Stars...bright, admired, and people always wonder about them

"The savage worships idols of wood and stone; the civilized man, idols of flesh and blood." -George Bernard Shaw

Stars glitter and scintillate, dazzling in the night sky. the same is with human Stars. We want to watch them because of their glittering presence, but they are vague enough that we never really know them...even if we think we do. They're elusive. They make us grasp at them to see if we can catch just a bit more. They fascintate us.

Stars can captivate doing nothing. No matter what they're doing, they're magnificent. Your eyes are attracted to them. Take Marlene Dietrich (a film star from the Golden Age of Hollywood). There was a line of beautiful women all trying out for parts. Many acted out in different ways to get attention, but the casting director couldn't take his eyes from Dietrich. She was simply dressed, didn't act out, but every movement engrossed him. She was fascinating. By the time it was her turn to read, he'd already cast her. During this, Dietrich kept her face blank, allowing the director to see what he wanted. And he did.

The point is that no matter who a Star really is, they allow you to see what you want to see in them. Like when JFK ran for the U.S. presidency. It was right after movies like Shane and Rebel without a Cause and the like. Then JFK come on proclaiming the greatness of this young country, with the heart of a young man, with young ideals, and so on. He alluded to what was going on in society and the lack of excitement some felt after World War II. And the people loved him for it. He was more of Hollywood than Washington--they loved him for that too.

Keys:

1. Mix the Real and Unreal:
You are the Star, the character from a person's dream in human form. You have Real qualities (playfulness, humor, even a hint of cruelty, idealism) and Unreal qualities (ethereal grace, blankness, presence)--the mix of them creates fascination and enticement to those around you. Most people's lives are boring, so they look to you and yours for excitement of any kind.
Just think of how many magazines in the checkout aisles in the local grocery store are covered with Hollywood stars, scandals, etc. People get involved because their lives are boring.

2. PRESENCE:
This has to be the most important for a Star. Without this, you aren't one. You have to stand out from the crowd to fill your target's mind with you. You need a style or presence to make you stand out from everyone else. Be dreamlike, but the target must focus on you. Your job is to make it impossible for them not to focus on you. They have to see you even when you aren't there.

3. Blank face:
Like Dietrich, you need to develop a face that radiates and still allows others to read whatever they want into you. They will do that on their own, you just need to provide the canvas. They will believe that they can see your soul, whether this is true or not doesn't matter. Instead of having great emotion, Stars have great interpretation. With a slight change in expression, people will see what they want.

4. Mix in a hint of something...
When cultivating yourself, make impact, then mix in a contradiction. A hint of spirituality, goodness, generosity, show a little of the things or people you love, the causes you care about, etc. These can all add to your seduction. People love contradiction and always want to know more about Stars. But Stars don't tell it all, that's why they're Stars.

5. Vicarious Thrills:
Since most people are bored in their lives, they like to know about people who aren't. People that do exciting things, go strange places, etc. are always intriguing to the public. That doesn't mean that you need to climb Mt. Everest, backpack through the Amazon, get into bar fights, or anything like that. It just means that you need to do those things in life that you want to do anyway. Go skydiving, if you want to. Then, let people know--quietly, methodically, through a third or fourth party--that you did it. They will ask you about it. They always do.


Just a quick note: Everyone has a mask they wear in public, a different mode of behavior. We're all actors. Some are better than others. But all of us are judged on how we portray ourselves, our appearance. No one really knows what others think and feel and, if they're honest, many people really don't care. Think of how many people ask you how you are doing in a day. Do they want the real answer? Usually not.

So perform. Be playful about yourself, Star, maintain an inner distance from life. And remember to remake yourself periodically. It keeps people interested. They grow and change, so must you. You can never be too familiar for too long.

A Danger to be aware of: You are creating an illusion that is pleasurable to others. When they tire of it, or it ceases to be pleasureable, people will turn to someone else. Adjust. Notoriety is not a problem for you, neither are slurs. They are forgivable and may even enhance you presence. But when people become obsessed wtih Stars there is a problem. Remember that this may happen. Prepare for it.