Talk to Me (NYC)

Talk To Me is a cultural phenomenon first observed in New York City. In 2002, Bill Wetzel and Liz Barry started hanging out in lawn chairs on New York City street corners with a sign that said "Talk To Me". What surprised many was that the couple appeared genuinely interested in the subjects that were addressedCite web|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LH&s_site=kentucky&p_multi=LH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0FC29C3AA088206A&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title='Talk to Me' Couple Really Want to Hear what Folks Have to Say|accessdate=2008-06-10|year=2003-07-06|author=Lynne Duke|work=Lexington Herald-Leader] Cite web|url=http://www.nyctalktome.com/local/NY%20Daily%20News%2029%20July%202002/6837p-6377c.html|title=Looking for Tales in the Hood|accessdate=2008-06-10|year=2002-07-29|author=Jessica Johnson|work=The New York Daily News] and that there was no ulterior motive to their project.Cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990DE5D61E3AF937A2575BC0A9649C8B63|title=Talking the Talk, Even with Strangers; an Inquiring Couple with a Sign are Just Looking for a Nice Story|accessdate=2008-06-10|year=2002-08-14|author=Tina Kelley|work=The New York Times]

Wetzel came up with the idea for this project in February 2002 out of the desire to get to know a stranger.Cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/06/02/BAGE9D25CB1.DTL&type=printable|title=At Many Crossings, They Stop, Look and Listen -- to Hear Talk in the Towns|accessdate=2008-06-10|year=2005-06-02|author=Joe Garofoli|work=The San Francisco Chronicle] The duo spent more than three years in various New York City neighborhoods with their sign. They worked small jobs, and lived in part on an anonymous donation who provided them with one year's worth of their daily stipend, $7. They also hosted a Talk Party in Bryant Park where they shared their experiences.Cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03E4D61F3DF930A25754C0A9659C8B63|title=At Gathering for Talkers, Listening Balances Palaver|accessdate=2008-06-10|year=2003-07-13|author=Alan Feuer|work=The New York Times]

In 2005, Barry and Wetzel spent six months biking from New York to San Francisco, pausing en-route with their sign and leaving from New York with only $2,000.

References

External links

* [http://www.nyctalktome.com/ Talk To Me] - Main website