Comments on: Working in a Celebrity’s Universe: It Won’t Make YOU a Star

By: Mike B

Mike B — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:14:53 +0000

Great article Huck. The excerpt from Sasops sounds like he was in Haiti. I’ve worked both ends of the spectrum. From the higher risk jobs such as in Haiti to the red carpet to the corporate boardroom. All three have their ups and downs and to be successful in all the environments you need to be versatile and have thick skin. Yes. It is somewhat demeaning to walk up to the counter with a box of tampax,to share your living space with chickens, spiders and pigs or have some executive bark to you to speed because he is late to his meeting. If you can trade your plate carrier in for a suit or vice versa and adapt to the threat level and environment, your options for getting work go up exponentially. Unfortunately too many people in the industry think PSD work and Executive or Celebrity Protection are synonymous with each other. Even though some of the Principals of Protection can apply to all three, they are different animals.
To T. I read your comment about ESI. Its not a Bodyguard Company. Its an Executive Protection School. They do not promise you a job after you graduate. They are very adament about disclosing that to you. I am a graduate of ESI and other EP Training schools and none of them promised me a job. Thats like going to Harvard and after you graduate they find you a job. It’s up to you the individual to market themselves through networking.

By: Paul Mc

Paul Mc — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 14:10:05 +0000

Jim’s comment “your job is not to engage or arrest an attacker … to evacuate your principal from the danger zone” is the one element of the job that most wannabees don’t get.

I’ve had dozens upon dozens of people either approach me directly or via mail telling me how they’d make a great bodyguard because they’ve boxed or been doing martial arts for years … trying to get across to them that our job is more akin to “running away with our principal” (to use one applicants phrase) than it is about getting into fights with strangers and leaving our principal unguarded is a real eye-opener for some of them.

There is no shortage of thugs looking to “bathe in the reflected glory of a celebrity” to bolster their own ego or sense of self-worth … the real challenge for someone responsible for putting together teams and tasking details is to sort the wheat from the chaff.

By: Robert Smith

Robert Smith — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:11:36 +0000

You know you hit on the head !! I work for Big Icon Movie Stars and some are very friendly to work for and others think they are gods gift to this earth !! So True !!

By: Dr.Andre Glenn,CMAS,EPS

Dr.Andre Glenn,CMAS,EPS — Mon, 10 May 2010 22:57:54 +0000

This is so ture!!!!! I see it everyday. So sad.
watch your six, peace

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:57:31 +0000

I’m trying to get into the business myself. I have training in law enforcement basic police officer academy, training through Blackwater USA and I’ve taken many handgun courses as well as posess a CCW. When I was in the police academy I was involved in 3 shootouts while part of an auxiliary unit for the department. I can handle the pressure and I can handle emergency situations with calmness and accuracy!

By: Paulie

Paulie — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:37:30 +0000

Great articles. There are many pros and cons to working with celebrities. The main thing is that their bussiness is being in the news and high profile. The hardest part to this job is protecting the clients reputation and of course their family secrets.

By: aaron

aaron — Tue, 19 May 2009 18:11:57 +0000

i want to be a bodyguard becuase i want to be a hard working man.

By: Jessie K

Jessie K — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 13:47:17 +0000

Huck,

Great article! the clip art is right on time…we all remember being in that front row wishing we could get backstage as a kid, whats it like, man the parties, the women….lol…then you enter “their world” and like you mentioned it is something you want from the outside looking in, uhhhh not so much when you are a servant to it. I love the work I have been able to be a part of,in agreeing with Sir Noma D, just be that “fly on the wall” and get everyone home safe no matter what the detail…..J

By: Sir NomaD

Sir NomaD — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 02:51:36 +0000

I like the break down of the buisness..I have been in the buisness for over 15 years military and private.. The celebrates don’t care about you or your name.. You better know how to smile on que and keep your comments to yourself.. stay nataural.. The only joy in the job is that you got everyone home safe…

By: T

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 22:18:17 +0000

I have talked to several “Bodyguard Companies” over the last few years. Most, such as ESI will take your money and put you on a list to Rot. If you have a few thousand dollars and, oh, 50 years to waste, go for it. I have been doing Armed Executive Protection for about 20 years now, and if only it were as easy as they make it out to be.
There may be a Legit school out there, but as of yet, I have’nt seen one.