Boston/Cambridge Subway Artist Issue

[GlassHarper]

Boston, that cradle of American liberty, acts to curtail performers' veunes AGAIN.

The following note was posted on the buskers@yahoo.com forum today. It is a warning that street entertainment venues can be taken from us in an instant with the stroke of a pen. We must be vigilant. And we must support each other. Stphen Baird and his Community Arts Advocates are strong voices in the continuing struggle. WAY TO GO!

Message: 1
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2003 13:29:18 -0000
From: "grito54" <matt-nozzolio@cox.net>
Subject: Boston subway

New restrictions are being implemented Dec. 1. Stephen Baird of
Community Arts Advocates is leading the reaction. Here's a link to a
Harvard Crimson article on the topic:

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=350178

[Edited title of post - Jim]

[ 11-23-2003: Message edited by: Jim ]</p>

[The Pretty Good]

the article didnt really mention what the dress code was. Does anyone have any idea what they are talking about? Its too bad about this it will put alot of people down and out. But its not the end of it all is it? So no amps. Not that I play guitar or bass but I do use an amplifier for my show and it is a pain in the ass when the rules state that amplifiers are forbidden. When it is that way I dont use an amp. There are a few people that I can think of that do play guitar in the suway in Boston without the use of an amp. Then there are also people that play waytoo friggin loud. I dont know what its like there right now only what I have been told by Peter and Jamie.

[Jim]

This page has EVERYTHING about what's going on (LOTS of info):
http://communityartsadvocates.org/saa-mbta-subway.html

Basically, the MBTA (Subway organization) decided for "security purposes" that as of December 1, 2003, they'd put new rules into effect for subway performers. They made these new rules secretly and without any input from performers.

New rules include:

Each Performer must be neat in appearance and wear proper clothing, including shirt, pants and shoes, at all times while performing.

Each Performer must play in the proper location. Performers playing in non-authorized locations will have their permits revoked. If another Performer is already in the Performance Location reserved for Performers, the second arriving Performer must leave and go to another reserved unoccupied Performance Location in either that station or another station before beginning his/her performance. Only one Performer (lone performer or group) at a time is allowed in a designated Performance Location.

Each performer must keep the designated area clean and free of clutter. Each Performer must remove all trash from the performance area after the conclusion of each performance.

Each Performer must cease performing while station and/or train announcements are being made. Performers must be aware of noise level and activity in the station environment and not allow their performance to interfere with service announcements, train arrivals and departures, berth and platform locations, schedule changes, emergency announcements or security alerts.

Each Performer must wear a Photo-lD as prescribed by the MBTA. Each permit must be clearly visible while the Performer is performing.

Each Performer may display and sell recordings of his/her own music while performing. The name of the Performer printed on the MBTA issued Photo-lD must be clearly printed on all items being sold.

Each Performer is strictly prohibited from playing his/her own music or the music of another artist on a "boom box" or other electronic device for the sole purpose of generating cash sales. This does not constitute a "musical performance" for which a permit is granted.

Each Performer is prohibited from using drums, trumpets or trumpet-like instruments, horn instruments, and electric guitars, or any electric instruments, as they are no longer instruments suitable to the subway environment. Note: the use of a keyboard to simulate these instruments or drum sounds is prohibited. In addition, the use of amplifiers by Performers in the subway system is strictly prohibited.

Performers are not allowed to use any MBTA power source.

Each Performer must cease performing and leave the station by 11:00 pm, or posted station closing time, if earlier. In addition, certain Performance Areas may be limited to certain hours. All musical instruments and other equipment must be removed from the station by that time.

Group performances are limited to an appropriate number of Performers. The number of Performers to be determined by the MBTA.

Every individual performing on MBTA property must have a secondary means of government-issued positive identification on his or her person. This secondary l.D. must have a current picture (e.g., drivers license, passport, or other government-issued identification) in the event that an MBTA Station Official or Police Officer needs to verify the validity of that individual's Performer's photo identification badge.

Any station Performer failing to produce his/her Performer photo identification badge and/or other government issued photo ID upon request of an MBTA employee shall be asked to cease Performer activity and leave the station until such time that they have the proper Performer photo identification on their person.

Any violation of the above rules and regulations could seriously jeopardize a Performer's permit, including the rescinding of the permit and the denial of any future permit requests.

The MBTA reserves the right to amend, modify or supplement these rules at any time without notice.

Those are just some of the 27 new rules. Simply banning amplification will put about 75% of current subway musicians out of business. The photo ID process will make it almost impossible for traveling performers to stop and play in Boston subways. (There's a 10 day wait after a photo ID request and you have to provide your own photo.)

The situation is looking bleak, but Stephen Baird is working hard to turn this around.

Please sign the online petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/Tmusic/

Jim

[Peter Voice]

The latest news adds a bit of stupidity from the MTBA.
See http://communityartsadvocates.org/saa-mbta-subway.html#Arrest

[Jim]

Boston MBTA Delays New Subway Rules For One Week

Read Story Here (http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2003/11/26/mbta_delays_subway_music_rules/)

It seems heated criticism of the new rules prompted the MBTA to stop and talk about what's going on. This is good news. Not great news, but it is something.

Jim

[Peter Voice]

So, what's happening, guys?
Wasn't there supposed to be a demo on Fri.?

[Jim]

Yahoo! The MBTA bends the rules!

Boston Globe Article (http://www.boston.com/dailynews/337/region/MBTA_compromises_with_subway_p:.shtml)

From the Article...

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has agreed to tweak its new Subway Performers Program, bending slightly to pressure from street artists and their advocates.

Last month, the MBTA announced the new policy, banning all forms of amplified music and horns, imposing a new $25 fee for annual performance permits and requiring performers to be ''neat in appearance'' and ''wear proper clothing.'' The T said the changes were needed so that safety and emergency announcements could be heard by riders.

The new guidelines, announced Tuesday, allow amplification, but set a maximum volume level of 80 decibels within 25 feet of the performer. A ban on all horns was also modified to ban trumpets, but allow other brass and wind instruments like saxophones and French horns. The performers can play in a designated location until 11 p.m. or the station's closing time, and the fee remained in place.

''I'm encouraged. It's a massive change of position,'' said Stephen Baird of the Subway Artists Guild, a group that represents over 600 subway performers and was initially critical of the proposed guidelines. ''There's still unresolved issues, but we do have an appeal process we can work with.''

[Jim]

A nice article in the Washington Post about the new guidelines:

Article is here (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44306-2003Dec7.html)

From the article...
[quote] Said Michael H. Mulhern, MBTA general manager, "We got more calls and e-mails in a couple of weeks than in seven or eight months of public process on our proposed fare hike. We had to find a middle ground."

"We understood we would get some pushback from the arts community, but we had no idea it would be so significant," said Mulhern. "They were a lot more organized than we thought." <hr></blockquote>

Cool.

[Peter Voice]

What happened to the guy that was arrested for "trespass"?
Any-one know?

[harmonicakev]

:D
Spoke with a singer/guitarist at State St. blue line last week, and he says that things have been hassle free in the subway for him; now that the T people know him, they don't even ask for his permit.
I'm not sure what happened with Mike Williams's "trespassing" case. Does anybody know? Kev.

[harmonicakev]

Got a subway permit in May. Tried it several times, and its been fine at Downtown Crossing. and I'm was surprised to find how good the acoustics are. I'm so used to performing outside where sound dissipates; it's nice to be able to hear myself loud and clear.

[harmonicakev]

Hiello from Boston!

Got an e-mail from Stephen Baird, long time buskers advocate, about the latest on the Boston area subway system, or MBTA.

Seems they are trying out some MBTA Radio inside a few stations. Details about the program are on the MBTA web site:

MBTA Launches T - Radio Pilot Program
http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/news_events/?id=13647&month=&year=

also see the article in Boston Magazine and Rob Noyes web blog here:
http://community.livejournal.com/b0st0n/5481011.html
http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/sound_tracks/


Subway musicians have had many battles and negotiations with the MBTA since 1976. I can remember being shut down 3 times in the same day by the same MBTA police officer in 1980.

Here is a web page that will provide an outline with documents and letters:

http://www.CommunityArtsAdvocates.org/saahistorysubway.html

Other than this newest thing, it seems that subway performing is pretty hassle free; they do check for permits sometimes.

Ciao - Kevin M.

[Lynneski]

Kevin, I just thought it might be nice to say thanks for the periodic updates - just cuz no one's posted doesn't mean no one is reading. Keep up the good work.