This real life story happened in Washington D.C Metro Station recently. Follow the timeline of events.
He played six Bach pieces for about an hour. During that time, approximately two thousand (2,000) 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:
The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw the money in the till 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 three-year-old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly, as the kid looked at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. Several other children repeated this action. Every parent, without exception, forced them to move on.
45 minutes:
The musician continues to play. Only six people stopped and stayed for a while.
About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace.
He collected $32.
After 1 hour:
The musician 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 best 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 theatre in Boston where the seats averaged $100. 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.
What do you get for playing a $3.5 million violin in a Metro Station early in the morning? $32.
Take it to the theatre and you get a sold out event.
This week pay attention to people’s perception, taste and priorities. It can be the solution to making progress in your work or business.
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