Moving to NYC-advice- Page 2

[Dre2387]

Posted: 1/15/11 at 2:53am

my friend works for broadwaybabysitters.com

it's a company that knows you try to audition and do shows. check it out.

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/15/11 at 8:53am

gertie, I will be thinking about you. My NYC "quest" begins tomorrow. I am both terrified and very excited. I am kind of looking at it this way...I would be in Denver looking for a job so why not be in the city I have been planning on moving to doing the same. My plan was to move there in 2 years but I was forced to make a decision a few months ago. Before the recession the plan was to be there this year. Thankfully I have family and friend's support here in a lot of ways to make things a bit easier. But the bottom line is I need to find a job within the next 3 months.

[gertiecummings]

Posted: 1/15/11 at 1:25pm

I am also both excited and terrified. My dad lives in Arizona, but other than that my entire life has been in Washington state. Seattle is a great city and I will miss it horribly, but I know if I do not make this move I will regret it.

[Kristie-K2]

Posted: 1/15/11 at 2:48pm

I think you Guys are so brave...Do it...don't even think about it..Take it from someone who is of a certain age. If I would of known what I know now, I would of moved to Manhattan in the 80's. Life goes so fast...I really cherish my yearly trips to Manhattan Now.

[gertiecummings]

Posted: 1/15/11 at 4:07pm

The only thing that would defer my plans right now would be if I got cast at one of the big Seattle theatres, (the Intiman, the Village, the 5th Avenue) for their upcoming season. If that happens I couldn't turn it down.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/15/11 at 6:05pm

You only need to make sure you have one thing before you move to NYC:

Guts.

[gertiecummings]

Posted: 1/15/11 at 7:20pm

Now I just have to hope I can find a lawyer, a PR rep, and an art dealer to be friends with.

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 12:25am

PJ, I think I have that covered. I am just hoping that things pan out now. I have some connections there that I hope come through. They told me just to get there. That is my biggest worry right now but I am trying to back myself up just in case but connections are good these days. I pretty much have a part time job lined up at a theater and a place to stay/live until I get my own place.

[gertiecummings]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 1:37am

Now I just have to make sure I actually buy the airline ticket and get my butt on the plane.

[gertiecummings]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 4:35pm

I have finally started telling my friends, and they are all being incredibly supportive. Now I just have to get up the guts to tell my family, my mom in particular.

[yay_gerb]

Posted: 1/17/11 at 12:51am

i live in weehawken. it's a really nice town but i wouldn't say its affordable. hoboken is 10x worse. union city/jersey city both are neighboring towns and are much cheaper to live. just like hoboken there are a few path train stops in jersey city. just like weehawken there are tons of bus stops that can get you into the city in 15 minutes (provided the traffic is not bad.) regardless of where you choose to go good luck!

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/22/11 at 7:02pm

I just got back from a week in NYC. Things went pretty well. Got a part time job I wanted and full time employment looks like it is going to happen. Was thinking about where to live. Checked out Journal Square in Jersey while I was there. Does anyone know anything about it? A friend of mine lives there and likes it. Seems like a melting pot and the lady I interviewed with said her boss lives there and loves it. I suspect it is cheaper than Manhattan to live in.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 1/23/11 at 12:20am

Congrats, uncageg!

I've traveled to Journal Sq on occasion for various thing and it isn't a bad trip time wise and yes, it is cheaper than MUCH of Manhattan... almost anything up in Washington Heights or the outer boroughs is cheaper than most of Manhattan as far as rent goes.

There are a few factors about living in NJ that I would encourage you to consider. Living in any of the 5 boroughs, you have your rent, utilities and your Metrocard. Living in Jersey, you would ad in the cost of NJ Transit / PATH train into the city at the very least and perhaps a car (you might feel rather limited living in some parts of NJ without one). Would be better off using the money for those extra expenses and putting it toward living in one of the boroughs?

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/23/11 at 8:53am

The trip to JSQ was pretty quick. I do have to take into account the costs for travel especially if I move to Jersey and have to take transportation in the city also. I was looking in Brooklyn Heights (I think that's it) and rents were fairly decent. Someone please correct me if I am wrong but isn't that just over the bridge? My friend suggested I get a roommate for a while but I don't know any place to find one for a short term deal and I am always a little nervous about roommates.

What are some good areas to live in with lower rents than Manhattan?

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 1/23/11 at 9:34am

Astoria (Queens) has become quite the popular spot, and rents there have not gone completely out of control yet to match its new-ish popularity.

I've been living in Woodside (also Queens) for two and a half years now and love it there. Again, rent is much more affordable than in Manhattan. It takes me anywhere from 20-30 minutes to get into Times Square on the 7 (depending on if I'm going in the direction of the express train, which runs into Manhattan in the mornings and back to Queens in the afternoons/evenings). I also have the option of taking the LIRR into Penn Station, which takes ten minutes.

I have several friends in Sunnyside (which is just west of Woodside, so a little bit closer to Manhattan) who are also very happy there.

I recently was dog-sitting for a friend in Greenpoint (Brooklyn) which was also a very nice area. A bit more of a trip into Manhattan as it is off the G and thus not a direct shot into Manhattan. However, I'm not sure what the rent is like in that neighborhood.

If you do want to try some short-term housing options there is a group on Facebook called Gypsy Housing, which is primarily actors and other theatre folk posting sublets. You can find places there ranging from a few weeks to a few months, even up to a year (when somebody ends up booking a tour). Every once in a while you'll also find people looking for a new roommate there as well. Here's the link if you want to check that out: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=7030462319

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/23/11 at 10:16am

Thanks for the info AEA. This part of the move is starting to worry me a bit. I actually have 2 friends that have offered to let me live with them (One in Secaucus and one in JSQ).

Updated On: 2/5/11 at 10:16 AM

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/5/11 at 7:12pm

Just an update. I am now possibly going to move into the Journal Square area. I was there a few weeks ago and the neighborhood seems fine. I know two people who live there and like it. Not a long commute to the city either. Putting it into motion on Monday. Have one part time job that starts in March and the agency I am going through seems to think they will have no problem finding me a job. (Although I am still sending out resumes). Wish me luck!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/6/11 at 12:45am

Hang on for awhile. You may be able to get a steal in Williamsburg.
Link

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 2/6/11 at 1:08am

@Gotham..lol! Those annoying "underemployed" hipsters have been invading and destroying Hell's Kitchen for some time now.... Can nothing authentically NY be left alone, for G-d's sake? Ah, well, the land of Duane Reades, Starbucks, and banks.

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/6/11 at 10:20am

That article is almost 2 years old and I am not looking to move to that area.