The art of asking | Amanda Palmer

Was hoping Amanda Palmer would be the first person to crowdsurf a TED audience

When you ask for a photo with her, she smooshes her face against your cheek and grabs you like your best friend. She does this to everyone who asks and it makes you feel like she loves you.

She is the mother of crowdfunding and I don’t think anyone has ever given her the credit she deserves. The world changed after this. Every YouTuber that has a patreon owes her their living. She is the best.

"Thank you, nobody ever sees me." I can't tell you how impactful that is. Like, even working as a waitress in a nursing home I'd have moments like these with the patients when in reality my job is to bring them food. It's crazy how much kindness really does it for you especially when you're very low.

The important take-away: if a record label only sells 25,000 CDs, it's a failure.  If an individual gets individual support from 25,000 people to make a CD, she's a money-grubbing villain.  Thank you Amanda Palmer, you make the world a better place.

She looks so comfortable in her own skin, such a refreshing opinion and personality. I am Wow-Ed.

I work at a rehab center and every time i watch this i think of how much i would love to show this to my clients. with addiction it is so hard to ask and accept help and i believe that once i find a way to show this to my clients, i may be able to really get them thinking about how asking is stronger than just trying to do something on their own.

When she told the story of the Honduran girl and her family, I couldn't stop the tears coming down my face. This was beautiful.

It's kind of sad that even hearing someone talk about humans being kind to other humans is so touching. Shouldn't that be standard?

This may turn out to be one of the most important Ted talks ever given, because it points to a new kind of economy, an economy based on abundance rather than scarcity.

her passion made this talk awesome it was in her eyes, voice and body language.... just amazing...

Her honest tone is captivating and her eyes are haunting. Quite interesting and weird, so wild and unique. I don't agree with her on many choices, but her message "Don't be ashamed of asking for help and support" is well presented. She is intimidatingly free of all strings of society, witch has it's own benefits and downfalls, but it seems that she's brisking in the good side of it the most. She is definitely unforgettable, and her path luckily resulted in such pretty views of the world. Take care of yourself Amanda.

I just used this TED Talk to teach my students how to be critical viewers. They identified these assertions: asking creates a human connection; the difference between corporate success and artistic success is marked, and crowdfunding may be the new standard given state of the music industry. I was proud of how they interpreted and reacted to the footage, and I think you now have some new fans.

"I didn't make them, I asked them." More people should embrace this.

Ugh, god damn... she's such a fucking poet. I love her.

I have a rare relationship with Amanda: some stuffs she does are a little bit awkward and egocentric in my eyes but I can’t denied she is an amazing woman, authentic and very talented, she seems to have no fears but vulnerable at the same time. I always came back to her when I feel desperate, aimless, sad ‘cause my “failures” and every single time she reminds me “stand up! You are worthy!”. Thanks Amanda, from the deepest of my heart.

This made me cry a little. I get that "I don't deserve this" feeling, too. Also, it's hard to trust.

I love how bold, bright, and creative she is. I'd definitely be her friend if I met her. She seems like someone up-beat and outgoing.

It's people like her that we need in any art industry. I'm a fellow creator - one of those art school dropouts who never made a great career, but also didn't completely abandon what they love in order to "get a real job". I'm painting, sketching, I'm making and altering clothes too, I'm kinda into miniatures, jewellery... and a lot of other stuff. And I always made those things just for art's sake, not sharing with anyone and not ever trying to sell it, because of this deeply-rooted belief that making not-useful-stuff isn't an actual job. But recently I tried. I shared a painting on a facebook group. And people actually loved it. They were commenting, saying it looks very nostalgic, and that they want to see more. I was quite shocked, in a very uplifting way. And I realized an important thing: that for years, I never even asked. Even for an opinion, let alone for money. And listening to this talk (more like a performance, I'd say) reminds me that it's an essential skill for every artist - asking, and putting yourself out there :)

For all her flaws she really tries to be open, honest, real and humble. I don't dig her music but I am inspired by her efforts and vulnerability.