TromboneChat

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?

I do try to eat cleaner before serious playing. I try to miss big sodium hits, grease, big spice, etc.

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.

Avoiding salty things before playing is the big one for me.

Finetales wrote: Wed Jun 25, 2025 10:40 am Avoiding salty things before playing is the big one for me.

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.

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!)

No one has mentioned this one yet. I avoid anything that I know will give me the burps.

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!

I don't eat anything before playing. I'm not real fond of blowing chunks into my horn.

tbdana wrote: Wed Jun 25, 2025 5:33 pm I don't eat anything before playing. I'm not real fond of blowing chunks into my horn.

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).

Burgerbob wrote: Wed Jun 25, 2025 9:57 am I do try to eat cleaner before serious playing. I try to miss big sodium hits, grease, big spice, etc.

100% this!!!!

strychnine: Lay off it!

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 !

All foods. I prefer playing on a nearly empty stomach. Exception is 3 cups of strong black coffee.

2bobone wrote: Thu Jun 26, 2025 10:46 am 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 !

But you can.. you know... wipe your face down after eating, right

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.

"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 !

Spicy food.

By spicy food, I mean Thai spicy. The kind that leave your lips swollen for at least 30 min.

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.

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."

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.

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 never eat Kiwi before playing. It's impossible to tongue after eating kiwifruit.

Another suggestion: Some people swell up after eating foods they have a slight allergy to. This can negatively impact your playing.

• 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).

2bobone wrote: Thu Jun 26, 2025 7:42 pmBelieve 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 !

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.

2bobone wrote: Thu Jun 26, 2025 7:42 pm "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 !

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.

Rusty wrote: Sun Jul 13, 2025 10:58 pm 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.

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.