Freelancers: the entertainers – in pictures

Emily Bevan, actress and voiceover artist. ‘My voice is my most precious tool, so I have been known to go to parties only to run away from smokers, pass on the booze and go home early. But it’s a small sacrifice to keep my peace of mind. The great thing about working for yourself is that there are no limits. You can incorporate as much as you want into your career – and draw on a portfolio of interests and talents. At times I worry I spread myself too thinly, but as long as my imagination is engaged – and I can pay my rent – I’m a happy girl’
Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson

Joel Hartman, musician and music producer. 'I guess I’m mainly willing to sacrifice my own preconceived ideas about what I should be doing with my life. And for me, the challenge of being self-employed is allowing myself to have a clear vision of where I’m heading and what it is I’m trying to say'
Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson

Gary Lawford aka Tommy Tickle, clown and children’s entertainer. ‘I have no boss, no agent. I make political agendas and third-world debt relief plans understandable to five-year-olds. I work less than 10 hours a week, and it’s well paid. I can get smashed Sunday through to Thursday nights and spend my weekdays dancing naked in front of the mirror in the airing cupboard miming Klaus Nomi songs into a tennis racket. What’s not to like about my job? All I’d like to remove is the kids, magic, balloons, noise and working weekends and then it would really be the job of dreams’
Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson

Ilona Jantti, aerial performer. ‘I’m trying to approach aerial work through dance and movement and find new ways for devising circus work. I also love collaborating with artists and designers from other art forms. Over the past few years I have worked with some great composers, musicians, animators and lighting designers and I hope to continue to do so’
Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson

Johnny Anglais, adult film star and stripper. ‘I used to work as a teacher of sex education in a school, but had to leave when they found out about my outside activities. Personally, I think there is no reason why someone who, in one part of their life indulges in nudity and exhibitionist sex, cannot be a brilliant and effective teacher, particularly as I was a teacher of sex education and I had the confidence and openness to discuss this topic. Sex is still such a taboo in this country'
Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson

Luke Morgan, artist and psychobilly musician. ‘In 10 years’ time I see myself driving my 59 El Camino to the surf to celebrate my most recent smash hit exhibition, while listening to a song of mine on the radio and planning my next tour of South American beach festivals’
Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson

Steve Oram, comedian. 'I was 24 when I did my first comedy open mic spot at my local pub, sort of for the hell of it. But I took it seriously and came up with this weird idea for a character and bought a horrible suit and a wig and some tiny white shoes. The gig went great and I thought I was a genius. Then proceeded to die on my arse for at least a year until finally getting OK at it. These days I enjoy writing characters who are over-looked kind of people – people that do dull jobs or aren’t very good at fitting in, or are solitary. Their hidden depths are an interesting place to explore, I think’
Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson

Tom Ravenscroft, disc jockey. 'On certain days I believe it to be the best job in the world. Today is one of those days'
Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson

Luki Luck and Anita Win – Femme Ferale, burlesque dancers. ‘We have very eclectic tastes that are reflected in our body of work – we have Bollywood, punk, salsa and hair-metal routines. We also have to think about costumes a lot: we need to think of original, interesting ways to remove the costumes so it’s not predictable or boring. We dress as animals, military pin-ups, Bollywood brides and Carmen Miranda-esque divas. Sometimes the more traditional venues won’t book us as we don’t fit in with their idea of what burlesque is, but while it can be a hindrance, it also works in our favour as we don’t want to fit the mould. We like to stand out from the crowd’
Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson

Joseph Vila Garcia, musical actor. 'My style is chameleonic. I serve the part and the production'
Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson

Nikki Murray, musician. 'The best thing about making music is the fact that you can change emotions and feelings in yourself and others with a great song or a great gig because you are doing something that you love doing’
Photograph: Sam Peach and Tora Davidson