Moving to NYC

[fishdreams]

Hi. Here is more information. I currently live in VA just outside of DC. Its just the wife and myself. We both play (guitar, bass - of course, banjo, mandolin, violin) and like any style of music with good players. This move is for my day job, and sadly I realize an apartment 1/4 the size of my current place will cost more. That is why I am hoping to find somewhere we can walk/subway to hear great music. A little joy to offset the sadness.

I'd say look in Bushwick or Greenpoint if you like to be in the thick of things with lots of places within walking distance. Greenpoint/Williamsburg actually had a good drop in rental prices at the end of last year because of the work on the L-train. So you'll be stuck to the G-train mostly, but tons of joints on that line.

 

[Ian McLaughlin]

Actually some great music in Philly. (Jamaladeen Tacuma, Gerald Veasley, just to name a few stalwarts)

I know, I was just razzin'. I grew up in NJ equidistant b/t Phila and NYC so I'd see shows in both and it was terrific.

But OP said his job is in NYC, wouldn't wanna do that commute every day. People do, but I wouldn't.

 

[fishdreams]

I know, I was just razzin'. I grew up in NJ equidistant b/t Phila and NYC so I'd see shows in both and it was terrific.

But OP said his job is in NYC, wouldn't wanna do that commute every day. People do, but I wouldn't.

Agree with that - though when I lived in BedStuy, my daily day gig travel time to 28th and 7th (round the corner from Penn Station) was 2 hours in total too.

If I were OP I would find a good trainline for the day gig commute first, and think about music later...

 

[npbassman]

I live in CT but travel to NYC quite often for biz and I have friends and colleagues that live there as well. None of them own cars and if it were me in your shoes, the first thing I would do is sell mine. I'd take Uber or get a Zipcar to gigs.

 

[CoolBassvibes]

Native New York here.Man the rents here are ridiculous.Forget 1200-1800 a month rents living alone,that would your share with 2,or 3 other's.There's a few nice clubs,one for example The Brooklyn Bowl,and out on the island there's a few joints.They practically closed down a lot of venues,to make way for gentrication.A lot of high rises going up and the rents are 4 grand,and up a month,cheapest thing if you're strapped is to rent a room,and that;s about a grand a month.The feel of the city is practically gone,its not like yesteryear,where the vibe was pretty awesome,Good luck any way.There are still pockets of good places though

 

[Bunk McNulty]

I have owned a vehicle for 40 years. Just a few minor tickets and very reasonably priced car insurance.
Insurance depends on your driving record and what type of vehicle you choose to drive.

And your zip code.

 

[57pbass]

And your zip code.

11208 East New York Brooklyn
11385 Glendale Queens

 

[BassAssHat]

Native New York here.Man the rents here are ridiculous.Forget 1200-1800 a month rents living alone,that would your share with 2,or 3 other's.There's a few nice clubs,one for example The Brooklyn Bowl,and out on the island there's a few joints.They practically closed down a lot of venues,to make way for gentrication.A lot of high rises going up and the rents are 4 grand,and up a month,cheapest thing if you're strapped is to rent a room,and that;s about a grand a month.The feel of the city is practically gone,its not like yesteryear,where the vibe was pretty awesome,Good luck any way.There are still pockets of good places though

I live in one of those new high rises. They are amazing. My rent is $3k and worth it. In the west village it was $2k for my one bedroom. In bushwick 2001 it was $300 for a three bedroom with only a hot knob on the shower (cold was broken). I've even bought and sold a home in forest hills once because I took advice from old folks and thought I should want that. Big mistake. Living in the city is worth it. Even with all the headaches. It is inspiring.

Everyone in NYC thinks the best era of the city is when they first arrived. For the OP, the music scene in NYC in late 2019 will be one for the history books. And for him it will be absolutely correct.

Yes a lot of music venues closed (I even made a documentary about that - ), but there is still a lot to be seen! Actually this thread inspired me to go out and see the smoking popes tonight at knitting factory. Didn't even know it was happening but I can do this every night of the week. It is rad.

 

[Interspace Station]

Something to note @jayridge, not sure what the real estate pacing is like in WV, but in NYC you might find yourself having to make a decision on a place pretty quick, and towards the end of the month when leases are up (if you're renting).

 

[jayridge]

Wow! I work for a few hours and come back to such a wealth of great information and advice. Thank you so much!

For those asking, I'm approaching 50 and have zero issues with house cabs or going direct.

 

[Mister Boh]

Hi. Here is more information. I currently live in VA just outside of DC. Its just the wife and myself. We both play (guitar, bass - of course, banjo, mandolin, violin) and like any style of music with good players. This move is for my day job, and sadly I realize an apartment 1/4 the size of my current place will cost more. That is why I am hoping to find somewhere we can walk/subway to hear great music. A little joy to offset the sadness.

Well at least you're sort of used to getting gouged for housing already!

 

[petrus61]

I just moved out of Bedstuy. Bed-Stuy-Do-Or-Die is long gone (since the late nineties); lived there for 15 years and never felt unsafe. Its super gentrified now with rents 3K and up for a 2 bedroom. You'd be better of in Washington Heights.

Washington Heights was kind of going through the same thing about ten years ago when my dad left due to rent, then onto Inwood which was at the time experiencing its own gentrification of sorts, until he was finally pushed up the Bx on Kingsbridge (working class, but still experiencing a slow increase of upwardly mobile types).

I’m even seeing it upstate here in Hudson Valley, where places like Beacon, Kingston and Hudson used to be dirt cheap, but it’s kind of evolved into the destination du jour for the hipsters who found Williamsburg too crowded/expensive. That said, it’s still way cheaper than NYC or Jersey and there’s plenty of rail access from Poughkeepsie, Rhinebeck, Hudson, etc, and Trailways buslines are in most towns. For $1500, one could live like a king on Partition Street in Saugerties or Uptown Kingston compared to what a dollar would yield anywhere on Manhatta.

 

[Ian McLaughlin]

Wow! I work for a few hours and come back to such a wealth of great information and advice. Thank you so much!

For those asking, I'm approaching 50 and have zero issues with house cabs or going direct.

Are you keeping your car?

 

[glocke1]

Best of luck OP>

I live in Bucks County, but travel to NYC 2-3 times a week to get some playing in ( as well as some lessons) that I just can't get in down here.

It's expensive, and I looked at small apartments awhile back thinking it'd be cool to have a crash pad up there but there is no way that would happen. The prices are just outrageous.

In terms of music, the possibilities are simply endless and I wish I would have made the commitment to go up there on a regular basis years ago.

 

[jayridge]

Are you keeping your car?

Car is optional

 

[Ian McLaughlin]

Car is optional

I was JK cuz you never mentioned a car but then everyone started talking about keeping a car in NYC.

 

[DoctorZee]

My suggestion: screw living in NYC. Look in NJ with easy public transportation access, or car (but you'd be foolish to not take the public transportation; bus, train).

Your rent will be almost HALF for almost twice as much. I'm not saying this is typical, but I have a 4 bedroom thats around 15 minutes via bus to NYC for 1900 a month, and its NOICE!

SHHHH! Keep it quiet! Do we really need one more bassist living out here?

I sold my car when I got to Manhattan as parking was more than my rent was in Houston, this was years ago. If you want Manhattan I would suggest Washington Heights and Inwood. When I first moved here I lived in Astoria, Queens, lower rent and nice neighborhoods. Get used to carrying all gear on the subway and get renters insurance.

Also most gigs in clubs are downtown and also some in Brooklyn. Wish you all the best!

PS: Many years of gigging full time and Im so glad I don't have a car (well except maybe the winter

I think gentrification and high rents finally caught up with Astoria; at least it looked that way when I left five years ago. Still probably one of the best value neighborhoods, though. Great food, live music, convenient, and some big apartments if you get lucky.

 

[fishdreams]

Washington Heights was kind of going through the same thing about ten years ago when my dad left due to rent, then onto Inwood which was at the time experiencing its own gentrification of sorts, until he was finally pushed up the Bx on Kingsbridge (working class, but still experiencing a slow increase of upwardly mobile types).

I’m even seeing it upstate here in Hudson Valley, where places like Beacon, Kingston and Hudson used to be dirt cheap, but it’s kind of evolved into the destination du jour for the hipsters who found Williamsburg too crowded/expensive. That said, it’s still way cheaper than NYC or Jersey and there’s plenty of rail access from Poughkeepsie, Rhinebeck, Hudson, etc, and Trailways buslines are in most towns. For $1500, one could live like a king on Partition Street in Saugerties or Uptown Kingston compared to what a dollar would yield anywhere on Manhatta.

That's so true. We've been coming up and down Upstate for various reasons for a number of years now and seen the exact same thing. (Talking about Hudson, New Paltz/Kerhonkson, Poughkeepsie and Beacon, respectively. Woodstock doesn't count, that has been tourist trap for ages ). Still some very cheap places/houses to be had out there, further and further out of the city. Newburgh is gentrifying now, if I am hearing the stories right.

 

[fishdreams]

To the OP: I guess the bottom line is: it is not impossible to find really good and comparatively affordable places to live, but it is only going to work (IME, at least) through informal contacts, and you'll need time to build those connections, the patience to stick it out in less-than-desirable conditions for a while, luck and a little thinking out of the box to find those. While we have a very nice situation right now in BK, it took us 15 years to get there. To get started out in NYC with some amenities available to you right away, it is gonna cost you, so IME you'll have to prioritize to get started: for example, living around a place that is cool for music, also may have the consequence of dealing with frustrating long daily commutes if your job requires you to be behind a desk in Midtown every day at set hours, (and trust me, that does eat away at you).

 

[catcauphonic]

Sone of the things I miss most about living on the east coast is the pizza, the warmer waters of the Atlantic, and spending time in the City.

And I normally don't buy souvenir shirts, but I couldn't pass this one up that a street vendor was selling >