Amanda Palmer: The Art of Asking

“Don’t make people pay for music,” says Amanda Palmer, “Let them.” In a passionate TED talk, Palmer recounts her days as a street performer (drop a dollar in the hat for the Eight-Foot Bride!), and takes a closer look at the relationship between artists and their fans.

Amanda Palmer recently stepped out on her own after becoming disillusioned with the music industry – from the pressure to pump out popular albums, to the manner in which the music business measures the success of artists.  She has become one of the new champions of crowdfunding for artists – adding this cause to her repertoire of gutsy performances, and powerful feminism.  She reminds us not to be ashamed of “asking”, because asking is just an interpersonal connection between people.  In this way, she’s revitalizing the relationship between musician and fan – connecting and building community around her art, to bring people together.  That connection, that community, says Palmer, is how you find help when you need it.  For that, nobody should be ashamed.