Creative Challenges by Tony Barber

In 1963, after working as a lift operator, carpet salesman, folksinger and display manager of a large department store Tony arrived in Australia from England with $100. He proceeded to build a diverse and remarkably creative career by becoming a member of the legendary Australian group, BILLY THORPE and the AZTECS, then by writing, recording and performing several hit records of his own that included SOMEDAY.

After working as a record producer, journalist, songwriter and artist, Tony started his own Interior Display Business, mastered the Chinese art of PAPER SCULPTURE and designed an innovative and unique range of children's three dimensional mobiles. His company HANGITALL GIFTS manufactured and supplied mobiles to over 300 retail stores. Tony designed and installed for his customers spectacular displays using neglected in store ceiling space.

He then created and designed the classic children's soft toy, PUGGLE. Major Australian, New Zealand, Japanese and America companies all manufactured PUGGLE products under license. Tony then opened a PUGGLE retail shop, wrote seven Puggle Tales books and appeared as Tony the Toymaker in a series of children's videos. * He was also responsible for naming the Australian BABY ECHIDNA a PUGGLE!

After moving to Los Angeles and introducing BILLY THORPE to the toy industry and inviting him to join him in his toy design business, Tony became a creative consultant to many companies such as HASBORO, TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX, DAKIN and DISNEY. His toy designs and concepts were licensed to international toy companies like MATTEL, APPLAUSE and WORLDS of WONDER.

Tony designed the soft toy versions of BANANAS in PYJAMAS and BLINKY BILL for the ABC, the COLES MYER World Boy character, Mr Scottie, BAKERS DELIGHT Little Breadhead and countless others.
Corporate clients include Gaffney Licensing, Melbourne Zoo, BP, ABC Best Foods, Kellogg's, McDonald's, Warner Brothers, Track Stars Collectables, Pancake Press, Creata Promotions and Hinkler Books. He is continually creating and designing innovative concepts, products, songs, stories, scripts and three dimensional product samples, with patterns and marketing information for his clients.

The producers of the HUMPHREY BEAR show used Tony as a cast member and creative consultant for their TV show THE MUSIC SHOP. He wrote over 130 short stories for the show and appeared in each episode as Tony the Toymaker.

Encouraged by a teacher in 1995, Tony wrote the script and music for a unique one-hour show called CREATIVE CHALLENGES. Each year he performs this colourful, funny and fast moving show to 60,000 school children across Australia. It's interactive, extremely entertaining, and without the children being aware of it delivers innovative messages about reading, writing, literacy outcomes, creative thinking, imagination, music, mime, arts and craft and encourages children to read more books and to write their own stories.

Tony has drawn and created countless fantasy characters and concepts, designed and made hundreds of soft sculptures, written and illustrated over 30 children's books including Tony's Book of Stories, an instructional book for teachers, librarians and parents containing twenty weird and satirical five minute children's stories complete with practical suggestions and in class activities for storytellers.

He also entertains children at shopping centres and his adult workshops for parents or teachers show how to write and sell children's picture storybooks, perform magic tricks, story tell, think creatively, design gifts, children products, puppet and toys and how to do many types of arts and crafts.
Recent projects include writing the script for an interactive movie about child safety for Workcover, writing and recording children songs, designing children's characters for stage shows, books and television shows and creating a children's concept and range of toys for a major toy company.

DROMKEEN, the respected children's literature and art museum, is holding an exhibition of Tony's soft sculptures, books and artworks, that will eventually tour regional art galleries across Australia.

A natural, passionate and animated public speaker, Tony entertains, informs and motivates teachers, parents, business and community groups by talking about his creative life, product design and marketing, creative thinking, writing, imagination, self motivation and how to use fantasy imagery and soft toys for creative parenting, leadership and for bridging the gap between child, adult and consumers.

His latest book is a non fiction called "Long Way 'Till You Drop" and describes his experiences while touring in the stage musical Long Way To the Top. Tony's next publication has the title "The getting of Sex, Friends, Ideas and Money" and is an autobiographical, motivational book for all those that have a money making idea but are not sure what to with it. Upon completion of this book, Tony plans to become a full time artist.

His main speaking topics are:

1. • My Creative Life. Motivational presentation of my creative life. Entertaining, informative, interactive, funny and inspirational. *For all general audiences
2. • Innovative ways of improving ones imagination so that you can improve your childs Bridging the gap between adult, teacher, schools and all those that work with children/teenagers/ or related industry or services. *For parent, teachers, Scout leaders, workers and leaders of children, and general audiences
3. • How to be a creative writer, prepare a book proposal, How to write and sell a book to publishers, childrens novel, picture book etc Creating fantasy characters and their worlds, Budding writers, all general audiences.
4. • How to think of creative product ideas, design market, sell and promote products and ideas for self or to the toy, gift, stationery, publishing area of commerce. Trademark protection, Copyright, Licensing, Contract negotiation, protection, non disclosure
5. • A mixture of all the above

Contact details:
Tony Barber
Ph: (03) 9804 0069
Email: northpaw@bigpond.com

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