Being a celebrity assistant means living in the shadow of the flashing lights that follow a superstar boss.
While the job certainly comes with a few perks, like rubbing shoulders with famous friends of their boss or taking home the goody bag they don't want from a fancy event, it also often comes with a lot of responsibility.
And from the sound of the secrets spilled by a few anonymous former assistants over the years, they can receive little credit for all the hard work they put into keeping their celebrity boss happy. Of course, the strange stories below don't apply to every single performer and entertainer out there who relies on their assistant to get through the day — but knowing that more than a few of these expectations exist at all is pretty jarring.
Take a look and be sure to SHARE all the surprising things a celebrity assistant could be required to do for their job.
Thumbnail Photo: Apega / WENN.com
1. They’re Never Off Duty
While their services might not seem as important as those of doctors or surgeons who leap into action at a moment's notice, many assistants' bosses would beg to differ when they have an "emergency" pop up. Brian Daniel described negotiating with a restaurant to provide his boss with a very specific type of burger despite the establishment's having closed for the night.
2. They Put Their Own Lives On Hold
Former assistant Shanna Mahin explained to Business Insider that most assistants forgo romance while employed because they are already "in a committed relationship with [their] celebrity." The same goes for leaving family gatherings and hangouts with friends at a moment's notice.
3. They Might Have To "Assist" With Homework
Shanna also revealed that it was common for her to do homework assignments for her boss' child — in their handwriting and with the expectation of nothing less than an A.
4. They Also Assist The Celebrity's Pets
An anonymous assistant revealed that a large portion of her job is taking her boss' large dog out for walks that can last as long as four hours each day — even in the dead of winter with snow piling up.
5. They No Longer Have Their Own Opinions
Not only do they have to meet any demand their boss gives them no matter how outlandish it might seem, but the same anonymous assistant also revealed that they also have no choice but to agree with the famous face when asked an opinion on something.
Whether it's the star's choice of outfit or views on the world, the assistant's job is typically to affirm whatever their boss believes regardless of their own thoughts.
6. They Might Act As The Celeb's Wingman
Whether they're setting up dates for their boss through another star's assistant or picking up a phone number at a bar on the star's behalf, it's all in a day's work.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, assistants might also be asked to end things for their boss, as a former assistant dished to the Cut. She claimed that her boss once asked her to go on a date with her boyfriend and break up with him on her behalf.
7. They Must Never Ignore Their Phone
Although the sound of their boss' ringtone might send shivers down their spine, an anonymous assistant admitted they would never dream of declining such a call.
In fact, according to Brian Daniel, they might have more than one phone (on top of being in charge of their boss') that they're required to respond to at all times. He described one case in which he was so sleep deprived that he accidentally slept through all his ringing phones and was eventually woken up by security kicking his door in — so that he could then go and wake up his boss.
8. They View Lunch Breaks As A Luxury
Brian also claimed that lunch breaks often aren't granted while an assistant is rushing around to meet their celeb's demands. He recommended carrying around cereal bars and other snacks to keep the energy up.
9. They Learn All The Celebrity's Secrets
It's an intimate job with an unclear boundary when it comes to the camaraderie between a boss and their assistant. Although Brian, who now runs the Celebrity Personal Assistant Network in LA, recommends his employees refrain from getting too friendly with their celebrity, it can be difficult to avoid.
In many cases, they are the person spending the most time with their boss and find themselves becoming trusted confidantes.
10. They Make Tons Of Connections
The anonymous assistant who shared her stories of stress also claimed that she knows she can rely on her boss to help her land on her feet whenever she moves on.
Their job relies on being able to pull strings for specific errands that require a long contact list of vendors and fellow assistants, as well just "knowing a guy" who can get the job done. Those all come in handy even after they've left their position.
11. They Might Climb The Entertainment Ranks
All the hard work can pay off for assistants, who might find themselves promoted within the industry to loftier jobs like producer or screenwriter when they cash in all the cred they've racked up over the years.
Did you know all these crazy things about being a celebrity assistant? Be sure to SHARE the fascinating info with your friends!
