Los Angeles to Kansas City and I don't even know where to start! (Cleveland: environment)

[kristiemcfancypants]

If I keep to my plan, I'll be relocating to Kansas City from Los Angeles on June 30. Although I love LA, it's seriously far too expensive to even dream about staying here right now. And if I have to sit in traffic any longer, I may just go ballistic. My family is originally from Kansas, so I have plenty of family out there, which was the basis for my decision to go there.

However, I have the same basic questions as everyone else. I'm a 25 year old female who is used to a metropolitan lifestyle, so I would love to live downtown, but I will be living alone, so I'll need someplace safe. I would like to drive as little as possible outside of work, so someplace with nightlife within walking distance would be ideal. I will be renting, preferably around the $500-$700 range. Driving to and from work (whenever I figure out where that's going to be) is not a problem. I'm used to sitting in traffic for an hour and a half twice day to get where I'm going.

For the new questions, I work in photography here in LA and I would love to stick with something like that. I've noticed that a lot of the jobs that are offered in Kansas City gear more towards the science and technology area, which I am clueless about. Maybe I'm just looking in all of the wrong places? I have experience in television, performing (crew) and fine arts as well, so if anyone has any leads on any creative opportunities, that would be great!! I'm considering starting my MFA in scenic design at UMKC, probably not until 2009. Anyone have any opinions about the school/program?

Please help! June 30 is right around the corner! Thanks!

[Cairo_East]

Fortunately, you're just looking at the wrong places. I'm a landscape architect who moved here from Pennsylvania a few years ago and found it to be one the most dynamic environments in the country. Some superlatives from KCADC - Economic Development and Business Recruitment in Greater Kansas City:

KC ranks 4th in the country for its concentration of visual artists
KC ranks 6th in the country for commercial/industrial designers
KC ranks 7th in the country in the number of visual artists
KC ranks 12th in the country for its concentration of architects
KC is home to the nation’s 6th largest Ad Club chapter

For photography and creative arts, I don't know specifically where to look, but you could start at the local AIGA chapter:

AIGA Kansas City Chapter and check out the 2007 Award Winners index here: A4 :: The AIGA Kansas City Design Awards :: A4 Awards Index

A lot of the big names in town are there, plus some great up-and-coming creative arts firms.

There are a lot of downtown options in the $500-$700 range, which is where you want to be. I would look in the Downtown Loop, River Market, Crossroads, Signal Hill, and Westport neighborhoods. Fortunately, that's also where a lot of firms are located. You don't drive any more than you have to, leave the I-5 behind and come to KC!

[uncalifornian girl]

I am thinking of making the same move, kristie. i am also a 30 something single woman from L.A. tired of the hight rent and traffic. I am deciding between KC and Chicago. My concern with KC is that it may not offer as much as Chicago in terms of nightlife, dating. On the other hand, the job market could be better for me in KC as a graphic artist. I am more of an illustrator/product-packaging designer than an ad agency designer. Chicago seems to have mostly ad agency jobs, which concerns me. Cairo, you seem to know about the design industry in KC. Any advice would be appreciated!

[kristiemcfancypants]

Thanks, Cairo, that makes me feel a little better. Looks like I know what I'll be doing this weekend!

[Cairo_East]

Originally Posted by uncalifornian girl

I am thinking of making the same move, kristie. i am also a 30 something single woman from L.A. tired of the hight rent and traffic. I am deciding between KC and Chicago. My concern with KC is that it may not offer as much as Chicago in terms of nightlife, dating. On the other hand, the job market could be better for me in KC as a graphic artist. I am more of an illustrator/product-packaging designer than an ad agency designer. Chicago seems to have mostly ad agency jobs, which concerns me. Cairo, you seem to know about the design industry in KC. Any advice would be appreciated!

KC doesn't offer as much as Chicago in terms of nightlife, but few places in the country do. If that's the major thing then I'd go to Chicago. The nightlife in town has GREATLY improved in the past five years, but KC has a massive inferiority complex about the singles scene ever since it was ranked equal to places like Cleveland. I think the reviewers never bothered to come into town. Westport is more for early-twenties, but the P&L District, Martini Corner, Plaza, and the River Market are great places for date-hunting. Even the suburban wilds have some OK places to spend a quality night out, but you have to drive everywhere. Plus, Missouri has some of the most permissive alcohol laws in the country - even open container is allowed in certain instances.

There are a lot of illustrator/product designer jobs in town. The "big fish" of graphic arts in town is Hallmark. They do have a reputation for requiring everything to have a certain "Hallmark Style": that quality kitsch that you see on the cover of a birthday card - but how else do you become the largest card design firm in the country than by playing it safe? Fortunately, there are a ton of smaller firms in town that range from letterpress to packaging to typeface.