How to become a celebrity assistant

If you want advice about becoming a celebrity's assistant, then you've come to the right place. The founder of our website, Brian Daniel, is a former celebrity PA and has worked with celebrities and billionaires for years. In fact, he now operates an agency for assistants that serve those in the entertainment industry.
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The first thing you should know is that you don't need to live in New York City or Los Angeles to be a celebrity personal assistant. High-profile professionals of all sorts need assistance, and you shouldn't just focus on A-list movie stars. 

Are celebrity personal assistant jobs demanding? 

Assistants need "thick skin" to survive the job

Yes, they are very demanding. If you are going to work for a celebrity, then it will typically be very long hours. No two days are alike, but it is usually quite hectic. Some aspects of the job may even seem a little demeaning, but that comes with the territory.
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For example, if you get a job in sports working for a professional athlete, some days you will be hanging out in the VIP box with other celebrities, and other days you will be picking up after the dog, so the responsibilities run A to Z. 

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What does a celebrity personal assistant do?

The duties and responsibilities of a personal assistant vary quite a bit. Not only does it matter what industry your employer is in, but what kind of lifestyle your boss leads. Some celebrities are very flashy with an entourage, and some are a lot lower key. Here is a short list of skills you could consider:
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• Running social media platforms
• Making a lot of phone calls (sometimes referred to as rolling calls)
• Booking travel arrangements on private jets
• Event planning for both large and small groups
• Public relations: Dealing with PR representatives and fans
• Manage household staff: Security, gardeners, housekeepers, nannies, and other assistants
• General errands: grocery shopping, walking pets, washing cars, and other related administrative tasks

This is just a short list of things you would be responsible for because they are mainly just entry-level tasks. More advanced skills are sometimes needed, which would require special courses. 

What background should I have to become a celebrity personal assistant? 

Assistants need customer service experience

There is no BA degree that could fully prepare you for such a job, but a background in customer service could be very helpful. One such example would be the hospitality industry. If you've worked at a hotel, then you may already possess the skills you need to be successful as a personal assistant.

Candidates that come from the service industry can run events, manage private parties, and typically have superlative communication skills. If you've been involved in event or lifestyle management, then you know how to support other departments and make a detailed schedule. All of these skills are relevant to be a celebrity personal assistant. 

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Could I use an agency to find a job with a celebrity?

The type of celebrity clients that would go to an agency are going to be all "business," which means that they are going to be strict about who they hire and will want a person with several years of experience first. It's not enough to be organized if you want a career as a personal assistant to someone famous.

Because the schedules for celebrities are so demanding, you will need to get some experience in a related field first. For example, is you assist a high-net-worth family for one or two years and get a great recommendation letter, then a celebrity's manager or a personal assistant agency is much more likely to take a chance on you. 

What courses could help me become a celebrity personal assistant? 

Get coaching to be an assistant

Anything involving communications is a great start. Do some research online or ask some friends about courses that they have taken. Taking an advanced computer class is also recommended. If you're an ace with Microsoft Office, then you will be much better at managing a celebrity's demanding schedule.

Network with some other professionals who might have a client in the entertainment industry. Get some advice about how to brand yourself because employers want candidates who are very polished. If you can meet the right person, then it will certainly make your life a little easier to get your foot in the door. Good luck!

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Filed Under: celebrity personal assistant, courses, professional PA, networking, event planning