oxo

Is there a schedule somewhere on times and places the "official" Metro musicians will be playing? Strange as it may seem this is something that my husband really looks forward to in Paris.

Ira

I'm not aware of any official Metro musicians. People just set up in the tunnels, usually off rush hour.

StCirq

The French authorities recently stopped trying to control the métro musicians and instead opted to license them. That, however, does not mean that they have an established workday schedule or itinerary. Your husband can rest assured if he rides the métro, he will encounter them. They are pretty much everywhere, all the time.

Bob Brown

The Metro Musicians seem to pop on and pop off, depending on the willingness of the riders to contribute. I always do, and get rewarded with a lively tune. Some of those guys are darn good, and I think their talent should be rewarded. I hope I am not feeding an alcoholic. But they liven up the ride, make it more enjoyable, etc.<BR>I personally hate the Paris Metro with an unbridled passion. It is the pits as far as I am concerned. <BR>And I can cite plenty of examples where I am fully justified in thinking that.<BR>Any public transportation system that had doors that clamp people in place to the extent that they cannot free their arms is a threat to society. Yes, it happened to me. And I am grateful I was not seriously hurt, like having my hand ripped off.<BR>

Christina

I'm not sure, but I think I've read the ones that come onto the train cars are against regulations, that no one as the authority to do that. I never give them anything (and most are terrible).<BR><BR>The &quot;official&quot; ones are in the corridors, they get licenses and must audition. You'll definitely find them in the St-Michel metro stop, I remember that, but in many others. I also don't think you have to do anything special to find them, if you are in Paris a while, you'll see them in the larger central area metro stops.

Julie

For the most part, I think the Metro musicians are a hoot. It seems the Parisians don't seem to care for them, but I still remember a guy lugging a base onto the car, another an accordian, and it was just another part of the magic of Paris. Like previous posters have said, if you ride the major routes enough, you're bound to see (and hear) them.

oxo

Thank you everyone. I am specifically referring to the &quot;licenced&quot; players in the Metro corridors not the &quot;gypsies&quot; that get on the trains.

francesca

I have to disagree with the earlier poster. Compared to other subway systems in cities such as London, Washington and Boston, Paris is top notch. I've been relying on it to get to work on time for near 10 years and it has never let me down. As for the musicians, they are truly pretty bad, whether on the trains or in the corridors.