Subway Drummer

Swift, serious hands hammer down with the skill of a manual master, manipulating the subway sounds into a glue that seems to string all the people on the platform together in an unspoken agreement as hearts and minds begin to undulate in unseen unison. Your wild city spirit is transfixed and tamed, and before you know it the train has magically appeared. Since 1987, the New York Metro Transit Authority has sponsored the "Music Under New York" (MUNY) program in which street musicians enter a competitive contest to be assigned to the preferred high traffic locations. Each year, applications are reviewed and approximately 70 eligible performers are selected and contacted to participate in live auditions held for one day. At present, more than 100 soloists and groups participate in MUNY providing over 150 weekly performances at 25 locations throughout the transit system. For example, Mr. M. Salieu Suso, a kora player from The Gambia, plays at Union Square. In addition, any musician/entertainer may perform in subway mezzanines and platforms. On platforms, there may be no amplifications as this is part of MTA policies. Performers must not be within 25 feet (7.6 m) of a token booth or 50 feet (15 m) from a MTA office/tower, blocking access to an escalator, stairwell, or elevator, interfering with transit services or passenger movement; or in an area where construction is occurring. In addition, performance is prohibited during public service announcements and may be no louder than 85 dBA at 5 feet (1.5 m) away or 70 dBa at 2 feet (0.61 m) from a token booth. Performances are prohibited in subway cars. This sound uses the following files from Freesound: http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=125194 and http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=98584