(no subject)

[wispfox]

[Boston-centric post]

The fact that the MBTA is intending to prevent subway musicians from using equipment which can drown out the Public Address system doesn't bother me nearly as much as the fact that they are also planning to charge $25 for an annual performance permit.

Now, I don't personally know anyone playing the subways, but I can't imagine that having to pay $25/year to perform is going to do anything but make there be fewer musicians who will be playing in the subways - based soley on available funds, and not on actual ability. Personally, I enjoy the fact that there are musicians playing in there. It's a pleasant distraction from waiting around for the next train, even if I have brought a book with me.

I admit that I am not very aware of what an effect this will actually have, and realize that it's entirely possible that $25 is not really that bad. But it's still concerning, I think.

Comments

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

almost all above ground street performers that i'm aware of have to audition for their spot, in advance, get approval, and pay a fee (which is fairly low iirc).

there is tremendous competition to do so, and performing turf is rare, scheduled (they have a time slot), and so on. you don't get people just showing up playing in your spot when you wanted to after a long trip/etc. it seems to result in a pretty smoother and understood system.

i think it's probably a good thing.

as for the acoustic vs amped thing... there was a controversy a while ago, i think, about acoustic not being quite loud enough, then them being allowed battery amps, and over time, they've gotten louder and louder and ... well, here we are.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

almost all above ground street performers that i'm aware of have to audition for their spot, in advance, get approval, and pay a fee (which is fairly low iirc).

Oh! So it's the subway players who are currently having a possibly unfairly easier time? Gotcha...

Actually, the auditioning part makes perfect sense to me, completely aside from any fee.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Isn't that what the annual permit used to be?

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Not a clue. Maybe. I *did* say that I didn't really know how it will actually affect things. :)

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

oh, like one can actually hear the PA system in most stations even when there is no music. And like they ever make any useful announcements anyway.

[happyfunpaul.livejournal.com]

I don't know enough information yet to know for sure, but here's what I hear:

When I first heard about the MBTA plans, I thought, well, OK, sounds sensible, and some of those amp'd performers can be awfully loud. But my suspicion is that the MBTA is using "security" and "need to hear the Public Address" as a smokescreen.

First, as noted, most of the announcements are indecipherable anyway. Second, look at the actual restrictions on musicians... In addition to license fees and complete prohibition of any amps or horns (two acoustic-guitar-playing friends tell me it generally isn't possible to be heard in the subway without amplification), musicians can play only in "designated locations" (which doesn't sound bad in principle, but turns out to mean "shunted away from the main groups of people").

So if it's not about security, what is it? Apparently (and I don't how much of this is rumor and how much fact) the MBTA is planning on putting in closed-circuit TVs, since they can make money off the ad revenue. Is that is in fact the case, then the MBTA is scum. I prefer even bad subway musicians to force-fed TV.

(I wonder if the TV volume will automatically be muted when there are Public Address announcements? Any bets?)

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

AAAAAAH!

TV in public places = EVIL!

(just in case you were wondering about my feeling on the matter)

It's much more difficult to read or hold a conversation or think if there is a TV playing near me. I hope that's not *really* what they plan to do...

[donnad.livejournal.com]

From what I understand, anyone playing on the streets or in the subway has to buy a Busker's Permit once a year for $100. anyway.
If the T is going to charge musicians, then they'll just play outside the stations.

[pindar.livejournal.com]

The London Underground has recently done the same thing. Buskers "that's what we call street musicians here..don't know where the name came from) would often position themselves at the end of the down escalators and get in the way of people getting to the platforms. Many had no discernable musical talent (one guy I saw took to blowing/singing/shouting through a traffic cone), and fights would sometimes break out between buskers. LU figured they were never going to get rid of the problem, and they licensed some pitches in the busiest stations around the West End. Now performers have to audition, pay a fee, and book a slot which means the quality has improved a lot and they, on the whole, make the experience more pleasureable rather than a nuisance.