I’ve worked with actors of all shapes and sizes and in every situation. Some are very famous, others just earning their chops. But they all have one thing in common: They get nervous. Whether it’s stepping onto a red carpet or walking into a callback, nerves can attack and hold you back—but only if you let them. And you’re more apt to allow them to get in your way if haven’t figured out why they happen in the first place. For years, you’ve probably made nerves the nemesis when what you really should be doing is making nice with them.
So if you wish to start working your last nerve and not the other way around, you first need to understand why you get nervous. Next, you should learn how to manage nerves in a natural way.
To start, you should know that nerves are good. They are a part of our body’s defense system. It works like this: When encountering a threat, there is a part of our brain that goes into high alert. Sometimes called the “primitive” brain, it triggers the “fight or flight” response. Without nerves, we wouldn’t last very long. The primitive brain kept our ancestors from trying to pet a hungry tiger, and it’s what keeps us from having a picnic in rush hour traffic.
But there’s a small glitch in the system: Our primitive brain hasn’t evolved very much in 300 million years and can’t tell the difference between petting a tiger and reading for a laundry detergent commercial. In other words, “fear” is one size fits all. However, as a modern, sensible person, you know these scenarios present very different levels of danger. And this awareness is key to keeping nerves in check. Once you acknowledge that, you know what’s really happening, the thinking part of your brain comes back on line, and you’re back in business.
But there’s a second unnerving story for why we get nervous and it’s called rejection. There is no other profession that requires more rejection than acting. And rejection runs deep. Again, it’s about survival. Back in ancient times, early humans traveled in tribes. Membership in a tribe was for life, and your life depended on it. People stuck together out of necessity. Those who were kicked out couldn’t survive on their own. So members would avoid rejection at all costs. See where I’m going with this? Turns out, our primitive brain has a hard time distinguishing between being rejected from a tribe and not getting a callback. This means your primitive brain will go into overdrive at even the thought of being rejected, and subsequently crank up the nerves. Once again, it’s up to the modern you to evaluate the situation and adapt.
While this new awareness will help manage your nerves, you can also preempt your primitive brain before it goes totally nuts with nerves. Nerves can manifest physically. This is why you get sweaty palms, dry mouth, or your face turns beet red. As you’re able, before the next red carpet or casting, stretch out and get moving. Work up a little sweat before your nerves do.
Well, there it is. Nerves are natural and the reason you get nervous is, too. However, you’ve also got the hacks. So next time you’re working up nerves, stretch out to ensure that your body is warmed up, even for a cold-reading!
Steve Rohr, MA, is the co-author of “Scared Speechless: 9 Ways to Overcome Your Fears and Captivate Your Audience” (Career Press). He was the show publicist for the 2016 Oscars and has taught public relations and communication at several Southern California campuses, including Cal State Long Beach and Loyola Marymount. For more information visit @RealSteveRohr on Twitter and www.drshirleyandsteve.com.
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