Save the Subways

If you've been reading my site for a while, you know how much the subway performers have meant to me over the past few years in Boston. In a lot of ways, this site began because I was inspired by their no-frills do-it-yerself style of creation and their 5:30 AM rise and shine dedication to their craft. One of my earliest entries, Busking and the Shower Song, was an ode to the subway performer. Posting that piece alone opened up an enormous new world for me as a writer, listener, and local music scene supporter.

According to the Community Arts Advocates, "On November 13, 2003 artists who perform on MBTA platforms received new guidelines that will seriously erode their First Amendment Constitutional Rights and devastate the artists economically. This plan goes into effect on December 1st. "

There is a long list of new enforcements, but here are just a few:

• A total ban on amplification, electric guitars, percussion instruments or horns of any kind -- as they are no longer instruments suitable to the subway environment.

• Each performer must be neat in appearance and wear proper clothing. Musicians will be forced adhere to what MBTA mandates as "proper" dress code -- because local folk singers who need to play the subway to pay rent should dig out their Sunday best to make "appropriate" music with "entertainment value," right?

• Both performance times and performance areas have been significantly cut.

• Performers will be required to apply annually for a permit, and here is my favorite part:

  During the twelve-month permit period, any Performer whose performance is deemed of "no entertainment value" will be so informed in writing. The Performer will be given an opportunity to address performance issues. Should the complaints continue, the permit will be rescinded and future permit requests will be denied.
  

The fucking Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority gets to decide what makes the cut as good music now. Fantastic. I'll be sure to ask sixty-year-old Zelda in her corner token booth chain smoking and growling at commuters for some recommendations.

Please help keep creative expression alive in Boston.

Get all the facts here.