h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Street-performing Panhandlers in New York City, NY, USA - A17430699
Author: Leo - a closed mouth gathers no foot - U519437

Very good.

But,

You don't mention the stunt artists. We were on the boat ready to cross to Ellis Island. Standing on the top deck looking down at the dockside, where there was a guy on a skateboard putting on an increadible show. His climax was to position a line of I think five bins, with a skateboard at one end on which a banana skin was placed, and then to come down a hill at speed on one skateboard, leap into the air, traverse the bins, and land on the other skateboard, missing the banana skin.

He then told us a short hard-luck story about his girlfriend, and was showered with coins from on high.

TRiG.

I've never seen stunt artists - could be because I don't usually stand in line at tourist sites - but I have seen contortionists.

I'll add a mention or two about stunts.

Meanwhile, received this from the good ol' MTA, who sound like they are bending over backwards to please their users (yeah right.)

>>This is in response to your recent e-mail message to MTA New York City
Transit regarding street performers in the subway system.

We truly appreciate your interest in our mass transit system. In
response to your inquiry, please note that, with the exception of the
connected mezzanine–platform area of the Astor Place station on the No. 6
line, musicians who are registered with the Music Under New York (MUNY)
program do not present performances on subway platforms. However, an
individual does not need permission to perform in the subway system.
Under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, all
activities pertaining to non-transit uses, such as musical performances, are
protected and permitted in the subway system, but are subject to certain
rules and regulations. To obtain information outlining the rules
governing the conduct and safety of the public in the use of the facilities
in the MTA network,
you may visit our website at www.mta.info (or use the following direct
link -Rules of Conduct - http://www.mta.info/nyct/rules/rules.htm).

It may interest you to know that the “Music Under New York”
program, which is administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority,
provides for musicians to perform in some areas of our subway stations.
These musicians must be registered with this program and are subject to
specific rules and regulations regarding their performance in the
subway. <<<

MUNY? Never heard of it, nor can I figure out, based on how they describe it, why anyone would join.

It seems like this may require more research...

http://www.mta.info/mta/aft/muny/

>>Classical violinists, Cajun cellists, jazz ensembles, bluesmen, Latin guitarists, and opera and folk singers are just a few of the MUNY performers in the subway and train stations contributing to the musical culture of New York City. Since 1985, MTA Arts for Transit has managed the MUNY program presenting quality music to the commuting public. At present, more than 100 soloists and groups participate in MUNY providing over 150 weekly performances at 25 locations throughout the transit system.<<
>>
...NATALIA PARUZ is reviving the art of playing the musical saw.

---(musical saw? )

...BAMBOO BREEZE, a duo of Chinese yangqin features Xiao Xiannian, a rising star of the dulcimer scene,

...BROTHERHOOD OF THE JUG BAND BLUES Ernesto "Lovercat" Gomez leads on vocals, guitar, kazoo, harmonica, and cajon with Arturo "the Jugman" Style on jug and harmonica and Eli "Sweet Son" Smith on vocals, washboard, guitar, and fiddle.

----(washboard? How do you play a washboard?)

...Raised in a family of musicians who performed together on street corners and in subway stations, Susan, the second oldest of ten brothers and sisters, began performing solos by the age of four and picked up the guitar at age seven.

---(A nice income, I'm sure, but few benefits.)


>>Music Under New York
Performance Locations
Long Island Rail Road

LIRR Penn Station, Site #2
Main corridor near entrance to 1,2,3 lines, below 7th Avenue

LIRR Penn Station, Site #3
Main corridor near entrance to A,C,E lines, below 8th Avenue
Metro-North Railroad

MN GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL, GRAYBAR
Passageway to east entrance, next to Graybar building/420 Lexington

MN GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL, LOWER LEVEL
Lower Dining concourse, opposite Tracks 105 and 106
New York Ci<<


>>Music Under New York
Auditions — Application Process

Every Spring, Music Under New York (MUNY) presents a day of auditions in Grand Central Terminal to review and add new performers to the MUNY roster. To join MUNY, musicians and performers must apply for the auditions and submit a package of information, which includes the MUNY Audition Application form (100KB PDF). <<

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OK, I'll stop now. Now I know why they want to raise the rates again.

Updated, including the washboard.

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

Well done!

Congratulations!

well done leo!

The second one in as many hours - someone has an itchy trigger finger. Or else the scouts are starving.

Thank you all for your help. *bow bow*

Hi there Leo - I've just finished Subbing the Entry - it's at A18778693

Please have a look and let me know if it's ok or not.

Alex

I haven't made too many changes, so I'm just going to be rude and rush it off towards the Front Page. Hope you don't mind.

How rude!

Looks fine.

Ah, looks like I made the right decision. It's a Guide Entry Awaiting Approval already