It’s easy to describe what works, to take a shot of performances, but the public face of a street performer is the one they want you to see. Much more interesting is the street performer caught in a quiet moment between performances, dressing for the show, setting up their props or right just after performing.
This is what it might be like to have a job as a street-performer, or simply sleeping in a double bed of nails.
An environmental portrait is a portrait that is informed by props and surroundings, to the extent that the viewer can gain insight into the life, circumstances or character of the subject. Here is one picture of Spikey Will setting up the show and one straight after he did his show.