What I wish someone told me before I moved to the city...

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 1/20/13 at 12:16pm

Figured this might be a good thread to start. What advice do you wish someone would have given you before you moved to the city?

[theaternut]

Posted: 1/20/13 at 12:47pm

Wear comfortable shoes.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 1/20/13 at 12:50pm

Never look crazy street people in the eye.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 1/20/13 at 12:55pm

I'll say one of the obvious ones is to have a job/apartment lined up.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/20/13 at 12:57pm

I always tell people to ask themselves a series of questions and answer honestly if they are moving to New York City.

Why are you moving to the city? If you are coming as an actor, you may want to check out the various regional theaters that are doing work vastly superior to what is on Broadway. Get some credits under your belt before attempting Broadway.

What has influenced you to move to the city? If you have a dream that it's going to be like Sex & the City or Friends, you should rethink your move. TV shows never show the reality of the city.

Are you a loner? The city can be a difficult place to make friends. Can you survive without friendships for awhile? Can you think of ways to make new friends? Church, social organizations, volunteer work?

Are you coming with someone? Is their commitment to life in the city as strong as yours? Will they bail on you after two months?

Can you deal calmly with roaches and mice? Do you freakout at dust? The city is a dusty place, opening a window means you'll be wiping down everything in your apartment. Your apartment will have roaches and/or mice. This is part of the New York landscape.

Can you deal calmly with noise and confusion?

Do you have a decent amount of money saved up? I would recommend at least $10,000. New York City is very expensive and the job market is thin at the moment. Have you thought of ways to economize until you get on your feet?

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 1/20/13 at 1:03pm

Crowded subway cars always, always have room for one more.

[Jon]

Posted: 1/20/13 at 3:32pm

If you wear a white shirt outside for more than an hour, it will become a grey shirt.

[~tiny~]

Posted: 1/20/13 at 3:45pm

Know EVERY detail about Tenant's rights, or you will most certainly be screwed in a huge way.
http://www.tenant.net/Tengroup/WSTU/
Know how to find subsidized apts.
http://www.actorsfund.org/services-and-programs/housing

If you haven't read every word in these 2 resources, don't come.
Listen to everyone else's advice here.

[Addison D.]

Posted: 1/20/13 at 4:20pm

Born/raised here, as have six generations (one of my cousin's daughters is on the verge of making it seven!) of the D. family, once we finally got tired of being abused by Cossacks back in Russia.

Whenever anyone tells me they are contemplating a move to NY, I send them a copy of E.B. White's 'Here is New York'. It cannot be improved upon, in my opinion.




Here is New York

Updated On: 1/20/13 at 04:20 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 1/20/13 at 4:21pm

A hooker will cut you if you don't pay up front.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 1/20/13 at 4:26pm

A person approaching you with the story that he has been robbed and needs $20 to get a train ticket home and he will reimburse you if you give him your address A) wasn't robbed B) doesn't live in Poughkeepsie and C) will never reimburse you.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/20/13 at 7:24pm

You can avoid The Heartbreak of Andrew Sullivan if you know a few things that he had never known before moving to NYC: Times Square is too crowded and people get in your way. Living spaces are SMALL, just shockingly small even compared to your place on Cape Cod. But don't worry, people might pay money for your blog and really, any day now the actor boyfriend is going to be discovered and you'll be rolling in it. Can you book Bill Maher's show and improve the cash flow?

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 1/20/13 at 11:49pm

Learn the subway system and don't be afraid to use it. There are other places to live then Manhattan.

[strummergirl]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 12:06am

The existence of the HopStop app on the smart phones.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 12:53am

^ truly

[bobs3]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 2:06am

If you are paying for something that costs under $10 with a $20 dollar bill, always say to the cashier "That's a twenty" before handing him/her the cash.

[bobs3]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 2:10am

Haven't seen him awhile but there used to be a con man who hung out near the 3rd Ave entrance to Bloomingdale's who would walk up to unsuspecting tourists and use a faux British accent and explain that he had been mugged and his passport and money had been stolen and the consulate couldn't get him a new passport until tomorrow and he would ask you to help him out with some cash.

Updated On: 1/21/13 at 02:10 AM

[bobs3]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 2:16am

A "regular coffee" in Manhattan is coffee with milk. A "regular coffee" in Brooklyn is coffee with milk and sugar.

[bobs3]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 3:47am

NEVER KEEP YOUR WALLET IN YOUR BACK POCKET!!!
Always, keep it in a front pocket.

NEVER PUT YOUR SHOPPING BAG DOWN ON THE GROUND FOR EVEN A SECOND!
It will not be there when you reach down to pick it up.

ALWAYS HOLD YOUR iPOD OR iPHONE IN YOUR HAND.
Don't let it rest on your lap.

[AC126748]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 11:22am

Don't live above your means. It's very easy to in NYC, and that's how people accrue monumental debt. Also, moving to the city won't change anything (won't make you happier, etc) unless you know why you're moving here. Come with a goal in mind, and work to make it a reality.

Updated On: 1/21/13 at 11:22 AM

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 12:56pm

Oh God, Namo...I adore you.

The Woe of Andrew Sullivan nearly sent me over the edge. Why, in God's name, would you not move to Brooklyn if you love the DC lifestyle so much???

OH...and the new MTA Subway Time app is great. It only works for the 1 and the 4,5,6 at this point. But if you're wasted at the Duplex at 3am and you don't want to pay for a cab, you can know exactly how many more drinks you can have before you tumble onto the 1.

Not that I've ever done that or anything.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 1:07pm

"But if you're wasted at the Duplex at 3am and you don't want to pay for a cab, you can know exactly how many more drinks you can have before you tumble onto the 1."

Which is why I adore you more. Moredore.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 1:10pm

I like to think of myself as an educator.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 1:13pm

You are! You should indiegogo your cab fare and tip!

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 1:16pm

And that's what the kids call 'a win'!