They will not drink alcoholic beverages before a reading, even if they feel it would relax them. Alcohol dries the throat. In addition, they all prefer to be clear headed. In the dusty journals of elocution era, I've read a drink of water with a twist of lemon clears the mucous lining of the throat. For that reason, also, drinks with dairy products should be avoided.
Some readers prepare by sucking a lozenge which they tuck to the back of their mouth when they read.
They say this helps to keep their throat lubricated. Relaxation Techniques Readers prefer a least a half-hour of quiet before their presentation. It is not uncommon for them to move to a table where they can sit alone at the back of a room. They need this time to collect their thoughts, arrange their notes, and simply to be able to spend time concentrating on the upcoming reading. Some say that compressing the thumb of one hand with the index and thumb of their other hand and repeating the procedure with the other hand is a technique of relaxing without being noticeable.