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Allen Tipton wrote::D Ryan., IGNORE & AVOID ALL the references to 'One Drink Before the show', Pills, Tablet and glasses of water. They stop YOU being in full control. Alcohol heightens things in your body, water fills up the stomach & stops you using the diaphragm properly (My speech teacher once, when I was 15, backstage, just before my Vent Act, knocked a glass of water out of my hand because of this. She said, by all means swirl some round in your mouth, if it is dry, then spit it out, but DO NOT swallow it)
None of them will work for you over time.

Over the many years I worked in Clubs etc. the number of artistes who relied on drink, first one drink, then two drinks,then ****, was huge. It was the long waits in between appearances. They all ended up drunks, or near drunks,and many ... penniless.

You cannot control your body, your mind, your emotions, etc. with artificial aids.

The breathing exercises suggested are the amongst the best ways.
It is controlled (not deep) breathing that helps us govern the adrenalin, the nerves, the voice etc.

The meditation idea is fine but because of its 'reputation' it frightens people off.

Do read The Relaxation Response by Herbert Benson M.D. He was an Assoc.Professor at Harvard University. It was first printed in 1975, then in, paperback 76 and 2000.
Your library probably has a copy. In the book are details of how, Benson proved, u]scientifically, how the RR worked.

Very simply explained and very readable.

After all the theories etc. you get about 4 pages on The Relaxation Response; a VERY SIMPLE, method of breathing and relaxing. So simple you will not , at first believe it works!.

It can be learnt in about 2 minutes BUT you need to practice it once or twice a day for 10 minutes at a time till it becomes second nature.The upto 20 minutes a day.

I have used it for for 29 years in both Magic & Theatre. Even trying it out on bus, train journeys.Never driving in a car , of course! It really works.
When I directed my version of Dante's Sim Sala Bim( 1980) the full evening show, thanks to the RR, I did a 60 minute photo shoot the afternoon of the Dress Rehearsal. No nerves, controlled excitement etc.

Many people have said how relaxed I am when working. It is all due to the Relaxation Response.

The actual system is explained, simply, in about 4 pages. If you PM me an e mail address I'll send these to you. But I'd recommend reading the book for background.


Allen Tipton[[/u]