He’s not a street busker.

Busking (playing in the streets for tips) is an art form all it’s own. In addition to musicianship, buskers know how to use eye contact and other personal connections to draw an audience in. They know that if a child stops to listen, even for half a second, their next task is to engage the parents. They are intuitively open and inviting without being threatening. The best of them can balance their artistry with the audience’s need for the familiar while adjusting for the acoustics of their space, evaluating which people to connect with and which to ignore, and keeping an eye on their tip basket. They bring joy and art to non-traditional spaces for whatever price people feel like paying.

Most of the people in the experiment failed to appreciate Bell’s gift. At the same time, I think it’s possible that Bell and the people running the experiment fail to fully appreciate the art of street busking.

Consider this next time you hear one of these cats playing the streets.

Love

This story immediately reminded me of a moment I had about a week ago. Where my day was going terrible, the weather was freezing cold with overcast, and here I am walking into my house and then stopping to observe the hundreds of birds sitting in the giant tree in my backyard. For a reason beyond me, that five minutes was such a beautiful and comforting moment I felt great about life for at least a week after.

Any time a smell, sound, touch, taste, or sight gives you immediate positive vibes, take the time to stop and revel in it. Chances are it will be spiritually refreshing and a meditative experience that will make you, to some degree, better off.

A shame that the parents of small children drag them away. They don’t see the natural interest children have in music; how so good it is for them.

however the only reason i don’t stop for a long while to listen to them is because i would feel awkward, would they mind me staying there for ages listening to them?, especially if i didn’t give them money, but even if i did.

I do appreciate beauty in it’s many environments.

Though no doubt many many do not.

I bet his playing was brillo.

A little off to the side of the point, I know from experience people who are literally
extraordinarilly talented at painting, writing, etcetera, but do not reach the limelight, because of their own blocks or because they do not present their art in the appreciative or renownment enhancing spheres, nor use the best techniques of saying ‘this is great stuff i have here’. Often the true genius caws less than delitants do-is less boastful, more modest in telling their talents-especially caus true talent is so often close to the heart.