Tube Buskers looking for sponsorship

CBS Outdoor are looking for brands to take on sponsorship of the 35 mini stages for licensed buskers on the London Underground.


The spots are available from November and apparently can be tailed to suit the sponsor. Specific music genres or themes can be built into the sets or branding can be expanded above ground or linked to other media activity.

Donna Price, from CBS Outdoor, told Media Week it offers the chance for clients "align their brands with music culture and to play their part in brightening up journeys for passengers".

It would be great to see some imaginative sponsorship of these sites and I wonder if one brand will take it on or if it will be open to many?

A while back there was talk of labels experimenting by getting buskers to play certain songs. Perhaps something could be introduced where even commuters can decide what they'd like played at each station.

EMO Reset Button on the Tube

Is this button for when staff on the London Underground feel themselves going a bit goth? Or for when they see too many Emos on the Tube?


This photo taken by Rhys Isterix got me and a lot of other people on Twitter, thinking. Someone must know what it's really for. So please let us know otherwise I'll just have visions of seeing a Punk reset button, or an Indie reset button at certain stations on the network.

Tube Suburb Walks in Golders Green

People living in Golders Green have created a series of walks about what their suburb means to them to tie in with the London Transport Museum's latest temporary exhibition Suburbia that opens on Oct 15th.


Golders Green was apparently the first Tube-created suburb in 1907 when the green fields of Golders Green were transformed by the coming of the Tube.

The locals have created three walks along the themes of tasty places to eat, places of reflection and green spaces that highlight the diversity of their community today and what makes it unique.

Free guided tours are happening from 8th September, (bookable online or over the phone on 0207 565 7298), which start at Golders Green London Underground Station. There are pdf self-guided walks that can be downloaded from the London Transport Museum's website.

There will also be an interactive map that people can add their photos to, coming soon.

Nail Clippings on the Tube

We've had many a discussion about people putting make up on the London Underground. Commenters on this blog generally aren't wild about it. But what about nail clippings? What's acceptable "grooming behaviour" on the Tube?


Zoe and Carolyn broadcast a podcast last week - 2peaspodcast - where they discussed what people did on the Tube and public transport. Zoe made the great point that people seem to think they're in a bubble that makes them invisible when they travel.

Have a listen at about 6 minutes onwards & let us have your thoughts. Is it better if people apologise or look slightly furtive? Is nail clipping or filing worse then make up because "deposits" are left behind? Is there something about the noise that makes it bad?


Do you think TfL will or should start up some signs about "bathroom habits" on the Tube? It's already happening in Japan.

Wooden & Mirrored Oyster cards

Fed up with your blue plastic Oyster card? Someone over at Etsy has produced some alternative Oyster cards covered in wood and mirrored plastic. When I first looked at them, I thought that they'd gone down the dissolving Oyster card route and inserted the chip in the new cards.




But it's not the case. The Etsy seller says "Due to its magnetic functionality, the casing does not affect the function of the card in any way and so can be topped up and swiped just like any regular card. Each card comes with its unique ID included for registration as is accepted at every underground cashier desk I have ever been to."

Thanks to Vikkichowney who originally spotted these on Notcot.

Surprised no one has thought of doing this before and I love how they're scratchproof, as my Oyster card has really been through the wars. Probably worth getting one while they're hot, as it might only be a matter of time, before Transport for London say "down with this sort of thing", as they did with the Oyster card wands!