Coughing while performing?

[messiah]

Would anyone cough when they're performing? If one really feel like coughing, what would he do?

[gruffalo]

dont try and hold it, you would just do worse to yourself. the crowd shouldnt care. as long as you keep playing. holding it in can just screw up the performance. jus tlet it ou while you play and just brush it off and dont think of it as a big mistake.

if the crowd does tut or gasp then they are very non-understanding and silly people.

[pianistimo]

i am severely allergic to dust ... so coughing and inadvertent sneezing is always my fear.  maybe before a recital, someday i'll take the time to vaccum the inside of the piano beforehand.  have you ever looked up at the vents at school?  how disgusting is that? 

ps you can always pop a lozenge in your mouth before playing.  just don't choke on it during an intense moment.

an extreme solution:  wear a surgical mask.

[prometheus]

Well, I lose control of my body when I am sneezing. Why would you have to cough? I never cough. I only need to clear my throath. But sneezing, that will annihilate a performance for sure. You would probably have to start over (with the audience laughing, probably).

[pianohopper]

The people in the audience cough too, nobody would probably be able to tell the differnece with the echoes in a hall. 

[gorbee natcase]

Yes but they do generaly tend to be looking in your direction.

[zheer]

I have no problem with coughing when performing, infact i often answer my mobile phone during performance. in my last concert performance of Lizts bminor sonata i stoped in the middle went out and yoused the toilet, then started from where i leftof.

[lombardian]

I have no problem with coughing when performing, infact i often answer my mobile phone during performance. in my last concert performance of Lizts bminor sonata i stoped in the middle went out and yoused the toilet, then started from where i leftof.

Uhm...Er...Hm. Really??

[pianistimo]

that's better than doing it in public.  can you imagine the problems that would result?

[lombardian]

LOL agreed...

[BoliverAllmon]

Would anyone cough when they're performing? If one really feel like coughing, what would he do?

I was at a Walter Hautzig recital once. Before he started he said, "I seem to have a little cold that is causing me to cough, but don't worry I will try to cough in Eb maj." the audience loved it. great stuff.

[arensky]

I was at a Walter Hautzig recital once. Before he started he said, "I seem to have a little cold that is causing me to cough, but don't worry I will try to cough in Eb maj." the audience loved it. great stuff.

At a masterclass we were treated to his famous story about having to play on tour in China with dysentery....

[arensky]

i often answer my mobile phone during performance.

I did that the other night, forgot to turn it off, so I kept playing with my LH (Jazz) while answering the call from my wife; it was a hit with the customers! 

[maxy]

I find that when I am extremely focused while playing, I never cough... and I used to have all kinds of allergies.  Never had anything happen while performing. I really believe focus can help.  Not focus of the type "I must not cough, I must not cough", but just focus on the playing that has to be done.