Hotter than Hades!

Yes, it’s been hot all over this summer, and it is especially warm and humid in the Northeastern US. Although some events have been cancelled or postponed (which is problematic to most entertainers due to other bookings), many of them took place in the last two weeks. The temperature went over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and “sticky and gross” were the words of the day.

What’s the secret for keeping cool? How do you look like you are cool as a cucumber, when your skin feels like you could fry an egg on it? How do you take care of yourself, so you can take care of all the party guests that are just as uncomfortable as you are?

I have some tips, so read on to keep your cool, when it’s hot, hot, hot.

Seven Tips for Keeping it Cool

1. Get a hat, and keep the top of your head cool anyway you can. In the hot weather a visor is not enough, cover the crown of your head and you will be cooler. A good venting fabric like cotton or a basket weave sun hat are good options.
2. Wear your sunglasses and get “sun readers” if you need them. Bright sun, even if you are in the shade can cause eye strain and headaches, so do what you need to to protect the valuable assets: your eyes.
3. Clip a battery-operated fan onto your chair or put on the ground behind you. Cool air, even warm air that is “on the move” will make you feel like it is breezy out, and you will feel cooler as a result.
4. Coolpack or a cooling vest, are what the characters at theme parks use to stay cool inside those costumes. Why you can’t you do the same. Inside your apron bib, inside the front of your shirt. When I am desperate I place a cooling mask inside my bra. It works wonders and the “bumpiness” is hidden by my apron.
5. Get a “wonder shade.” It’s a portable, umbrella on a tripod stand that you can carry into the event. Not as big and bulky as a tent but it will keep you and your supplies out of the sun.
6. Your spray bottle can do double duty while you are spritzing sponges and brushes. As long as it is filled only with clean water, you can use it to keep your face cool, or spray back the hair of your overheated guests. They will love you for it.
7. Last and most importantly is the water you need to drink before, during and after the event. Don’t wait until you get dizzy and lightheaded to have a drink. Start hydrating before you go to your gig, so your cells are filled with that energy-providing H20, keeping your body temperature cool even before you step outside. Then hydrate with water plus electrolytes during the gig, to replace what you lose through perspiration. After your gig, keep drinking water to replenish your cells and keep you from getting muscle cramps.