Joshua Bell's Experiment:

via Massimo:

"Joshua Bell, one of the finest talents in the classical music world, went once busking as an experiment. Music director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, worldwide star soloist, and former child prodigy. His instrument is a Stradivarius from 1713. In the middle of a morning rush hour, baseball-capped Joshua Bell opened his violin case and started playing, just inside L’Enfant Plaza Metro entrance in the busy centre of Washington DC. Over a period of 43 minutes, the violinist performed six classical pieces, two from Bach pieces, one Massenet, and one each from Schubert and Ponce. Out of 1,097 people that passed by Bell, 27 gave money, and only seven actually stopped and listened for any length of time. In total, Bell made $52.17 (£42.18). And this includes a $20 note from someone who recognised him. The next night Joshua Bell played on one of the most recognized stages in the world and charged at least $100 each ticket. The experiment somewhat proved that the extraordinary in an ordinary environment often does not shine, it is not recognized."