SOUND OFF
Welcome to The Voice Connection Sound Off; a forum for users of books like Raise Your Voice, Melody to Madness, The Ultimate Breathing Workout, and Unleash Your Creative Mindset, as well as a place for Vendera Vocal Academy members to interact.
This message board was created so that singers could come together and "sound off" to help support each other during vocal development and the creative process of unleashing the creative spark that occurs when writing and producing music. Currently, myself and vocal coaches Ben Valen, Ray West, and Ryan Wall are here to respond periodicially to your questions, with new vocal coaches coming soon. But, feel free to help each other too:)
This board is here for you to ask questions about my and my fellow coach's books, videos, and MP3 programs, as well as offer others help with our vocal techniques. You may also post videos of yourself and your band to share your music and ask for critiques.
Please refrain from negative comments, profanities, spamming, and inappropriate criticisms of vocal methodologies, vocal coaches, and singers. All negative posts will be deleted and subject to banning without question. I will not respond to negative posts, because, as Mark Twain once said, “Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.” With that said, positive criticism is welcome because that is how you'll grow as a singer during the training process.
This whole imagine you are using the bathroom way of thinking, IMO, needs to stop. The whole process of defecating is very much different than singing. I don't know anyone who clinches thier glutts when relieving themselves. The diaphragm is involved but so are a lot of other internal organs and muscles that are not in use while singing; if they are be careful on stage.
Alex, when you are using your diaphragm to sing it is not as simple as pushing down or locking down, as you no doubt have noticed. You need to use your whole mid section back, obliques, abs etc. Have you ever tried to imitate having a beer gut or act as if you are fatter by pushing out your stomach? Try pushing out your stomach and breathing in either at the sametime or push out your stomach and then breathe in.
Pay very close attention to the feeling you are having in your back, sides and abs. You may find it feels as though you are stretching out these muscles, that is a good feeling. Of course never over do it to the point of pain, but a slight stretching will give you the sensation that you are looking for. Those are the muscles you should be using.
Try holding your breath while in this posture and let it out slowly, you will feel the burn. 
