Ariel Leve
Win VIP tickets
Last week in Los Angeles, I learned of a new job: “Sober Companion” or “Clean Living Assistant.” Someone gets paid $2,000 a day to make sure a celebrity doesn't drink and prevents them from relapsing.
They’re on retainer to follow the person around the clock making sure they stay clean.
Finally, a job I have qualifications for. I don’t drink and I like clean living. Also, I’m good at sleeping late and talking. The only problem is I’d have to talk to celebrities. And celebrities love to sit in the sun. I’d be good at the sober part. The rest, not so much.
I guess it would depend on who hired me. If George Clooney were looking, I’d offer to work weekends. But if Paris Hilton hired me, I’d last 10 seconds. As soon as she said she was going to tan, I’d want to go home.
Another variation of the same job is an Eating Coach. The job consists of following the celebrity around on errands and making sure they don’t skip meals or consider gum counts as lunch. I’m assuming it’s based on positive re-enforcement and support. How hard can that be? I’ll remind them: “If you don ’t eat you’ll end up with kidney failure.” No one wants a movie star on dialysis.
I asked my friend Liz who is a recovering alcoholic if she’d ever want a sober companion. “I already have that,” she said. “It’s called Alcoholics Anonymous.”
My friend Sophie says her dream would be to hire a Reality Check Companion. Whenever a man came into the picture she would be on duty. The job would be to point out why this man was an unsuitable romantic interest and refer to things he was doing or saying that were red flags.
Then no matter how much Sophie tried to rationalise it could work, the Reality Check Companion would refute it. In dire circumstances she would bring up the exes as a cautionary tale. Emotionally, the working conditions might be stressful. Especially around Valentines Day. On the other hand, the job would be part time. No one wants reality full time.
I’m not sure what sort of assistant I would hire. Maybe a Wellness Companion. Every time I thought I had something he or she would point out why it probably wasn’t what I thought it was. Then we’d argue. I’d say: “How do you know?”. They’d say: “I don’t know for sure” and I’d say "that’s your job – to know for SURE". I can’t see anyone qualified for that position. Except a doctor. But if you’ve gone to the trouble to get a medical degree chances are you don’t want to follow me around while I do my chores.
Maybe a summer companion would be easier. Someone to make sure that from June to September I always have access to airconditioning.
But I’d have to be a celebrity first. Once you’re a celebrity there’s no job too small. You can hire someone to peel your bananas. Nobody says "do it yourself" to a celebrity. Why expend energy or will power when someone else can do it for you?
I wonder if there's an Anger Companion. Naomi Campbell should get one. Next time she gets upset this person would step in and remind her not to throw her iPhone at the maid's head because she might break it — and Phone's are expensive to replace.
And what about a Depressed Companion? Let’s say someone like Tom Cruise wanted to change his image. He’d have to get rid of the cheerful persona. He’d need to hire someone who could wipe the smile off his face and help him see the darker side of life. Now there’s a job I’d be good at.
Ariel Leve writes for The Sunday Times Magazine, specialising in investigative features, in-depth interviews and a humorous weekly column, Cassandra. She was awarded Feature Writer of the Year by the British Magazine Design & Journalism Awards in 2008 and in the same year Highly Commended in the British Press Awards, for which she has twice been nominated. Her book, The Cassandra Chronicles, will be published by Portobello Books August 6th (UK) and HarperPerennial (US and Canada) March 2010. Click below to read her Cassandra column
Win a luxury weekend to Newcastle and its neighbour Gateshead, find out more here
Risk, resilience and embracing new technology
Industry sectors news at a glance. Interactive heatmap, video and podcast
Discover the power of collective thinking. Submit a solution and be in with a chance to win a Media Hub Home Entertainment System
The inside track on current trends in the charity, not for profit and social enterprise sectors
Everything the Business Traveller needs to know to make a better trip
Make the most of the summer and enter our fabulous photographic competition, you could win a £5000 holiday
Corsica is an island of beauty and contrast, an ideal holiday destination
Enjoy further reading from Travel to Fashion, Business to Sport, discover more
Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles
The clever way to lease a new car is with Car leasing made simple™
2009
per month on 36-month
Personal Contract Hire (PCH)
2008
42850
Car Insurance
£23,093 - £56,211
The Office for National Statistics
Newport, South Wales
£60,000
The Environment Agency
Bristol
Up to £90K
Boots
Midlands
OTE £85k
Credit Protection Association
Nationwide Opportunities
Completely London
Luxury Condo's in Manhattan with NYC views
The best new homes in Wimbledon?
Nationwide
Fabulous Cruise And Cruise & Stay Offers Including Virgin Atlantic Flights Prices Start From Only £699pp!
Last Minute Cruise And Cruise & Stay Offers. Med From £499pp, Caribbean From £699pp!
5 star quality at a 3 star price.
8 fabulous Canadian cities ...you won’t find cheaper
Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times, or place your advertisement.
Times Online Services: Dating | Jobs | Property Search | Used Cars | Holidays | Births, Marriages, Deaths | Subscriptions | E-paper
News International associated websites: Globrix Property Search | Property Finder | Milkround
Copyright 2009 Times Newspapers Ltd.
This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and Conditions. Please read our Privacy Policy.To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times or The Sunday Times, click here.This website is published by a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia St, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for the News International group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.
Terrific punchline, great stuff.
raia , oxford, uk
How about a Punctuation Companion, to remove apostrophes and capital letters from places such as Phone's?
Steve, Mundelein, USA
Anger companion would be usefull in the unjust family law system that blights this country as if you dare show 'your disatisfaction' for the procees you suddenly become this unworthy parent of your own children after 12 years in the job! These poor little rich girls should have a reality check comp!
Dave Farmer, Broxbourne, England
Great subject to muse on. I'd like a reality check companion to move in!
Cynthia, NY, USA