How To Be a Modern Day Pirate - Traffic Lights

...somewhere on the streets of Porto, Portugal

During my two years of circus schooling in Portugal, I, along with many of my peers, had to find ways of making money on the side of our schooling. Since circus school demands everything and squeezes you for both your time and energy like a juiced fruit, one has to make money in creative and lucrative ways. That's the thing about circus. For the first many years of training, it's very difficult to make money that is sustainable to live off of until you reach a high enough level. Until you have a high enough level to be on the "big" stages (whatever that means), you still must find a way to make money along the way. I've always seen it as an investment. It's as if you are a gardener who is cultivating a beautiful tree that will only bear edible fruits years after planting it. This brings us to a subject I've been wanting to write about for a long time now—traffic lights and street shows. The streets not only offer an artist a way to live that is outside of fancy contracts and big companies, but the streets also offer an artist the opportunity to try out ideas, new tricks, and to acclimate to a live audience. To do a trick is one thing, but to do a trick live in front of people is a completely different beast. I'll divide "traffic lights" and "street shows" into two separate blogs posts because the nature of each is very different. Plus, each deserves its proper time and space.

These photos were taken after a 9.5 hour session at the lights in Lisbon, Portugal. My personal record.

Traffic Lights (or in Portuguese - Semaforos)

I'm not sure who came up with the idea of working the traffic lights or, rather, who was the first to try it, but damn, they uncovered an absolute gold mine. I've heard in legends passed down that it was someone from Latin America who brought it over to Europe. Working the semáforos is common there, especially in Chile (from what I hear). I've seen videos of what people are doing in Latin America at the traffic lights, and it's absolutely insane. People juggling three clubs, on a giraffe unicycle, bouncing a ball on their head, swinging a ring on one leg—all at the same time! Just type in "Semáforos in Chile Circus" on YouTube and see for yourself. I've seen all sorts of stuff at the traffic light such as: juggling, hand balancing, head balancing, cyr wheel, fire juggling, puppets, clowning, acrobatics, partner acrobatics, slackline, diabolo, and more—anything goes if you've got the motivation to try it. Anyways, here is the gist of the traffic light strategy: When the light turns red, you burst onto the crosswalk and throw out your tricks—boom boom boom. A good traffic light should be red for about 1 minute and 15/30 seconds. This means you have about 1 minute to enter the crosswalk (grand entrances are important!) and perform your routine. The remaining time (before the light turns green) is used to do a proper bow (also very important) and to then take the offerings. I say 'offerings' because it's not always money that you might receive. Here's a list of all the things I have received over the years at the traffic light:

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...money, sub sandwiches, yogurt, surgical masks, bottled water, coffee, canned sardines, rice, fruits of all kinds, a variety of chocolate bars (Toblerone, Snickers, Kit-Kat, Bounty - oh baby!), lots of weed, cigarettes, a pocket Bible, Coca-Cola, one magical gemstone, a used napkin, sausage, multiple job offers, bread, a set of juggling balls, home-cooked meals from grandma, and probably some other miscellaneous items that I don't remember...

...of course, many times I receive nothing, but most times you will receive at least something, and a whole lot of somethings can be everything. The journey of a thousand miles is taken step by step. Traffic lights is about repetitions. Go, go, go, and then go some more. You need to have a tactical sequence with badass tricks, but also something that is manageable (and safe) to do one million times over and over again.

I'm sure many of you are wondering, "...but do you actually make enough money to support yourself working the light?" For the sake of full disclosure, and for sharing the reality of this life, I will share with you some of the numbers. For example: Let's say I work the light for 1 hour. That means I can do about 25-30 repetitions of my routine. Of course, this slightly varies depending on the light that you choose, but more or less, this is an average. If I go 30 times and win 1 euro each time—boom—that's 30 euros an hour. If I work for 3 hours that day—boom—90 euros. If I work 15-20 hours a week... yeah, you get the point. 30 euros per hour is the average minimum, but on some days that can greatly increase depending on certain factors. There are many factors that can affect one's average earnings such as: the country where you are doing it (Germany and Israel are hot spots!), the weather (sunshine = usually more money), the day of the week (people are more open on Saturdays and Sundays), and of course the energy and tricks of the performer are essential too. Having positive energy is most important of all. Contrary to what many may think, having a big fat smile is much more powerful than having wild tricks. It's very important for me that all of those who see me at the light, whether they decide to give money or not, have an uplifting moment. I don't want sympathy and I don't want people to give out of guilt. To work the lights is a choice for me and it's a choice I happily make. If someone feels something—a small 'wow' moment or is moved to smile—they can happily give. If not, that's cool too. One should only give if it feels right within their heart.

Another thing. Working the lights is not "begging"—although I don't have judgment on those who do. No. There is an exchange happening. Many people who work the lights are doing tricks that took them countless hours and even years to master. For example, the one-arm sequence that I do at the light has taken me about 5 years of training to be able to do. We (the performers at the light) are giving the audience a positive moment to smile in the midst of the chaos of life, or a surprise positive "What the fuck!?" moment. We are turning what many see as a mundane (but necessary) moment of sitting at the red light into something special, something magical. At least that's how I see it. Just as people pay for entertainment in its various forms (movies, Netflix, theater, dance, whatever it is...), one can also choose to pay/give at the light. How much is a smile worth to you? How much is it worth to see something that you possibly have never seen before?

Lastly, many of the tricks I do at the light are the same tricks that I perform on big stages with hundreds of audience members—only the context is different. In one context, people applaud and consider me to be a distinguished professional artist (said sarcastically), and in the other, I might be considered a beggar. The same person might have a completely different view of me whether they see me doing a one-arm handstand on the street, or on a cruise ship stage, or at a festival - yet it's the same trick!This has always fascinated me. Humans are strange. Context, context, context...

As an artist, one must have many different tools to navigate the wild waters of this tumultuous world. Working the traffic lights is just one of them. The lights have saved me time and time again. I showed up to Portugal this past September with about 100 euros. I had spent the rest of my money on a bus ticket from Slovenia to Portugal. Upon my arrival, I started rehearsals for a show called "O Que se Esconde No Silencio." I rehearsed from 9 am until 5 pm each day. Then I'd immediately dash out of rehearsals to work the light for the remaining hours of sunlight. It was an intense and demanding period, but it was all possible to do because of the almighty traffic lights. The little amount of money I received in those evening sessions after rehearsals allowed me to eat and continue creating without stopping or having to say "no" to the project. Traffic light gods - I thank you!

There is not one path for a modern-day pirate, but there certainly is a path. The path must be bushwhacked and carved with sheer determination and an unwavering belief in oneself. The path of the modern-day pirate is not for everyone, but only for the few who want to travel the seven seas on their own terms. Not for the sake of riches, although there is treasure to be plundered, but for the sake of a scarce freedom that is always being encroached upon by "civilized" society. To all the modern-day pirates out there - fight on! Arrrrrrrggggggg!

Street show - Porto, Portugal

Lastly, here is something I wrote while working the lights some years ago. Just some lyrics that came to me in the midst of the sun beating down on me, the smell of car fumes permeating my lungs, and the splish-splash of the coins, one by one, being thrown into my hat. Maybe one day I'll make a song out of it...

Street Rat Anthem

•Eyes on the prize, gotta rise, make enough money for a side of fries...

•Finger nails dirty, holes in my sock, 9-5 clock don't work on me - show you my worth - you'll fuckin' see...

•First train out - cast away the doubt - music bumpin' loud - gotta get to the spot, where people payin' hot...

•Wearing second hand shoes that I found in the trash, gotta make them last. Swimming in coins like a god damn pirate - catch me at the light and you'll see me smilin'...

•Life is nothing but a game, that's what I say. It keeps me sane.This is how I work and this is how I play...

The 1 and 2 euro coins are for savings and the rest of the smaller ones are for rent and living expenses. That is the extent of my budgeting...