Character Helps the Artist Last Longer

I was tweeted not long ago about how ordinary-looking some celebrities were without make-ups and dress-up. And my reply was that we are all ordinary people after all. The celeb does not dot on him/herself the way you do. They know they have rough edges like everyone else, because they did not start out being stars. It's the fans that place them on that pedestal of awesomeness.
 In fact, many discouraging and boring moments of rehearsal and practice precede the final act which you consume with wow feeling. And, even so, every true artist is never really done with the work, but for the fact that money needs to be made so that bills can be paid.
I don't know why people chose to imagine that celebs are any different from you and me. Factually,  when I was a boy, the story got out about how one female star- singer (diva, if you please) slept around and was no more than a street woman. The scandal immediately brought her down. 

People, I think, are always looking for someone perfect to believe in. But, sorry, celebs are not your candidate for that. Even if they tried, they never can keep up the act. My,my! Do you ever let up? They have issues of their own as humans, alright? Most of them again can't even handle the pressure of exploiting the limelight, so they crack under it and look for support in things, like drugs. Yes, those who run them as 'businesses' (brands) know too well that  the limelight will not be focused on them forever. So, they drive them beyond human endurance to make the most money while they can. And you think they are gods! And most likely, as it happened to Herod, the real God gets angry with them, and brings them down till they are eaten by worms! Unfortunately, some of them actually start believing that they are more than humans. As such, it is far removed from them to consider making peace with God, till the very gift He endowed their lives with destroys them.
Besides your fantasizing about the artists' being more than human, a major artist killer is lack of character. A role model should always live the role. If you ever get to the eye of the public you can't afford to go naked, as it were! You asked for it, so be it! You must be a perfect person, even if circumstance makes you want to act other wise.
I've heard it said that talent, packaging and favor might lift you up; however, it's character that will help you last longer up there. So many people have undone themselves by thoughtless indiscretion and lack of self control.
 Even if lack of character does not publicly ruin an artist in a grand way, the one to one interactions with others that form your crew and inner group will expose you for who you are. And when they see, they'll dump you like a pack of cards. Don't forget that it's only the fans who think you are a star. There are still the star-makers who know how they chipped rough-edges here and there off you to make you become. They can abandon you. No man is an island. As we say in the Igbo dialect of Nigeria, one man does not play music! At least, even with tech these days, you still need people working in the background with you.
Now, take a look at me, Stormwiind, for example of how you cannot do it alone. I say I am an indie,right? But I work with a producer, electronic mode orchestration; I seek IT advice from others if I think I can't do it myself; I contract online distribution 'aggregator' who in turn engages a list of online shops to finally sell the songs to my fans. And, if in future it becomes imperative that I must get on stage, I shall need organizers, band players, roadies, DJ s etc. No one can do it alone. We are all just humans. It is the network that makes it happen and you think celebs are super humans.
 Still, to keep it all together and going, the celeb needs character. Now, isn't lack of character a major human flaw? Do the gods have need of character? Well then, aren't celebrities being made out as gods if we act surprised that they look ordinary a times?