Musicians in the metro | “It’s not the Klondike, but we’re adjusting”

More than 600 musicians are now registered with the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) to play in the metro, three times more than before the pandemic.

Scratching guitars, piano notes and flights of violins: the musicians busy in the underground corridors of Montreal are encouraged by the arrival of the holidays, but also worried about the effects of inflation on their wallets.

There are only a few days left until Christmas. At the Jean-Talon metro station, on this Wednesday evening, the roar of the cars mingles with the hubbub of busy passers-by pouring between the blue and orange lines.

Through the cacophony, popular tunes resound. The evening went well for Paul de Rita, who has been playing electric guitar in Montreal for ten years.

“The last few days, I’ve been lucky,” he rejoices. “Today, someone even deposited me $100! he adds, showing the carefully set aside brown ticket.

The regular recognizes that traffic has not been the same in the Montreal metro since the pandemic. He also observes that travelers are thirsty for music.

At the end of November, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) indicated that ridership in the city’s buses and metros reached 69% of the pre-pandemic level during the week, and 79% on weekends.

Nevertheless, it now takes more time for Paul de Rita to find the same amount in his pockets.

Playing in the subway, increasingly popular

After being excluded from public transport during the pandemic, the musicians were able to return to the corridors of the metro at the end of November 2021. In the process, the STM also launched a new online formula for reserving time slots.

Those interested simply open a free account on the STM website to reserve up to ten time slots over a seven-day period. Previously, they had to go to the subway in the early hours of the morning to write their names on sheets of paper.

Since the introduction of the new system, “more than 600 people have created an account,” says Philippe Déry, STM public relations, by email.

Among the newcomers is Philippe Bortsov-Soushko, 24, who has been performing there since last summer. Wednesday evening, seated behind his keyboard at the top of the steps at Laurier station, he continues the classics of the Holiday season.

“The repertoire is different for ballet, explains the one who works as a musician for the École supérieure de ballet du Québec. I come here to perform in front of people and explore my creativity. »

A paying hobby? “I expected a little more,” he admits.

At the Place-des-Arts station, a few singers from the Les Oisifs choir also set up their equipment in front of the glass mural by Frédéric Back.

“It’s a group that was born during the pandemic from a crying need to make music,” explains Marybelle Frappier, one of the members, wearing a Santa Claus hat. The few singers soon begin singing baroque songs, a capella. “We said to ourselves that instead of rehearsing in our corner, we were going to come and rehearse in public,” she adds.

A tougher year ahead

For street musicians who live on the income of their performances, the year promises to be difficult, however, deplores Daniel Lalonde, president of the Regroupement des musicians du métro et de la rue de Montréal.

Quebecers have to tighten their belts because of inflation and the increase in the cost of living, and that is reflected in donations, believes the musician. The decline in subway traffic and the fact that travelers have less cash on them also contribute, according to him, to the drop in income.

“There are several factors working against us. Right now, it’s not the Klondike, but we’re adjusting, we’re going to tighten our belts too. »

Its objective, after all, is not just pecuniary. “I like to see people pass in front of me, I make them songs that have life,” says the musician. There are some who stop, who put their bags on the ground, who dance, and that makes me very happy! »