Best day in the New York City Subway. This video was taken by Paolo Paci who found me in the subway at 42nd under Times Square playing my cigar box guitar. I recognized him because he has filmed me ithPaolo is a tour guide and takes videos of street performers that he encounters in his travels all over the world. He calls his You Tube site T. A. O. The Anonymous Orchestra. I meet interesting people like him all the time in the subway which is the main reason I love to do it. I am often photographed or filmed by people who sometimes stop to listen and talk then vanish into who knows where. On this day, i did an earlier gig from 8-10am in Grand Central Station in the big hallway known as the Graybar Passage leading to Lexington Ave. I often play on the lower level in Grand Central where all the CT Commuters come in from Metro North Railroad along the CT Shoreline. Another favorite spot is Union Square and I once played in Harlem in the subway near the Apollo Theatre on the day Obama was Inaugurated. That was fun. Was playin' in the subway on the day that plane went down in the Hudson River and also have met or seen up close several celebrities. My favorite was bumping into (literally) actor/comedian Martin Short who I have always loved. I do a monthly gig at the Delta Grill at 9th Ave. and 48th St. in Hell's Kitchen just west of Times Square for their Sunday Brunch which brings me into the city. I usually stay overnight and try to catch a show at one of my favorite clubs like Banjo Jim's in the East Village or the Jalopy Theatre in Brooklyn and then two 3 hr. gigs somewhere in the subway the next day. I am on the roster of Music Under New York which is run by the MTA. To get in the program I had to submit my cd and from that was chosen to do a five minute audition in front of 25 judges competing against 75 other acts in the Grand Concourse of Grand Central Terminal. That was another fun day. There is a call-in every two weeks where you reserve your spots and get a permit sent in the mail. They give you an official banner with your name on it that you hang when you play so the cops pretty much let you alone. Been doin' it for about 3 yrs. now and lovin' every minute. Lots more New York stories for future posts.
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