What foods do you not consume before playing?
- BPBasso
- Posts: 96
- Joined: Mar 31, 2025
Some folk will have allergies specific to them, and certain foods/dishes differ region to region. I would still like to hear what foods have an effect on your playing.
In the years I wasn't playing trombone, I became quite the chili head eating the spiciest things that still had flavor - though I've started to put a stop to this trend. I've heard Toby Oft mention it's tough to play after a eating a BBQ dinner. I've known some people, myself included, that has pretty much eaten anything before playing, but I've never really considered how much some of those foods affected my playing. It's common to hear you need food in your stomach before a performance but not to satiation.
In your experience, what dietary precautions do you consider before you play?
In the years I wasn't playing trombone, I became quite the chili head eating the spiciest things that still had flavor - though I've started to put a stop to this trend. I've heard Toby Oft mention it's tough to play after a eating a BBQ dinner. I've known some people, myself included, that has pretty much eaten anything before playing, but I've never really considered how much some of those foods affected my playing. It's common to hear you need food in your stomach before a performance but not to satiation.
In your experience, what dietary precautions do you consider before you play?
- Burgerbob
- Posts: 6327
- Joined: Apr 23, 2018
I do try to eat cleaner before serious playing. I try to miss big sodium hits, grease, big spice, etc.
- JohnL
- Posts: 2529
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
Not generally a big fan of "heat", so that's not a major thing for me. I do, on the other hand, try not to eat a lot of food on gig days until after playing. Barbecue can be problematic - not just because of the seasoning, but because I tend to overdo it. And the beans, of course.
- Finetales
- Posts: 1482
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
Avoiding salty things before playing is the big one for me.
- JohnL
- Posts: 2529
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
[quote="Finetales"]Avoiding salty things before playing is the big one for me.[/quote]
Salt can be a double whammy. There's the effect of the salt itself, then there's that fact that it tend to make you drink a LOT of fluids. Properly hydrated is good. Sloshing when you walk, on the other hand? A lot of salty foods tend to be kinda greasy, too.
I know people who tend to experience sugar crashes, so that's another thing to consider.
Conductors and Mountain Dew (or any other highly caffeinated beverage) are not a good combination.
Salt can be a double whammy. There's the effect of the salt itself, then there's that fact that it tend to make you drink a LOT of fluids. Properly hydrated is good. Sloshing when you walk, on the other hand? A lot of salty foods tend to be kinda greasy, too.
I know people who tend to experience sugar crashes, so that's another thing to consider.
Conductors and Mountain Dew (or any other highly caffeinated beverage) are not a good combination.
- Kbiggs
- Posts: 1768
- Joined: Mar 24, 2018
Too much of any of the following:
Salt
Caffeine
Greasy
Spicy (a little is okay)
Rich or fatty foods
Too much food, period. A heavy meal can make me sleepy, and it can interfere with breathing, especially if there’s a lot of loud playing.
Abstain altogether:
Alcohol: some can do it, I can’t
Any non-prescribed thought- or mood-altering chemicals: ditto
Muscle relaxers (ask me how I know!)
Salt
Caffeine
Greasy
Spicy (a little is okay)
Rich or fatty foods
Too much food, period. A heavy meal can make me sleepy, and it can interfere with breathing, especially if there’s a lot of loud playing.
Abstain altogether:
Alcohol: some can do it, I can’t
Any non-prescribed thought- or mood-altering chemicals: ditto
Muscle relaxers (ask me how I know!)
- Brady
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Sep 23, 2019
No one has mentioned this one yet. I avoid anything that I know will give me the burps.
- MahlerMusic
- Posts: 158
- Joined: May 07, 2019
Human...
Just before a concert, I had to dodge a kiss from my (then) girlfriend—now my wife—because she was wearing a lot of lip gloss. Let’s just say… she wasn’t thrilled with my evasive maneuver!
Just before a concert, I had to dodge a kiss from my (then) girlfriend—now my wife—because she was wearing a lot of lip gloss. Let’s just say… she wasn’t thrilled with my evasive maneuver!
- tbdana
- Posts: 1928
- Joined: Apr 08, 2023
I don't eat anything before playing. I'm not real fond of blowing chunks into my horn.
- BGuttman
- Posts: 7368
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
[quote="tbdana"]I don't eat anything before playing. I'm not real fond of blowing chunks into my horn.[/quote]
Some times you don't have a choice. I remember a wedding gig where they fed us, but we ate just after the guests and still had to play another two hours.
I will only eat salty or greasy foods after the gig. No alcohol. Black unsweetened coffee on stage, or club soda or water (usually with ice).
Some times you don't have a choice. I remember a wedding gig where they fed us, but we ate just after the guests and still had to play another two hours.
I will only eat salty or greasy foods after the gig. No alcohol. Black unsweetened coffee on stage, or club soda or water (usually with ice).
- WGWTR180
- Posts: 2152
- Joined: Sep 04, 2019
[quote="Burgerbob"]I do try to eat cleaner before serious playing. I try to miss big sodium hits, grease, big spice, etc.[/quote]
100% this!!!!
100% this!!!!
- JTeagarden
- Posts: 625
- Joined: Feb 24, 2025
strychnine: Lay off it!
- u_2bobone
- Posts: 474
- Joined: Mar 25, 2018
Fried chicken ! Put some chicken grease between two fingers and then try to slide them back and forth. They will "chatter" but won't slide. The same thing happens if it's on your chops !
- BrassSection
- Posts: 424
- Joined: May 11, 2022
All foods. I prefer playing on a nearly empty stomach. Exception is 3 cups of strong black coffee.
- Burgerbob
- Posts: 6327
- Joined: Apr 23, 2018
[quote="2bobone"]Fried chicken ! Put some chicken grease between two fingers and then try to slide them back and forth. They will "chatter" but won't slide. The same thing happens if it's on your chops ![/quote]
But you can.. you know... wipe your face down after eating, right
But you can.. you know... wipe your face down after eating, right
- AndrewMeronek
- Posts: 1487
- Joined: Mar 30, 2018
Once I did a quick bread-and-guacamole before rehearsal. It was homemade guac, and it was delicious. Unfortunately, I happened to miss a whole raw garlic clove when making it. I found it in that half-sandwich, and decided to wolf it down anyway. Later, *EVERYONE* at rehearsal knew exactly what I ate.
:amazed: :horror:
:amazed: :horror:
- u_2bobone
- Posts: 474
- Joined: Mar 25, 2018
"But you can.. you know... wipe your face down after eating, right"
Believe me, I know how to use a napkin. Chicken fat gets in your pores and outside of a full detergent wash down, your chops are still "Gricky". It was always a No-No for me !
Believe me, I know how to use a napkin. Chicken fat gets in your pores and outside of a full detergent wash down, your chops are still "Gricky". It was always a No-No for me !
- sirisobhakya
- Posts: 445
- Joined: Jun 11, 2018
Spicy food.
By spicy food, I mean Thai spicy. The kind that leave your lips swollen for at least 30 min.
By spicy food, I mean Thai spicy. The kind that leave your lips swollen for at least 30 min.
- hyperbolica
- Posts: 3990
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
I don't eat/drink sugary stuff, salty stuff, or crumbly stuff. I'm mostly trying to avoid blowing junk down in my horn. I drink a lot of water before I play, but don't tend to take it with me while playing.
- BPBasso
- Posts: 96
- Joined: Mar 31, 2025
Thanks for the replies. I was hoping to hear some very specifics foods pop out of the mix ... something random like, "its impossible to tongue after eating kiwifruit." :horror:
I assumed it was pretty standard to not play immediately after eating unless you have to - ie. Bruce's wedding gig. I remember seeing some disgusting mouthpieces back in high school. :frown:
I've recently learned its healthier to wait about 30 minutes after eating before brushing to allow saliva to clear the teeth of oils, acids, chunks of food. Brushing scrapes the soft enamel and allows acids & debris to make contact with the hard enamel. Mouthwashes can kill off the good bacteria in the mouth, so I try not to use it too frequently. I follow the advice of cleaning the mouthpiece with warm water and a mouthpiece brush daily.
Who drinks (plain) tea/coffee while playing? I sometimes finish a hot tea/coffee as I'm starting to warm up to get the throat to relax open, open sinuses, stimulate with a caffeine. Always hydrating plenty before the coffee/tea, and hydrating more after it's finished.
I assumed it was pretty standard to not play immediately after eating unless you have to - ie. Bruce's wedding gig. I remember seeing some disgusting mouthpieces back in high school. :frown:
I've recently learned its healthier to wait about 30 minutes after eating before brushing to allow saliva to clear the teeth of oils, acids, chunks of food. Brushing scrapes the soft enamel and allows acids & debris to make contact with the hard enamel. Mouthwashes can kill off the good bacteria in the mouth, so I try not to use it too frequently. I follow the advice of cleaning the mouthpiece with warm water and a mouthpiece brush daily.
Who drinks (plain) tea/coffee while playing? I sometimes finish a hot tea/coffee as I'm starting to warm up to get the throat to relax open, open sinuses, stimulate with a caffeine. Always hydrating plenty before the coffee/tea, and hydrating more after it's finished.
- tbdana
- Posts: 1928
- Joined: Apr 08, 2023
I never eat Kiwi before playing. It's impossible to tongue after eating kiwifruit.
:)
:)
- BGuttman
- Posts: 7368
- Joined: Mar 22, 2018
Another suggestion: Some people swell up after eating foods they have a slight allergy to. This can negatively impact your playing.
- Posaunus
- Posts: 5018
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
- I NEVER eat a big meal before playing.
- If I do eat a light snack (preferably something without particles that will stick to my teeth) before a gig or during a long break, I thoroughly brush my teeth before resuming playing. (I keep a toothbrush in each trombone case.)
- I don't drink alcoholic beverages before or during a gig.
My trombone stays clean, and my playing is unemcumbered by post-prandial effects (there can be many).
- JohnL
- Posts: 2529
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
[quote="2bobone"]Believe me, I know how to use a napkin. Chicken fat gets in your pores and outside of a full detergent wash down, your chops are still "Gricky". It was always a No-No for me ![/quote]
I never really thought of this, but I had El Pollo Loco for lunch and definitely felt the need to wash my hands with soap and water, even after expending a couple napkins.
I never really thought of this, but I had El Pollo Loco for lunch and definitely felt the need to wash my hands with soap and water, even after expending a couple napkins.
- Rusty
- Posts: 470
- Joined: Jun 01, 2018
[quote="2bobone"]"But you can.. you know... wipe your face down after eating, right"
Believe me, I know how to use a napkin. Chicken fat gets in your pores and outside of a full detergent wash down, your chops are still "Gricky". It was always a No-No for me ![/quote]
I’ve found the same thing, even after trying to wash of any greasy feeling, my chops still tend to feel sticky.
I used to always take a toothbrush with me and brush my teeth before the gig (if I’d had a rehearsal/performance already that day and then eaten in between calls), but I found toothpaste would also give my chops a similar dry, sticky feeling, so I prefer to just chew sugar free gum.
Believe me, I know how to use a napkin. Chicken fat gets in your pores and outside of a full detergent wash down, your chops are still "Gricky". It was always a No-No for me ![/quote]
I’ve found the same thing, even after trying to wash of any greasy feeling, my chops still tend to feel sticky.
I used to always take a toothbrush with me and brush my teeth before the gig (if I’d had a rehearsal/performance already that day and then eaten in between calls), but I found toothpaste would also give my chops a similar dry, sticky feeling, so I prefer to just chew sugar free gum.
- Posaunus
- Posts: 5018
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
[quote="Rusty"]I used to always take a toothbrush with me and brush my teeth before the gig (if I’d had a rehearsal/performance already that day and then eaten in between calls), but I found toothpaste would also give my chops a similar dry, sticky feeling, so I prefer to just chew sugar free gum.[/quote]
Skip the toothpaste - it's primarily for polishing your teeth, not cleaning out gunk and food particles.
I just use a naked toothbrush and lots of water to swish and rinse. Works for me.
Skip the toothpaste - it's primarily for polishing your teeth, not cleaning out gunk and food particles.
I just use a naked toothbrush and lots of water to swish and rinse. Works for me.