Violins in the Subway

My Life List

When I worked in publishing, I loved my commute. I enjoyed the solitude, the chance to listen to people and observe them without having to interact. In the evening, I switched off my brain so I could navigate the subway, being pressed by strangers on all sides. And when I stepped on the escalator, I played a personal lottery, hoping I might emerge from the heat and pressure of the subway and hear a violin in the station above.

Violins in the subway have always been a private pleasure. There’s something about the contrast of being so close to people you can smell the animal on them, and then the absolute civility of a string instrument. Those juxtapositions are the best thing about living in a city. They give you incentive to be grateful.

For years, I’ve wanted to give an extravagant tip to a violin-playing busker. I added it to my Life List and started plotting. I imagined standing out of view and handing small bills to other commuters, asking them to tip the busker on their way out of the station. I thought it would be fun to use two-dollar bills, so the busker would feel appreciated, but also know something was up. Of course, I wanted to film it for the site, so all of you could see it unfold, maybe take some photos of the violinist too.

I told Bryan about my plan a couple years ago, and he surprised me with a stack of crisp two-dollar bills from the bank. I started thinking more seriously about logistics. I’d need some friends — someone to film, someone to pass out bills while I took photos. We’d need to head out at rush hour so there were sufficient passersby to help us tip, and to provide cover. It might take a few days, because we’d have to ride the subway around in search of a violinist, and violinists are a little elusive in San Francisco. Maybe it would take a week.

You can see where I’m going. In my head I was taking a simple pleasure, a moment distinguished by its serendipity, and turning it into a three-person, week-long slog. The plan was pretty in theory, but it was built to surprise and delight everyone but me.

This past year I’ve had to put my Life List on hold, but a few weeks ago I happened to be on the subway by myself for the first time in a long while. I stepped onto the escalator, and listened with my heart in my mouth.

There he was.

So I wrote him a check.

And I dropped it in his violin case before I headed upstairs.

The Mighty Summit and Camp Mighty are coming up, both events we’ve built around the concept of Life Lists. It finally feels like the right time to get back in the game. So here goes.

Give $100 to a violin playing busker? Check.

Published

78 thoughts on “Violins in the Subway”

  1. If you ever have the chance, watch The Underground Orchestra, a documentary about musicians in the Paris Metro. So much lovely music, so many wonderful stories. I try and find reasons to use it in classes because it is so good.

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  3. I love this. I’ve also had a fascination with musician buskers, and violinists in particular. It just seems such an affluent, privileged persons instrument, and therefore the story of how someone who plays it well, and on the street, is probably one riveting story. I grew up in Vancouver, BC, and also lived in SF – both places have amazing talent on the street. An SF street-guitar legend became one of our friends, someone we helped get off the street. He’s now recording his music in a studio, where he belongs. I’m back in Canada these days, and have to smile at having a small hand in helping him straighten up when I hear his music on Dan Akroyd’s Sunday blues show. That $100 is well spent!

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  4. everyone tells me that i should hate my (pretty long) commute, but i secretly love that time.

    musicians in the subway are my favourite! especially in the mornings – what a lovely way to start the day. i haven’t seen a violin player in a long time, but lately when i get off my commuter rail and head underground, i pass a steel drum player. great way to make things feel a little vacation-y.

    p.s. love your spontaneity!

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  8. awesome post/life list item. especially appreciate the grand and intricate nature of your original plan and then the realization that the simple thing was gesture enough. when working on writing/design i constantly find myself adding & embellishing, thinking it will lead to better results. and then i begin the process of paring it all back. you inspired my life list a few months ago – a work in progress and something to which i hope to add and embellish (in this case, a good thing!). http://emily-uncorked.blogspot.com/p/life-list.html

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  10. This is exactly what I needed to hear today.

    Bravo to life lists and simplicity and flexibility and getting back on track!

    (And to rambling run-on sentences.)

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  12. I was going to comment with the Gene Weingarten article from the WashPost, but a few people already supplied the link. It’s a fantastic story, I highly recommend everyone read it.

    I always tip street buskers, though they tend to look at little edgier by my house, haha.

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  14. Four years ago I was able to FINALLY visit NYC. I had never used subway systems before but prayed, fervently, that a violinist would be found. My husband got me a sufficient bill ($5? $10?) that I tucked into my pocket daily, with a whispered prayer.

    One day, I found him. I was lost in the wonder and beauty of the music for the time allowed and slipped the much prayed over bill into his case.

    Your story flooded me with all those heady memories.

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  21. I have been busking in the NYC subway for 17 years (not a violinist…but a musical saw player). Among buskers, when one gets $100 from one person – that is called an “Oscar” (it’s like you got an Oscar award).

    Whenever someone gives me a $2 bill – I save it. I don’t use it for as long as I can, because they are so special. They very rarely come by.

    Sometimes people give flowers or other non-monetary items – I made a list of the unusual things people put in my donations box: http://sawlady.com/sawmemo.htm#Unusual things – each one of these gifts made my day, not because I needed them, but because they conveyed human kindness and inventiveness.

    Thank you for your kindness and for your beautiful spirit.

    All the best,

    Saw Lady
    This is me playing in the subway: http://youtu.be/QL8DZVEIXfE

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  26. A lovely gesture! Music makes me happy, daily and I love to support the buskers.

    The Washington Post magazine had a story a while back in which they had Joshua Bell busk in the subway to see if anyone would notice or recognize him. Only a few people noticed the incredible music, and only one (as I recall) recognized the musician. So sad!

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