Can I Still Perform With Laryngitis Tomorrow?

[SusanBP0129]

...and a show tomorrow night!!
And this host is AWESOME! I spoke to her yesterday & she has $900 in outside orders!!!!!!
What should I do??? I am freaking out.

 

[raebates]

First, you have my sympathies and my congratulations for landing such a great host!

Sip warm drinks (especially tea with honey). Gargle with salt water every hour or so. Don't try to talk a lot, but don't completely stop talking.

As far as the show is concerned, as long as you're not contagious I'd still do it. If your voice is down to a whisper, enlist someone to act as your spokesperson. You say something really quiet, and he/she says it for everyone to hear. This time of year, I'd be willing to bet that no one will think twice about your voice.

I've done shows where I was darn raspy, but no one seemed to mind.

 

[chefann]

Ohhh..... poor baby!

Could you make a couple of signs to hold up that say you don't have a voice, and then let the customers talk about their favorite products? Let a couple people each do a step of the recipe and explain what they're doing. And offer a little goody to the people who help that way.

 

[pcheframsey]

I'm sorry you are feeling so bad, but this would be a great opportunity for guest participation. That way they really get to see how great our products are!

 

[nikked]

I vote for signs and guest participation. Use Did You Know type cards, and have fun with it.

My first year at NC, I had to talk at our post-conference meeting, and had NO VOICE LEFT. I used signs (very funny ones, if I may say so myself), and we all had a great laugh...except for me. It was more like a bark...lol!

Good luck!

 

[cmdtrgd]

It sounds like the host is a great possible recruit. Ask her to help you do the show and at the end, tell her she just did your job and might as well be getting paid for it!

 

[pamperedbecky]

It sounds like the host is a great possible recruit. Ask her to help you do the show and at the end, tell her she just did your job and might as well be getting paid for it!

That's EXACTLY what I was thinking! Wow, someone who already has $900 in outside orders is basically doing our job already. That's so cool.

I think all of the audience participation will make this a FUN show! Great idea to have them talk as you work. Maybe whoever might have the tool you're using for certain parts of your demo can talk about it as you're using it. Good luck! Let us know how it goes!

 

[lacychef]

I was thinking that too--ask her to "try on the apron" for her show. What an awesome host!
Hope you're feeling better soon

 

[MicheleC]

Some great ideas. Getting the hostess to help and see what your job is like is good. I also like the idea of having different cards about the products you will use. You could hand them out and have people read them when you use it. Or you could just let them know you're relying on them to chime in with how much they love the products, maybe pass out tickets each time someone gives a recommendation or alternate use, finds the product on the right catalog page. If you get a competitive group this could be fun.

I can't belive $900 in outside orders!!! How awesome is that?!

Let us know how it works out.

 

[SusanBP0129]

Thank you for all of your ideas!! Does anyone have cards already made up?
I am SO EXCITED about her outside orders. When she told me I almost fell over! She was upset because she thought only 8-10 people will be able to come!! I am DEFINITELY going to approach her about "trying on the apron"!

My only worry is - will it gross people out that I have no voice? ....since I am preparing food? Know what I mean? I don't want to make people germ-phobic...

 

[jenniferknapp]

Just make sure that people see you wash your hands - many times throughout the night!

 

[tlmcunning]

I had a party like this once. What I did was to tell the guests at the beginning of the show, that obviously I didn't have much of a vaoice left and that I was going to need their help tonight. Several people came up and used the products while others talked about what they liked best about that product. I ended up with 2 bookings and it was a $650 show without any outside orders.

Tracy

 

[SusanBP0129]

Hey Tracy -
My StepMom is from Dayton! I think her sister lives in Vandalia?

 

[tlmcunning]

Hey Tracy -
My StepMom is from Dayton! I think her sister lives in Vandalia?

Oh cool! I love meeting people who are from here originally and hearing about all the changes that have taken place and what they think of them. Vandalia is not that for from me. I was just up there last weekend to pick DH up from the airport.

Tracy

 

[SusanBP0129]

I have never been there, but she has family there still. Her brother owns the Marlow Tree Company (not sure if that's the right name...)