The Big Move To New York - Suggestions?

I made the big move ten years ago. Moving with a couple friends made it slightly easier, although, a year later, we were no longer friends anymore. We all went our seperate ways.

I have to say, trying to make it in NYC is not easy. Auditioning is just as much a job than the one that pays your bills. The problems I had was that I had to work all the time to pay rent and bills, etc. which held me off from auditions.
A friend of mine moved from CA recently, and although she was getting lots of work over there, once she came here, she realised it was a lot different. She's on Equity, but because she has three jobs, she cannot attend most auditions.

Another friend moved here from Florida. Living with her Aunt, her expenses were cut down, and she had the time. Less than three months here, she got a job in Tony N' Tina's Wedding.

It's not easy. Expect it to be hard, and as long as you have the will, motivation, and determination, you will pull through.
It also takes awhile to get accustomed to the city, so prepare for that, too.

As for the roomate situation - I find it better if you room with someone that you have no relations with - a stranger. Usually people looking for roomates aren't the ones you have to worry about.

And you can find auditions in Backstage - an actor's trade paper that can be found at every newstand.

---

Updated On: 2/5/05 at 04:04 PM

Ditto on Craigs List (I got my job that way, as well). If you move in with a stranger, you're just as likely to get along as not, and if you don't, you can either ignore each other, or move somewhere else. Moving in with a friend is pretty risky, as apartments in NYC, for the most part, are tiny tiny, and you could get on each other's nerves pretty easily.

---

Get an equity card by doing work where you are, it's MUCHO hard to find work without a card, it is do-able, but get an agent where you are and do you best to then an ACTRA card or EQUITY card and your much better off in the Big City.

Break a leg! Hope everything goes well!

Let me reiterate that I won't be moving to New York for a couple years now - I am collecting information.

---

best of luck to you! i'm definitely remembering all this stuff for when i make the move in a few years!!!

---