0657 – Avoiding Studio Hiccups Caused By Hiccups

2022.10.19 – 0657 – Avoiding Studio Hiccups Caused By Hiccups

Sneezing and hiccups

This is another situation which will come sooner or later, and may either be a sneeze you feel approaching or one that suddenly attacks.

There’s not much you can do about the latter unless you are quick enough to turn off your mic or turn your head. Hearing a sneeze on air is rare, and not particularly pleasant.

If you feel a sneeze on the way, and if you can’t go to another item or stop recording, try and head it off before it strikes[1]. There are various means which work because they force you to focus on a physical sensation other than your sneeze. It works in a similar fashion as when you pinch yourself to make yourself forget that your stubbed toe is hurting.

Hay fever sufferers have some confidence in the fact that studios are invariably air conditioned and pollen is filtered out of the air before it reaches you

After a sneeze, consider your colleagues. Is there an antiseptic wipe you can use on the mic or studio desk? If you’ve used your hands to catch it, try and wash them as soon as possible.

No one really understand why they happen (even babies in the womb get them), but hiccups and on-air work do not go well together. As you know, there’s no guaranteed way to get rid of them, and even though they may be funny or interesting for a while, they quickly lose their charm. Having hiccups is tiring and will take your mind off your work. Do what you can to limit the likelihood of an attack by not consuming food or fizzy drinks on air. If they do strike, reduce your ‘talking time’ and alert your producer who may be able to delay your mic-work or bring someone else in.

[1] Here are some ways: http://tinyurl.com/2rkayt

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