u/Healthy-Web1344

I came across this joke: The audience at a piano recital was appalled when a telephone rang just off stage. Without missing a note the soloist glanced toward the wings and called, “If that’s my agent, tell him I’m working!”

How would you respond as the soloist?

I recently started learning to read sheet music and there's one thing I never really understood.

Why do the bass and treble clefs use different note positions? Wouldn't it be easier if both hands used the same system and the notes were just played in different octaves?

I'm sure I'm missing something fundamental, so I'd appreciate an explanation.