Fame & Money: Could You Handle It?

[CentreHice]

Singers, musicians, athletes, actors...those who can survive unscathed are truly strong individuals...and they likely have strong people around them.

History is strewn with those not so fortunate...as manifested most recently by Whitney Houston.

How would any of us would handle such celebrity and the world that opens up, not to mention the immense pressure to stay on top or at least in the elite.....especially hitting it big at such a young age? Let's face it...you still have to perform.

It drove Donny Osmond into social phobia when he was starring in Joseph in Toronto. All the pressure over the years hit him. His family's support got him through it.

And picking the right mate would be a bonus. In Houston's case, from what I've read over the years, Bobby Brown was more like Ike Turner than anybody else.

[blny]

I think it's all about the support group you have around you. Not your handler. Not your agent, or lawyer. Keeping your family around you, etc.

I'm old enough to remember her clean image was and how good she was before Bobby Brown. I'm not sure where her family was after they got together, or of she alienated them. Brown was a train wreck before they got together, and it only got worse when they were together. Love is blind I guess. Some might argue that her personality type could have led her down that road without him. That might have been the case, be he sure accelerated it and made it easier.

It was a shame to watch such talent get flushed down the toilet.

[habernac]

money wouldn't be hard to handle. It's the fame thing that would suck. Being recognized, bothered, etc would be horrible. Being anonymous is one of the best things that could ever happen to a person.

[CentreHice]

Feb 22, 2012 15:25:15 GMT -5 habernac said:

money wouldn't be hard to handle. It's the fame thing that would suck. Being recognized, bothered, etc would be horrible. Being anonymous is one of the best things that could ever happen to a person.

It's not just being recognized....it's the pressure to continue to perform and prove yourself....stay at the top....so many people counting on you, etc.

Or when you're no longer popular--don't have the "heat" so to speak....and your "people" move on to find the next hot item. Or you get older and fall out of the scene.

If you haven't had your money managed properly....that's a long, hard fall.

Like athletes who fail to plan for life after their playing days are over.

Another aspect to stage performers is that the "high" they experience on-stage is quite addictive. And when the show's over, sometimes the need to keep that high going leads to substance abuse.

Many cases of that.

[blny]

Those that move on aren't your people imo. Ones inner circle aren't there to pressure them to perform at some 'expected' level. Look at someone like Prince. He made squillions in the 80s by writing songs for himself and others. Things cooled down in the 90s. He's got a reported back catalogue of songs that he has no real interested in releasing. He tours when he feels like it, but gives no impression that he's pressured by the business to do anything. He lives a secluded life in Minnesota.

Having the likes of TMZ following you around is no fun, but I think you have to do what you can to make the best of it. There are a myriad of very famous people that we never hear about. If you look at tabloids, it's really only a very select few that hounded/photoed/etc. That said, considering the availability of private planes to the ultra rich, I think some of the celebs that get 'snapped' do it because they like it. They like the attention, despite anything negative they may say. They like the voyeurism of it. My point is, a celeb that wants to remain out of the public eye can do so if they want.

WRT athletes, bankruptcy is all too common for inner city athletes. They never had money, and they spend like crazy when they get it. With hip hop acts, they go out and spend enormous cash advances on their recording deals, and record songs they don't make any money on. Then the label makes the big cut of the album sales, while the artist gets comparitively very little. They often have no clue what they make per sale. If they last long enough to headline a tour, they make more doing that. Whether it's a huge entourage, or supporting extended family, they have ZERO money managing skills.

Some teams have actually brought in financial advisors for their players/athletes. I think it's a very good idea. With the team doing it, you reduce the risk of a player being taken advantage of.

[CentreHice]

By "people", I don't mean your posse or entourage.....I mean agents and publicists: the movers and shakers.

If you're not HOT anymore....there's a reason, and they'll put time and energy into others on their roster...or getting others on their roster. You can be yesterday's news real quick.

Your manager will stick with you....but you might be working lesser venues.

Hence the immense pressure to stay on top.

[blny]

I know what you meant by people, and I think if the support system is in place and you're a strong enough person the movers and shakers won't have much of an impact.

[CentreHice]

The impact they have is walking away from your once-hot, now cooling career....and that's the way the biz works....especially in LA. Brutal, cut-throat. Agencies are the bridge between you and the producers, and if they're not going to fight for you, you have to re-invent, change direction and find new representation, etc.

Of course, publicists are always happy to take your money....but if you truly aren't HOT any longer....it's like flushing $$ down the toilet. Hence the desperation.....

It's a common tale.

But yeah, if you've got a strong support group, there's a better chance you survive the downslide/re-creation....or the move back to "regular" life.

[clear observer]

Human-beings aren't designed to be "famous".

Oh yeah, to answer your question...yes...I'm handling it quite well.

[Cranky]

Money is very easy to handle. Unwanted fame is 24/7 torture. Wanted fame is fleeting.