http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/06/wo...tter.html?_r=0

One of the joys of riding around Paris on the metro is to me at least the many busking musicians playing in many stations - and these are not just any ole folks throwing down their hats and playing - but who have to be officially licensed to be awarded one of 300 official buskers allowed to perform at any metro station.

Of course there are also renegade buskers at times - the article points out the ubiquitous accordion players that board trains and illegally play.

Interesting the article says the Chatelet is the world's largest underground station.

Decent buskers always get my money.

Well after years of being in France with French in-laws, etc I note they often throw some coins in any buskers hat - they love street musicians - sometimes no matter how terrible to me at least they sound.

Buskers are ubiquitous en France!

They've been doing that for years, over a decade at least.

http://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/08/wo...o-station.html

The music adds an element of delight when walking those long corridors. I usually add a coin or two.

I think there should be an audition for ball busters instead.

I always get some lousy accordion player in the same Metro car when I riding around Paris.

I want to scream, "Je suis desole, mais tu SUCK!"

Thin-- Francoise Hardy fan

Great post. I will definitely pay closer attention; stopping to listen and dropping a coin in. Mary