Frederick Man Competes To Work For Diddy

The list of Sean "Diddy" Combs' accomplishments is almost as long as that of his ever-changing name.

The rapper and actor behind Bad Boy Entertainment and the Sean John clothing line is synonymous with hip-hop culture.

For the second time, he is offering the fantasy life to one lucky peon, via a VH1 reality show.

The suggestion to apply for "I Want to Work for Diddy 2" was an e-mail joke from Daniel Orrison's mother.

But the 23-year-old played along and sent a brief description of himself through the online application process. Then he got a phone call to show up in Washington to do an on-camera interview.

Orrison continued making it further through the auditioning ranks, "until I heard, 'Dan, can you fly to New York City with enough clothes for X-amount of days?'" he said.

The Urbana High School alumnus, who grew up in Ijamsville, never had any intention of becoming a reality television star.

"Not in a million years did I see myself on this show," he said in a phone interview from California. "I don't even have a TV right now."

Orrison's family has lived in Frederick all their lives; he said he will be moving back home to Maryland soon.

After a start at the United States Military Academy at West Point, Orrison transferred to the College of William and Mary in Reston, Va. With majors in international marketing and literary cultural studies, Orrison spent eight months studying at the University of Oxford in England.

As a young graduate ready to hit the ground running, Orrison was looking for an interesting opportunity in the center of the entertainment world. He stumbled upon his golden ticket: Sean Combs.

"He has his hands in absolutely everything," Orrison said of the mogul. "I went into it looking for a new, interesting experience I could hopefully benefit from."

Despite little business experience, Orrison thought he could bring an original viewpoint to a constantly changing business environment, "a fresh perspective on how the younger generation wants to do business," he said.

He hoped his positive attitude, sense of integrity and life experiences would work to his advantage -- as well as his competitive side.

"Anyone who knows me knows I can't stand losing," he said. "I'm a fierce competitor."

The 11 contestants were broken into two teams and judged on their success. Orrison couldn't reveal any of the challenges he and his teammates endured.

Each week the show airs, someone will be sent packing, leaving fewer people continuing toward becoming Combs' new assistant.

Beyond the demanding challenges, dealing with some of the people and personalities in the group was taxing.

"We're put in such an interesting circumstance," Orrison said. "Living with a group of people you've never met, willing to do anything for this job. You see how cutthroat people can be."

As the second-youngest competitor, Orrison's strategy changed throughout the competition. He focused on quality of work. Orrison served as an ambassador for Combs day in and day out, he said, "not just when we're working."

When they did work, the contestants were pushed to their limits. But the man who never slept has more than one dimension, Orrison said.

"(We) got to see two sides of him. The Sean Combs who walks around like he's worth $50 million a year, and the individual who is a down-to-earth, absolutely hilarious person you could hang out and kick back with."

The show was nothing short of an amazing experience, Orrison said. From a college student studying for finals, Orrison made it to the chance of a lifetime.

"I think I grew so much as an individual; who I was, what I care about," he said. He called his experience on the show "one of the most exciting and beneficial things I've ever done."

Orrison doesn't worry about people's reactions to his reality TV stint. "You've got to be true to yourself," he said. "Every second (I was on the show) I conducted myself in a way that I am proud of. I would never trade it for anything," he said.

Orrison said his motivation became more concrete throughout the process.

"I really wanted to work for the man who raises $2 million to run a marathon. I think he's kind of on the cusp of someone who can lead a younger generation of positive minds," Orrison said. "He has his hands in everything."

During the interim between filming the show and the season finale's results, Orrison took an apprenticeship with a California winemaker. He called it a testament to the way he's decided to live his life, putting himself in another interesting circumstance.

"The wine industry was my next calling," he said.

Whether or not he becomes Combs' assistant, Orrison wants to stick to the entertainment industry, preferably something in the food, travel or literature side of the business.

"Whenever you can be excited to go to work, like I was every day on the show, that's where you have to put yourself," he said.

One of the coolest parts will be reliving the experience, Orrison said.

"It's going to be a lot of fun to sit back and enjoy the show with close friends and family," he said. "See how I look on TV."

He expects a little embarrassment, but believes it will be interesting to watch.

The show's outcome is kept under lock until the results are broadcast.

"Maybe I am Mr. Combs' new assistant," Orrison joked. "My mother doesn't know. My best friend doesn't know. It's been crazy."

"I Want to Work for Diddy 2" premieres at 10 p.m. Monday on VH1.

Copyright 2009 The Frederick News-Post. All rights reserved.