"Give it a crack"

When people hit a certain point in life, they can start asking themselves "What if I had just done that thing I always wanted to do?" There are a lot of reasons why people don't take a risk and try something new, but if lack of opportunity was one, that excuse is going to be taken off the table thanks to "Give it a crack", a night of entertainment by people who just want to try something they've never had the chance to do.

The idea for "Give it a crack" came to me after reading a post on the "Oh well" forum at barnabyhowarth.com.au (http://www.barnabyhowarth.com.au/forum) from a neighbour who wants to do some "public speaking/facilitating to help motivate people to make their lives more meaningful". While I was trying to find somewhere she could do some speaking, I came across a youth festival in America and it became obvious that opportunities to express our creativity become rarer as we get older. "LIVE on Washington," is an outdoor music and arts festival organised by the city's college and high school students that showcases young talent, with bands, solo musicians, dance troupes, live visual art demonstrations, a mixed-media portrait painting booth, roaming poetry readings, and a skate park. It's a festival that is oozing creativity, and it left me asking a big question:

Where do mature-aged people go to express themselves artistically once they graduate from university? When student festivals dry up so too, it seems, do opportunities for people to try new things in front of a live audience. After trying to find a place where my neighbour might be able to present in front of a crowd, it seems such a place doesn't exist, so I had to create my own, and "Give it a crack" was born.

The event will take place on Friday October 18 at 7pm, but get there early to browse the "Oh well gallery" - a display of paintings, clothing and other things people have completed with help from the "Oh well forum." Tickets are $40 or $400 for tables of 10, and currently the line up has 2 motivational speakers, 2 accoustic guitar performances, 1 slam poetry reading, 1 reading of an author's own work, and potentially a stand up comedy set. If you want to show your talent and perform, or to book your tickets, send an email to http://www.barnabyhowarth.com.au/contact, and let's get our creativity ON!

 * 75% of the proceeds from the night will go to the Pennant Hills Football Club

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For information about Barnaby's motivational speaking, go to: http://www.barnabyhowarth.com.au/