Well, it took all of Monday to do, but I finally came back down to earth after the realization that - while work eventually gets rewarded by hella playing - playing needs to be balanced by some (okay, a lot) of work.But sometimes I wonder how a lot of people here make their money. Really! There are a lot of hard-working individuals here, average Joes and Janes, nine-to-fivers, working actors/actresses, freelancers, etc., which makes playing hard soooo fun. But at the same time there are some people where I honestly and truthfully don't know how they keep afloat. Really, how do they do it?
Here are my top 5 wildly fabricated assumptions semi-based on truth:
1. Married well/sugar baby. General description: Drives a new luxury vehicle, usually a coupe, sometimes a mid-size SUV. Wears giant designer sunglasses, cashmere tracksuits, and has a fresh manicure similar to Kim Kardashian's (which, as of Paris Fashion week, was long and nude). Rarely is seen below 3rd Street or east of La Cienega. Bonus: carries a giant Saks Fifth Avenue or Bloomingdale's shopping bag, has a tight and toned Pure Barre body, and one to two young children (if a sugar baby, ix-nay this detail). (Represents about 35-40% of the population.)
2. Lawsuit/settlement. General description: Drives a convertible or white mid-size SUV (think Mercedes or Porsche, maybe Land or Range Rover), has a business venture in the works and two in the bag. Friends with the ambitious-rich-type more than the ambitious-working-class-type. 7 out of 10 times "just bought something new" and out of most anyone's price range.Usually flirts around those that frequent the entertainment stalls, talks about "having" to be up at 9am on a Thursday for "work", but has time to make both a hot yoga class and microdermabrasion facial that same afternoon at 1 and 3pm, respectfully. (Represents about 25-30% of the population.)
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| Poolside at Sixty, Beverly Hills. |
4. Working that promo/"I was someone in a past life" realness. General description: This is someone who was a somebody back in the day and will continue to ride that fame horse until its legs give out. This helps with a lot of freebies that can either be sold or worn in a photo shoot down the line. The "Search & Explore" section of Instagram will likely feature a flyer to a discount/freebie champagne brunch in their name, gifted by an establishment. Drives either a Toyota or bums a ride. Pouts a lot. (Represents about 5% of the population.)
5. People who actually work (and probably go to school), no matter their income tax bracket. General description: The yoga instructor I take weekend classes from. The server who refills my bottomless mimosa. The front desk receptionist at the spa. The personal trainer at the gym who also runs the supplement store-front. The casting director, the grassroots entrepreneur, the CEO of any firm, the admin/Uber driver/script writer, and so on.
These are the Joes and Janes working for or towards something, with as much or little ambition as the next person. (Represents about 20% of the population, and are clearly the reason for the all the traffic on the way to and from the Westside.)
There is gold in these hills, but that doesn't mean that people don't work for it. The schedules and the payout may be different, but there are a decent amount of people who work hard for their money. Putting it very kindly, it may not be conventional, but it doesn't mean it's not work. Someone's got to do it. Where there's a need, there's a way. In part, that is what makes living, working, and playing here so damned entertaining.
What's your dream job? Do you think some people have it easier than others? Do you like your job?
