Working as a Hollywood assistant can be a challenging and demanding job, requiring a high level of dedication and flexibility. To gain a better understanding of what it’s really like to work in this industry, I reached out to assistants currently employed in the entertainment sector and asked them to share their experiences. The following are their stories, in their own words.

The agency assistant who has been working in the industry for seven years:

“The weirdest request my boss ever made was to buy his birthday cake, but it couldn’t be expensive, but it had to look expensive. He also wanted me to follow him around during his birthday party and collect all of the gifts and not leave his side.”

“The dumbest thing I had to do on the job was to watch my boss’s child, on repeat, for weeks on end, without being asked.”

“My advice to aspiring assistants is don’t be a fucking dick. That kind of attitude will get around and you will burn your bridges faster than you think.”

“A fun fact is that screaming obscenities at your boss will not cost you your job. In fact, it makes them like you more and then when you want to get fired, they won’t do it.”

The TV assistant who has been working in the industry for five years:

“During the interview process, I was asked what my ‘guilty pleasure’ was, if there were more gay people in San Francisco than there are here, if I had any party planning experience and if I thought it was beneath me to change lightbulbs or clean carpets.”

“The most bizarre request my boss ever made was to find out what the best ice cream cake was in San Diego, order it to be made fresh and hand-delivered (requiring an ice box situation) to my boss’s ailing grandmother in the hospital during visiting hours.”

“My least favorite work task is cancelling important meetings so my boss can fit in a facial.”

“As an assistant, we keep a list of ‘bad assistants’ at our office: people who have bad attitudes, are disorganized, too slow, rude, etc. Everyone knows who they are, and these lists are everywhere. DON’T GET ON THE LIST!!!!

The TV production assistant who has been working in the industry for three years:

“The weirdest request my boss ever made was to make all the arrangements for her daughter to go to summer camp. I knew nothing about her daughter, so every five seconds I’d be asking, ‘What size does your daughter wear?’ ‘Would she prefer to participate in an afternoon class on poetry or female authors of the 1900s?’ ‘Does she want to do any sports?’ All the while thinking, IT’S YOUR CHILD, YOU DO IT. People in this industry should not be parents.”

“The worst part of the job is ALL of my bosses have asked me technology-related questions. They’ve wanted me to set up in-office networks, fix their broken laptops, sync all their Mac accounts, etc. I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY. If the network is down, it’s down. Why on earth would I know how to get it back up and running when I barely know how to turn on my OWN laptop? I’m an aspiring writer, not a former computer engineering major.”

“What’s crucial to being an assistant is to have a positive attitude and plenty of energy. The people you’re working for are usually exhausted and more stressed than you can comprehend, and all they need is for someone to make their lives a little easier and their days a little brighter. Even if it just means that you’re handing them a warm cup of coffee when they step in the door. It’s all about personality and attitude.”

The film production assistant who has been working in the industry for six years:

“The grossest thing I’ve ever done on the job was to schedule my boss’s vasectomy, which is actually three meetings: a consultation, the procedure, and a follow-up. When I called to confirm meeting #2, the procedure, the nurse told me to tell my boss to, ‘Remember to trim the ….”

“Another weird request my boss ever made was to buy him a specific brand of toilet paper because he claimed it was the only one that didn’t give him rashes.”

“The worst part of the job is having to deal with the constant mood swings and unrealistic expectations of my boss.”

“One important thing to keep in mind as an assistant is to always maintain a professional demeanor and not take things personally. It’s important to remember that your boss’s behavior is not a reflection of you, but rather a reflection of their own issues.”

The talent agency assistant who has been working in the industry for four years:

“The weirdest request my boss ever made was to book a flight for his dog to travel with him on a business trip.”

“The worst part of the job is having to deal with the constant and last-minute changes in schedule and the lack of appreciation for the work that we do.”

“One important thing to keep in mind as an assistant is to always have a good sense of humor and not take things too seriously. It helps to keep things in perspective and to not get too caught up in the craziness of the industry.”

The personal assistant to a celebrity who has been working in the industry for two years:

“The weirdest request my boss ever made was to buy him a specific brand of toothpaste because it was the only one that he felt gave him the freshest breath.”

“The worst part of the job is having to deal with the constant paparazzi and the lack of privacy.”

“One important thing to keep in mind as an assistant is to always be discreet and not to share any personal information about your boss.”

The executive assistant who has been working in the industry for eight years:

“The weirdest request my boss ever made was to book a private jet for him and his family to go on a vacation, but only for a weekend.”

“The worst part of the job is having to deal with the constant and unrealistic demands of my boss.”

“One important thing to keep in mind as an assistant is to always be organized and to prioritize your tasks.”

The personal assistant to a director who has been working in the industry for five years:

“The weirdest request my boss ever made was to buy him a specific brand of shampoo because it was the only one that he felt gave him the best hair.”

“The worst part of the job is having to deal with the constant and unrealistic expectations of my boss.”

“One important thing to keep in mind as an assistant is to always be prepared and to anticipate your boss’s needs.”

The executive assistant to a producer who has been working in the industry for seven years:

“The weirdest request my boss ever made was to book a private yacht for him and his friends to go on a weekend trip.”

“The worst part of the job is having to deal with the constant and unrealistic demands of my boss.”

“One important thing to keep in mind as an assistant is to always be professional and to maintain a positive attitude, even in the face of difficult situations.”

The personal assistant to an actor who has been working in the industry for three years:

“The weirdest request my boss ever made was to buy him a specific brand of socks because they were the only ones that he felt were comfortable enough for him to wear on set.”

“The worst part of the job is having to deal with the constant and unrealistic demands of my boss.”

“One important thing to keep in mind as an assistant is to always be reliable and to have a good sense of time management.”