‘White guy for rent’ and other cases of accidental celebrity
From the Shanghaiist Halloween Party 2008. Photo: Jakob Montrasio / Flickr Creative Commons
The novelty of being a foreigner can lead to unexpected job opportunities, as this article in The Atlantic explains: Rent a white guy. The shady nature of the job and over-the-top pay could be a symptom of a bubble economy, reminiscent of 90’s Japan. Or at least racial stereotyping. CNN did a similar story, along with a video of interviews: Chinese companies ‘rent’ white foreigners.
Why do Chinese companies rent white guys? The articles cite various reasons. Many like to have a foreigner present to make their business appear to be more international, prestigious, and successful. Since China is notorious for its counterfeit products, having a Westerner on hand lends a veneer of credibility. If a company has foreign clients or foreign executives, Chinese will believe that company is doing something right.
In exchange for this, these temporary faces receive cash, free travel, and complimentary meals. There is a danger to this easy work, however. In these situations, the foreigner could easily be implicated as an accomplice to fraud.
Entertainment is a more legitimate realm. Every expat has a story of breaking into acting, modeling, etc. without really trying. Or they know someone who did. I was once working at an office in Taiwan when I suddenly got cast in a radio drama, because they needed a native English speaker at the last minute.
An English girl I knew was traveling around China and got asked to be in a ‘documentary.’ Although the scripted nature of the job made her suspect it was really for a film. A Canadian friend got drafted to don a suit and tie and serve as a news anchor for a Buddhist TV channel.
Most expats treat these incidents as fun adventures and great stories to tell their friends. Some take it more seriously and build a long-term career out of it. Other expats get so addicted to fame that they’re unable to let go of it and return to their home countries. It can be a big comedown to go from being a hot dating prospect overseas to an ordinary citizen at home. You don’t necessarily need to be on TV either. Being the only foreigner in a small village can turn a regular person into a superstar.
Have you gotten the star treatment or know someone who did? Please share your stories in the comments.
July 23rd, 2010 at 4:20 am
I’m an Asian living in Italy, and I’ve also been to Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia. I can attest that this is a phenomena almost exclusively experienced by white foreigners only.
…Except in Japan, where there were hip-hop clothing stores in the 90s and 2000s that hired black men to sit in front of their stores to make them look more urban. It’s not really reminiscent of a bubble economy, but a culture that associate certain images with certain races, and have enough money to sate their sterotypes.
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:37 am
Who knew that being a white guy or gal could pay-off in some foreign countries. It’s a good way to make some extra cash along the way if you’re cast in a “paying” movie or documentary.