What makes Vegas Voice Use so challenging?
The Center for Vocal Health voice and laryngology practice is located a few short hours from one of the performance capitals of the world, Las Vegas, Nevada. Many performers choose to make the trip to Beverly Hills to ensure their voice is in good shape or to troubleshoot issues they are having. This has helped me, as a specialized laryngologist, become more knowledgeable about the specific challenges in Las Vegas voice use. So what are the challenges that make singing and performing in Las Vegas particularly difficult?
CLIMATE
Las Vegas is a desert climate, which comes with very low humidity. The average annual relative humidity in Las Vegas is 20-40%. This is compared to 64-79% in Los Angeles, 54-71% in New York, and 53-84% in Nashville, a few other music-heavy cities.
As we breathe, we exhale water vapor, depleting our body of water. (1)
Dry air also depletes our bodies of water from the surface of your body. (2)
We rely on ingested water to replenish this but this is far more difficult in a dry climate.
This likely results in vocal fold dehydration, which makes voicing more challenging and tiring.
Low humidity causes poor vocal efficiency and increased pitch issues (3).
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
Despite attempts at regulation, including the Clean Indoor Air Act, particulate matter in casino areas is still above what the Environmental Protection Agency recommends as healthy for individuals.
Poor air quality is also present in restaurants and venues, which additionally results in inflammation of the lungs, nasal passages, sinuses and vocal folds. Inflammation makes vocal cords more susceptible to injury. Further exposure decreases lung reserves and increases mucous production, increasing the risk of vocal injury.
TYPE OF DEMAND
Las Vegas highlights thousands of different voices and voice types. The demand, regardless of genre, is not easy. Shows are held frequently, with rehearsals for the next show often overlapping the performances of the previous one. Vocal demand at this level is extremely difficult to support. When other factors such as manipulating the voice for impersonation are added, it makes voicing even more challenging.
ACCESS TO CARE
Despite having more live music venues per 100,000 people than most major US cities (5), Las Vegas houses very few physicians who specialize in voice care, voice rehabilitation, and vocal injury (Laryngologists). This means that some of the highest impact performers, with the most intense vocal demand (in one of the most challenging performance environments) may not get to see a voice specialist for their care or even have access to one locally while they perform. This may result in delayed care, suboptimal care for the vocal athlete, injury and prolonged recovery of any type of vocal injury.
Vocal athletes should be supported by the most specialized of vocal health care, given the intensity of their voice demand. The Las Vegas vocal athlete is no exception.
From manipulative care to vocal diagnostics and surgery, I have seen how the Las Vegas performing population requires and benefits from elite vocal care. Preventative vocal care is consistently more successful and I encourage all vocal athletes, especially those with this type of voice demand, to take charge of their vocal health and safety by getting evaluated with an on-location Laryngologist, rather than an ENT. Even a single visit can prevent injury and improve vocal health and performance, as well as longevity. Reach out to schedule a consult in Las Vegas or here in Beverly Hills with our specialists at Center for Vocal Health.
References:
https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/US/humidity-city-annual.php
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/can-best-combat-effects-dry-winter-air/
Hemler, R., Wieneke, G., Lebacq, J. et al. Laryngeal mucosa elasticity and viscosity in high and low relative air humidity. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology 258, 125–129 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004050100321
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s004050100321
York NL, Lee K. A baseline evaluation of casino air quality after enactment of Nevada's Clean Indoor Air Act. Public Health Nurs. 2010 Mar-Apr;27(2):158-63. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1446.2010.00843.x. PMID: 20433670.
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