“Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand 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 later: The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat 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 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly. 45 minutes: The musician played continuously.  Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32. 1 hour: He 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 greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin valued at $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the price of seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. 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. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context? One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:  If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made…. what else are we missing” Stop and Hear the Music

This story was passed on to me the other day by a musician.  And the idea behind this experiment done by the Washington Post caught my attention.  Doing what we do at Sixthman we are flooded with entertainment every minute of every day.  At the office, on board events,  and most of us in our non work life.

When were at the Sixthman office, there’s always music on somewhere, there’s most likely a podcast or video being created, or an artist stopping by to play a few songs.  On board, the entertainment is inescapable, you can’t walk down a hall with out hearing or seeing someone performing.  On our weekends or vacations Sixthman employees are likely to be playing music themselves, checking out a new or favorite band, going to a movie or finding some crazy new way to entertain ourselves.  My point is that I’ve accepted that entertainment is most likely going to be a part of most of the places I go and that I have created a world for myself that is surrounded by talent, art and beauty.  And I appreciate that and acknowledge it.  BUT as the article mentioned, if I were to be taken out of my normal environment. where I know to look for talent, would I recognize it?  Would  a band be more talented just because they’re playing in an arena rather than a subway station, or is a piece of art more beautiful if it is hung in a museum rather than a pawn shop?

It seems like the trend of looking for the next “big hit” has been rising.  It’s cool to be the first to hear or “discover” a breaking band in a dive bar, or to have seen the latest indie film before it hit the Sundance festival.  Though, I think the point of the above article goes further than  the dirty clubs and basement movie premieres. I think it’s telling us to look in even more non-traditional venues.  What if that guy who plays the trombone in Centennial Park day after day for change would have played in a world famous jazz band if only the right person had walked by him and stopped to listen.   Who knows what it takes to be “discovered” and recognized for your talent in today’s world, but it’s inspiring to realize that maybe we could all make our own little discoveries if we look or listen a little harder in those places and those times we normally wouldn’t.

- Melissa