iresq Loc: Annapolis MD

A sad but true story. Part of what's wrong with us as a society.


A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist.

Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the top 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 his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100.

This is a real 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 priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty?

Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnOPu0_YWhw

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

I don't mean to demean or diminish the story as it is very interesting but I couldn't help but notice that he collected $32.00 for 45 minutes of work. I must tell you that I know a lot of folks who work their arses off for a lot less....just sayin

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

I think they put him in the wrong place. People who are tring to get some where? Put him out on a street corner and see what happens. I have seen street proformers on a corner shut down roads. So many folks stop to listen
Erv

Dawn Loc: South Alabama

He was in the perfect location to prove the point he was trying to make. We live our lives way too fast-paced these days. We should slow down and take in & enjoy what is around us more.

Thanks for sharing.

JohnnyT789 Loc: Conyers,Georgia

This is food for thought. Great story and thanks for sharing it.

iresq Loc: Annapolis MD

Funny your take away was his wage.

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

I understand the premise but I just noticed that he was garnering a decent sum. I do agree that the point may have been better made in a different location. Usually folks at a metro station are going from or to someplace specific with a specific intent. Maybe they would find more people stopping to enjoy his craft should they place him in a park.

gmcase Loc: Galt's Gulch

Why would noticing his wage be funny or maybe odd if I am reading your inference correctly?

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

I think he just thought that I missed the point or didn't understand the premise. Actually I'm not sure that the money he collected was even necessary when you consider the point that they were trying to make. I probably shouldn't have mentioned it but I just thought it was interesting.

gmcase Loc: Galt's Gulch

I quickly determined he was making a little over 80k per year at that rate. If the inference was thinking of it in terms of money was somehow begative then I am doubly guilty because I calculated it a little further, being the die hard economic liberty kind of guy I am. :mrgreen:

snowbear

I agree that folks are rushed, but that's not a good time for something like this. Rush-hour at most of the stations in town are madhouses, especially the key transfer points (L'Enfant, Metro Center, Gallery Place, Union Station). Add a broken train and/or single-tracking and it really gets bad. I got "lucky" a few months ago when they had to close a station due to a jumper.

Bruce with a Canon Loc: Islip

at least he dint get MUGGED

deanna_hg Loc: So. Alabama

So true and so sad how we rush through life not appreciating things until it is to late. I've often thought about that and my husband and I have spoken freq. about it but funny thing is we haven't done anything about it. My kids are grown and I've wondered where time went then realize it was with my job, washing clothes, cooking meals, buying groceries, cleaning house and always thinking I'll 'play' with them later. Guess what? Later never came and now they are grown. I now catch myself doing the same things with the grands... washing clothes or dishes, etc. Our youngest that was just here has a vivid imagination and I really should have gotten in that boat with him when he asked me to instead of washing the dishes. I'm not working now and I have slowed down to enjoy things more but obviously I haven't slowed that much.
Thanks for the story. It should remind all of us that there is more to life than working ourselves to death and while money is an evil necessity, it isn't going to get us into heaven.

Acountry330 Loc: Dothan,Ala USA

Great story. It is amasing what people think about even after they find out the purpose. Life needs to be lived to it's fullest. But most of us are in to big of a rush to emjoy.

photo guy Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI

Nice story. I agree that a lot of people are in too big of a hurry. Not stopping to give money in the example above, driving fast and talking on a phone at the same time, leaving somewhere while on the phone about a gathering or something else at the same time. Society is moving faster now that at any other time and things are being missed. I for one don't see it slowing down any time soon and that is just too bad.