(PARIS) Some 1,000 people are expected to compete for 300 prized permits to busk the Paris métro. The auditions, which started Tuesday, are organised by the Paris transport network, the RATP. The 300 successful candidates will be given permission to perform in the underground passages of Paris's underground stations for the next six months, although many more do so illegally.

Interested musicians can apply at 102, rue de Charonne or by emailing RATP at musiciensdumetro@ratp.fr.

Métro busking has sometimes marked the beginning of distinguished musical careers. Keziah Jones, Manu Dibango, Ben Harper all started as buskers.

The auditions continue until the end of October.

www.rfi.fr ...

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(NIAGARA FALLS) Up, down, and sideways. That's how the planning for this years St. Catharines Buskerfest has gone.And now, it's going, going, gone all the way to Queen Street in downtown Niagara Falls. As the organization says, "Plans to re-stage the festival in 2012 appeared to be over."

The on-again, off-again antics have some buskers wanting to barrel over Horseshoe Falls.

On Thursday, Lyndesfarne announced Buskerfest Niagara, previously known as the St. Catharines International Busker Festival, will go ahead on Queen Street Niagara Falls over Labour Day weekend.

Buskerfest Niagara 2012 will feature more than 150 performances, vendors, special performances, and record-breaking attempts for the Guinness Book of World Records.

“Busker festivals have been gaining popularity all over Canada i...

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Holland, MI — The Downtown Holland Principal Shopping District received a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Holland Area Arts Council to support its Street Performer Series.

The grant, which was awarded through the Regional Regranting Program, totaled $2,880 and will help fund the 2009 Street Performer Series.

The Street Performance Series is a 12-week series featuring regional artists who perform throughout downtown each Thursday evening in the summer.

In 2009, the Street Performer Series is June 11 through Aug. 27.

For more information, visit www.downtownholland.com or contact info@downtownholland.com

HOLLAND SENTINAL

(WWW) Let us now review the 12 Golden Rules of Busking and street-performing lest we get sidetracked displaying good performances.This time around, we find ourselves re-examining our environment to see if there's any room for improvement. But before we go any further, lets us remember the one Golden rule that spans all spiritualities across the globe. This is probably the best advice you'll receive in your lifetime.

"You’ll get drunks, nutters, thieves, pensioners informing you that you suck and hoodies gobbing in your case. Take it all on the chin. If you get heckled, laugh it off. If you get robbed, don’t chase them. Dealing with borderline psychopaths is an invaluable lesson for anyone hoping to further their career."

Ain't it the truth... ...

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(CHRISTCHURCH) Comedians, daredevils, dancers, singers and acrobats will hit the streets in January to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the World Buskers Festival. Fifty-five performers representing 14 countries will descend on the city for the annual 10-day festival from January 18-28.To celebrate 25 years, there will be five headline shows. After making it through to the America’s Got Talent final last year, The Boy with Tape on His Face is coming home to premier his new ideas. Urzila Carlson will perform her new show Unacceptable and the Topp Twins will entertain the crowds with their classic Kiwi humour. A Night at the Musicals, featuring Le Gateau Chocolat, will bring musical entertainment, as will Crossdresser for Christ, featuring Ginger Minj from RuPaul’s Drag Race.

New features wil...

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