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Washington (Red
Line)
Washington Red Line: I arrived in Chicago on Easter Sunday this
past April without having any prior knowledge of their subway system. I dove
in at this station on perhaps one of the slowest nights of the year. It was
surreal to be in unfamiliar territory without a soul in sight. I intuitively
chose a bench and wondered if I had made the right choice. Out of nowhere
from a walkway underneath, directly in front of me, folks with luggage
streamed out and it was suddenly Showtime! Soon I realized that this was a
transfer point for folks coming in from O’Hare on the Blue Line. By
“luck”, I had picked the one station that night that had
significant traffic due to holiday travelers. An encouraging beginning to
what would become a fruitful month.
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Washington (Blue
Line)
Washington Blue Line: There are only four stations where buskers
can legally perform in Chicago. They are located within the four corners of
“the Loop” downtown. Part of the reason is the majority, if not
all, of the stations that branch out are elevated and not conducive for
busking. Although there are several stations in the downtown area that remain
underground, bureaucrats decided to restrict our element to these four
corners for reasons I’m still not clear on. I found this station to be
the most coveted spot because of the liberal demographic that lives out in
the northwest neighborhoods of Chicago, and of course because it’s the
direct line to O’Hare airport. Washington on the Blue is where I met my
first Chicago fellow buskers, and got the lowdown on the scene. It took me a
few days to secure that spot. Naturally things went well for me there, and I
vied for that location as much as possible. When taken, I found myself
returning more often than not to my ‘familiar’ Washington on the
Red. The two other corners located at
Jackson Red and Jackson Blue; seem to cater to the “urban” and
blue-collar traffic that lives predominately in the south and southwest
neighborhoods of Chicago. I have to admit, my first time around, I was intimidated
to sing my heart out at those stations, so I refrained from venturing there
and took my chances instead on the restricted stops that branched northward
from the Loop…
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Grand St. (Red
Line)
Grand St. Red Line (outbound): A goldmine! Unfortunately off
limits to musicians. Located underneath a cosmopolitan stretch of Chicago,
this acoustically rich platform had a steady flow of music lovers. I
tactfully sat on a bench and placed my amp underneath, set at whisper volume.
The acoustics marvelously carried my music and folks took notice. The
moderate decibel level was fitting for such a pristine stop. I learned it was
legal back in the day, but they prohibited that area two years ago supposedly
for the same reason restrictions are being implemented throughout the
country, because of 9/11. I don’t fully buy it. Why is it that
they’re vigil of these gentrified stations and not the ones closer
downtown where I believe the infrastructure is more vulnerable? We
don’t “belong” there I guess. I almost had a cardiac arrest
when the loudspeaker blasted, “No music on the platform!!” A
little trial and error, and I eventually found out which hours the
superintendent didn’t work, and which security guards were cool. I
found by being polite and asking them permission, most guards were obliging.
They sat on milk crates for hours on end at the far end of the platform, so
I’m guessing my presence was somewhat of a welcomed diversion.
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Chicago St (Red
Line)
Chicago St. Red Line (outbound): One stop past Grand St., this
station was just as lucrative and even more pristine. I dealt with the same
unnerving drill, but found ways to get around, although not as easily as I
did at Grand. My most successful day there was when the janitor recognized me
from NYC! Guess he put in a good word for me upstairs or at the very least
refrained from ratting me out like they are required to do.
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