"YOU WANT FAME? WELL FAME COSTS. AND RIGHT HERE IS WHERE YOU START PAYING WITH SWEAT". ` Debbie Allen ~ TV show Fame
For the last 6 years of my life, I've been connected with a few people of "celebrity status". Being a background vocalist has afforded me the opportunity to meet legendary artists, songwriters, producers, and even record executives. I'm not much for networking and have never been an opportunist so in most situations I choose to opt for the occasional business related email or meeting and not much else.
But a few of the VIP's I've met in the last few years have become very dear to me. Some are friends, some are mentors, and a couple are like family to me.
Often I forget that they're "famous". I respect their varied positions and giftings, but because I love them for their personality and other things; i lose sight of their status in the public eye.
Last week I ran into one of them in Target. It was a normal Wednesday night after service, and I was grabbing a few items before returning home when I heard this distinctive voice. I knew the voice immediately and waited; leaning on my cart in the middle of the aisle until my "little sister" walked around the corner. She didn't see me at first, so I said something she could relate to. "What do you mean you're just gonna walk right past me?" She smiled with her infectious grin and said, "KELSSSSS!" We embraced and talked as usual, and not once did I stop to think, "Wow, she's a celebrity." or "Someone might recognize her."
We went out separate ways and I headed to the check out counter. I placed my things on the belt and noticed that the cashier wasn't paying much attention to me and was in fact looking in a distant direction. She could barely contain her excitement. She motioned for me to come closer to the register and said, "Was that ******* ****** you were talking to?" I paused. "Yes, it was," I responded hesitantly. "Oh my gosh I love her," she said. "I've got all her cds and my nieces love her and look up to her." My items for purchase still sat untouched on the conveyor belt. Inside, I knew what was coming next. "Do you think you can get me her autograph?"
Awkward.
That moment when you go from a regular person to a regular person that knows somebody important. In your mind you relate to the excitement of the individual whose in total shock to be in the same vicinity as a superstar. But this immediate desire to protect the privacy of the person you care about and often forget is in fact a superstar immediately rises within you.
"You know; I'm sure since there's not a lot of people in here, she won't mind if you ask her for an autograph when she's on her way out."
The cashier smiled and FINALLY began to ring up my items. When she gave me my receipt she laid an extra sheet of paper down. I was confused. As if reading my mind she said, "You know ***** ***** so you must be famous too. can I have your autograph?"
I've thought a lot about that night since then. The whole fan/celebrity dynamic is strange but fascinating to me. Here are these normal people with extraordinary gifts, talents or looks, and we create this image of them. We put them in this box that says that they are what they do. We rarely think about their feelings, their dislikes and likes, or their problems. We just like what they do. Their talent is a gift and a burden; a bonus and a handicap simultaneously. But we don't think about that when we snap their pictures from afar; interrupt them while they're eating with their family, or talk about them negatively when they don't live up to the image we've created for them.
Often people have said to me, "You're too talented to be in the background; you need to be upfront."
I beg to differ.
FAME comes with a huge price....your very LIFE, and I don't think that's a price I'm willing to pay.
