Do all L.A. bodyguards want to be (movie) stars?!

[Local Talent]

I've seen a star-struck agent get kicked out of a detail for asking to be photographed with every actor he met.
I've seen an agent make a fool of himself by running his mouth about his extra-curricular activities (making movie props, hosting obscure talk shows, bedding more obscure actresses).
And I've seen an otherwise nice, but unmanageable, 20 year old show up on a detail with "chronic tardiness syndrome" caused by auditions. His only cred was to be the son of a known actor and to have unsuccessfully tried out for the Navy Seals once. :rolleyes:

A lot of guys I encounter who state having to go to school will confess, when pressed a little, that they take acting or modeling classes.

There's a saying that in L.A., "every cop wants to be an actor and every actor wants to be a cop". The flirtation between both professions is shown well in L.A. Confidential.

But bodyguards often work very close to entertainment industry folks who don't want people on their protective team to hand them screenplays and headshots, or be susceptible to write tell-all memoirs or talk to the paps.

So don't get me wrong, what we do on the side is our business, but if we advertise it, and it raises questions about our ability to be detached and keep our mouths shut... I think there's an issue.

Is it just an L.A. thing? Am I being too harsh? Do you guys share this experience or is it just me sniffing out the wannabes? :confused:

[flash]

Comming from an industry background, moving to a military one. I've met a lot of people that wish they could be actors.
I image that most people who are not from LA, would get star struck, and be put in AWE by all the glamor that comes with working close to high profile industry types.
Do you think that it might just be a new guy thing? Maybe they will grow out it, or become acustomed to it?

[Local Talent]

Comming from an industry background, moving to a military one. I've met a lot of people that wish they could be actors.
Sure we're all influenced by the cult of celebrity. It's pervasive in our society regardless of occupation or location.
And I'd understand someone very inexperienced or from out of town being a little awestruck. But I mostly encounter local agents - we're normally all a little blase'.

And frankly, nothing should faze pros. Standing next to a former First Lady or to an A-list actress changing in front of you (two things I experienced) will give you a little pause later (!), but nothing should show in the moment.
What else can distract a guy if he can't stay focused then?

The best way to operate around celebs is to hardly pay attention to them. Being constantly hounded and stared at is stressful and they enjoy the relief from that when around "their" people.
I think I might turn down being assigned to someone I'd be a fan of for that reason, BTW. Good thing I'm a "fan" of no one... :D

[flash]

When you say fan, does that apply to some one you admire as well?

If you were very avid mac user, and were asked to protect Steve Jobs, would you turn that down?

[Local Talent]

When you say fan, does that apply to some one you admire as well?
Nah, I meant drooling, melting mess of a fan. ;)
Let's say you have a crush on a celeb (actress, singer or whatever). You would have a pb maintaining professional distance with that person from the get-go. I'm pretty sure I'd turn down a one-on-one gig with them.

How to work around females without getting in trouble (for a male protector) could probably fill a book, BTW...

[flash]

Ya, if I had to work around certain actrices, I'd probably get in trouble...not really, but I'd think about getting in trouble.
You'd think that people could be more professional though.
I know that I could put aside personal feelings and desires to do what needed to be done.

[Local Talent]

You'd think that people could be more professional though.
Remember Princess Stephanie of Monaco and her bodyguard (not to mention Whitney and Kevin in The Bodyguard...)? :eek:

Actually, this point you brought up could be the subject of an interesting thread, flash.

We all know we should be able to provide services regardless of our personal feelings toward the protectee.
But at some point, intense feelings (positive or negative) become such a liability that an agent should be taken off a detail or refuse a job, for some of the same reasons that a surgeon doesn't operate on family.

What that point is is probably subjective and open to discussion.

[Local Talent]

Oh, BTW flash, in no way did I want to imply that someone from the entertainment industry, or with aspirations to enter it, should stay away from EP. So I hope you didn't read it that way.
I only meant that it's probably something I'd keep on the DL while performing protective duties in that world.
To quote myself (:)):
So don't get me wrong, what we do on the side is our business, but if we advertise it, and it raises questions about our ability to be detached and keep our mouths shut... I think there's an issue.

I'm sure some could chime in and claim that their client is well aware of their "other" career and "cool with it".
But then I've seen a guy come to interview with a high-powered Republican while displaying "vote Hillary" stickers on his car... and although he still got the job, the client ground her teeth a bit and it took some coaxing on my part!
Just to show that there are no absolute rules, but that advertising isn't smart.

I don't think it's ever good to let people know too much about us...

[usabodyguard]

It's simple, people think they can work in this profession (pro being the operative word) while trying to do some other type of career, so they're not trained and not professional, so they usually fail!

http://blogs.nitobi.com/alexei/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/shipment_of_fail.jpg

http://www.hemmy.net/images/interesting/fail01.jpg

[Local Talent]

Well put, usabodyguard! :thumbs:

A supervisor of mine once said, "I don't care how good you are - what good are you to me if you're not there?" , when addressing attendance/punctuality issues, and that stuck with me.

People entrust us with their safety and property. At the level we talk about in EP, the stakes are high. It's a serious profession to be sure. And being only half-committed to it is irresponsible.

So as much as I admire people able to juggle 2 careers, a family life, a training regimen, etc., I think twice before taking someone on my team when I hear that they have another major focus (not that I believe that one should be a slave to their job!).
Someone working on an acting career will get a lot of calls, need to go on auditions, and generally have their mind somewhere else than on the ball.
That's a conflict right there.

Writing this, I realize that this is something expected and accepted from our friends in LE (who enjoy the lion's share of EP jobs here in L.A.). Just replace auditions with court appearances and tardiness with after-shift OT issues...
But that's another topic entirely.

[flash]

Don't worry tallent. I've given up perusing acting, that ship has sailed.

On that same note as being apprehensive as to hire some one with two careers, what if they were only part time into EP? Not to say that some one with two careers would be less useful on a job though, what if their other job was working in the gardening section on home depot? Would they spend the whole detail admiring the roses?

[Local Talent]

[...] what if their other job was working in the gardening section on home depot? Would they spend the whole detail admiring the roses?
Good one! :)

Listen, what we're talking about here, since online posts are forever and read by many people (some of them industry outsiders or newbies) is an ideal.
The ideal of the dedicated bodyguard willing to sacrifice himself for a client and committed to his craft, code, training, etc. The Protector. The Samurai.

Now stepping back into reality a bit, I never met this guy! Most of us are only approximations of him at best. You'll encounter people from all sorts of backgrounds and with various commitment levels.
And that's OK, we're people, not robots. If I sounded judgmental and sanctimonious, I do apologize. When you return to civilian life, we may end up on a job together (it's a very small world!) and you'll realize that I'm actually a very tolerant guy. Sometimes to a fault. :)

But the point of my post was that I think we should have a "don't ask, don't tell" approach when it comes to most of our private lives. Especially when it comes to politics, religion, sexual orientation, and other controversial subjects.

Some things, you definitely don't want to advertise, because they undermine the "mystique" of the professional bodyguard, a straight arrow who always follows the rules and lives by The Code.

You could ask what this has to do with acting. But we're soldiers/warriors, not entertainers. And I've already expanded on the potential career conflicts and liability when employed by showbiz clients.
In addition, I may be wrong, but I don't think an actor would want to be protected by another actor (some of them admit to not want to even date one).

Your experience may give you inside knowledge (power, as we know), and that's great, but it it were me, I wouldn't put it out there.
When clients or their employees ask me what I do on my time off or after work (a tricky question that always comes up), I invariably say that I return to base to plug into the charger, in order to be ready for the next shift. They tend to seem to believe it (:D) and it defuses any opportunity for fraternizing or further discussion.

Let me say though that some things can be brought up to your advantage, and it's not unheard of to take a client water-skying or shooting (under some guidelines), for instance.
But I doubt anyone is going to ask you to help them work on their lines, know what I mean?

Curious to hear what others think.

[Local Talent]

Just wanted to add that there's a big difference in my mind between somebody who would tell a fellow agent, after knowing him a while, that he had pursued or is still pursuing an acting career, and the guys I've met who will introduce themselves as "actor", or obviously use the job as a stepping stone (Trojan Horse?) into the entertainment industry.

The guy I mentioned in post #1 was only making a fool of himself because of the number of people he would tell about his feats and aspirations (that included valets, client staff, etc.).
When he told me that promoting oneself was a necessary element of success, I advised him to target people who actually care or can do something for him, not fellow agents or the client's help.

The agent who views bodyguarding as an "in" to showbiz should be called on it. Now, if he is utterly professional and keeps his motives to himself, I couldn't care less.

[Mata-Leão]

Well, where do I begin - This is a subject that I have strong feelings on. Not because I have ever experienced that with another pro, but from the description that you gave. I am not seasoned like you guys are. But feel very strongly about what I/we do.

I am thinking that most persons involved in this business see it NOT as a last resort vocation, or a "what the hell am I going to do with this bachelors in arts...guess I'll do some EP to pass the time..." I am thinking that most people see this particular line of work as a calling. Something that intimately fits their personality, character and lifestyle. This is most certainly where I am coming from.

I think there are people out there that are designed from the ground floor up to execute the intricate demands that this job requires. Then, there are others that got out of general police work and found themselves picking their nose standing post for a V.I.P because they passed a police academy course?? Persons that, in my opinion, have no legitimate right for being responsible for another persons well being, especially when there is a threat level above zero.

My opinion since Local is wondering is this:
No, you are there to do a highly specific job and no way in hell are you to be networking with the client in order to pursue a career in something superfluous. The actions of approaching the client or ANY surrounding employees with this matter immediately negates the validity of your position.

I also want to make it clear that I am giving my opinion based SOLELY upon the information and details given by you Local and not trying to generalize every possible scenario. I find myself over the years looking at things very black and white and I feel that it is becoming too much of a habit within my character and I need to embrace the fact that they are many situations that entertain a grey area. That being said, I have found myself in situations and conversations with my client that I knew was off limits only because he was pressing so much. Things that I knew I would tactfully avoid, but sure enough, he pried to the point that it would have been a massive sign of disrespect not to answer.

The topic of 'Working the Principal' is definitely a broad subject with many differing schools of thought. Many threads here will be devoted to the vast idiosyncrasies in relation to your relationship with the Principal. I completely agree that we should maintain a particular mystique about us. I wish I was able to do my job with hardly any conversation with my client, but that is not the way it is. Understandable when you have worked with the guy and his family for 2 years. I like the fact that when I open my mouth, everyone stops to listen because what is flowing from my lips is 100% constructive information. But when you are in familiar casual conversation with your client, this dilutes THAT dynamic.

One thing that really made me feel like that dynamic was still going strong with my client and myself was something that occurred about 4 months ago. My client is a typical North American guy living in Central America. He appreciates the amenities that Costa Rica has to offer, namely partying. I was out with him, his wife and a group that he invited to a massive club in a wealthy part of San Jose. I am a details kind of guy, but will spare everyone that side of me for this story and cut to the point.

When we left at 2am, everyone stumbled to the BMW and sloppily entered the vehicle. My client choose to sit in the back seat with his wife and another guest while I got some doofus associate riding up front with me breathing a mixture of alcohol and cigarette breath all over the dash. I pull out of the exit and pay the parking lot security my tip for taking care of the car and head home. Many different routes to take and almost all of them are back roads. I know my way home perfectly. I know where all the massive potholes are and I know about that manhole cover that has been missing from the main road for over 3 weeks now. But thank God I have an intoxicated co-pilot who is agitating enough to alert me to every possible blip in the radar. One of those guys that gets a hard-on 'talking-shop' with a person like me and argues with me about how it is IMPOSSIBLE that Glock makes a weapon that shoots a 40S&W...because, after all, that IS an exclusive Smith and Wesson cartridge...:confused:

So, after he inundates me with slurring instruction about where I need to go, where the potholes are, where to slow down for the turn, etc, my client speaks sternly from the backseat with his own style of inebriated language and says, "Hey, shut-up man!...Jakob is a Machine, alright? So, chill out man..." Then, the argument naturally switched to them - with the associate assuring my client that he wasn't questioning my abilities...pointless drunk argument that went longer than necessary between them. My client spewed even more pleasantries my direction about his trust during the conversation with his associate. If I never had to listen to an intoxicated person speak again, I would be splendidly happy.

Point is, that is exactly the way my client needs to view me. I need to be an unflinching, motivated, calculating, proficient machine to him. This is how he can maintain peace of mind in a 3rd world country. That is why when I am 1 hour late bringing his daughter back from the Red Zone in San Jose because of a traffic jam, he is not calling me wondering where I am. Furthermore, when I used to call him to update him on my location, he would act as if that was unnecessary.

This is why I am here right? Or is it because I want him to teach me how to setup and use a Forex account - and then explain the in's and out's of world currency trading? :rolleyes:

Please pardon the long post Local Talent.

[Local Talent]

I am thinking that most persons involved in this business see it NOT as a last resort vocation [...]
There's a great number of people calling themselves bodyguards in the L.A area. From what I can tell, it's just a job born out of opportunity for a lot, not so much a vocation.
I stumbled into it myself. It just fits my personality and I hope I don't pontificate too much: they say that a pro should take his job, not himself, seriously, after all...
So frankly and again, I'm not one to judge as long as they do their job and don't sabotage themselves and everyone around.

In every line of work (see LE), you'll find people with various motivation/commitment levels.

Point is, that is exactly the way my client needs to view me. I need to be an unflinching, motivated, calculating, proficient machine to him.
And exactly how I see it. Clients will sometimes invite their protectors to drink, share private stuff, and otherwise relax and have fun with them. I always start refusing, then begrudginly make concessions when I see that they're taking offense. It usually comes up on long-term gigs. But my guard stays up and I make sure they know there a line I won't cross.

Also, just as you should always stay alert for potential threats (drinking on the job is an absolute no-no, IMO), you should always expect tests from the client. Just because they say something is OK, it doesn't make it so: we know better (or should).

By saying no you may lose a buddy (something you don't want a client to become, anyway), but you'll never lose their respect. Sounds to me like you're doing a great job of maintaining appropriate distance, Mata-Leão (no easy task after such a long time and in a foreign country). :thumbs:

Please pardon the long post Local Talent.
Now, you're pulling my leg, right? Did you notice how verbose I can get?! (I'd rather bring it up before someone else does.. :D)
AFAIC, keep it coming, bro. Good stuff...

[Local Talent]

Not because I have ever experienced that with another pro [...]
I'm pretty sure that the cross-pollination between entertainment and protection industries is an L.A phenomenon (do N.Y. bodyguards secretly dream of musicals and theater? :devil2:) so I'm pretty used to it.
I suspect that more than one L.A. cop keeps a pile of headshots in his black & white... :)

I only think that they should keep that in their "secret garden". ;)

[RONIN]

Comming from an industry background, moving to a military one. I've met a lot of people that wish they could be actors.
I image that most people who are not from LA, would get star struck, and be put in AWE by all the glamor that comes with working close to high profile industry types.
Do you think that it might just be a new guy thing? Maybe they will grow out it, or become acustomed to it?

A few years ago, I was on a celeb detail. One of my fellow guards, ask the celeb if she thought he was handsome enough to be a big well known actor. A small little question turned that ride back to her estate into a 30min drive of her GOING off on the guy the whole way to the estate. Yes this is an extreme case, but there are certain times to just.. SHUT THE F&*K UP. As this celeb is known in the industry for being a royal B!T&H.

Situations like & "many others" is what has turned me off of the LA hollywood gigs.. I honestly avoid them like the plague. Anyways sadly I feel more at home in my eagle ciras pc with a slung ar, then in a suit looking pretty. (sorry ep guys)

ronin

[Peter Scullion]

(A calling) ,Your life down for a stranger, That is the only way,like you have said( Train for the worst, hope for the BEST.):karate::karate::copcar::karate:
Those of us in the CPO line the story of the Forty-seven Ronin as historically accurate is some what of a bible to the lads in this trade But 1701 is a long time ago now, But we still have a Ronin in (SA) have you trained there mate.Good People, and good trainers.