Amanda Palmer: Recipe for Success

By James Curcio
(First run on Alterati, 2007).

Conversation With Amanda Palmer 
James Curcio

My first experience with the Dresden Dolls was live. I saw a show several years back, I think it was in Poughkeepsie NY- somewhere in the Hudson valley. When I went in there I was kind of dragged there by some friends. They said “you have to see these guys play!” I was dubious, simply because my understanding was that it was a piano player and a drummer… and how the hell would that be engaging live?

What I got was one of the most intense live shows I’ve seen. It was a perfect mixture of emotion, theater, and musical skill. Everyone worked up a sweat, and I don’t think there was a head in the house that left without a mild buzz.

James Curcio: How did the songwriting and your live show develop? Was it an organic serendipitous process?

Amanda Palmer: My songwriting actually developed in a vacuum. I started writing songs when I was 12 but they were barely heard by anybody until I was in my mid-twenties. On the contrary, Brian started playing in clubs when he was 16. We had very different musical upbringings. The live show was something that just happened, it was never planned. We’re both born performers, and we egg each other on. All of our heroes are passionate live performers. It’s just in the blood to want to bleed on stage, I guess.

Heart Art - Indie Production 101

Lilith sketch by ... me.

Hard at work on Word of Traitors, as are many of the artists.

Please help support us in getting this material produced. We have a way to go the next 20 days but it can be done if you get active along with us! 

Here's two videos about some of the dioramas I've just started building - which will be integrated digitally with mixed media pieces.


Video 1.



Video 2.

Here I am, babbling more about found art, working with what you have. Again, I had a lot I wanted to say about serendipity but talking to a camera you're holding it awkward. Feel free to ask me directly if you have questions about process, especially if you're an artist yourself.

Words of Traitors - Transmedia perk 1 Unlocked

A short walkthrough of my office at the time of working on this project, and a little talk on the whiteboard of how this project ties into some of the other material available here. 

Talking about some of the thumbnailing process as we get into layout and creative direction.

And finally, talking about the literary background and some of the process and circumstance that got this whole thing started.
(My back was acting up that night so that's why I'm lying down, if you're wondering.)

First transmedia perk unlocked by reaching $1000 goal!  Next unique perk is reserved for breaking $2500. Reaching our full goal will ensure a well produced and distributed illustrated book, and set us off running for the graphic novel that we are spinning out of one of the short stories in this book for a kickstarter and a somewhat unique artistic process involving CG and photographic source. Liking indie art in theory is one thing but coming in at the ground floor like this not only ensures that it gets made -- it also ensures that you will have the first edition pre-ordered and signed. (Who knows, maybe one day you can sell that for a lot of money on whatever replaces eBay.)

[Check out some of the books, albums, and soon movies produced by Mythos Media and our various media partners.]