Should you drink a tequila or pop a pill before you go on stage?

You might find yourself anxious, convinced you’re going to screw it all up, and may wonder if having a glass of tequila or taking a pill could help calm your nerves before taking the stage. 

Some studies have shown the potential benefits of alcohol consumption on cognition. It is known to boost mood and serotonin levels in the short term. When the prefrontal cortex mellows, the part of the brain responsible for judgment and reasoning, one feels less inhibited. You might be less nervous to get on stage if you’re less judgmental about yourself. Sounds great, right?  

However, while this may provide short-term comfort and relaxation, it’s crucial to be aware of the potential adverse effects. Alcohol is a diuretic, which could dry out your vocal cords. It may also affect your breathing and muscle tension, ultimately impacting your ability to project your voice effectively on stage. 

What about taking a pill that helps you control your jitters? The Dutch Singer Nora Fischer swears by taking a beta blocker before performing. (Performance Anxiety is for Amateurs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvhvFkCnpTo)

But the use of pills and alcohol can’t guarantee results; your physiology at that time can change and will affect your outcome. It’s important to note that medication should be approached with caution, as it can encounter serious side effects and may not be suitable for everyone. Now what? A pre-performance routine of meditation, deep breathing, visualization, and positive self-talk seems tedious and ineffective, doesn’t it?

It will likely be ineffective if you continue to put yourself down, expect disaster before you even begin, have an active inner critic, and remain unaware of how to control your nervous system. I speak from experience.

But there is a better way to go about this. 

Getting ready for a performance requires excitement and control, trust in a good outcome, and high alertness in the moment. It also requires feeling freedom, holding on to form, not to mention being capable and thoroughly prepared.

So, if alcohol, popping a pill, or a pre-performance routine doesn’t seem like the right choice, what do you do? 

Research shows there is a science to developing new habits, also called habit formation. It’s simple—repeat an action consistently until you have formed a new habit. According to James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, there are 4 keyprinciples in the foundation of effective habit formation: ‘make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying.’

When I used to get paralyzed by fear days before and during my performances, ‘positive self-talk’ was for gurus and “new-agers”. Those people were too naive, too theoretical, and foolishly optimistic without achieving their goals. Therefore, I didn’t try it until I learned about brain plasticity and the neuroscience behind habit formation. Without getting too geeky, the process of habit forming is a physical change in the brain. The control over our behavior goes from one part of the brain to another, from the prefrontal cortex to the dorsal striatum. As the behavior is repeated, the connection between these two regions becomes stronger. It’s only since the 1970s that we know that the brain is actually malleable. In other words, we don’t need to get stuck with what we were told as children; we can truly change our thoughts and behaviors. 

Returning to my New Year’s resolutions for 2024, visit the Self-Talk Institute and create your desired brain. Dr. Shad Helmstetter has done extensive research since 1981 on how repetition rewires the brain. He found that the brain will physically create more synaptic connections with positive self-talk in only 15 minutes daily for six weeks. You can become a new person, be self-supportive, trust your abilities, and expect the best in yourself. It’s a much more reliable way to approach your performances with delight than alcohol or other drugs. 

Start today. Make it obvious by reminding yourself throughout the day. Make it attractive; be kind to yourself. Make it easy: listen to prerecorded positive self-talks or make your own. Listen while you brush your teeth and your hair or make coffee. Finally, make it satisfying by simply listening to the positive support that you deserve. Forget about the tequila.