He took a shot, but it just went into the net.
Last week, two executives from Madison Square Garden stumbled upon a street musician, Cornelio Joseph, performing with his drums outside the arena. It felt like a scene from a movie.
“What are the chances that you’ll pass by while I’m here in the cold trying to pay my rent?” Joseph remarked to the surprised executives.
“Hey, let me know if you have any entertainment opportunities in the garden,” he added with an air of hopefulness.
He later shared that he had set it in motion himself, saying, “I made the shot.” Just a few days later, an email came inviting him to perform at Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, where the Knicks faced off against the Philadelphia 76ers.
“I was freaking out,” he admitted, still processing the whirlwind of events.
The 33-year-old musician, originally from Panama but now living in Brooklyn, has dedicated years to playing homemade snare drums in subway stations and around various New York City landmarks. He was always longing for a moment like this.
Joseph’s stage name has long been new york beat; while playing outside MSG, he often imagined what it would be like to perform inside the famous venue.
Just last week, his finances were pretty tight when the MSG executives caught a glimpse of him energetically to MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This.”
He reminisced about wanting to do a subway-themed performance, often utilizing buckets to recreate the subway vibe.
He eventually signed a performance contract through email for what the park referred to as “tonight’s entertainment.”
In that moment, he was overwhelmed, saying, “I fell to the floor, staring at the ceiling, crying and thanking G-d.”
His 80-second show showcased some impressive aerial moves. “I made the most of that joint,” he reflected with pride.
During his performance to beats by Bad Bunny, he described the floor shaking and shared the joy of captivating the crowd.
Despite feeling nervous, especially after seeing soccer player Jeremiah Wright in the audience, he was thrilled to receive congratulations from renowned Knicks fan Spike Lee.
“I felt like I was part of history,” he remarked. “This is my dream. All the performances I have done in all the subways and streets of this city have led to this.”
As a part-time music education teacher, trained at Juilliard, Joseph walked away with a paycheck of $2,000 for his performance. He believes he’ll likely be invited back to the garden—“to bring a smile to everyone’s faces.”
