Would You Hire the Paparazzi?

Have you always wanted to be famous? Do you wish your life was more champagne, less boring job? Can you give Kim Kardashian a run for her money in the strike-a-pose stakes?

Well the good news is that fame is now within the reach of us mere mortals. Yes, we don’t have to have the number one hit single, the connections or the suspicious is-it-real-or-is-it-fake backside like Ms Kim K.

All we need is a hefty amount of money so we can pay random strangers with cameras to follow us around and take our picture. Ladies , have you heard about a little something called rent-the-paparazzi?

Yes, you read that right. And yes, it is exactly what it sounds like.

Businesses desperate to turn you into a “celebrity” for the day are currently springing up all over America right now and the disturbing thing? People can’t seem to get enough of them.

The premise behind these businesses is fairly simple. You hand over your cold, hard cash and you receive a team of paparazzi in exchange.

These photographers then follow you around, ceaselessly take your picture and tell you how amazing you are until their allocated time with you is up. Then they leave and you’re brought back down to earth with a sharp slap as you realise that no, despite what’s been happening for the past half hour, you are not the next Kirsten Stewart. Sad face.

It sounds pretty insane, right? But these rent-the-paps businesses are doing pretty well for themselves – just proving that you really can make money out of anything.

We have to wonder though, surely there are major side effects to receiving that much attention in such a short space of time?

Does it really go to your head? Do you have a major ‘don’t-you-know-who-i-am’ attitude for the rest of the day? Do you get dependent on the attention? Are you likely to find yourself hiring out the paps every time you leave your house?

More importantly, would they help you carry home all your bags after a particularly exhausting shopping splurge?

We have so many questions about this. But we will admit, we are slightly intrigued. It could probably have its advantages too.

Maybe you’re likely to blag some free stuff if people think you’re famous? And hey, doesn’t everyone love feeling like the centre of attention at some point in their lives?

Plus you’d probably get the chance to acquire yourself a few fans along the way and to practice your autograph (because you’re totally going to be genuinely famous one of these days!).

But despite all that we’re not sure we’d be willing to part with our hard-earned wages so easily – half an hour with the paps can set you back upwards of €400. Would it not be much more economical to pay your friend a tenner and get them to follow you around and take your picture instead? Could be a nice little earner on the side...