We can video what takes place in our own or somebody else’s bedroom with a camera disguised as a tissue box or clock-radio. Or we can record people in public places using a camera in a drink can . . .

Most of us suffer from voyeurism in a mild form that can be appeased by watching YouTube or reality television but if it your interest in other people’s private doings takes up a large portion of your life, then you have a problem. Or not.

Here is a video detailing how we can make our own spy camera from a USB webcam.

The fact is, people giving advice on becoming famous are simply gleaning some information on how famous people got that way, then telling us about it as if fame can be duplicated like a fast food franchise. There’s plenty of advice along the lines of dressing like a celebrity and being seen at big occasions, but the best advice is to be the best at whatever you do, and try to be first at doing something.

In the Lifehack post, Eight Cheap Ways to Become Famous without Killing Anyone, Tatsuya Nakagawa notes that William Hung became famous by being the worst at something. If you don’t know who he is, I guess it’s wearing off.

On WikiHow, “The How-to Manual That You Can Edit”, you will find tutorials on how to act like a celebrity, how to become a celebrity and how to become famous.

I feel that I’ve given away far too much now. You all have the data necessary to go out and be famous. What’s the other thing you need?

When a person is suffering from an illness and he receives some attention from another person, he will feel better. The burden is willing shared by someone. The sick person feels that the other person is always there for them and the wight of their illness is made lighter. This principle is said to be the origin of healing in societies all around the world.

In Western culture we have invented ways of enhancing the sense of sight so that medical researchers can see the cause to disease and work to find cures by combatting micro-organisms with other micro-organisms together with natural and manufactured substances that can be seen to kill the creatures that make us sick.

So treatment of disease with drugs and vaccines has evolved. But along with the revelation of how these cures work scientists have discovered that cures, or at least remissions can come about by simply TELLING patients that they have been given medicines. It appears that we could get better just by believing that we will.

Of course this simplistic model of the placebo effect doesn’t always work, and there are many variables that play a part in the process of healing without the use of drugs or vaccines. Modern techniques for observing the workings of the brain are, some researchers say, indicating that what a patient believes can affect the body in a direct way. So maybe we not only have our psychological feelings of well-being lifted by a placebo but our physiology can be changed too!

Here is a very interesting video on the placebo effect -

The thing that interests me in this is the extent to which we are influenced by what we are told. We almost never investigate deeply to prove our beliefs, in fact we can become emotionally attached to opinions that do not stand up to scrutiny. That’s a fact, but in spite of that, we all think we are pretty smart cookies.

Not only is acting a career desired by almost everyone in the world but we all think that we could excel at it. Everybody in the world thinks that he is special and unique. That may be true but the thing is nobody else wants to know about it.

There is a whole industry set up for aspiring actors. There are agents, acting coaches, publicists, plastic surgeons and a whole host of other people holding their hands out to people who want to be actors. Many young actors get their first jobs with the help of the people in this new culture. But the kind of luck associated with Lana Turner who was discovered sipping a Coke in a drugstore is still responsible for many acting careers.

There is more than likely a local theater company in your area. If you don’t have the funds to drop your life and go to Hollywood, start with your local acting troupe. This gets you into the practical field of acting. You audition, you learn your lines, you find out about taking your mark on a stage. This is the craft of acting which takes you out of the realm of daydreaming of whata you are going to do in the future and into the world of putting yourself in front of an audience.

If you want to be in the movies or television the experience you get in a small theater will help you get your foot in the door. Anybody can dream but you can show that you are capable of doing.

Another approach to an acting career is by way of film schools. These are set up in cities of any size by people who have gained experience in the movie business and have made their career helping others to break into movie acting. You will get the opportunity to act, and you will probably end up with a tape of your performances. You might even be in a movie that gets seen at a film festival.

You might also be able to get on the books of an agency that supplies extras to film and television companies. And look up whether there are any independent film companies that you could become involved with.

One thing’s for sure, you will find people offering services that will help make you a star. The trouble is they won’t deliver. Watch out first of all for anybody who guarantees they can make you a successful actor. Nobody can do that. Legitimate agents get a percentage of what you are paid from any jobs they help you get. Do not get involved with one who wants an up front fee. People who offer photo shoots or acting courses for sale and say they will get you work if you sign up are not telling the truth.

So I have presented a few ideas that you could consider to get you started as an actor. If you think that you will be snapped up and given the recognition you deserve, you may very well be correct.

Art shows advertise in local or regional publications and on local radio. Find out where and when announcements of forthcoming art and craft shows appear and make sure you keep yourself up to date. If you are lucky you could find reviews of art shows in some of your local papers.

Rather than start exhibiting your work right away, go to your local art show as a visitor. Get the feel of how the artists set up their work and the attitude of the viewers. Get the feel of how the craft fair or art show works. Take note of which stands get a lot of visits and any that get very little traffic. Strike up a conversation with some of the exhibitors and see if you can get some tips on what to do when you put yourself out there as an artist.

An important bit of info you could pick up by talking to stallholders is whether the visitors to a particular fair are browsers or buyers. You might not want to waste your time at a craft fair that doesn’t yield a profit.

One advantage of the art and craft shows is that you sell direct to your visitors. The fair organizers don’t take a commission – all you do is pay for the rental of your stand. So all the profit from the sale of your artwork goes in your own pocket.

Don’t stay with one price range. You can attract people to stop at your stand with moderately priced art and they could be converted to buyers of your higher priced works once they’ve started browsing. Also, while we are on the subject of money, you really should consider setting yourself up to accept credit cards as payment. Some people could be wanting to buy but hampered by not having enough cash on hand.

One aspect of selling your art at a fair that you might not have thought of is the need for help from a friend or a family member. Setting up at the beginning and the end of the day can sometimes be a bit of a challenge but also you might find that during a day at a craft show you will be in need of some company and moral support.

If you sell your art through a gallery or shop, or online, you probably know about the advantages of a mailing list. At your craft fair stand you can leave out some forms that people can fill so they can get updates on your production of new pieces and the venues will be exhibiting at.

Sometimes people who make money at weekend activities might fool themselves about how much money they are actually making. It’s always best to be brutal about keeping records of expenses. Put down every little thing. All the petrol expenses, money that you spend on food and drinks that you might not have spent if you were at home.

Finally, give yourself a fair chance to succeed as a professional artist or craftsperson. Do not give up until you have seen and covered every opportunity to show your work, save on expenses, attract visitors and work on your people skills. It may take longer than you first thought but it will be worth it in the long run.