What would happen if a great violinist played on Stradivari to unknowing commuters

[grysar]

A superb article in the Washington Post today answers that question. It was also in the Post magazine, but it's probably better here because you can watch the video as well. As for what happens? Not telling. Read the article.

(For the record, this is not the stop I commute by. I've never stopped for a busker. Maybe I should. But when I do have some cash and like their performance I do try to give 'em a dollar. There's actually a good guy in the evenings that I tend to rush by all too quickly. Next time he's here I may stick around for a song.)

Comments

[shinuhana.livejournal.com]

I think there would have been a big difference in response if it were during the evening rush hour when people are not in such a hurry to get home. I think the demographic of the metro stop he was serving was a lot of 9-5 workers who need to be at work at a certain time, as described by the guy who only had "3 minutes to spare" to listen.

Also, since it was a pretty narrow demographic, if he played during rush hour in NYC, he probably would have fared better, since there would be more people who aren't trying to get into the office at a precise time.

He also probably would have made more money if he was playing on a platform where people are almost forced to listen for a few minutes while waiting for the train.

[grysar.livejournal.com]

In DC, playing on the platforms isn't allowed. So playing at the top of an elevator is pretty standard.

I'm sometimes in more of a rush when going home, because I'm afraid of just missing a train. When I'm walking out, the length of time to get to the office is pretty constant and my work is willing to let me get in late so long as I'm willing to stay late.

However, I'm probably irrational for being in such a hurry at night. But, on the whole, there's more buskers by my stop in the morning than in the evening. I think another part of that is that when you're leaving the station, you have to wait on the traffic lights. When you're entering there's nothing you have to wait on.