The first Monday of May is known to many as one of the most glamorous nights in the social calendar, and anyone who is anyone has their eyes on the Met Gala. And this year is no different.
The bad news for us is that the Met Gala is extremely exclusive. A ticket allegedly costs around $75,000, and you have to have an invite to get in. Fear not, for us “peasants”, there’s an easy path to get in – not pulling off the Met Gala heist like in the movie The Ocean’s Eight (Don’t worry!). If you aspire to attend the Met Gala, here are 9 career paths to consider, ranked from the most challenging to the easiest.
Fashion designer
Average advertised salary: $63,771
Fashion designers are the real stars of the Met Gala. They showcase some of their most iconic designs and work closely with their chosen stars to create jaw-dropping looks.
To rise to the heights of Alexander Wang, Stella McCartney, and Ralph Lauren, it’s not an easy ride. If you’re lucky, you’ll start your career at the lowest rungs as an intern or assistant designer. You’ll need a fashion degree, a solid portfolio, and probably need to do a lot of unpaid work before you land your first role.
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Fashion stylist
Average advertised salary: $54,672
Unlike movie premieres or award show red carpets, the Met Gala demands more than just playing it safe. It’s all about pushing boundaries and making iconic statements. And who better to guide the celebs than fashion stylists who are trained to decode dress codes and craft iconic looks?
To be a stylist, you need an eye for detail, a flair for creativity, and serious fashion know-how. Although you don’t necessarily need a fashion degree, many stylists find that a relevant degree in fashion or design can help them when they’re starting out. Most importantly, you’ll need to be stylish, be able to sell yourself, and have excellent interpersonal skills.
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Magazine editor/Social media manager
Average advertised salary: $66,000
Arguably, the queen of the Met Gala, Anna Wintour, has presided over the event proceedings since 1995. As editor-in-chief at Vogue, she’s spent decades deciding what is fashionable and what is not, and she’s known for her strict oversight of the Met Gala’s guestlist.
Magazine careers are demanding. You’ll need to work your way up from a junior journalist and reach the heights of Wintour, which are only reserved for a select few. But you don’t need to be Wintour to get inside the Met Gala. If you land a junior role in fashion, while you might not be able to walk the red carpet, you might be able to get in the venue for some live reporting.
Museum curator
Average advertised salary: $54,552
The Met Gala is hosted every year at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET). While the red carpet arrivals always steal the spotlight, it is not a fashion show. One of the staples of the Met Gala is actually the exhibition. This year, under the theme of “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion”, celebrities will have the exclusive opportunity to preview the exhibition curated around this theme. Curators may attend the gala for on-site support and to cultivate relationships with potential donors and philanthropists who are passionate about supporting the arts.
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Fundraising coordinator
Average advertised salary: $54,552
The Met Gala is fundamentally a charity event for the Costume Institute. Through ticket sales, sponsorships, and donations, the Met Gala generates significant revenue to sustain the Costume Institute’s activities throughout the year.
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Event planner
Average advertised salary: $59,674
If you want to create glamorous events like the Oscars and the Met Gala, consider becoming an event planner. An event planner is responsible for coordinating all the essential elements, like food and decorations, and will be tasked with delivering a theme as memorable as Jared Leto dressed as a cat. You must be organized, be able to think independently, and have a creative flair. You’ll usually start your career as an events assistant and work your way up.
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Photographer
Average advertised salary: $42,770
The “Met Gala” is a”no phone allowed inside” event in order to keep the mystery alive. The only pics from the attendees are either get-ready-with-me pics or bathroom selfies! Professional photographers are hired to take pictures inside.
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Makeup artist
Average advertised salary: $42,762
With stars going viral when they have a DIY approach to makeup (we’re looking at you Julia Fox) makeup artists for the stars are in high demand. Celebs’ makeup artists or personal assistants usually tag along for some last-minute touch-up.
To begin your career as a makeup artist, you’ll probably need to earn a living on makeup counters or working for a beauty brand first, but if you work hard, you could be on-site at the Met Gala giving retouches to the great and good. This career could also take you into film, TV, and fashion.
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Waiter
Average advertised salary: $31,940
Waiters work behind the scenes to coordinate with event organizers, chefs, and other staff members to ensure that all aspects of the event catering and hospitality run seamlessly. You will be offering drinks and hors d’oeuvres, and assisting with seating arrangements and special requests.
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Other glamourous day jobs
If you want the glamour 24/7, here are other glamorous jobs in the US to consider and what you might expect to earn.
Pilot
Median salary: $134,630
Up, up, and away. Pilots have a career that takes them places, and in film, they’re portrayed as suave, sophisticated, and sexy. Think Leonardo DiCaprio in his iconic role in Catch Me If You Can.
The reality is a bit less glamorous. Sure, you get to jet set internationally and might even get the privilege of piloting private jets for some top celebs, but it’s also a lot of hard work. It takes three months to get a private license (and costs around $15-20k), with a further two years of training (and a lot more money) to fly commercial.
Average advertised salary: $84,942
If the stars of Selling Sunset are anything to go by, working in real estate can be very glamorous indeed. An office on the Sunset Strip, designer clothes, and eye-watering commissions make this a career that’s hard work and high rewards.
You may only sometimes be paid a baseline salary with your wages based on what you sell, but if you live in an expensive area, selling one property could bag you what most people earn in a year.
You’ll need a state license and a high school diploma or GED, but really, you need contacts and rich ones.
Average advertised salary: $44,752
Kitchens are high-stress environments; if we’ve learned anything from The Bear, we can say they’re far from glamorous. But what about those chefs who become household names? They spend a lot less time making food for customers and instead, they’re producing books, and entertaining us on TV.
Take Gordon Ramsay, for example. He has multiple successful TV shows and countless restaurants worldwide and is even one of David and Victoria Beckham’s best friends.
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Median salary: $135,740
Lawyers live a work-hard, play-hard lifestyle, and a lot of that is due to their healthy paychecks. And if the series Suits is anything to go by, you can even end up married to a British prince!
You’ll need to spend seven years studying, four years as an undergraduate, and three years at law school. You’ll then need to pass the bar in your state before qualifying to be an associate.
Read more: The top paying counties in New York State
Lead Image// The Met