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trumpetdiva1 · 11-25-2006, 01:11 PM

I was invited to play as a special guest in the spring or summer with the Indigo Moon Brass Band (a Pennsylvania based New Orleans brass band). They had decided to perform across the street from the Times Square subway station in New York City. We got to perform for about 40 minutes of music until the cops came. We were fortunate because it had just started to rain. Until then, there were several people dancing in the street to the music. The cops were nice to us and told us to get a permit. I’d asked how? Well, the how is not as east as it sounds. This is as far as I got because I was lead off of the track so many times and I just wanted to help the band out:

I went to the PDNY Headquarters near City Hall. There I was told to visit Community Affairs. (Before this time, I was shuffled around by others sending me to other places). Community Affairs told me to visit the license branch downstairs and when I got there, they were asking why I did not go to see Community Affairs. I told them that I did and then they asked me why Community Affairs did not bring an accompanying officer. So, the license branch told me to go back to Community Affairs and come down with an officer, called a “principal.” They also had provided me with his name and a phone number but by this time my lunch hour was over.

So, as you can tell the process for a music street permit (even emphasized without acoustics and was asked this question many times) is not easy. Does anyone know of a New Yorker with a street music permit?

Well, to perform in the subways in NYC can be risky, although the officers seemed to like my rendition of “Hello Dolly” and did not bother me that evening. Actually, that is about the only time I had tried to perform in the subway.

If you really ever want to perform in the NYC subways, the best and safest route is to take an audition for the Music Under New York program. Here is the link for anyone interested:

http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mta/aft/muny/auditions.html

It is interesting to hear stories about the process from other places. Keep them coming.

Janell

11-25-2006, 01:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
trumpetdiva1 Pianissimo User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 134	I was invited to play as a special guest in the spring or summer with the Indigo Moon Brass Band (a Pennsylvania based New Orleans brass band). They had decided to perform across the street from the Times Square subway station in New York City. We got to perform for about 40 minutes of music until the cops came. We were fortunate because it had just started to rain. Until then, there were several people dancing in the street to the music. The cops were nice to us and told us to get a permit. I’d asked how? Well, the how is not as east as it sounds. This is as far as I got because I was lead off of the track so many times and I just wanted to help the band out: I went to the PDNY Headquarters near City Hall. There I was told to visit Community Affairs. (Before this time, I was shuffled around by others sending me to other places). Community Affairs told me to visit the license branch downstairs and when I got there, they were asking why I did not go to see Community Affairs. I told them that I did and then they asked me why Community Affairs did not bring an accompanying officer. So, the license branch told me to go back to Community Affairs and come down with an officer, called a “principal.” They also had provided me with his name and a phone number but by this time my lunch hour was over. So, as you can tell the process for a music street permit (even emphasized without acoustics and was asked this question many times) is not easy. Does anyone know of a New Yorker with a street music permit? Well, to perform in the subways in NYC can be risky, although the officers seemed to like my rendition of “Hello Dolly” and did not bother me that evening. Actually, that is about the only time I had tried to perform in the subway. If you really ever want to perform in the NYC subways, the best and safest route is to take an audition for the Music Under New York program. Here is the link for anyone interested: http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mta/aft/muny/auditions.html It is interesting to hear stories about the process from other places. Keep them coming. Janell __________________ Janell Carter