Buskers: Making Your Commute A Little Less Terrible
Down in the subway station, at 14th Street Union Square, music can be heard echoing all throughout the corridors. It’s just one of the many stations in New York City where singers, dancers, and musicians gather to perform for tips — also known as “busking.” Many tourists are captivated by them. Some visitors even jam with them. But a lot of New Yorkers have become desensitized to the artistry happening right under their noses.
Visiting New York City is like walking into a cage-free zoo. For those who live here, the hustle and bustle is just the norm. But the unique sights and sounds of New York are what makes it such an exciting place to be. The subway buskers are a big part of the New York experience by contributing to the city’s vibrant art scene and diverse culture.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) has a program dedicated to subway musicians called Music Under New York (MUNY). The existence of this program creates two sub-groups in the subway busking community: MUNY performers and freelance/independent performers. MUNY performers are given priority at specific busking spots in the busier subway stations, as long as they abide by a schedule. Freelance performers, on the other hand, busk on their own terms. They choose when they want to work, but have to find good performance locations on their own. Having MUNY status is not an indication of talent, however. In fact, the majority of subway performers aren’t associated with MUNY. Auditions are competitive and held only once a year.
Electric guitarist James Metalarc, 42, is one of many subway musicians who consider themselves a “servant to the public.” Even though he has been performing in the subway for over eight years, it is still a constant challenge to win over the hearts of commuters. Commuters, say, like twenty-one-year-old Paolo Cipriano, a student at New York University. “I just kind of ignore them,” he said. “At this point I feel like I’ve seen basically all that they do. So in the stations I’ll just look at them as I’m walking and I’m like ‘Oh, that’s cool.’ But I won’t stop and stare.”
Despite some New Yorkers’ apathy for buskers, a lot of residents support them. Kathy Levine is a visual artist from New York and enjoys seeing the different types of performers around the city.
“It seems like most of the stations have people playing some sort of music in them which I think reflects a lot about this city,” she said. “It’s something that they ought to incorporate and embrace in different areas since there are so many musicians in New York City.”
Although the MTA prohibits buskers from performing in subway cars, it’s still fairly common. The Q train is popular with “showtime” dancers because of its long ride over the Manhattan Bridge. Valeria Freed is a resident of Manhattan who often sees train dancers during her commute on the Q train.
“In general I like them [train performers],” she said. “To me, they’re young kids. They’re not just asking for money. They’re giving you a show in return and even if I don’t love the show or the music, I still feel like it takes some guts to be out there.”
With 469 subway stations in New York City, you’re bound to see someone singing, dancing, or playing music at one of them. Not only can you find performers with various skills and talents, you can also find artists from all walks of life. This diversity is what makes the NYC subway busking community special. They bond over music; the official language of New York City.
Listen to more of what commuters thought of subway performers here.
The BUSK Stop: NYC provides a sneak peek into New York City’s vibrant busking scene. Fostering communication, collaboration, and networking.
