LA TB'ers!!!

[zongeek]

Your help is needed!

Please, though I know I am really asking for it, don't give me the "everyone else does it, it's stupid, stay home, etc, etc" line. I have heard it a million times and I know fairly well that I don't make healthy decisions, however, I live better that way.

That said, my friend and I are moving to LA. He is going to go to film school and I will be attending school after I get state residency. In the meantime though I will be working my eyes out and pursuing a carreer of some kind in music.

I have a few questions that I am hoping some of you wiser, LA local TB'ers can help out with. We'll be living in or near Reseda. If you have any words or wisdom, advice or encouragement on any of the following, I would love to have it.

Apartments. Where is good and where is bad? What should my roommate and I stay away from?

Jobs. Any daytime jobs that make a decent wage and don't involve sucking ass? Something, anything that is fun and not ****ty but still pays relatively well and will allow some social/band time. Preferably not food service, though if we must, we will.

Music. Best places and ways to find other (decent and hardworking and motivated) musicians who need a bass player and want to start something from close to ground up as possible?

Also, any other advice on the topics I've listed but didn't mention would be sweet also. And anything else on any other thing that I didn't touch upon would be great.

Really, I am just looking for some open-minded and real advice as opposed to the put downs (deserved or not) that I get from everyone and everywhere else.

Thanks ahead of time for all of you who contribute.

keith

[zongeek]

Anyone? Nothing nice to say?

[Kobaia]

you could try for a job at the bass exchange

[rakirksey]

Well I live in LA, but I don't have a music job as my main gig. I am a systems engineer by trade with one of the many Southern California Gov't Contractors. So take my tips with a grain of salt.

I don't live in the Valley, which is where Reseda is, so I don't know much about the area. In terms of apt. ... if it seems like a really good deal that usually it's a craphole. In terms of average price range ... singles ... $800 - $1000, 1 br $1000 - $1200, 2br $1200 - $1500, etc. I think you get the trend.

For jobs, it really depends on what your skills are. I actually found some interesting stuff on Craigslist, so take a look there. Food service is actually pretty difficult out here if you don't have much experience. It seems that a lot of the food service jobs, not including McDonald's ... but all the ones with decent pay, are flooded by the beautiful workless actors trying to make it. I went to a couple bartending gigs to put in a resume and they were asking for headshots. Given ... it was on the strip, but still. It's tough.

As far as musicians in LA go. It's really a small world. Once you get in the scene you start seeing the same folks all over. In general it's a hustle. Live music is not really financially feasible. You can do it for fun, but most folks make money doing film, commercials, tv, etc. I.e. you get placed in a TV show and they give you $15,000. Boom ... you're set for a few months. But like any other major city you need to get your contacts out there.

If you have any other specific questions you can send me a message. That's all I can think of for now.

[zongeek]

^ the part about the asking for a job as a bartender and them asking for headshots had me cracking up. Priceless.

Thanks for the advice. I definately plan on checking craigslist.

That's intersting to hear about the scene though. I would've thought that out there live music would be a thing that people really go into, not so much the TV show stuff.

Thanks again, and if I have any questions... specific ones, I will definately send a message. Now I just need to think.

[rakirksey]

Well ... my impression of the LA audience is pretty standoffish. They will come for their band and leave. There is a lot of live music out here, so people seem to be really picky unless you have something that is really unique. Other LA folks may have different opinoins, but that's my viewpoint.