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What do you do when you simply must play and you have a bad head cold?

You'll be able to hear yourself a lot better, so you may think about a little extra volume to be sure it's projecting.

I'm pretty sure I remember reading a thread about playing either euph or tuba with a head cold. The guy was worried because he had suddenly started playing consistently flat, but everything went back to normal when his cold cleared up.

decongestant and/or non-drowsy anti-histamine with plenty of fluids might help

Good luck

I hardley ever have a cold, so when I had one and a gig to play I just went ahead and did it. Bad mistake. The doctor says I pushed the infection up through my eustation tubes into my inner ears and wound up in the hospital. Nearly lost the hearing in one ear. Be careful!

It's hard to say...you will know your own limits. If it's a bad cold and you're sneezing, blowing your nose, coughing...then of course, stay home. Especially if you're contagious, stay home. Otherwise, just rest up, handle your business, and come home. When I've had to perform while sick, it's usually gone pretty well, and frankly, the activity and exercise from it makes me feel a little better.

Forget about circular breathing.

jeopardymaster wrote:Forget about circular breathing.

Careful! You can push a lot of gunk into your sinus cavities and your eye orbits neither of which is good. My doctor wife gives out big time when I play with a bad cold because the fall out round the house when you're pig sick this way isn't good.Try and avoid. The sinus infection thing can make you really miserable.