They want to ban busking... what's next?

I read about this in the paper yesterday: the MBTA wants to disallow performers from using amps and loud instrumets such as trumpets. Supposedly this is a security measure in response to Sepetember 11th. The argument is that people can't hear important announcements over the "noise". This didn't stop them from trying to install TVs in every T stop a few years back. At that time petitions and fierce citizen backlash forced the T to install the TVs with no sound. Eventually the TVs went away.

Without amps, buskers will have no vocals. I think it's reasonable to ask buskers not to play very loudly, and this should be enforced. But there are other ways to solve this problem, for instance, a system could be devised to flash a light or something in the event of an emergency, and buskers could be required to stop playing if they see the light.

But totally prohibiting amps is over-kill and will destroy the ability of many performers to get their music across.

Also, the T will begin charging for busking permits, $25 a pop. That's a lot of money to a struggling artist. It sounds like the T is gearing up to finance stricter enforcement.

Music in the T is part of this area's rich cultural heritage, and one of the few things that make the T tolerable. The music enriches people's lives and uplifts their spirits in a (literally) cold, impersonal place. Many buskers rely on donations as their primary source, or as a significant supplement to other income.

Many famous musicians have gotten their start busking in Cambridge or Boston's subways: Mary Lou Lord is one example of many.

Here's a petition you can sign on-line:

http://www.petitiononline.com/Tmusic/petition.html