I’ve been a performer my entire life, and I’ll acknowledge that one of the things I really wanted when I was younger was to be famous. I couldn’t really articulate those reasons no matter how hard I tried; it was simply a case of the grass is greener on the other side.
On the other hand, having been born with Moebius syndrome, I knew that finding work as a performer would be quite challenging given that my bilateral facial paralysis might be off-putting to producers or casting directors. I suppose in a way this helped to ground me, for at least I knew my limitations and was wise enough to realize that being famous wasn’t a guarantee, no matter how hard I worked in the field I loved. I certainly knew that finding employment in show business as a person with a disability would be a daunting task in and of itself, and for a while I simply didn’t look for work at all.
Thankfully, I learned a couple of valuable lessons in high school. First, if I tried seeking popularity, I wouldn’t get very far. However, if I focused on nurturing those interests that I loved, I would receive recognition for them simply because I wanted to succeed in those areas rather than worry about people’s opinions of me. Another lesson that I took away from high school is that the popular kids aren’t always the happiest. Maintaining one’s standing in the social hierarchy of high school isn’t easy, particularly taking into account peer pressure and the desire to fit in. Now think about fame as being the ultimate expression of belonging to the “in” clique, with many more perks but twice as many hangups. Your privacy disappears, people’s judgments can directly impact your popularity, and you won’t always know who your friends are.
For myself, I prefer to be reliable rather than famous. Being reliable in this instance means being punctual, polite, and prepared to work. I often find this to be a better alternative to being popular simply because this is well within the framework of what I can relate to. I can’t always control what people think of me, but I can certainly control my reactions to their behavior. And if I’m working on activities that I enjoy or can contribute to other people’s projects in a meaningful manner, that far outstrips anything I might acquire if I were famous. I’d rather be that person who people always come to because they know they can count on me for having a strong work ethic than be the “it” guy. Frankly, most people who are in the spotlight can have their careers taken away at any time simply by being replaced by the next up-and-comer. It’s harder to be replaced when you’re the expert the other experts rely on.
I think Clint Eastwood said it best: “Chasing fame is like chasing ashes blown by the wind; it neither ignites a fire nor stays put.” When push comes to shove, fame is notoriously unreliable. It doesn’t necessarily guarantee steady work, and it can dry up very quickly. I’d rather focus on being a solid member of my community who can be counted on to show up in all the right ways where it counts the most.
Freedman on the Go 