really long cords, and a power strip with some USB ports. So many green rooms are woefully lacking in accessible power and everyone always has 100 devices to charge.

Someone in my band brings a portable white noise generator. I use a noise generator app on my phone. (i find brown noise works the best. i can sleep through someone sound checking drums with brown noise in my headphones! it's awesome!)
posted by capnsue at 4:44 PM on January 7, 2018 [2 favorites]

a couple of phone chargers with really long cords, and a power strip with some USB ports. So many green rooms are woefully lacking in accessible power and everyone always has 100 devices to charge.

THIS.
posted by soundguy99 at 8:40 PM on January 7, 2018 [2 favorites]

Maybe 'White Tiger' Altarulm? It contains slippery elm and liquorice, which are both used as throat treatments by singers.
posted by Morfil Ffyrnig at 9:14 PM on January 7, 2018

is the tour international? if so, international multiplugs would be awesome.

Tiger Balm is amazing but i've never heard of it as a vocal remedy.
posted by divabat at 9:38 PM on January 7, 2018

Every singer I know uses slippery elm lozenges. You can find them in most well-stocked drugstores.
posted by ananci at 11:54 PM on January 7, 2018