# Violinist In The Metro- A Social Experiment **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [November 16, 2009, 12:23pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185 "2009-11-16T12:23:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Motocrossx23](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/motocrossx23/32/5120_2.png) [@Motocrossx23](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Motocrossx23)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 1:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185/21 "2009-11-16T13:55:11Z")
I would’ve stopped to listen for a second, but most likely would’ve moved along after a minute or so. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymity](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/anonymity/32/7215_2.png) [@Anonymity](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Anonymity)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 1:57pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185/22 "2009-11-16T13:57:05Z")
> [@Silver](#): > > This is silly. The whole experiment proved that people have somewhere to go when they are at a travel station, and on a deadline, considering it’s rush hour. > > When you play in a concert hall, people have dedicated and planned the time to come, sit, and enjoy the music. When you go to a metro station, you’re coming or going. You can’t say people don’t appreciate beauty because they are performing an activity in a location that HARBORS (and indeed exists for) that activity. sorry, that might be true, but it is all about what is on display. Like said in one post “if it was girls playing…”. I am sure if it was dont in a more sexual way it might have caught the eye’s of a lot more. Just my thought if you have something beautiful and you ignore it because of responsiblity… was it worth it? ---
**Author:** ![Anonymity](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/anonymity/32/7215_2.png) [@Anonymity](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Anonymity)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185/23 "2009-11-16T13:58:10Z")
> [@walter](#): > > this is pretty old. old thing like old things…:sario: ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185/24 "2009-11-16T13:58:13Z")
> [@newman](#): > > I think the point is that he is famous because he is extremely talented and supposedly playing something difficult and beautiful… Oh, well, yeah, I mean if he was pounding out something beautiful like Devil Went Down To Georgia on his fiddle I would stop and listen. lol ---
**Author:** ![66impalass](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/66impalass/32/7429_2.png) [@66impalass](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/66impalass)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185/25 "2009-11-16T14:22:30Z")
> [@Silver](#): > > This is silly. The whole experiment proved that people have somewhere to go when they are at a travel station, and on a deadline, considering it’s rush hour. > > When you play in a concert hall, people have dedicated and planned the time to come, sit, and enjoy the music. When you go to a metro station, you’re coming or going. You can’t say people don’t appreciate beauty because they are performing an activity in a location that HARBORS (and indeed exists for) that activity. You are missing the concept that people are willing to pay $150+ a ticket because it is the ‘it’ thing to do, but in reality the majority of these people that do it just to be seen have no idea who he really is. ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185/26 "2009-11-16T14:26:54Z")
I look at it a different way, if you’re on your way to work without a chick by your side to impress then you’re obviously not going to give a shit about listening to some violin music. Stopping to listen will not increase your chances with your wife when you get home. ---
**Author:** ![Silver](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/silver/32/4953_2.png) [@Silver](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Silver)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185/27 "2009-11-16T14:48:08Z")
> [@Anonymity](#): > > sorry, that might be true, but it is all about what is on display. Like said in one post “if it was girls playing…”. I am sure if it was dont in a more sexual way it might have caught the eye’s of a lot more. > > Just my thought if you have something beautiful and you ignore it because of responsiblity… was it worth it? No, it’s not about “what’s on display,” it’s about what your priorities are. The experiment obviously set out to prove that people are too busy to stop and enjoy something beautiful. What it instead proved, to me, is that people have a priority during rush hour - to get home or get to work - instead of stop and listen to music, no matter how good it is, what the quality of the instrument is, or what the complexity of the piece being preformed in. Getting to work on time \> music in a metro station. Half naked girls playing music in a metro station \> getting to work on time. That’s not a statement that people don’t appreciate good music. It’s a statement that they prioritize music lower than getting to work during rush hour, which seems self evident to me even without an experiment. > [@66impalass](#): > > You are missing the concept that people are willing to pay $150+ a ticket because it is the ‘it’ thing to do, but in reality the majority of these people that do it just to be seen have no idea who he really is. I think it’s a wee bit cynical to say that people who go to expensive concerts are only doing so to be cool. I would say it’s the opposite. Those who aren’t interested in the music probably aren’t going to be willing to shell out that kind of money to sit in the dark and listen to sleepy music. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymity](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/anonymity/32/7215_2.png) [@Anonymity](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Anonymity)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 3:06pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185/28 "2009-11-16T15:06:14Z")
> [@Silver](#): > > No, it’s not about “what’s on display,” it’s about what your priorities are. The experiment obviously set out to prove that people are too busy to stop and enjoy something beautiful. What it instead proved, to me, is that people have a priority during rush hour - to get home or get to work - instead of stop and listen to music, no matter how good it is, what the quality of the instrument is, or what the complexity of the piece being preformed in. > > Getting to work on time \> music in a metro station. > Half naked girls playing music in a metro station \> getting to work on time. > > That’s not a statement that people don’t appreciate good music. It’s a statement that they prioritize music lower than getting to work during rush hour, which seems self evident to me even without an experiment. > > I think it’s a wee bit cynical to say that people who go to expensive concerts are only doing so to be cool. I would say it’s the opposite. Those who aren’t interested in the music probably aren’t going to be willing to shell out that kind of money to sit in the dark and listen to sleepy music. sorry, so you think. if you race to work to make the $$ for the concert you are ok…think of how many people are late b/c of rush hour… the key thing here is they created the opportunity and they gave the people to make the opportunity cost **Evaluation.** ---
**Author:** ![HotRodKid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/hotrodkid/32/7609_2.png) [@HotRodKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/HotRodKid)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185/29 "2009-11-16T15:18:37Z")
> [@Silver](#): > > I think it’s a wee bit cynical to say that people who go to expensive concerts are only doing so to be cool. I would say it’s the opposite. Those who aren’t interested in the music probably aren’t going to be willing to shell out that kind of money to sit in the dark and listen to sleepy music. agreed. what i would like to know is details about the people that stopped, and for that matter how many of the concert goers passed through the subway as he played ? the same experiment could be repeated with any other type of professional musician in any other situation with the same response for passer by’s. hell, for that matter ive been to concerts where a member of the MAIN ACT was standing in the designated smoking area, with the general population, and because noone recognized him he didnt get any more credit for his skills then any other layman there that was talking about music ---
**Author:** ![66impalass](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/66impalass/32/7429_2.png) [@66impalass](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/66impalass)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185/30 "2009-11-16T16:12:18Z")
> [@Silver](#): > > I think it’s a wee bit cynical to say that people who go to expensive concerts are only doing so to be cool. I would say it’s the opposite. Those who aren’t interested in the music probably aren’t going to be willing to shell out that kind of money to sit in the dark and listen to sleepy music. Not at all, if people who enjoyed his music (or the music in general) and where honestly fans they would have stopped and listened. The majority of things like this are about being seen there, not about actually being there for the music. Especially the concert he is putting on. Remember people this is America, where your image is everything. I have personally stopped and listened to good subway acts before. ---
**Author:** ![ILC](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ilc/32/5337_2.png) [@ILC](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ILC)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185/31 "2009-11-16T16:53:33Z")
I’m not really a fan of the violin… If it was a cello I would have rocked the fuck out and listened all day long… maybe try to fornicate with the bow… actually it would probably depend on what he was playing … I enjoy stuff in the minor key. major key crap is to fucking cheery for me… and i Allegros make me sick ---
**Author:** ![JMEZZI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@JMEZZI](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JMEZZI)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185/32 "2009-11-16T16:59:31Z")
I would have thought, oh look another hobo whose trying to impress the crowd so he can buy himself crack or alcohol. I wouldv’e kept moving without tipping. If he was in a full suit, I would have stopped and admired the talent. ---
**Author:** ![Silver](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/silver/32/4953_2.png) [@Silver](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Silver)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185/33 "2009-11-16T17:47:10Z")
> [@66impalass](#): > > Not at all, if people who enjoyed his music (or the music in general) and where honestly fans they would have stopped and listened. The majority of things like this are about being seen there, not about actually being there for the music. Especially the concert he is putting on. Remember people this is America, where your image is everything. > > I have personally stopped and listened to good subway acts before. That’s exactly the point I’m trying to make. In my personal opinion, this experiment failed at testing peoples enjoyment of beauty. They purposefully chose a place and time in which people would have much higher, different priorities than stopping to listen to music. I’m a huge fan of classical music, considering I have played in orchestras since I was 6 years old. However, if there was a musician, no matter how good, in a subway as I was on my way to work… guess what? I wouldn’t stop either. I have different priorities at that very specifically chosen (by the experimenters) time. As a random side note, there was a string quartet playing in lounge area of my gym today. I stopped and enjoyed them for several minutes, and because of this thread watched other people. There were about 20 people sitting and actively listening, and about 5/8 people that walked by stopped for a minute or more before continuing on. The results are dramatically different than the experiment because the lounge isn’t a transit area, during a time in which people are the most actively transiting. I posit that if the quartet had been playing in the middle of the weights area, people would probably still stop, but not as often or as as long because they would have been occupied with their current activity, that being working out. ---
**Author:** ![97\_B18b1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/cdc98d/32.png) [@97\_B18b1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97_B18b1)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185/34 "2009-11-16T18:14:40Z")
if he was playing moonlight sonata i wouldve stopped ---
**Author:** ![66impalass](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/66impalass/32/7429_2.png) [@66impalass](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/66impalass)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185/35 "2009-11-16T18:17:53Z")
> [@Silver](#): > > That’s exactly the point I’m trying to make. In my personal opinion, this experiment failed at testing peoples enjoyment of beauty. They purposefully chose a place and time in which people would have much higher, different priorities than stopping to listen to music. > > I’m a huge fan of classical music, considering I have played in orchestras since I was 6 years old. However, if there was a musician, no matter how good, in a subway as I was on my way to work… guess what? I wouldn’t stop either. I have different priorities at that very specifically chosen (by the experimenters) time. > > As a random side note, there was a string quartet playing in lounge area of my gym today. I stopped and enjoyed them for several minutes, and because of this thread watched other people. There were about 20 people sitting and actively listening, and about 5/8 people that walked by stopped for a minute or more before continuing on. The results are dramatically different than the experiment because the lounge isn’t a transit area, during a time in which people are the most actively transiting. I posit that if the quartet had been playing in the middle of the weights area, people would probably still stop, but not as often or as as long because they would have been occupied with their current activity, that being working out. You didn’t grow up in a city with a major public transportation system, and it is obvious the way you say everyone is in such a hurry. I have seen many times people stop and watch/listen to the musician. Its not that hard to do especially waiting for the train to come. You are forgetting that aspect of it, no matter how much of a hurry you are in YOU STILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR A TRAIN IN A TRAIN STATION. Its not that hard to walk 5 feet one way or another when your train comes, and many people do. Most people have played orchestra since early child hood, when was the last time you picked up an instrument though. That statement had nothing to do with this study or any statements said. ---
**Author:** ![Silver](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/silver/32/4953_2.png) [@Silver](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Silver)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185/36 "2009-11-16T18:30:03Z")
> [@66impalass](#): > > You didn’t grow up in a city with a major public transportation system, and it is obvious the way you say everyone is in such a hurry. I have seen many times people stop and watch/listen to the musician. Its not that hard to do especially waiting for the train to come. You are forgetting that aspect of it, no matter how much of a hurry you are in YOU STILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR A TRAIN IN A TRAIN STATION. Its not that hard to walk 5 feet one way or another when your train comes, and many people do. > > Most people have played orchestra since early child hood, when was the last time you picked up an instrument though. That statement had nothing to do with this study or any statements said. I don’t know how much of a hurry people were in, and being in a HURRY really has nothing to do with it. It’s having something to do (ie, travel), while at a location that exists for that same something (ie, a transit station), and the experimenters expecting you to stop what you are doing and do something completely different. They choose rush hour, which says to me they obviously wanted to test it when people were under a time deadline to get to work, or were eager to get home after work. This implies to me that they wanted people to be in a rush, but then wanted to judge people for being in that rush. I didn’t grow up in an area with mass transit, but I did spend 4 years in the San Francisco area, using nothing but public transit (bus and BART), so I know how waiting for a train can be. The experimenters did not include how many people were listening without actively standing in front of the musician staring at them (nor would they be able to). They only wanted to count those who stopped and actively looked at the musician (the way I understand it). I, for one, know I can appreciate music without staring at the source of that music. But the experimenters are basing their “findings” purely on how many people engaged the musician by site or proximity. I find the experiment process, the logic behind that process, and thusly the findings unsubstantiated. And the last time I picked up my instrument was two nights ago. The statement was made to make the point that I probably appreciate the work of a musician more than the average joe, and even I would probably not stop to listen if it was rush hour in a transit station. The experiment, from the way I perceive it, is trying to make the implication that people are too self-involved, or too busy, to appreciate something beautiful in an unexpected place or at an unexpected time. I don’t see it as being a worthwhile or a fruitful experiment, to say the least. ---
**Author:** ![RLB](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rlb/32/5196_2.png) [@RLB](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RLB)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 11:58am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185/37 "2009-11-17T11:58:37Z")
I am in Manhattan about once a month. For some reason i always stop and listen/watch to the subway acts. Most are pretty entertaining. Be it amazement or hilarity they are enjoyable. ---
**Author:** ![GTRGurl](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/gtrgurl/32/5347_2.png) [@GTRGurl](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/GTRGurl)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 1:07pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185/38 "2009-11-17T13:07:33Z")
He did this about a year about in the L’enfant Plaza in DC. The article said that a couple people stopped to listen to him but they mainly just went about their business. There was one woman that stopped and listened for a while and they asked her why she did. She replied “Because that’s Joshua Bell!” I think that the average person would appreciate his music but think nothing of it. He’s not a very famous face unless you know of him or pay a little more attention to classical music. I probably would have stopped to listen because I know what he looks like and know what his playing sounds like. I’ve been a fan of his for years and have seen him live a few times. I would have LOVED to have been in that subway 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 1:16pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185/39 "2009-11-17T13:16:02Z")
> [@A.J.](#): > > the artists that play in the Tube in London are always good and after a few pints me and my friends were known to do some dancing for a couple minutes, tip and move on. They have to audition to legally play in the Tube I love london. Not surprised as the artists I saw in the tube were very good. I need to go back asap. ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 1:23pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185/40 "2009-11-17T13:23:54Z")
If I was going to work I may have stopped for a moment, if I was coming home from work I may have stopped longer. If I was on vacation and was going to the museum I would have stopped and listened to one complete song. I would not have took his violin as I would assume he was a homeless man whom plays very good violin. [Previous page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/violinist-in-the-metro-a-social-experiment/76185.md?page=3)