freakeenyc Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=myq8upzJDJc http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html "In Washington DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, a man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about four minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule. About four minutes later, the violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk. At six minutes, a young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again. At ten minutes, a three-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 the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly. At forty-five minutes: The musician played continuously. Only six people stopped and listened for a short while. About twenty gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32. After one hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all. No one knew this, 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 each to sit and listen to him play the same music. This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities. This experiment raised several questions: In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? If so, 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 as we rush through life?" I thought it was interesting. no tits shall be posted nor shall there be a tldr. The actual article (linked above) won a Pulitzer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brickos Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 coolio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pertplus1 Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 jesse morris was better at getting unrecognized Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOOGLE? Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 d.c metro station.....L'ENFANT PLAZA no wonder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weapon X Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Interesting. I know for certain that I would have given a listen and then props. Out of two thousand people, only the children were smart enough to recognize real. It figures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
you can microwave bacon Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Only six people stopped and listened for a short while. About twenty gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32. da fuc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightmareOnElmStreet Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 but freak. was there any fucks given on that day? i rest my case. carryon0ner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlwaysOverDoinn Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Pretty sure this happened a few years ago...still a cool story though. /Latepass.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAR Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Old story. Gene Weingarten won a Pulitzer for this piece only to find out a similar thing was done in the 30's. The kicker is, they shared the same violin was played at one point. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/24/AR2008062401153.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mymindisgoo Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 hm. when i take the train if i hear something interesting i always stop to listen, and it's good enough i'll tip the person. in paris here there are always people playing the accordion people don't really appreciate it but sometimes i'll follow the guy throughout the whole train and i can they in their face they appreciate it that i enjoy what they play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnifeHits RS Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 My favorite are the people who play accordions all crazy. Seems like a very difficult instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christo-f Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 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… Interesting on the surface, silly when properly considered. Best musician? Sorry, for me that would be AC/DC and Pink Floyd Some of the finest music? That would be Powerage, Dark Side of the Moon and maybe Por Una Cabeza. Beautiful instrument ever made? [insert your fav guitar, drum kit, set of tubular bells, etc.] Good chance that the majority of people that passed that day couldn't give a shit about the music and instrument and wouldn't pay a cent for a seat at his gig. However, put Coldplay for the womenz and a pole dancer for the men and I guarantee that at least 50% of the people would stop to join in the fun. Horse for courses. Christo-F, ruining days since ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnifeHits RS Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Those people passed by because they're heading to their miserable job. Most bosses won't allow listening to a talented homeless man as an excuse for being late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 d.c metro station.....L'ENFANT PLAZA no wonder AUPenis 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drue_Down Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 He was doing it wrong, you have to stand on the platform, that's when people listen .. at least in Chicago. If you are in the tunnel connecting stations or in the entrance, nobody has time to stop and miss a train. I always pay a bum willing to work for it, but some nurga yelling "hey big man, hook me up with a dollar" can go suck a dick for one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toiletseat Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 had the best times with hobos just singing and playing on a guitar. share some beers with em listen to them story's, most of em have more wisdom than most people i know but fuck all that make money so i can cuddle with whores Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Internerd Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 He was doing it wrong, you have to stand on the platform, that's when people listen .. at least in Chicago. If you are in the tunnel connecting stations or in the entrance, nobody has time to stop and miss a train. . This. If this was conducted in a public area/park it would be a whole different story. I'm not going to stop and watch some dude play violin no matter how good he is at 7 in the morning on the way to work. But I see what they're trying to do here I just just think this experiment is rather shit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ActionMakesFame Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 he should have been playing the 5 gallon bucket.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cool_Hand Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 ....or one of those Chilean flutes with a shitty little amplifier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
injury Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 he fucked it up by being in l'enfant, should gone smithsonian or union station or another tourist trap of a metro stop. Rookie ass social experiment ass havin' ass nurga Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paintfetish Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 "a man whose talents can command $1,000 a minute" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shai Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Good article that can be summed up for the mouth breathers in Channel Zero in four words- wrong place, wrong time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Realism Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Yeah man everyone here is retarded except me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BullshitTantrum Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 a man playing a multi million dollar violin gets little notice. a man who figured out how to rig and hold a guitar, harmonica, cymbols on his knees, and a 3 in one bass drum/accordion/tuba on his back and you'll cross the street to avoid him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shai Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Yeah man everyone here is retarded except me You're okay. It's funny (and kind of sad) that Channel Zero is proving the message behind the story right by not taking the time to read it and think about it. Sorry everyone, I'm sick and kind of cranky because some of the people around me right now are dumb and inconsiderate. Which, in a way, ties into this story (again). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milk Grenades Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 interesting. i would have stopped to listen, but i wouldn't have given him money, nor would i have paid $100 per seat to watch him in a crowded theater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
francis buxton Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Those people passed by because they're heading to their miserable job. Most bosses won't allow listening to a talented homeless man as an excuse for being late. My thoughts exactly. All you guys posting shit like: "Well I would've stopped to listen and if I liked it i would've given them 10 bucks cash and had an in-depth conversation about how their beautiful music is brightening everyones day." Whats it like not having a job and having unlimited time to shoot the shit, and stacks of money to give to random strangers? Also, If youre not in a hurry to be somewhere, why would you be at the metro station at 7 am? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOOGLE? Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 AUPenis touche.. i played sax at the springfield mall station in febuary and made a fucking killing in 4 hours of playing half assed go team go and the tmnt theme song.. makes me wonder if people where weary of of him due to how he carried himself. he looked like tim burtons willy wonka at a hick bar. i'dve prolly sat down and listened to him play for at least an hour then sold the violin to a pawn shop in fort washington Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
francis buxton Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Pretty sure this happened a few years ago...still a cool story though. /Latepass.jpg Pearls Before Breakfast Can one of the nation's great musicians cut through the fog of a D.C. rush hour? Let's find out. By Gene Weingarten Washington Post Staff Writer Sunday, April 8, 2007 Also, Mercer-I tried to prop you, but I guess I've gotta spread some rep around first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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