Street smarts

From mad scientists to escapologists and from fire skaters to sword swallowers, there's something for everyone at this year's Street Performance World Championship, to be held in Cork and Dublin. Some of the performers share stories with DAVIN O'DWYER

MICHIEL HESSLING

AMSTERDAM JUGGLER, HALF OF FLYING DUTCHMEN

When and why did you start as a street performer?I was 15. Juggling was my hobby and passion. I met two street performers, and was their "groupie" for the few weeks they were in Amsterdam. At that moment I decided I wanted to be a street performer.

Other than spare change, have you ever accepted any other forms of payment, and what was it?Sex, drugs and rock'n'roll.

What's the most dangerous thing you've ever juggled with?Three girlfriends.

The championships seem like a lot of fun for all involved, but does a part of you take it really competitively?No. I don't even know who won last year. I have been part of many competitions and won them all. But I no longer occupy myself with the competitive part. As far as I am concerned no festival needs it, except crowds and sponsors seem to like it.

VICTOR RUBILAR

FOOTBALL FREESTYLING EXPERT

Ever wish you had a regular nine-to-five job?I have never had a "normal" job in my life and I love it.

Other forms of payment?I think this is a good chance to let everybody know in Ireland that I am single.

What's the most dangerous thing you've ever juggled with?A baby.

Human statues: the street performer's friend or foe?Good street performers and good street statues: totally friends. A guy dressed as Mickey Mouse calling himself a human statue: a complete foe.

If you weren't a street performer, what would you be?A heckler or a gigolo.

FIRE GUY

SKATEBOARDING PYROMANIAC

When did you decide to start as a street performer, and why?I started in 1993, when I got out of theatre school with no hope of a job and a bad attitude towards authority.

Other forms of payment?A helicopter ride and goat hunting in New Zealand.

What's the most dangerous thing you've ever juggled with?My future.

Human statues: the street performer's friend or foe?It depends if they are your girlfriend. It's always funny to hear statues talking about their "performance". I mean, you just stand there.

Will you take the championship competitively?Hell no! We are at the bottom of the performance food chain. I can't afford to be Mr Competitive and alienate my peers. I depend on them for couches and advice.

If you weren't a street performer, what would you be?A male escort for older society types. I would blog about it and then turn it into a book, then I would get a short-run TV deal with a B-class actor in the starring role. A few episodes would air, but the world wouldn't be ready for my realness.

DOKTOR KABOOM!

MAD SCIENTIST

When did you decide to start as a street performer, and why?I always expected to be a scientist, but at university I realised it wasn't going to offer me enough. I wanted a life outside the normal boundaries, with a hefty amount of the unknown and adventure thrown in. I knew I could make a living in science, but I wasn't so sure about performing, so I took a leap.

Street or stage?They are both magnificent, but street gives you a feel unlike any other. The audience is right there with you, creating the show. They are involved at a level someone 50ft away in a comfy seat can't be – every step of the way. On stage you are performing for the audience, on the street you are performing with them.

Ever wish you had a regular 9-5 job?Occasionally, but then I just have a friend punch me, and I shake out of it.

What's the rudest joke you've got away with during a show?Hard to qualify, or even remember. I do remember once, while doing a gig for Disney, I told a guy "I could've been your father, but the dog beat me up the stairs". Disney didn't like that.

If you weren't a street performer, what would you be?A mad scientist bent on world domination.

THOM SELLECTOMY

US JUGGLER AND CLOWN TURNED SWORD SWALLOWER

When did you decide to start as a street performer, and why?From 13 I was pretty sure I wanted to be a performer, and at 18 I graduated from Ringling Bros Barnum and Bailey Clown College. But in 1998, after two years on the circus, I felt burnt out and I returned home to Detroit to seek a real job.

Soon after returning home, I was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemotherapy and two operations. I decided that life was too short not to be doing what you love, I started performing and have never looked back. All these years cancer-free and making people laugh – I think the two things are related.

What's the rudest joke you've got away with during a show?It involved a drag queen, something large made of latex and the theme from Rocky. (Did I mention I'm a sword swallower?)

What's the most dangerous thing you've juggled with?A 70-year-old Argentinian.

Human statues: friend or foe?They keep the pigeons away from the circle shows.

If you weren't a street performer, what would you be?When I am away from home I miss my Jeep, my dog and my wife, in that order. So I'd say auto mechanic.

LES VITAMINÉS

JUGGLING ACROBATS FROM QUEBEC

Street or stage?The street for sure. If we have to perform on stage, we try to mix it up: we take a square off the street and put it on stage.

Ever wish you had a regular nine-to-five job?Definitely – we always wanted to work in front of a computer for eight hours in a row. Our show lasts 45 minutes, so we still have seven hours and 15 minutes to be in front of our computers looking at funny cat videos on YouTube.

What's the rudest joke you've got away with during a show?Vincent got a complaint once for having said something that he never said actually. The crowd just misunderstood his bad French accent in English.

What's the most dangerous thing you've ever juggled with?A crying little boy who is afraid of dwarfs.

Will you take the championship competitively?A competition where a fire eater competes against a contortionist has to be taken very seriously.

If you weren't a street performer, what would you be?Cbastien: A Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

Vincent:an accountant like his daddy.

FAMOUS SEAMUS

ACROBAT OF IRISH DUO LORDS OF STRUT

When did you decide to start as a street performer, and why?I didn't decide – this life chose me.

Street or stage?The street, because life is the street. Shakespeare can go screw himself.

Ever wish you had a regular nine-to-five job?Only if the nine-to-five had adoring fans to greet me when I came to work.

Other forms of payment?Phone numbers, and I don't accept spare change, only proper contracts or notes.

What's the most dangerous thing you've ever juggled with?Two girlfriends at the same time.

• Lords of Strut have had to pull out due to an untimely injury to Seantastic. Seamus will appear solo as Seamus McJuggler GAA Circus All-Star

FRANKY J KABAAM

ESCAPOLOGIST, JUGGLER AND LADIES MAN

When and why did you start as a street performer?On my first trip to Europe in 1999, when I was turning 21, I saw a great unicyclist named Jean-Michel Paré (now one half of The Flying Dutchmen – see above) perform his show three times in a day. He looked to be so happy and lived the kind of free life that was very fitting to me.

Two years later, when I finished university, I left the States to try my luck as a street performer in Europe, and I’ve never looked back.

Which is better – the street or the stage?The stage and the street are both excellent, but for completely different things. The urgency in the street makes for high-energy entertainment, and the patience on stage makes for depth of character.

What's the most dangerous thing you've ever juggled with?Women!

Human statues: the street performer's friend or foe?If a human statue looks like a proper statue, they have my praise. If they wear a mask or costume or worse a bed sheet, then I would rather they didn't exist.

The championship seems like a whole load of fun for everyone involved, but is a part of you competitively?I am generally a competitive person, but in this case fighting for the prize is not my main focus. Instead, I just want to be the best show.

MIKE RAFFONE

CLOWN AND ESCAPOLOGIST

When did you decide to start as a street performer, and why?I started in the winter of 1988. I just wanted to perform instead of waiting by the phone for work.

Street or stage?The stage is a more subtle art, but the street touches people immediately.

What's the rudest joke you've got away with during a show?I'm not saying – it's still in the show and I intend to keep getting away with it.

What's the most dangerous thing you've ever juggled with?My finances.

If you weren't a street performer, what would you be?Secretly I've always wanted to be Sarah Jessica Parker's left shoe.

• The Street Performance World Championship is in Fitzgerald Park Mardyke Sports Ground, Cork, tomorrow and Saturday, and in Merrion Square, Dublin, June 17-20