Not just anyone can (legally) perform for the millions of passengers who ply Paris's mammoth subway system every day. Liz Alderman looks at the competitive process to land a highly coveted, and potentially lucrative, permit to play Paris Métro.
"With five million passengers a day, 303 stations and miles upon miles of hallways, “[the Paris Métro has] become the biggest scene in Paris for musicians,” said [Antoine Naso, Métro's artistic director], an energetic man clad in black jeans and leather boots who established a program to ensure live, quality music throughout the Métro 16 years ago."
"About 2,000 people apply annually for tryouts held in spring and autumn, judged by Mr. Naso, two Métro employees and two members of the public," explains Alderman. "Of the 300 permits awarded, about half are allocated to veteran badge holders, with the rest going to newcomers."
“'We have a high level of artists,' said Mr. Naso, who estimated that he had judged nearly 20,000 auditions since 1997, when the licensing program started. 'Producers and recording houses are scouting the Métro more and more,' he said. 'Sometimes, a star is born.'”
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California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
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Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
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Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
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Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
New Park Opens in the Santa Clarita Valley
The City of Santa Clarita just celebrated the grand opening of its 38th park, the 10.5-acre Skyline Ranch Park.
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Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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ULI Northwest Arkansas
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
