How to: Be a street performer

Is this any way for two grown men to make a living?

There have been street performers as long as there have been streets. But with the boom in live events, festivals and all things experiential, the ante has been upped.

Giant articulated animals are no longer the sole preserve of Ray Harryhausen movies; they have wandered the streets of Liverpool and London to the amazement and amusement of thousands.

But for every mega-commission such as the Sultan's Elephant, there are thousands of other performers doing their thing. Here, in this film made by colleague Sophie van Brugen, two performers talk about the ins and outs of life in a wheelie shopping basket.

You can also see my Newsnight interview with Ray Harryhausen, marking his 90th birthday and there's an exhibition called Ray Harryhasuen - Myths and Legends at the London Film Museum.