Its all about marketing

[Spychedelic Whale]

This is old news but I never heard of it until some one posted this on fastbook.

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.washingto...7040401721.html

I believe if they did the same with some rockstar and throw a show on the street without any markting the same will happen.

If its free ain't worth it.

Edited February 5, 2012 by Spychedelic Whale

[deepak]

Uh the article is from 2007 and I think many people have already heard the news...

[Spychedelic Whale]

Uh the article is from 2007 and I think many people have already heard the news...

Yes I stated that at the bottom, its for those like me didn't unless HC never misses news .

Edited February 5, 2012 by Spychedelic Whale

[grawk]

It's not really even that surprising. People go into the metro stations because they're on their way somewhere. Even if you happened on the same people who were going to pay $100 per ticket to see him, it's still not a $100 performance, because it's in a metro station.

[Spychedelic Whale]

It's not really even that surprising. People go into the metro stations because they're on their way somewhere. Even if you happened on the same people who were going to pay $100 per ticket to see him, it's still not a $100 performance, because it's in a metro station.

Thats a valid point and I though the same, but do it on any street and I think the result its the same.

[grawk]

And on a street, it's still people on their way somewhere, and not an ideal listening location. Set and setting matter.

[justin]

that article might have a point if the people passing through the metro station were the same people that paid $100 to see him perform...

[atothex]

Or maybe if they used someone that people actually like. Rihanna or Katy Perry or something.

[swt61]

Or maybe if they used someone that people actually like. Rihanna or Katy Perry or something.

Elephas, is that you buddy?

[morphsci]

Elephas, is that you buddy?

OK I just wasted some perfectly good alcohol.

[Maxvla]

Kind of a bullshit setup, imo. People have paid money to move somewhere at a specific time. They aren't going to lose their money and the rest of their schedule to admire a great violinist. If this was done in a shopping center or something it would be more reliable.

[Currawong]

^ This. People don't like being pressured or to feel obligated to give money. With a concert, or even in a shopping mall, you have time to consider wether you want to go or stop and listen.