I am so tired of playing and my flute slipping off of my lip from sweating. I fell for an engraved lip plate years ago hoping that would help... it did nothing. I've also used masking tape and postage stamps. Today I started thinking... I wonder what would happen if I put a small amount of anti-perspirant below my lip?? What do you guys think?

I know a few people who put postage stamps on their lip plates due to sweaty lips

Look what I found at Flute World. I don't know how much better it would be than masking tape, but I'm going to try it!

http://fluteworld.com/index.php?action=prod&wart=52377

Yamaha Lip Plate Patch
Product Code : OS-LPP
Price : $8.95
Product description :
The original lip plate grip from Yamaha! The patch prevents the lips of the performer from slipping during a flute performance. 15 patches per package. Easily removable, leaves no sticky residue.

Nexcare 3M Flexible clear tape. It says on the roll, "Transpore Surgical tape." It's hypoallergenic, has a surface which is not slippery and it's clear. It sticks to a clean surface pretty well and doesn't make your flute look like a postage stamp book of some sort. You may want to try it or something like it.

You might also try Lip Plate Grips. I know that you can order them online from Carolyn Nussbaum (www.flute4u.com). I've found that they work pretty well, and they don't leave sticky stuff on the metal.

Thanks for the Carolyn N. website link. I've never been there before. I see they are the same price as Yamaha, so any suggestions on which to try first?

Ha ha ha, I used to have a problem with this, now I simply wear a sweatband on my left waist aka like those worn by the soccer referees during the soccer world cup! If any perspiration, I just quickly wipe my lips with my waist at a rest between notes and then continue playing. A bit crude, and unrefined, but never mind,I am not wearing a taxedo playing at the Met!!! My Nike waistband on by left have become a sort of trademark for me!

<Added>

Sorry its morning here, just got out of bed!!, it should be WRISTBAND, and not waist, sorry bout the spelling! LOL!

Some time ago I posted about wetting or not wetting the lip before playing and in the discussion that followed, someone (maybe it was Zevang) told us that he let the face hair under his lip grow and that helped him.
Maybe you could give it a try. It is easy to shave it off if it does not work...

LOL, without the aid of some hormones I don't think I'm gonna be growing any significant chin hair (I hope!)

Amy

Sorry, how stupid of my part. I did not notice (ashamed).

Just to add, I have tried putting anti-slip grip powder to the skin below the lower lip, the type the gymnasts and weighlifters put on their hands before gripping the bar. It worked fine at first and I tot I have the perfect solution. You can try. Latter I preferred the wrist sweatband method because some grip powder got into my mouth and my tongue got it, which affected my tone, not such a good idea after all! LOL. This topic is fun!!!!

Since I'm a guy, the *slightly* scruffy haven't shaved in a day or so look is actually "in" as well.

My solution for my old student flute in high school was to gently roughen the lower edges of the lip plate with some fine sandpaper(this was before those tacky strips existed).

Obviously nowhere near the sound hole, of course. almost anything will work - you just need the surface to not be mirror smooth.

Ok, I've now made my afternoon by reading this post! I still can't get rid of the visual in my head of trying to wipe my chin on my waist during a concert...sorry...LOL!

My biggest problem over the years hasn't been the sweat, but the oil on my chin. I didn't have too many slippage problems, but I'm so glad that they now have those "make-up" oil papers for the face that take off the oil without removing the expensive foundation (make-up). I'm not sure that the papers would do very much to help with the "chin sweat", though. I do my best to play in a cool environment with a breeze whenever possible, and I'm NOT looking forward to mid-life flute playing as a female (did anyone say hot flash?) I'm already warm-natured enough. OK, enough information.

Question: On the subject of altering the lip plate, I had a 6th grader today who told me her flute had scratched her chin. Sure enough, I checked the lip plate and there is some roughness from age and scratches in the silver plating (used flute...seems to be very used but still has good playablility). I let her know to use her cleaning cloth to clean the area and that it may need some shop time to take care of it. What do you all think? I'm going back to volunteer on Monday afternoon. I'm having a great time with these new flute players (almost 15 of them). Teaching a sectional is so much more fun than teaching math (but don't tell anyone I said so...LOL!)