Monday, March 02, 2009

Would Rush Hour DCers Notice Violinist Joshua Bell?

I just read this story in a book on the best non-required reading. It was an experiment by the Washington Post, which put Joshua Bell, an extraordinary violinist, in the streets to perform to see if anyone would stop to listen.
Guess what happened? And how much money do you think he made? 
It's a story from 2007 but timeless and a great read. 
WaPo: Each passerby had a quick choice to make, one familiar to commuters in any urban area where the occasional street performer is part of the cityscape: Do you stop and listen? Do you hurry past with a blend of guilt and irritation, aware of your cupidity but annoyed by the unbidden demand on your time and your wallet? Do you throw in a buck, just to be polite? Does your decision change if he's really bad? What if he's really good? Do you have time for beauty? Shouldn't you? What's the moral mathematics of the moment?