5 Essentials Every Musical Theatre Actor Should Own

Pursuing a career in the theater industry is no joke. The stamina required to audition and perform at 100% is exhausting and takes years to perfect. As performers, we are expected to take classes to perfect our craft, submit ourselves to different projects, memorize lines, learn new material, pick up new skills, look our best and feel our best at all times.

These 5 essentials will help make your life just a little more bearable.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases.

1. Personal Steamer

I use my Vicks Personal Steam Inhaler more than I use my cellphone. This steamer has a soft, comfortable face mask that provides a warm mist of steam for temporary relief. Allergies, congestion and coughs… be gone! Any time I use my steamer, I find immediate sinus relief.

2. Sturdy Audition Binder

As an actor, I’d argue that my audition binder can be as valuable as my first born child. Our audition books hold precious sheet music that could mean the difference between callback or no callback. Your audition binder should be a study, standard 3-ring binder that is conducive to the amount of music you need it to hold. 1-inch. 1.5 inches. 2 inches? It’s up to the amount of music you have in it.

Listen to the Actor Aesthetic Podcast episode #9 for 10 Simple Ways to Improve Your Audition Book!

3. Noise-Canceling Headphones

I am forever grateful for my Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones. Auditioning a lot means being in crowded holding rooms often… but with noise-canceling headphones, I am able to focus on myself and my audition. My Beats Headphones connect via bluetooth, so I never have to plug them in to my iPhone or Computer. They have up to 40 hours of battery life for a multi-day use, which is great for long days when I’m not near an outlet. And even if I forget to charge them the night before, just 5 minutes of charging gives me up to 3 hours of playback when the battery is low! I specifically love these headphones because they have a sleek, streamlined design that’s durable and foldable. I can easily fold them and store them in my backpack when I am not using them

4. Throat Lozanges

I can’t stress enough the importance of taking care of those vocal chords! Head of the Texas State University Musical Theatre program, Kaitlin Hopkins, created Fontus lozenges as a way to provide moisturizing relief from dryness. The lozenges were made with a unique patent-pending formula that stimulates saliva production to assist with dry mouth treatment and recovery of hoarse or strained vocal cords. (PS - Fontus is the official throat lozenge for the Broadway Production of Hamilton!)

5. Durable Water Bottle

As a singer, you’re going to need to drink a whole lot of water to sustain a career in the theatre industry. Singers need to take extra precautions because your entire body is your instrument. With excessive use, vocal cords can be easily damaged, as they are made of extremely delicate tissue. And if you allow yourself to become dehydrated, your voice may suffer. In order to keep your vocal folds truly hydrated, you need to be drinking water throughout the day.

Invest in a durable water bottle that will last you through tough audition seasons and city-life. My personal favorite is the YETI Rambler 20 oz Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Tumbler. These double-wall insulated tumblers have an 18/8 stainless steel body, which means your drink still keeps its temperature no matter how much of a beating this cup takes. Their no-sweat design allows your hands to stay dry at all times.

Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases.

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Find this helpful? Be sure to check out the Actor Aesthetic podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. New episodes every Monday!

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