Stop, look, listen

[karl]

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007…

The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:

The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew it, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.... How many other things are we missing?

So, people, wake up and pay attention to what is happening around you, or you just might miss out on some really great things in life!

[abelisle]

"The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.... How many other things are we missing?"

You see - once again we see how socialism is affecting the way people perceive beauty and talent. Unless the government and and public education tells people what is important, how would they know?

Isn't amazing to see how socialism has thoroughly infiltrated our society! We are slowly but surely being mind-controlled by our government. And this experiment took place in the very seat of our government (Washington, D.C.)

This liberal experiment with socialism has got to be stopped.

Just pulling your chain, karl. I read this a while ago. Nice piece

Alex

[SivartM]

Wow, that's so cool! And not cool. I think I would have stopped, because I'm never in enough of a hurry for whoever I'm with.

[Gerr]

What does that have to do with socialism? If that same experiment had been done under Bush or Reagan, I have no doubt that the same scenario would have been seen. People just do not change their tastes and priorities since Obama was elected.

If they had put someone mouthing off his garbage rap, he would probably have attracted more attention.

[SivartM]

Look up, "sarcasm", "humor" and "satire".

That's probably true about someone rapping. Fo shizzle.

[abelisle]

Sorry Gerry,

Sivart got it but obviously you didn't. But I did tell karl thet "I was just yanking his chain" - slang for playing around.

Figured since karl likes to inject socialism into many things, I would just play along with his idea.

Alex

[phkrause]

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007…

The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:

The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew it, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.... How many other things are we missing?

So, people, wake up and pay attention to what is happening around you, or you just might miss out on some really great things in life!

That is a very interesting story! In all my years of living in NYC, we had concerts in the subway stations, and here in Mass when using the subway to get into Boston we have the same. This has been going on for many years, why would it change now. I think the experiment was one big waste of time. And that is a sad thing, that we are always in such a hurry.

[Outta Here]

What were the conclusions of such study? Did they interview the passers-by?

Many people avoid the street peddlers on purpose. It may have had nothing at all to do with a misperception of beauty.

[Liz]

I wonder if they would have gotten the same results, if he had played in other cities too?

I like it when they do "social experiments" like this, but I think it needs to be done in more cities around the country for one to get an accurate view of how people act.

[phkrause]

I wonder if they would have gotten the same results, if he had played in other cities too?

I like it when they do "social experiments" like this, but I think it needs to be done in more cities around the country for one to get an accurate view of how people act.

Like I mentioned, just ask New Yorkers, they have that everyday and for many years too.

[karl]

When we were in London last fall, we often heard musicians playing in the subway tunnels and we would stop and listen for a while and give them tips. But we were always headed somewhere and so were the other travelers. I think if you played in an airport, where people have to wait for longer periods of time, you've have larger audiences.

[phkrause]

When we were in London last fall, we often heard musicians playing in the subway tunnels and we would stop and listen for a while and give them tips. But we were always headed somewhere and so were the other travelers. I think if you played in an airport, where people have to wait for longer periods of time, you've have larger audiences.

I would agree, also in NY there were large groups at times. Depended on the train.

I remember one time walking home from church one Sabbath afternoon, we went through central park and they had this reggae band playing, well would you believe that a few years later we went to Montreal and there they were again. I think they were looking for that tip that we didn't give them in NY. LOL