TTC subway buskers have included Juno award winners, Royal Conservatory of Music graduates, symphony performers, published musicians and up and coming talents. But they're often walked by, ignored and nearly trampled on during rush hour. That's all about to change.

The TTC is going to be experimenting with stages in their stations to literally give musicians more of a platform so that commuters don't assume they are random musically minded folks strumming in a corner.

The TTC wants the stages to push they idea that the performers are associated with the transit system and not just random street buskers.

The pilot project is happening at four different subway stations - Bloor-Yonge, Spadina, Main Street and Finch - with stages made up of vinyl wrap-around decal displayed from the wall behind the musicians to the floor underneath their stomping feet.

The TTC hopes that the stages will encourage people to dish out more change at musicians.

Photo by Jennifer Tse.