On Celebrities and Soirees

Celebrities and soirees go together like cocktails and canapes, but for a sophisticated, interesting, intelligent shindig, too much celebrity just won't work.


So far, the invitees to my soiree are all well-known, in and well beyond their fields, but don't have super-celebrity status.

By "super-celebrity," I mean someone whose death would bring the media flocking to home or hospital (Michael Jackson), someone whose activities would rate the whole hour on Larry King. Someone like Oprah, whose appearance on TV commands millions of viewers.

To make my point: Do you know who these people are?

He's very, very well known. Your answer is?

                                                                                                                                  well,duh!                                                                                                       

                                                    

                                                                                                                                                       
The dynamic between mere mortals and super-celebrities is not one of equals. For the mere mortal, the glare of fame may be too bright to see beyond. For the super-celeb, the famous persona may, and may have to, block real connection.

What's lost is a lively exchange of ideas and the opportunity for mere mortals to make the acquaintance of another successful and interesting person, as opposed to a successful and interesting persona.

(martini photo credit)