The Disadvantages of Being Famous

There are so many people who think that they would like to be famous, which is why shows like 'The X-Factor' are so popular. The idea of someone from a disadvantaged background being discovered, becoming famous and getting rich is a romantic one that rarely comes true. The celebrity world is fickle and requires a great deal of ruthlessness to survive. Although being famous might seem like a good idea when you have a boring nine-to-five job and are desperate for some kind of escape, the reality can often fail to live up to the hype.

For a start, you may not earn as much money as you think you would. Although A-list celebrities may be able to command huge sums for their performances – whether in acting or music – when you're just starting out you can't expect to become rich overnight. You usually have to put a great deal of hard work in, unless you happen to be incredibly lucky and become an instant sensation. Even this has drawbacks, though, as you're suddenly thrust into the spotlight and are no longer able to lead a normal life. Such attention might sound appealing, but with adoration also comes saturation and, eventually, loathing.

You may be loved at first, but people will soon grow tired of constantly hearing your music being played or seeing your face in magazines, and it can be difficult to deal with people's disapprobation. Whether you work your way up to the top gradually or get there quickly, you will fall just as hard either way. You will find that all those people who were your best friends when you were rich and famous quickly jump ship and are no longer interested in being with you or helping you out, and so you're left on your own. If you failed to organise your finances when you were making money you could also find yourself in severe financial difficulties.

When everything is going well and you're earning plenty of money, you may not bother to prepare for the day when the money is no longer coming in, because you're famous and believe you will stay that way. Consequently, you get carried away leading the celebrity lifestyle – buying big houses and cars, throwing extravagant parties; you may even end up hooked on drugs and alcohol, as so many big stars do – and so it doesn't take long for your resources to drain away. Instead of being on the A-list, you could find yourself hurtling down towards the Z-list, and signing up to do anything that pays.

You can't escape the media interest in your downfall, unfortunately, and so if you turn up for the opening of a supermarket or end up having to work in one, you may well see your picture splashed on the cover of a magazine. It is even worse when you're actually famous, though, because the paparazzi follow you everywhere, which can be an intimidating experience, and you simply can't escape their presence. Once you're famous, it is as if you become other people's property, since you will be asked for your autograph and picture on a regular basis, and this can become rather tedious. Yet, all of these disadvantages of being famous do not seem to put people off the idea that being a celebrity brings with it wealth and glamour, so that many continue to aspire to this way of living.

The Advantages of Being Famous

When you ask children what they want to do when they get older, many will respond that they want to be famous. They don't necessarily know what they want to be famous for, but the whole idea of being a celebrity certainly appeals to them. It isn't really that surprising considering the number of individuals who are designated as celebrities and the attention they receive. The celebrity lifestyle is obviously going to be an appealing one when it appears that you don't have to do very much work and can still earn a fortune. You basically have lots of free time and can afford to do what you want.

Consequently, one of the most evident advantages of being famous is that you usually get paid a lot of money for doing relatively little work, although this obviously depends on how famous you are and what you're famous for. Usually, it takes time to become famous and to build a fan base, and so in the beginning you might have to put in the hours to get noticed, or at least connect with a decent PR adviser who can get you on your way! If you make pop music, you may be expected to spend time in the studio, go on tour and give interviews, which can be time-consuming, but this is nowhere near the same as having a nine-to-five job.

Clearly, if it was that hard to be a famous pop star, nobody would aspire to become one, yet the popularity of shows such as 'The X-Factor' indicate that there are a lot of people who want to become a famous singer, regardless of their actual ability. Therein lies the problem, since there are so many celebrities who are basically famous for doing nothing, as opposed to being a skilled performer or outstanding in their field. They may get some of the advantages of being famous, such as getting into high-profile clubs and events and receiving free goodies, but they've never had to work for them.

However, celebrity magazines and tabloid newspapers continually need new blood in order to keep their pages full. The situation has grown even more desperate with the Internet and the popularity of online celebrity gossip sites, since these sites need to draw traffic in, which they are only going to do if there are stories and pictures that people want to see. Thus, more and more celebrities are being created, and forced upon the general public. This may not be a bad thing for those who suddenly find themselves famous if they are able to make lots of money whilst their fame lasts.

Not everyone can cope with the pressure of being famous, but most celebrities are able to appreciate the perks their job brings. They may not always enjoy being recognised in public, but they undoubtedly enjoy mixing with other stars and being able to attend prestigious events because of their fame. They also probably enjoy the fact that they don't have a conventional job and can spend their free time doing whatever they want, because they have the funds to be able to. With so many advantages associated with being famous, you can't blame children for thinking this is a legitimate career choice.

Why do People Want to Become Famous?

There are many opportunities for people to become famous these days and lots of willing participants in the fame game. Reality shows and talent shows seem to be the quickest route to fame, though you could always marry a footballer, as that usually helps, too. If you're really desperate to become famous, there is always the option of working hard and building on your talent, though this is the less favoured route for most. No longer is there an expectation you should have a particular talent or skill that merits fame, as long as you are prepared to follow the rules that come with fame.

These rules generally revolve around your willingness to open up your life to the general public. Celebrities who have become famous as a result of actually achieving something are often more reluctant to talk about their private lives and will not be seen on reality shows. It is generally those who are famous for doing nothing that are prepared to open their doors to the cameras and let the general public get a glimpse of the way they live their lives. You may wonder why, but then you only have to look at how much they get paid for participating to understand.

When you're famous, you're treated like a star whether you are deserve such treatment or not. You get invited to high-profile parties and meet lots of famous faces; you have people opening doors for you and serving you drinks; you don't have to queue like everyone else when you're on the VIP list. You have access to a whole different world where you're treated with respect and you don't have to worry about paying for anything. You're constantly told you're beautiful and get clothes and make-up for free, without having to work for any of it. Life is so much easier when you're rich and famous.

It is therefore not surprising that so many youngsters are growing up and aspiring to be famous like their favourite reality television stars. They are not interested in being famous for doing anything in particular; they just want the riches and glamorous lifestyle that seems so easy to obtain when you're in the public eye. The desire for fame isn't only confined to young people, though, as older people are also deciding to try their luck on talent shows in the hope they are 'discovered' and can make a huge amount of money without having to do very much.

People don't seem to realise that once you let the media into your lives, it becomes impossible to escape. As soon as you enter the public arena, nothing is sacred and you could quite soon see personal details and pictures popping up in newspapers, magazines and online. There are certainly drawbacks to being famous, but they don't appear to be strong enough to put people off the idea of fame.

Do You Have to be Talented to Become Famous?

You only have to look at the coverage given to the likes of the Kardashians to know that you do not have to possess any particular talent to become famous. Celebrity magazines and tabloid newspapers need something to fill their pages and so often they help to transform talentless individuals, who happen to have the right connections, into celebrities. It doesn't matter that they can't act, sing or create anything of value to society, as long as they are prepared to open up their lives to the world.

'Reality' television certainly hasn't died, as shows such as 'Keeping up with the Kardashians' continue to make non-entities into stars. Of course, these shows are edited and produced so that you never have full access to how these people really live their lives. These kinds of shows contain individuals you can relate to and you find yourself wanting to know more about them. They may be famous for doing nothing, but if you're interested in the celebrity world and the celebrity magazines you read regularly feature these people on their cover, you get to know them better.

Unfortunately, you can come away with the impression that you do not have to be talented in any way, shape or form to become famous. All you have to do is appear on a reality television show and get your name known. There is also the option of appearing on a 'talent' show such as 'The X Factor' or one of the other various Simon Cowell productions. Supposedly you have to possess an inkling of talent to achieve success on these shows, but quite often this is not the case. If you're young, attractive and willing to do anything to become famous you have a shot.

Although it has always helped to know the right people in order to become famous, in the past there has been much more emphasis on talent. If you didn't have any kind of talent, you were unlikely to make it in Hollywood or as a singer. However, now you can become an overnight Internet sensation because you create a video that goes viral or make a name for yourself by appearing on a television show designed to make you into a star.

It doesn't really matter whether you have any discernible talent as long as you are prepared to share your experiences with a celebrity magazine and let the whole world into your life. Normal people want to believe that they can become famous, so that they can live a more luxurious lifestyle and earn lots of money. However, they generally don't want to work for it and for those who aren't particularly talented and who are desperate for fame there are plenty of opportunities to achieve the celebrity lifestyle they think they want.