If you have stage fright, it never goes away. But then I wonder: is the key to that magical performance because of the fear?

Nicks frames stage fright not as a defect to be cured but as a permanent companion to performing—an ongoing surge of vulnerability that never fully disappears, even for seasoned artists. The second sentence reframes fear as potentially generative: the adrenaline and heightened attention that come with anxiety can sharpen presence, intensify emotion, and raise the stakes in a way audiences perceive as “magic.” The quote also implies a paradox of artistry: the very sensitivity that makes performance frightening may be what makes it compelling. Rather than seeking fearlessness, Nicks suggests learning to work with fear as part of the creative engine.