Glitterditch on the Street: Covent Garden

We've never seen a street performer die. We've seen it happen to comedians, even veteran actors. But at least they can run off the stage and hide. Max had no choice but to carry on. The crowd was watching, but they weren't participating or laughing at his jokes.

"You get good days and bad days, but that crowd was the toughest I've had in a long time". He's only been performing for about six months and looked a bit shell-shocked by the experience. "Usually people get involved. They want to have fun. I never have to pull people out of the crowd."

If Max had been rubbish, we'd have understood, but we never usually stop to watch the people on the street. He even distracted Glitterbitch from the preacher telling her she was being "Hypnotised, hypnotised, hypnotised". Er.... quite.

Max is brash with his audience. Almost rude, but always fun. "Getting the first few people to stop is always the hardest. After that, it should be easy". Today wasn't, despite him doing his best on 'Magic Corner'.

Until today, we didn't realise that the little corner next to the piazza had a name, but it's been known as Magic Corner for years. It's a handy way for them to keep the other performers away from their turf. "Sometimes the statues will try and steal our spot. We retaliate by pitching up right next to them and taking their money". He seems smug about this. "Competition between performers is high. We're all doing our own thing. We all want your money. We don't trust each other very much."

When he's not doing clever tricks with cups and oranges (really, it was fantastic), he's out clubbing. But simple places. Cheap places with fun people out for a laugh. We get the feeling he can be a bit of a womaniser in his spare time and he doesn't deny this. He just won't tell me how much of a ladies man he is.

Max is at Magic Corner most days when it's sunny. Hopefully the sun will stay shining and you'll get down there to see him soon. If you do, watch and enjoy. Then make sure you throw a couple of quid (not the shrapnel he sometimes gets) into his hat. Otherwise the magicians in Covent Garden will really disappear.

Flickr image from CCarlStead's photostream.