I got the impression that the writers were more boggled by how many people apparently didn't even notice he was there,

I probably would be one of those people. I wouldn't recognise a world class violinist if he bit me on the ass.

Anyone biting me should introduce themselves, anyhow.

I got the impression that the writers were more boggled by how many people apparently didn't even notice he was there

Which makes me wonder if all of them commute in their cars.

I commuted into NYC for years, and after a certain point you automatically focus only on your primary objective -- getting to the train, or getting off the train and getting the subway, or whatever. There's so much going on in a place like Penn Station or Grand Central, I think it's mostly survival that you tune out stuff like that just to avoid sensory overload.

Same thing with any city street, I think -- if you stopped to really take in everyone busking, or asking for money, or having a screaming argument, or zipping by on a bike, or whatever, you'd go nuts.

That said, I am now a fan of Joshua Bell. His playing was gorgeous.

I got the impression that the writers were more boggled by how many people apparently didn't even notice he was there,

Yeah, but -- if I'm in a rush on my way to work, I probably wouldn't notice a busker, either. They're kind of common, no? (My commute is in my car, so if a busker showed up *there,* I'd notice. Probably.)

But people who commute via subway/train -- surely buskers and panhandlers and preachers and hookers and Morlocks are so commonplace that they just become part of the human wallpaper. Even if one of them *is* a virtuoso cranking out the tunes on a Strad, I think it's nonsense to imply that The Power Of Music(TM)* is enough to pull people out of their daily -- and very likely hurried -- routine.

*(The Power Of Music[TM] is NOT to be confused with The Power Of Dance[TM], which can, in fact, pull people out of their daily routines, and can even save the day, as we all learned in Footloose and Dirty Dancing.)

t edit Or, What Amy Said.

We don't have subways, but we have street musicians. Floridians would be more inclined to stop and listen to an exceptional performance. This is not because of our love of art, but we don't so much give a shit about being on time.

The Power of Dance(TM) *is* completely different, yeah.

Human wallpaper is a perfect way to put it.

There's so much going on in a place like Penn Station or Grand Central, I think it's mostly survival that you tune out stuff like that just to avoid sensory overload

Yep - I commute through Grand Central and Union Square. Both of them have areas where you need a permit to play music, and people put up big signs and usually have CDs for sale. All different kinds of music & performance -- classical, hip-hop, singer-songwriter, dance troupes, indie rock, etc, and most of them are quite good. Regardless, during rush hour my focus is on getting to my platform and not being knocked over by the crowd. I can appreciate music on my own time later, not during my freaking commute.

[edit: I guess my point is, the fact that I don't stop and nod appreciatively and be counted as an interested party before hurrying on my way doesn't indicate that I'm oblivious to the artists' presence. It indicates that I'm in the middle of my commute.]

I stopped taking belly dance lessons and I kept thinking I'd go back to it, but it turns out not going is probably a good thing. There was a huge split with the group I was taking lessons with and the tribe doesn't meet in the location, the woman in charge burned some bridges.

I'm so glad I didn't end up in that drama.

I think the violinist would have gotten a lot more notice in Nashville. More people would have stopped to listen. Maybe because buskers aren't common there. Maybe because in Nashville, it's all about the music, even if you aren't in it. Maybe because they aren't usually in such a rush. Or maybe it's been too long since I lived in Nashville. But yeah - a different place, a different time, I think there would have been a very different outcome.

I liked how Bell said he reacted to it. He was nervous! He's not used to being ignored when he plays, and there he started being grateful for everyone who even glanced at him. He had a great attitude about it.

I think I'd be interested in seeing what would happen if they tried something like that on the platform at Metro Center. Metro Center exists almost entirely as a transfer point between the Red line and the Blue/Orange lines -- I've pretty rarely seen anyone actually leaving the station. Once you've got a bunch of people that have to be in the general area until the next train comes, see if they react any differently than people who have already left the Metro and are almost at work. I'd bet that a lot of people who hurried past when they had somewhere to go would stand around and watch when they had the time.

(I've seen various musicians on the Metro Center platform before, and generally, there will be a small crowd gathered around watching and applauding after each song, and a bunch more people who are standing a fair distance away with their backs to them.)

Pokes thread.

Hello folks. Mind if I flop in a corner?