Wanna move to So Cal

[Anita Fixx]

Ok so I don't know if this will get a response or not. But I'm just thinking about moving to California (L.A area) as soon as I can. And I want some info on how it's like there now..are there jobs? How much is rent? Also what the psychobilly,roackabilly scene is like? I know it a million times better then here (Toronto) just wondering...so if you want tell me what it's like please.
Thanks!

[Natalie Alvarado]

I miss So Cal, born and raised there...I definitely miss L.A. county, I think it's great.. I lived pretty much right next door to the LA fairgrounds.. they have alot of car shows there and conventions. I was almost 30 minutes from everything.. the beach, LA, Long Beach<3...I say go for it, theres tons to do

[Miss Missy Photography]

I wanna move there too!!

[Edson Carlos]

NORCAL!

[Anita Fixx]

Yeah, I'm really considering it becuase all the bands I like, all the pin up photo shoots, conventions, etc,etc . seem to be over there not here. It's ridiculous! The scene here is dead!!

[Filmmonkey]

I'm certainly not an insider but I've been enough times to get a feel for it. LA proper is huge and sprawling, yet has a very compartmentalized feel with the different areas. Yes, the weather is always great, wild fires, santa anna winds and the occassional earthquake notwithstanding. Especially if your coming from CA.

There are a lot of great scenes there, the ocean, the mountains, Vegas is just a few hours away by car.

Thw work situation is much like any big city. Lot's of service jobs. Depending what you can and are willing to do, you can probably find something. You can check out LA Times.com they have a very good jobs section. If you work or want to work in the entertainment industry you can also check variety.com for jobs. "The Industry" there is very competitive, of course.

I would strongly recommend that you take a visit there. REach out to the so cal'ers on the site-there are tons of them and set up some coffee meet ups. If you fly in rent a car (you really must have a car in LA) and check out the different areas. Pick up local papers and check on apartment rents.

Truthfully, we'd probably be there ourselves but my wife's job is located here.

I started going out a few years ago and the first time I went out I didn't know a soul but had one meeting with a producer. From that point I now know a bunch of peeps out there, never have to worry about a place to stay, and actually have more good friends out there than I do here.

It can be kind of big and scary and, yes, the traffic is hellish (though no worse than DC), but there is just so damn much going on there. A million different scenes. And you never have to worry about your car skidding out on the ice :-)

[Anita Fixx]

Oh yeah...driving..I forgot. : P Yeah..I don't drive at all. Don't even have a license...yes that weather here in Toronto IS that bad! It freaks me out just to WALK on all the ice and metres of snow, never mind drive.
Maybe I'll rent a bike when I fly in. Ha! Or some nice gentleman can drive me around and give me a tour. Yes, i'm old fashioned..
Anyways yeah I do want to work in the "industry" (film making!) It's a huge dream of mine. Do they actally give new people from Cana-duh a chance though?
I'd love to start a movie company or group with film-makers into the same kinda music,visual style as me. I just think it would be more fun then working with someone who likes today's romantic comedies when I prefer the oldies (starring Monroe, Hepburn, Bette Davis).Less arguments.. Never mind the crazier stuff I like (Repo!The Genetic Opera,Sin City, Dark Knight..Joker!)
So yeah...can't wait to save up some money and escape these winters!

[Dottie Darling]

SoCal!!!

I say go for it! L.A. rocks!

Daddy Cool said:

NORCAL!

[Kitty]

it's not so bad but rent can get a little high. give it a try for a bit.

[Darla Dynamite]

pretty brave of you to move so far away from home! Just my 2 cents

[Cherry Dollface]

I am moving in with my boyfriend in Santa Monica in 6 days. I have been living back and forth for the last 4 months. Here is what I have learned from living and driving there...

Do NOT live any farther than 10 miles from where you want to work. It can take literally 3 hours to go 5 miles during rush hour. I had a friend that missed his final because after 4 hours in traffic, he had to turn around (and he had only gone 10 miles). Taking back roads does NOT work. And people drive VERY aggressively. You have to learn to be aggressive or you won't ever get anywhere and you'll have 23 people behind you honking and flipping you off.

Jobs in the entertainment industry are kind of slim right now because of the economy. Even service jobs are getting hard to find. Most places like to hire locals first-- that goes for most industries, so you would probably have to live here for a while, meet some people and get "in" that way. That is the only way I found a job and I have a degree and lots of experience.

I am not sure what rent is further inland, but a typical 3 bedroom apartment in my area is about $3500 a month. I can tell you that unless you get a crazy good bartending job, or a fancy office job, the pay scale is not adjusted for living expenses. A typical entry level job will pay you between $8-9 an hour. You also have to be really careful about the area you live in because even nice cities have bad areas and safety is a concern (for you and your car). Oh, and car insurance is really expensive too.

Public transportation pretty much doesn't exist. There is no subway and the bus system is unreliable. Plus, the city is VERY sprawled out... not having a car in LA is pretty much unheard of.

These are the things that I had to learn the hard way.

That being said, it is AMAZING. Beautiful weather, beautiful people, delicious food, awesome bars, great shopping, and so much entertainment history. If you can find some friends there as a way "in" I would say go for it. Otherwise... I would say don't make the leap alone. I have seen wayyyyy to many people fail and lose themselves to the seedy side of LA. Good luck!

[Dottie Darling]

Yeah a car is essential! There is a subway but it only goes so far and buses suck ! It's hard to get by without a car. But I still love it here.

Oh and if you think traffic is bad here then don't go to NY!

Cherry Dollface said:

I am moving in with my boyfriend in Santa Monica in 6 days. I have been living back and forth for the last 4 months. Here is what I have learned from living and driving there...

Do NOT live any farther than 10 miles from where you want to work. It can take literally 3 hours to go 5 miles during rush hour. I had a friend that missed his final because after 4 hours in traffic, he had to turn around (and he had only gone 10 miles). Taking back roads does NOT work. And people drive VERY aggressively. You have to learn to be aggressive or you won't ever get anywhere and you'll have 23 people behind you honking and flipping you off.

Jobs in the entertainment industry are kind of slim right now because of the economy. Even service jobs are getting hard to find. Most places like to hire locals first-- that goes for most industries, so you would probably have to live here for a while, meet some people and get "in" that way. That is the only way I found a job and I have a degree and lots of experience.

I am not sure what rent is further inland, but a typical 3 bedroom apartment in my area is about $3500 a month. I can tell you that unless you get a crazy good bartending job, or a fancy office job, the pay scale is not adjusted for living expenses. A typical entry level job will pay you between $8-9 an hour. You also have to be really careful about the area you live in because even nice cities have bad areas and safety is a concern (for you and your car). Oh, and car insurance is really expensive too.

Public transportation pretty much doesn't exist. There is no subway and the bus system is unreliable. Plus, the city is VERY sprawled out... not having a car in LA is pretty much unheard of.

These are the things that I had to learn the hard way.

That being said, it is AMAZING. Beautiful weather, beautiful people, delicious food, awesome bars, great shopping, and so much entertainment history. If you can find some friends there as a way "in" I would say go for it. Otherwise... I would say don't make the leap alone. I have seen wayyyyy to many people fail and lose themselves to the seedy side of LA. Good luck!

[efrankel]

There is no questions - go for! I am here in LA for almost 20 years. This is a capital of show bis.
So many of everything you cannot even dream about.