May 7, 2007
Calling All Buskers: Metro Wants You
Dust off that guitar, break out the hammer dulcimer, or put on those tap shoes because on May 10 and May 12, Metro's Art in Transit Program and the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities are holding open auditions for live performances at Metrorail stations. The auditions are being held as part of Metroperforms!, a program bringing live performers to yet-to-be-determined Metro stations through the summer (we first told you about it last year) and then again during the December holiday season. Performances are scheduled to begin in early June.
The artists selected after the auditions will perform at stations in the District of Columbia. Metro is working with authorities in P.G. and Montgomery counties to bring auditions and performances to Maryland as well. Performances will take place at designated station entrances at a distance far enough away from station stairs and escalators to ensure clear access for people heading into or out of Metrorail stations. In addition, participants in the MetroPerforms! program will not be permitted to sell merchandise, nor ask for money from the public while performing.
The DC Arts Commission auditions take place from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, at Metro headquarters, 600 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC. Individuals and groups interested in auditioning for the program should bring a photograph and a one-page biography or resume. Auditions are first-come, first-served.
For more information, view the full announcement on WMATA's web site.
Photo by techne.
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From the WMATA press release:
"In addition, participants . . . will not be permitted to sell merchandise, nor ask for money from the public while performing."
But can the audience make unsolicited donations?
“Performers . . . are subject to criminal background checks by the Metro Transit Police Department"
What kind of criminal history would bar anyone from being a street performer? Copyright infringement? Speaking of which, is WMATA paying royalties to ASCAP and BMI?
". . . and required to wear a Metro-issued identification badge while performing . . . ."
Sounds charming.
Actually, the DC Government itself licensed performers in the past, using Vendor's Licenses endorsed "Street Performer." This stopped after a similar procedure in Alexandria was ruled unconstitutional. As far as I know, DC never instituted a legal licensing practice, and WMATA badges won't mean anything on non-WMATA property.
Has anybody spoken to the long-time street performers, who may be displaced by these new "official" ones, about this?
DC should learn from the NYC subway performance program 'Music Under NY' - the NYC program is much better! It has been arround for many years, so they KNOW what works best for performances in the subway.
Not allowing musicians to recieve donations is rediculous, as well as not allowing them to sell their own CDs while busking. Why would any good musician want to play in the DC subway if they can't get anything out of it?!
No need to make donations. According to the New York Times, performers are being paid $200 for their two hour performance. Can that be true? Where the %^$^ is that money coming from in this city????? THe article indicates that performing requires serious talent and isn't open only to those needing the $$. I don't know, but I think they could find people willing to do it for much, much less. Short of Palfrey's hookers, who makes that kind of $$ in DC? Even big-firm lawyers don't make $100 per hour.