Joshua Bell: Concert Violinist or Street Begger?
Posted by nathan on 13 Apr 2007 | Tagged as: random., thoughts on life.
This past weekend, the Washington Post ran a very interesting article on an experiment with Joshua Bell, the nation’s most prolific concert violinist.
The Post article put Bell in a mall, playing classical music, with an open violin case at his feet. he played for 45 minutes, and more than 1,000 commuters walked by. very few had any idea who he was. few even flinched. he was given a total of $32 by 27 people…
what do you think that says?
3 Comments »
on 13 Apr 2007 at 9:08 am 1.
dustin the asian said …
that’s interesting. a world-renown violinist make $32 in forty-five minutes. i think that says something about america. i think it says something about american values. it says that americans don’t care about music or others.
1000 people walked by and only 27 cared enough about that man to give him SOMETHING. it says that the music he played didn’t capture them enough to stop them on their journeys.
i’ve only seen one beggar in my life. i wish i had had some money to give him.
but i had forgotten my wallet and left it at the hotel.
on 13 Apr 2007 at 10:46 am 2.
Michael J. said …
It says that America doesn’t care for beggars because we already pay taxes that take of them. If you need money… don’t bother my mall visit, go to the welfare office like every other bum on the street… I’m too busy to care about you.
(I’m being sarcastic just so you know… no nasty e-mails please)
on 14 Apr 2007 at 11:32 am 3.
Emily said …
It says that people don’t branch out and culture themselves. I know the name, Joshua Bell, because he is my mom’s favorite…and I’ve heard his music…but I don’t know that I would recognize his face if I saw him. But since I enjoy a good violin, I probably would have stopped to listen. Another thing…a commuter probably doesn’t have time to stop and listen on their way to work…so maybe the fact that only 27 of 1000 stopped means that America is too busy to stop and listen to the music. I know if there was a violinist outside my work…I would love to stop and listen…but sure don’t have the time.