Celebrity personal assistants are the right-hand men and women to moguls, musicians, athletes and corporate raiders. Learn how to coordinate and support the lifestyle of the rich and famous as the ultimate A-list administrative specialist.
Expect great pay, tons of stress and long work hours.
A good personal assistant is part business manager, chauffer, event manager, confidant and publicist. According to the Association of Celebrity Personal Assistants, http://www.celebrityassistants.org the average annual income for a celebrity personal assistant is approximately $62,000. Undoubtedly you will be working for a highly demanding and creative executive or celebrity. As a trusted member of the celebrity team, some assistants are paid 6 figure salaries.
Protect your employer with discretion and secrecy.
Most celebrity personal assistants sign confidentiality agreements to protect the personal lives of their employers. Private indiscretions and your access to behind the scenes conflicts and personal celebrations, if revealed to the public, could damage the reputation of the celebrity. The secret lives of the celebrity can become fodder for TMZ.com and the National Enquirer because of a lapse in the assistant’s judgment or a breach in confidentiality.
You are a full-time celebrity personal assistant, not a part-time actor.
Some employees think that becoming a celebrity personal assistant to an A-list star is a great way to advance their acting careers. Will you meet power players and influential celebrity star makers? Yes. But these fabulous Hollywood personalities will only view you as Megan’s girl Friday or so-and-so’s assistant, if you attempt to approach them about your silent desire to act. You are better off spending your nights as a struggling waiter than trying to advance your career via your employer’s contacts. Your reputation for disloyalty could kill your professional acting career before it starts.
Learn proper phone, email and business etiquette.
As an assistant to a celebrity you are the ultimate gatekeeper. Prepare to sharpen your computer skills, travel know-how and dining etiquette. Party planning, personal shopping and making nightly dinner reservations require superior social and planning skills. From the tone of your voice, to the manner in which tasks are managed, you must project a professional image through all interactions. You are hired to be the ideal calm, cool and collected manager of the celebrity’s chaotic lifestyle.
The perks of a celebrity personal assistant are amazing. But, don’t get too close.
You’ll dine at some of the best restaurants and live the glamorous life as a personal assistant, but you are not a member of the celebrity’s family. As a trusted and loyal confidant, who often sees the celebrity at their best and their worst, remember your boundaries. Keep a professional distance and don’t get emotionally attached. If you decide to leave your current position, your dignity and professionalism will remain in tact if you don’t become fully integrated into the lives and hearts of the celebrity or their family.
Your personal life may take a backseat to the celebrity’s whims and wishes. But some assistants become an irreplaceable and valuable member of the star’s team. From setting appointments, to managing the play dates of celebrity children most Hollywood assistants are on call 24-7 and earn every penny of their income.
