I’ve just been sent this TED talk by Amanda Palmer about the ‘Art of Asking’. Palmer is a musician and performer, was dropped by her label despite some early success and turned to crowd-funding (specifically Kickstarter) to raise money. By inviting her supporters to join her at gigs, even come on stage for a few numbers, she has grown a community of 25,000 people and raised $1.2 million (even though she only asked for $100,000) – the biggest Kickstarter yet.

Palmer asks at the end of her talk; Rather than asking how we make people pay for music, how about we focused on how to let people pay for music? I think this has relevance for host leadership – the power of the outstretched yet welcoming hand beating the iron fist of compulsion. What do you think?

Check out the 13 minute talk here:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMj_P_6H69g&w=560&h=315]