I Live For A Living.

26. Seattle.

Conceived in Spain. Born in Chicago. Texan by choice. Raised a USMC brat. Lived all over the States, EU, South America, Asia and Mexico. No matter where the military takes me, Chicago will always be home.

Smile like a saint. Curse like a sailor. Drink like a Viking. Act like a lady. Think like a man. Work like a boss.

I'm fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, Catalan, Drunk, Sarcasm, Sex and Bullshit.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any images unless otherwise stated.

 

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 approximately. 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 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. 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?

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 approximately. 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 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.

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?

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Notes

  1. kkissherintherain reblogged this from howfuckingironic and added:
    everyone should read the whole thing: Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a...
  2. lipstickandteastains reblogged this from handmedownhearts
  3. jazzykiss reblogged this from spaceconfessional
  4. chubbycinnamonfox reblogged this from darkvixen28 and added:
    I just want to point out, most people in the D.C. metro are either heading to work or school or have somewhere to go....
  5. twentyonesketchbooks reblogged this from deprive-my-sleep
  6. deprive-my-sleep reblogged this from pulpfreeoj
  7. singinglikealunatic reblogged this from believe-you-liar
  8. believe-you-liar reblogged this from darvilles
  9. darkvixen28 reblogged this from darvilles and added:
    This makes me very sad :< I always try to stop to listen to people playing on the street. I always try to leave...
  10. darvilles reblogged this from pulpfreeoj
  11. pulpfreeoj reblogged this from crouchingturtle-hiddendingo
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  17. jennyandherlife reblogged this from thesisterfeeny and added:
    Well, okay, here’s the thing. Several people did recognize his talent (and some recognized him, Joshua Bell, the...
  18. fireantsin3d reblogged this from musings-of-terra
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  24. kailthehand reblogged this from wilsonnthesassycat and added:
    Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about...
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