Right now (on UKTV) there's another batch of TV shows where famous faces try their hand at a variety of challenges. I say 'right now' in fact they always seem to be on.
Why do they do it?
OK, for some it's a way of getting on TV at a time when their career is slipping. They hope the exposure will bring them to the attention of an agent, a producer, anyone lookng for someone like them.
But it's not only about that, is it, by a long way. Many currently these competitions are regularly in work and currently very busy. Quite how they find the time, energy and stamina to sqeeze in another 20+ hours of gruelling dance training each week is amazing in itself.
But they do. But why?
I think perhaps each has their own different reasons. Different motivations. Perhaps the initial attraction was the challenge. Maybe they felt that it presented an opportunity to prove themselves without a script and a director. Or a chance to test their staying power, or their learning ability. Or maybe merely a diversion, as a break, a chance to explore a long held but forgotten love for that task.
Whether it is skating, dance, singing, farming, cooking, circus performance, athletics or conducting an orchestra ... attempting these challenges in public, under the close, critical scrutiny of expert judges, risking being humiliated must have some massive rewards to balance those risks.
I've heard of several who when they were first approached by the program maker, declined. They reconsidered and undertook the task. In other words, initially it wasn't even in their mind, yet alone something they'd always wanted to do. And then when they do ell, they admit they've got the bug and long after the competition is over, they are still participating in they activity.
Whatever the reasons, it would be good if more of us had these motivations in our lives, wouldn't it? Perhaps then we'd have more following their passion and achieving their dreams.
Do you have a dream? What motivates you to achieve it? Will you be relentless in its pursuit?
Tell me about it ...
John
The Infotainer