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| Ted Emmett, TfL busker |
Hearing music floating up the escalators on London's tube always gives me a lift, even when going down, not up. The performers are usually very, very good and deserve a coin tossed their way. I stopped to listen and talk to one Ted Emmett who was playing some really nice stuff. Apparently there is stiff competition to hold one of the 39 pitches available in 25 underground stations. Transport for London vets each applicant and licences them to play, and TfL also send all their buskers a newsletter and can serve as a go-between to put them in touch with the public who would like to hire them for gigs. Seems like a win-win situation for everyone. I just wish I'd see more people contribute to the cause – after all, it's nice to reward a good player for their efforts rather than have someone stand on a corner with a begging cup.
To clarify (I know you know this, but): The buskers are not actually "on the tube", i.e. on a tube train - this is illegal. Good thing too. But it's great to have musicians in the stations.
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