Food Performance Question

[jon112780]

Just so long as there's something in your stomach, and not enough to make you scamper off stage for the bathroom between movements. Stick to what you usually eat (unless it's Taco Bell), and do what you usually do before a performance; keep it pretty much the same so there won't be any 'surprises'.

Kind of like your daily warmup, get used to how you feel before, throughout, and after. That way you have a pretty good idea and are comfortable knowing this is how my chops usually feel. They say repetition may be boring, but it is certainly much more stable.

[MaryAnn]

Well, when I sub for Mr. Baer, I eat only filet mignon, and that only after 11 pedal Dbs in a row.

MA

[Casey Tucker]

James,
typically before a performance i try to eat a lighter than i normally would. Ex: i'll eat a salad and a piece of fruit (usually a banana) w/ a glass of water in the area of an hour before the actual performance. there was an interesting lecture i attended in the summer of '05 at Interlochen. the lecture was about pre performance hydration and the speaker (whose name escapes me. if anyone knows, shout it out) said that if you were to drink water right before you play you would be more prone to have dry mouth when you play. reason being, your body has to absorb the water then redistribute it. it's similar to the concept of a wet shammy drying up more water than a completely dry one. my recommendation, drink water up to 30 min before playing. REMEMBER, this is what works for me. you should take a weekend to experiment with this 'issue'. that would also prove for a lot of practice time. just my .02

-CT

[lgb&dtuba]

I'll have beer and brats during from time to time. Wait, no. You said before.

Actually, I just don't want to feel either too full or too empty and eat whatever I want to that accomplishes that goal. Basically, exactly what Bloke said.

[Rick Denney]

Before a recital or professional concert:

What do you eat, and how long before the performance do you eat.

I don't know why the concert would have to be "professional". I'm as serious about my non-professional performances as I ever have been about any gig. But anyway...

As I've aged, I've had increasing troubles with my blood sugar crashing, which gives me the shakes and makes me highly susceptible to tremors when I get a rush of adrenaline. Eating a well-balanced meal about 45 minutes or an hour before the performance helps a LOT. Also, I stay away from acidic foods (including coffee, tomato sauces, peppers, and the like), and meals with too much fat, to avoid hearburn. I also stay away from dairy, which can cause my sinuses to close up. 400 calories seems about right, such as a 6" grilled chicken sandwich from Subway. Sometimes, though, I've been known to just get something--anything--ingested when I feel those shakes coming on. Even pop tarts are better than nothing, though their effect won't last long.

When I played professionally, I never had to think about it. I ate when I was hungry, or when the food was offered, whichever came first. But we played sets every hour all day long--it's hard to get too worked up about a set when you get another crack at it 60 minutes later. And I was younger then.

Rick "who also has to worry about the effects of no longer having a gall bladder" Denney

[sloan]

Rick "who also has to worry about the effects of no longer having a gall bladder" Denney

Still got your xyphoid process?

Then don't complain.

[BriceT]

Before every concert, audition, performance, etc. I always eat a banana. I like to think the potassium relaxes me, but it's mainly superficial!

[Dean E]

For me the question is what NOT to eat or drink.

Fried foods make me belch, which requires timing (unless counting rests in orchestral pieces).

Sugar-laden drinks and food can cause a blood sugar crash and loss of concentration. No alcohol for the same reason.

Nor anything super spicy that would anesthetize my mouth.

No acidic (soft drinks and fruit juices) or sugary drinks because they're not good for the horn.

I do drink water, diet iced tea, and black coffee during a performance. However, this requires caution because caffeine is a diuretic and sends liquids directly to the bladder.

I don't think one can go wrong with a Jerod-style, veggie, submarine sandwich (hold the oil and mayo). Lots of complex carbohydrates and fiber.

[PWtuba]

Don't ever eat an apple right before you play. It'll dry you out, and almost nothing can fix it. You will sound like you've never played the tuba before.

[Bill Troiano]

I agree with most of you regarding not wanting to play on an empty stomach and not wanting to play on a full stomach. So, I just be sure to have eaten something within a couple of hours before I play. I try to avoid spicy foods and tomato sauce because, I find, that affects my chops.

Then again, in the early 80's, Harvey was performing the VW with the American Concert Band on LI. I picked him up at the airport and brought him back to my parents' house for dinner before the concert. He ate succhini bread, other assorted cold Italian antipasto, 2 helpings of lasagna, canoles and 2 martinis. That was about an hour before the concert. He played a great concert too! But, that's just Harvey being Harvey!!

[TubaCoopa]

If you've never tried star-fruit before, don't do it before a concert. There will be no saliva production for a bit. (No, I didn't get that name from Mario)

[The Jackson]

If you've never tried star-fruit before, don't do it before a concert. There will be no saliva production for a bit. (No, I didn't get that name from Mario)

But, dude...


...starfruit is amazing...

[TubaCoopa]

If you've never tried star-fruit before, don't do it before a concert. There will be no saliva production for a bit. (No, I didn't get that name from Mario)

But, dude...


...starfruit is amazing...

It does make you feel invicible...

[tubacrow]

Scooby,

It seems what you are asking is how blood glucose affects your ability to perform. I actually did my Master's Thesis on this subject. It was a case study of five low brass students and how instrumental playing affected their blood glucose. I would be happy to share the results of that study or results of the pilot study if you would like to see the data. In a short answer: (please realize these are down and dirty answers and are assuming all other things are equal.)

If your blood glucose is too high, you get a heavy feeling and do not seem to have your normal mental or physical agility.

If your blood glucose is to low, you have trouble focusing

As I do not know your physical condition or normal diet, I will not pretend to tell you what to eat. This would also vary with the time of day because our body has natural high and low points.
I would often have a piece or two of fruit with me. One for prior to the start of the concert and one for intermission, but again this is just myself. We all know our bodies and know what is best for them.

[Rick Denney]

Still got your xyphoid process?

Yes, my xiphisternum is still in place. But having it or not would have little effect on having diarrhea cramps in the middle of a performance.

Rick "having learned that the gall bladder's job is to make it easier to digest large, fatty meals, the inability of which can have, um, undesirable consequences and unfortunate times" Denney

[jonesbrass]

I know this post is about food, but I like to perform after a nice stiff Irish whiskey (no ice, just a little water to bring out the flavor & aroma) or a beer. Honest.

[Eupher6]

Still got your xyphoid process?

Yes, my xiphisternum is still in place. But having it or not would have little effect on having diarrhea cramps in the middle of a performance.

Rick "having learned that the gall bladder's job is to make it easier to digest large, fatty meals, the inability of which can have, um, undesirable consequences and unfortunate times" Denney

Wow, have I been missing something? I had my gall bladder out in March, 2000. I've had more than my share of large, fatty meals and apart from, uh, maybe a gas attack or two, I've never had any of those "undesirables" you're talking about.

Allen "it must be the quadruple fortissimos in Pines that keeps away those "undesirables"" Lawless

[tubamirum]

And to think I have been laboring under the impression that all low brass players eat garlic, burritos, beer and other foods designed to produce vapors that waft amongst the orchestra, therby letting the woodwinds know that they are not alone.

[TubaCoopa]

And to think I have been laboring under the impression that all low brass players eat garlic, burritos, beer and other foods designed to produce vapors that waft amongst the orchestra, therby letting the woodwinds know that they are not alone.

That we do, but we at least try to do it when everybody else is playing, since you can't smell it if you're breathing through your mouth!

[Rick Denney]

Wow, have I been missing something? I had my gall bladder out in March, 2000. I've had more than my share of large, fatty meals and apart from, uh, maybe a gas attack or two, I've never had any of those "undesirables" you're talking about.

Yes, you are missing something.

Rick "envious" Denney