Fantastic Post Article

Originally posted by bizou311®:

Originally posted by SalParadise:
$32 for 45 minutes work isn't all that bad..

It is good money, but they would need to play for 4-7 hours a day to make a good living.

No taxes though. So that is like making closer to $50 at a 9-5 job.

Originally posted by Christine Moritz:
The unrecognizability was part of the point – the experiment was to see how people react to art when it's presented out of the context (venue, prestige, etc.) they're used to.

But my point is you could have put a neon sign behind him that proclaimed "BEST VIOLINIST LIVING ON EARTH" and people still wouldn't have responded much differently. If you gave those 1000 people tickets to see "the greatest living violinist at Constitution Hall" virtually none would show up because easily 90% of them don't like classic music. This seems painfully obvious to me.

This was about what you hear, not what you see. It doesn't matter that he was unrecognizable by all but one person. The premise was would people stop if they heard something that was beautiful?

And it appears that most folks either didn't recognize what this author likens to beauty or don't consider it beautiful enough to stop them from doing what they set out to do this morning.

I bet more people would give money to a busker playing classical violin than one singing Dylan or U2 songs, if they were being played with equal proficiency. I know I would, even though that coice wouldn't reflect my musical collection.

Originally posted by Julian, faux celeb-porn CONNOISSEUR:

Originally posted by Christine Moritz:
The unrecognizability was part of the point – the experiment was to see how people react to art when it's presented out of the context (venue, prestige, etc.) they're used to.

But my point is you could have put a neon sign behind him that proclaimed "BEST VIOLINIST LIVING ON EARTH" and people still wouldn't have responded much differently. If you gave those 1000 people tickets to see "the greatest living violinist at Constitution Hall" virtually none would show up because easily 90% of them don't like classic music. This seems painfully obvious to me.

I think it was mostly about who had enough time to stop and listen to a guy playing violin right before they had to get to work or wherever they were going in or out of the L'Enfant Plaza metro station from 7:51-8:34 on the morning of January 12th, 2007.

Originally posted by vansmack:
This was about what you hear, not what you see. It doesn't matter that he was unrecognizable by all but one person. The premise was would people stop if they heard something that was beautiful?

And it appears that most folks either didn't recognize what this author likens to beauty or don't consider it beautiful enough to stop them from doing what they set out to do this morning.

I'll bet if that chick from American Idol/American University stood singing naked outside the Metro station, people would find time in their busy schedule to stop and listen. Even on a cold January morning.

this morning in the times square subway station - as i was walking up the stairs i could hear someone playing music. it was sounding a lot better than most of what is played there, and it turns out it was some, im assuming, famed cellist. i forgot what his name was, but apparently its part of some 'around new york' type show. there was a sign above where he was playing, saying who it was, but probably reminiscent of what happened at l'enfant, no one barely noticed him.

most people walked on by and didn't even look up. i only had about a minute to spare but stopped and listened, and he looked up and smiled at me. i kept thinking, hopefully i made his day. if i had any more time id have probably dropped some money in his cellist case.

It was a nice welcome surprise on my morning rush to work.