of the “Don'ts" that can affect your voice quality and lead to throat problems . 1. Don’t strain — learn proper breathing techniques and protection techniques. Prolonged straining of your voice causes the vocal chords to rub violently together causing blisters or nodules often requiring surgery and then voice therapy to correct.

2. Don’t scream or shout excessively — especially true for ringmen. Auctioneers don’t sell without a good sound system and don’t forget a backup system.

3. Don’t run a long series of numbers if possible— know values and try to suggest a starting bid close to value. Don’t run out of air while running numbers — stop, relax, breathe through nose and continue.

4. Don’t gasp air through mouth excessively when chan

The voice is essential to your profession. To take care of your voice properly is essential to your longevity and often to your success as an auctioneer. The following are do’s for a good strong selling voice: 1. Do get an annual check-up from a throat specialist — Prevention is always better than a cure.

2. Do consider professional voice training. A voice teacher, professional choir director or singer can make a world of difference in techniques and your sound.

3. Do exercise — 3-4 times a week for 1/2 hour to an hour. It builds lung strength and overall health — do breathing exercises and chant work.

4. Do drink six to eight glasses of water daily — this helps to moisten throat tissue and cuts down on dryness which leads to irritation.

5. Do drink only tap water, lemonade or warm liquids when using your voice for long periods of time. Ice cold liquids have a tendency to shock or paralyze the throat and causes strain.

6. Do use warm salt water solution or warm lemonade to gargle with after long hours of selling especially if your throat feels tired.

7. Do use a substitute auctioneer on long sales. Alternate every hour or half-hour — come back stronger and refreshed.

8, Do use a quality sound system. Don’t buy because of price — buy because of sound. Get a system with tone control reverb and use good speakers. Sound is our business — GET THE BEST. Do carry a good back-up system.

9. Stay away from the sound system when selling — don’t get used to loud sound close by. It is tough on the hearing and you’ll start to judge your chant by the sound being close. Then when you have to sell with sound away from you it won’t sound as loud and you’ll strain to increase projection.

10. Do keep a clear head when selling — as a stuffed-up nose with sinus drainage causes strain and infection. Spray your nose with “Ocean” or a solution of tap water and sea salt with a pinch of baking soda. Blow your nose after using and continue until head is clear and you can breathe through your nose.

11. Do let the sound system do the work for you — that’s why you have it. Do control crowd with sound system. Turn it up if they’re too noisy — silence will quite them also. Keep them attentive but not by yelling.

12. Do relax your body and voice. You can feel tightness and tension — relax, breathe deeply, relax, breathe deeply.

13. Do keep throat moist at all times when selling. Gum, small pieces of candy, meloids, etc. held in corner of mouth help produce saliva — the natural throat moistener. Avoid menthol candies, cough drops, etc. They tend to cause dryness.

14, Do project voice naturally. Talk naturally but project upward and outward through diaphragm. Sell to furthest person from you to help projection.

15. Do practice and try to cultivate the habit of ‘diaphragmatic breathing” whenever you have to sell, Your voice will hold up much better, sound stronger, and be more pleasant for others to hear.

VOICE PROTECTION - DON'TS

Here are a few of the “Don'ts" that can affect your voice quality and lead to throat problems . 1. Don’t strain — learn proper breathing techniques and protection techniques. Prolonged straining of your voice causes the vocal chords to rub violently together causing blisters or nodules often requiring surgery and then voice therapy to correct.

2. Don’t scream or shout excessively — especially true for ringmen. Auctioneers don’t sell without a good sound system and don’t forget a backup system.

3. Don’t run a long series of numbers if possible— know values and try to suggest a starting bid close to value. Don’t run out of air while running numbers — stop, relax, breathe through nose and continue.

4. Don’t gasp air through mouth excessively when chant

n.

5. Do drink only tap water, lemonade or warm liquids when using your voice for long periods of time. Ice cold liquids have a tendency to shock or paralyze the throat and causes strain.

6. Do use warm salt water solution or warm lemonade to gargle with after long hours of selling especially if your throat feels tired.

7. Do use a substitute auctioneer on long sales. Alternate every hour or half-hour — come back stronger and refreshed.

8, Do use a quality sound system. Don’t buy because of price — buy because of sound. Get a system with tone control reverb and use good speakers. Sound is our business — GET THE BEST. Do carry a good back-up system.

9. Stay away from the sound system when selling — don’t get used to loud sound close by. It is tough on the hearing and you’ll start to judge your chant by the sound being close. Then when you have to sell with sound away from you it won’t sound as loud and you’ll strain to increase projection.

10. Do keep a clear head when selling — as a stuffed-up nose with sinus drainage causes strain and infection. Spray your nose with “Ocean” or a solution of tap water and sea salt with a pinch of baking soda. Blow your nose after using and continue until head is clear and you can breathe through your nose.

11. Do let the sound system do the work for you — that’s why you have it. Do control crowd with sound system. Turn it up if they’re too noisy — silence will quite them also. Keep them attentive but not by yelling.

12. Do relax your body and voice. You can feel tightness and tension — relax, breathe deeply, relax, breathe deeply.

13. Do keep throat moist at all times when selling. Gum, small pieces of candy, meloids, etc. held in corner of mouth help produce saliva — the natural throat moistener. Avoid menthol candies, cough drops, etc. They tend to cause dryness.

14, Do project voice naturally. Talk naturally but project upward and outward through diaphragm. Sell to furthest person from you to help projection.

15. Do practice and try to cultivate the habit of ‘diaphragmatic breathing” whenever you have to sell, Your voice will hold up much better, sound stronger, and be more pleasant for others to hear.

VOICE PROTECTION - DON'TS

Here are a few of the “Don'ts" that can affect your voice quality and lead to throat problems . 1. Don’t strain — learn proper breathing techniques and protection techniques. Prolonged straining of your voice causes the vocal chords to rub violently together causing blisters or nodules often requiring surgery and then voice therapy to correct.

2. Don’t scream or shout excessively — especially true for ringmen. Auctioneers don’t sell without a good sound system and don’t forget a backup system.

3. Don’t run a long series of numbers if possible— know values and try to suggest a starting bid close to value. Don’t run out of air while running numbers — stop, relax, breathe through nose and continue.

4. Don’t gasp air through mouth excessively when chan

close by. It is tough on the hearing and you’ll start to judge your chant by the sound being close. Then when you have to sell with sound away from you it won’t sound as loud and you’ll strain to increase projection.

10. Do keep a clear head when selling — as a stuffed-up nose with sinus drainage causes strain and infection. Spray your nose with “Ocean” or a solution of tap water and sea salt with a pinch of baking soda. Blow your nose after using and continue until head is clear and you can breathe through your nose.

11. Do let the sound system do the work for you — that’s why you have it. Do control crowd with sound system. Turn it up if they’re too noisy — silence will quite them also. Keep them attentive but not by yelling.

12. Do relax your body and voice. You can feel tightness and tension — relax, breathe deeply, relax, breathe deeply.

13. Do keep throat moist at all times when selling. Gum, small pieces of candy, meloids, etc. held in corner of mouth help produce saliva — the natural throat moistener. Avoid menthol candies, cough drops, etc. They tend to cause dryness.

14, Do project voice naturally. Talk naturally but project upward and outward through diaphragm. Sell to furthest person from you to help projection.

15. Do practice and try to cultivate the habit of ‘diaphragmatic breathing” whenever you have to sell, Your voice will hold up much better, sound stronger, and be more pleasant for others to hear.

VOICE PROTECTION - DON'TS

Here are a few of the “Don'ts" that can affect your voice quality and lead to throat problems . 1. Don’t strain — learn proper breathing techniques and protection techniques. Prolonged straining of your voice causes the vocal chords to rub violently together causing blisters or nodules often requiring surgery and then voice therapy to correct.

2. Don’t scream or shout excessively — especially true for ringmen. Auctioneers don’t sell without a good sound system and don’t forget a backup system.

3. Don’t run a long series of numbers if possible— know values and try to suggest a starting bid close to value. Don’t run out of air while running numbers — stop, relax, breathe through nose and continue.

4. Don’t gasp air through mouth excessively when chan

elax your body and voice. You can feel tightness and tension — relax, breathe deeply, relax, breathe deeply.

13. Do keep throat moist at all times when selling. Gum, small pieces of candy, meloids, etc. held in corner of mouth help produce saliva — the natural throat moistener. Avoid menthol candies, cough drops, etc. They tend to cause dryness.

14, Do project voice naturally. Talk naturally but project upward and outward through diaphragm. Sell to furthest person from you to help projection.

15. Do practice and try to cultivate the habit of ‘diaphragmatic breathing” whenever you have to sell, Your voice will hold up much better, sound stronger, and be more pleasant for others to hear.

VOICE PROTECTION - DON'TS

Here are a few of the “Don'ts" that can affect your voice quality and lead to throat problems . 1. Don’t strain — learn proper breathing techniques and protection techniques. Prolonged straining of your voice causes the vocal chords to rub violently together causing blisters or nodules often requiring surgery and then voice therapy to correct.

2. Don’t scream or shout excessively — especially true for ringmen. Auctioneers don’t sell without a good sound system and don’t forget a backup system.

3. Don’t run a long series of numbers if possible— know values and try to suggest a starting bid close to value. Don’t run out of air while running numbers — stop, relax, breathe through nose and continue.

4. Don’t gasp air through mouth excessively when chan

of the “Don'ts" that can affect your voice quality and lead to throat problems . 1. Don’t strain — learn proper breathing techniques and protection techniques. Prolonged straining of your voice causes the vocal chords to rub violently together causing blisters or nodules often requiring surgery and then voice therapy to correct.

2. Don’t scream or shout excessively — especially true for ringmen. Auctioneers don’t sell without a good sound system and don’t forget a backup system.

3. Don’t run a long series of numbers if possible— know values and try to suggest a starting bid close to value. Don’t run out of air while running numbers — stop, relax, breathe through nose and continue.

4. Don’t gasp air through mouth excessively when chanting. This causes the throat to dry out more quickly and causes irritation.

5. Don’t use a cotton handkerchief over mike — dust and cotton particles from the handkerchief cause dryness and strain.

6. Don’t rely on throat lozenges, sprays, gargles, pills, steam to ease throat. This is a dead give-away to problems. Don’t spray antihistamines to clear nose — Sinex, Four-way, Dristan, etc. sprays are especially irritating to throat tissue. They dry out throat tissue excessively and often cause drainage into throat.

7. Don’t sell out of pitch — too high or too low a pitch causes voice strain, How do you find your pitch? Talk or hum to determine pitch.

8. Don’t cough, sneeze or clear throat excessively — causes tremendous stress on vocal chords and irritation from rubbing together that may lead to nodules.

9. Don’t sell louder or change your pitch when you have head congestion. You may feel you can’t be understood unless you adjust your voice but remember, other people’s ears are not congested and they can hear you well enough. Slower, more careful enunciation will help your clarity and chant.

10. Don’t smoke! If others around you are smoking, drink water. This greatly reduces the likelihood of throat irritation.

11. Don’t ignore warning signs — hoarseness, laryngitis, sore throat (especially after selling), swelling, lumps or continued irritation. Don’t wait — get it checked by a specialist.

Indicate True or False: CHECK YOURSELF

______ 1. After speaking for several hours it is natural to lose your voice.

______ 2. If you pause, the audience will think that you don’t know what to say.

______ 3. An audience may not even notice evidence of nervousness which bothers you.

______ 4. Fear should be conquered before you ever appear as a speaker.

______ 5. Non-verbal communication is vitally important.

______ 6. The whole body is involved in an effectual gesture.

______ 7. A good speaker will not move and speak at the same time.

______ 8. Even with a microphone, it takes effort to project the voice.

______ 9. Relaxation is important in approaching an audience.

______ 10. Most audiences will never know whether the speaker is knowledgeable.

______ 11. Each person in your audience should be viable to the speaker.

______ 12. A few grammar mistakes usually pass unnoticed unless teachers are present

______ 13. Self-esteem is reflected in the poise of the speaker.

______ 14. Voice production is the same in men and women.

______ 15. Speaking to a group demands more energy than does conversation.