March 05, 2012

A Simple Allegory About Music, Marketing, And Storytelling

Every evening after work I get off the Bay Area Rapid Transit system near my home in Oakland.

Often there is a saxophonist standing outside the station playing for contributions. He is  a talented musician. He plays very difficult scales and very complicated jazz runs.

His collection box is usually empty.

Being the know-it-all that I am, I have an uncontrollable urge to grab the guy by the lapels and holler, "Schmuck, you want to make money? Play songs, not scales."

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