Happiness with Street Smiles

Singaporean busker, Jonathan Goh, talks about how he uses Circus performing to bring joy to his life and ours! From performing at sold out shows in London, to busking the street of Orchard Road, he always puts a smile on his audiences' face.

Story and illustrations by: Mannatt Bambha

Photos by: Mannatt Bambha and Avril Goh

Additional photos courtesy of: Jonathan Goh

“If we laugh together, we will stay together,” says Jonathan Goh.

Jonathan, 27, a multidisciplinary circus busker from Singapore believes that the most rewarding part of circus performing is the happiness and laughter he spreads to the audience. His passion began at a young age, and it has branched out into performing all sorts of circus acts around the world, from Orchard Road in Singapore to Covent Garden in London.

Having had a rough childhood, Jonathan could only find happiness in circus performing then. Around the age of 10, his parents were going through a divorce. He felt as if nobody cared for him, thus leading to a life of reckless behaviour.

“I’ve done all sorts of bad things, I’m just lucky I never got caught.”

The Start

His journey with fire performing started when he came across a group of fire performers at Sentosa, back in 2007, and started to visit them frequently. They noticed Jonathan’s interest and promised to teach him the art if he stopped hanging out with bad company. “Of course, I still did it, just more sneakily.”

Eventually, his passion for performing helped tone down the reckless behaviour. “I’m just that lucky one who had some good people find me,” is what he realised as he saw some of his friends go to boy's homes and even prison.

As he continued practising fire performing, he could see the happiness it brought to his life. Playing with fire built him up, it helped him cope with his low self-esteem.

“It comes to a point where I feel free, I don’t think of any troubles or anything, not even the divorce. It makes you feel like you’re on a trance”. Hence, the Instagram username, @tranceonfire.

Jonathan Goh starting off his career in fire spinning.

Busking in Singapore

Years ago, Jonathan visited Sentosa’s Buskers Festival with his friend, Edwin. Seeing the lack of local representation among buskers, they decided to come together as a duo circus act and start busking. An MRT ride meeting later, The Annoying Brothers was born.

“We had already done stage shows, even at a big festival, like Chingay. So we thought: ‘How bad can this be? Just turn on music and busk’”, says Jonathan, of the mindset they had going into their first busking performance.

“Oh we were so wrong.”

Jonathan now looks back and realises how “bad” it was. The crowd gathered and dispersed within five minutes.

“We earned $0, we had zero satisfaction and zero crowd.”

Feeling defeated, they decided to just have a meal at KFC in silence. They then decided to cut down their act and try again. At the end of the day, they earned $6 and a little bit of hope for the future.

Happiness and Self-Growth

“The risk gives you this adrenaline that makes you feel good,” he shared about the dangers of performing circus acts.

Dealing with depression as an 11-year-old, Jonathan was told to do something that made him happy. He found joy in the thrilling experience of circus training and performing. Experiencing the laughter, applause, and smiles of the audience, brought a type of satisfaction to Jonathan.

One specific incident would be when Jonathan received a Direct Message on Instagram from an audience member who had been going through a tough time for a while. Having nothing else to do that day, she decided to stop and watch the performance. “Today was the first time I laughed in six months, you saved me,” is what he read in the message.

“I can be on the stage and do what I do, but the street is where a lot of vulnerable people, people who can't afford shows or who have never seen a quality performance can get to watch it.”

Helping these vulnerable people, who fall through the gap, experience art and feel joy is what gives Jonathan the feeling of“ this is why I do what I do”.

The Good and Bad of Performing

“With street performances, there is this really unique intimacy you get to have with your audience,” he shares.

According to Jonathan, having people spend 45 minutes sitting on the steps to watch his show means more than anything else. While he performs on the street, he’s anonymous, but after the show, everyone comes over to high-five him and show their support.

“From strangers, everyone reaches a moment to enjoy and laugh together.”

However, there are still the doubters. “Arts is not a stable job”, something that Jonathan has undoubtedly heard before. While it may discourage most people, his passion has kept him going. Having proven himself over the years, he now finds joy in making others happy.

The End

Jonathan’s only advice would be to:“ Just try, even if you’re scared”. Once you start researching what you want to do, the deeper meaning will always follow.

Jonathan believes that “Life imitates a performance,” and you should not waste it.

Jonathan Goh balancing a ladder on his chin at Orchard Road.