amandapalmer.net - Latest Comments in Virtual Crowdsurfing

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

Keira Anderson — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:10:00 -0000

I hope you wont mind when I quote you in my dissertation. You can read it thus far at http://thefistoflight.blogs... (shameless plug, I know.)

On re-reading what I've thus far posted, you don't come off too well... don't worry - I'm about to rectify the hell out of that. I hope this dissertation goes down well because I've listened a hella a lot more to things that people like you are saying about the Internet than... um... my tutor. Oh cripes.

Keira (@akidfromkibble)
xxx

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

Keira Anderson — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:10:56 -0000

I hope you wont mind when I quote you in my dissertation. You can read it thus far at http://thefistoflight.blogs... (shameless plug, I know.)

Keira (@akidfromkibble)
xxx

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

Jenny — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:40:00 -0000

Recently, a legend of my hometown died. His name was Bear and he was a homeless busking poet.
Bear was a fantastic man, who sadly had a drug problem, but was always kind. The first time I met him he came up to me and a group of friends and explained that he didn't expect money for nothing, and he would read us a poem. When we said we didn't have any money (really, I was 14 at the time and probably spent the last of my money on comics) he gave us a poem for free. It was so beautiful that the next time I saw him I asked for another poem and gave him £5. He would make up poems on the spot about whatever subject you wanted, if you asked, or he would recite a poem about his army days, or about his dead wife.

A week before his death he was beaten up by a group of teenagers and his spleen burst, but he couldn't go to hospital for it, and that's probably how he died. He was a man who had it really rough - it was rare you saw him without a few new bruises or his leg in a cast.

But the moral of the story is that Bear was happy till the end...he had a troubled life but he carried on so long doing what he loved. And he was an incredible poet, I'm genuinely sad that I'll never hear one of his poems again. So no, this thing doesn't work for everyone - but busking definitely kept Bear alive a good few years longer than without. I'd just like to remind everyone that sometimes we need to be a little more altruistic =)

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

Jenny — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:40:43 -0000

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

Jenny — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:31:00 -0000

I used this blog and Why I Am Not Afraid To Take Your Money in an essay for university, I hope that's okay. It was about consumer culture, arguing whether or not teenagers are passive in their acceptance of products, and whether real happiness is gained not from buying more products but from creativity. I made the point that people aren't just blindly buying any more and that you are starting a movement wherein the audience has more say in the product they're receiving and instigating the need for artists to create a more personal approach =)

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

Jenny — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:31:43 -0000

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

Harlan — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:06:00 -0000

Hey Amanda,

You are doing very important work here. Keep it up. The author Charles Eisenstein is working on a new book on what he calls sacred economics or gift economics, which basically describes what you are doing. He discusses it and the importance of this model in relation to the economic times we're experiencing in this talk on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Also, his other works, which are unbelievable in their scope and wisdom, are available in hardcover for a price or online for whatever the reader is wiling to pay. He describes it here: http://www.ascentofhumanity... which states:
"have put the entire text on line because I believe it is important for these ideas to circulate as widely as possible in the present time of crisis. In the book, I write of a coming shift from a profit-taking economy to a gift economy, from an economy of "how can I take the most?" to "how can I best give of my gifts?" This future, in which the anxiety of "making a living" no longer drives us, will arise out of the transformation in the human sense of self that is gathering today. But it is NOT ONLY A FUTURE. We can live it now too. It is in this spirit that I offer you The Ascent of Humanity on line.

"The cover price of the 600-page print edition is $25. I leave it to you to decide what is a fair price for this online edition, and you are of course also welcome to read it for free. On the voluntary payment page linked below I explain a bit more about why I am not making people pay for this work. The planet is returning to the spirit of the Gift, and I am pleased to join in that turning."

Keep giving the world beautiful gifts and you will continue to be supported. The blood cell doesn't hoard resources, it has complete faith and trust that while it is continuing to perform the tasks it was put on this earth in this body to do, all of its needs will continue to be provided for. It's only the perceived scarcity imposed by an interest based growth economy and an education system that forces us to be dependent on walmarts and grocery stores that makes us think that our lives are really any different than any other living thing in the universe. When we're doing what we were put here to do, all of our needs will be provided for.

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

Harlan — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:06:37 -0000

Hey Amanda,

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

beesbonnett — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:29:00 -0000

when i read this post i slapped it up on my facebook and all that other internet jazz. i have beucoup du fancy rich friends who think its so cute that i am artistically inclined, and "how great is that to follow your passion". o how we suffer under the protestant work ethic dynamic. how about supporting the people who are a constant reminder that we operate under a phantom system of humans equal robots, and thats unacceptable. my real job doesn't exist, nothing outside of the constant poetic rambling in my head that sometimes make the synaptic leap to my hand and then paper or canvas exists. its kind of like a mild disorder that you wrangle into materialization
and yes i need you to appreciate that, outside of a few oooo's and ahhhh's. we appreciate exchanges on many levels, and when i need to eat you can exchange me some cash for something i spent hours contemplating and spinning into my version of perfection. take it home and stick it on your wall or something like that, or keep it as a reminder that tonight, bess bennett will pay her phone bill.
dear god, there are aisles of bookstores devoted to books about creating the life you love, creating abundance,manifesting affluence, turning passion into money. how much money did you spend to take that book home so you can hone in on how upgrade from a ford focus to a beamer? get a library card and buy some damn art. most artists aren't asking for a bmw, they are just trying to figure out how to pay rent.

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

beesbonnett — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:29:02 -0000

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

Betsy — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:27:00 -0000

From today’s Washington Post:

www.washingtonpost.com/wpdy...

I personally disagree with Miss Manners - emphatically…. But thought it was interesting given the recent discussion.
_____________
Dear Miss Manners:
I am a moderately successful novelist. Things are a bit dicey for me financially, mostly because I am appallingly incompetent when it comes to money management.
Some friends with whom I discussed this problem were kind enough not to offer unwanted loans, but instead recommended that I put a "Donate" button on the inevitable Web site everyone in my field seems obligated to have.
I wasn't initially comfortable with the idea of asking my fans to support me beyond buying my books -- that ought to be plenty -- but I eventually agreed, and it did help. Now, a couple of years later (and in the same financial position, alas), I find that I'm still uncomfortable with asking for help in this way. The discussions with my friends over the subject have become passionate. I would very much appreciate your perspective.
As a novelist, you undoubtedly have a high respect for the correct use of words to reveal truth. And yet Miss Manners fears that you have adopted a euphemism to disguise from yourself the truth of what you have been doing.
"Donations" are given to institutions or charities that do good works. Individuals may earn money, as you do in selling books; they may receive it through grants to do work; they may inherit it; they may be given it in lieu of presents; they may find it on the street.
But the act of asking others to give you money simply because you are needy is called begging. It requires a sacrifice of pride, and therefore self-respecting people resort to it only if they are totally destitute.

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

Betsy — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:27:56 -0000

From today’s Washington Post:

www.washingtonpost.com/wpdy...

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

lisa pizza — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:43:00 -0000

oh no, i definitely agree. i still use ticketmaster if i'm leaving town or if i'm afraid something will sell out before i can get to the venue, but i also make an effort to NOT buy through ticketmaster. hell, we drove 4 hours to see amanda last spring or whatever, and she scolded us for not buying our tickets ahead of time through ticketmaster. sometimes it just has to happen. but "sometimes" and "every time" are not at all the same thing.

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

Nico — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:23:00 -0000

Thanks for the link to the crowd surfing pic, I've loved it since I first saw it circulating on Twitter. Duly purchased. Along with the previously purchased Who Killed Amanda Palmer CD, and book.

When you last visited Toronto, alas, I had no idea your loveliness existed. I do hope you'll visit again.

Live well.

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

lisa pizza — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 19:43:53 -0000

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

Nico — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:23:43 -0000

Thanks for the link to the crowd surfing pic, I've loved it since I first saw it circulating on Twitter. Duly purchased. Along with the previously purchased Who Killed Amanda Palmer CD, and book.

When you last visited Toronto, alas, I had no idea your loveliness existed. I do hope you'll visit again.

Live well.

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

MauraLee — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:37:00 -0000

((QUOTE: "those who gave cash covered my rent. those who gave me poems and leaves fed me in another way.
and indeed, it always worked out, day after day, year after year. my rent got paid, my soul got fed." ))

I think this proves that it really does take a combination of simple things just to make people happy. :)
The entire blog is a masterpiece in itself, and just FASCINATING. Much more eye catching and enthralling than playing with my friend's broken capo as she's out taking the PSAT.

I follow your twitter, and I'm just, overall, completely caught in the wave of creation and adventure. It's visible, that connection with your fans, and it just leaves me in awe. I don't understand why more artists can't do the wonderful thing you're doing, but I suppose that wouldn't make it all that unique, would it? I think what catches peoples' eyes is the fact that this is all DIFFERENT, and it's just, from my perspective, the most beautiful thing I've ever heard of a human being accomplishing.

Can't wait for your Brooklyn show :)

Love, "Maura Lee"

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

Steven — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:25:00 -0000

Shaunx, it's like a relationship, isn't it? Some are there for the week. And some are there for a few months. And some a few years. Whatever you are, I'm sure she'll understand.

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

MauraLee — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:37:42 -0000

Can't wait for your Brooklyn show :)

Love, "Maura Lee"

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

Steven — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 08:25:32 -0000

Shaunx, it's like a relationship, isn't it? Some are there for the week. And some are there for a few months. And some a few years. Whatever you are, I'm sure she'll understand.

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

shaunx — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 07:53:00 -0000

I'd say amen if you weren't so fucking full of yourself. Any message you have is drowned in the disgusting self-absorbed coating. As it is, reading your blogs lately has been making me sick and it's so bad I haven't been able to listen to your music in a couple of weeks. Sick, and not in the "hip" way. :(

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

shaunx — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:53:40 -0000

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

timlinnell — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:47:00 -0000

or at least I would make a donation if paypal hadn't decided to lock my UK account for daring to try a $ transaction, will return to that in the morning.

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

timlinnell — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:26:00 -0000

About 190 years ago, my great great great grandfather befriended William Blake, and eventually seeing he was struggling to support himself became his patron - at the time he was himself an artist trying to support himself and a growing family, but in Blake he saw a genius he couldn't reach himself. Although ostensibly a commercial arrangement, a commission for illustrations the Book of Job and then illustrations to Dante, it was never going to pay back in cash, but Blake rewarded him in producing some of the most wonderful art he had ever produced, and with friendship, bouncing my infant great great grandfather on his knee and singing the Tyger to him.That was then, and since we've had the great cycle of copyright and business and art as a commodity peddled by dealers - which, oddly enough, my ancestor also had a principal role in creating. And now that whole system is shuddering, the wheel has turned, and to have the art we love, to have brilliant people tell us things we can't articulate easily for ourselves, to have our souls touched and grated and torn and carressed, we need once again to return to a system of individual and collective patronage, or else we will just have to settle for the second rate and formulaic.Amanda, I'm off to make a small donation as soon as I finish this. I do this because I love what you do, I am desperate to find out what happens next. It's unconditional, I expect no return, I don't expect you to do noble and virtuous things with the cash, to feed the sick or clothe the poor, all I ask is that you use it to live your life in the hope that in doing that more great things will come from you.

Re: Virtual Crowdsurfing

Geertje89 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:48:00 -0000

Well, amen, I guess...Lately I've been doing my share by trying to convert as many people as possible to Amanda Palmerism. There's a lot for me to do, 'cause basically nobody over here in the Netherlands knows about you. :)I read what you wrote about faith and trusting people, and I feel pretty much the same. I'd rather leave my bag unattended on my seat in an Amsterdam metro than live a life in which I cannot trust anybody. They might steal something. They haven't done it yet, in 3 years of leaving bags unattended :)There's this other thing I've been thinking about. I think it's a good idea, but I don't know whether someone else has said it before (haven't read all the comments). Don't know either whether this is international, but at least over here many orchestra's, small theatres and other art-related groups have organised a group of (often called) 'friends'. These friends donate a stable amount of money every month, say 5 euros (dollars, whatever). This might seem little, but 200 friends donate 1000 euros every month. Well, this might be enough to pay the rent. In return the friends can order tickets before others, get some special present, anything. Friends happy, artists happy.Perhaps you might feel this restricts your freedom or something, but I think it could work. Don't know about the organizational aspects, though. God, it's difficult to explain this in English. I hope I'm clear.And last but not least, you might not even read this sentence anymore, but I love you, Amanda! :DLots of love and support,Geertje (don't try pronouncing that :) )