Notes on The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer

I just finished reading The Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help by Amanda Palmer. She's a musician, and I had never heard of her before and only learned about her book from Tim Ferriss's interview of her on his podcast.

There was so much in the book that made me think of entrepreneurship, philosophy, building brands and communities, and life in general.

Amanda has a TED talk that got over 6 million views and did a record-breaking Kickstarter raising over $1 million for a new album. In this book, she chronicles her many techniques and ideas for connecting with her fan base, building up that community over a long time, and how she has learned to ask for help throughout her life. I was shocked just how effective asking for help and engaging with strangers can be; it's truly inspiring.

Below are my main takeaways.

Foreword

• Not about seeing people from safe distances
  
• Real eye contact
  
• Cultivating trust
  
• Getting uncomfortably close
  
• Asking for what u need from ur community
  

Book

• Living Statue embodiment of asking
  
• Basic wanting to know, do you love me
  
• Stop overapologizing and just ask
  
• Artists: collecting, connecting, sharing
  
• Everyone keeps saying inside: please believe me, I'm real. 
  
• Impostor syndrome
  
• You're an artist when u say u r
  
• Asking is collaboration and improvisation
  
• Treat fans like family
  
• Couch surfing
  
• Getting everyone to help you
  
• Amassed mailing list of fans over time
  
• Made own merchandise and burned own CDs
  
• Built hate mail web page
  
• Does own social marketing and emails with all fans
  
• Sharing all details of life with community online
  
• Asking for volunteers online
  
• Take the help others offer
  
• People negotiating on behalf of others negotiate better
  
• Ask for things u want from ur lover
  
• Believe as artist that u are allowed to do what u want and deserve what u get
  
• Risk is the core cost of human connection
  
• Writing and creation as escape hatch from reality
  
• Art as relationship not product
  
• If u love ppl enough they'll give u everything
  
• Social media not separate from her. It is her. Her relationship. Mixing everything.

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