Moving to NYC!!! (New York, Gaines, York: rent, crime, how much)

[LHW2008]

I am a 22 year old college student that is going to graduating from college in August and after I graduate I would like to move to New York City. I will have a degree in Event Management and I wanted to know if they are alot of job opportunities in that field or in the Hospitality Industry as a whole in NYC?
I absolutely love NYC but alot of people are trying to persuade me to not go to the city b/c of its reputation. I don't have that much money saved up but I at least want to have a job into place before I move. I will be there doing an internship for the summer so that would give me some time to network and get to know the city (I have family there too). I really need some advice on what I should to prepare myself: The do's and don'ts in NYC, best place to live at for an artistic person, how to go about finding jobs and how would you truly describe NYC???

[holden125]

This is not an easy subject to discuss since it's so personal. You are absolutely right to line up a job before coming here. You will have a very hard time getting a place to live if you don't. There are a lot of hospitality and event planning jobs in NYC but I don't know how many people are chasing them.

If you really want to come here you will have to save as much as you can beforehand. It is very expensive here, particularly if you want to live alone. For example, a studio in Manhattan can easily be $2000 a month and you'd need a pretty high salary for someone 22 years old to swing that. You'd also need at least another $2000 for a deposit, and it's hard to get a place in Manhattan without paying a 15% broker's fee, which will be almost 2 more months rent. So you could easily need $8,000 just to get into a small studio apt and money to live on until you get your first paycheck a month after you arrive. For that reason a lot of younger people live with roommates and outside Manhattan. No matter where you go, you'll probably be paying more than you want to, for a pretty small space. It takes a very high income to live like they do on Sex and the City or Friends.

What do you mean by NYC's reputation? Crime? Too expensive? Too hectic or unfriendly? Crime is an issue in some areas more than others, and a lot of people who can't afford high rent have to decide how threatening of an area they can tolerate, or how much farther from Manhattan they are willing to go. The city is expensive but also has some great bargains on food and clothes, and for some people it's worth making do with less to be here. Same with the hectic pace. It's a lot different to live here and have to pay your bills and make it to work each day on a very crowded subway. Many people do it for years and wouldn't trade NYC for anything, others say "no thanks" and prefer to live elsewhere.

The city also strikes some as unfriendly, but most of us think that's not true. There are a lot of great and warm people here, but most of us are busy and trained to be wary. If you're coming from Gainesville or Dallas, you might find people brusque and they're not as likely to give big smiles or start chatting at you in the street. But you'd get used to that and at your age you'd find your niche pretty fast. There are a lot of people from all over here, and probably a lot from your area and a lot of things to join and do. There are often specific bars where people go to watch the Gators or the Green Bay Packers or whatever.

It's hard to answer a question like how to truly describe NYC, but it's not really like anywhere else in the US, and certainly not like anywhere in the South. It's very expensive, crowded, noisy, and you'd be crammed in a subway with some odd characters. It also has more energy and things to do than just about anywhere on earth. A lot depends on your attitude, your preferences, and your budget. Plenty of people make it here without much money, but it can be a tough place if you're always broke and that could make living here a lot different than just a visit. It's definitely something to consider carefully and plan well.

[jeffcon0]

Pay attention to Holden's post, he is right on in everything he said and offered some very valuable insights as to what everyday life is like here. If everything he said sounds like something you are interested in then you will love it here but keep in mind that life in NYC is not without it's trials. Can you deal with cramming into a subway with 6 inches of personal space for your commute? Can you deal with living in a non-Manhattan or non-prime (but prefectly nice) borough neighborhood? Will paying twice as much for things like a six pack of beer make you cringe?

If you can adjust to all of these things the payoff of living here, and the lifestyle and cultural options it can offer you, is huge.

Out of school you will undoubtedly struggle unless you have a finance degree from an Ivy but that is all part of growing up and getting job experience. I would have to imagine event planning and hospitality is HUGE here but I'm sure it would take connections and an internship would be a great start. One thing to keep in mind is that these sort of creative jobs are cutthroat due to extremely high demand and influx of creative types but relatively little supply. The pay is often quite low in entry-level postions because, well, if you don't take the job someone else will.

NY, like holden said, is like no other city in the US and if you are reasonable about your expectations you can have a fantastic time here. If it's something you are considering then there is no better time to try it than while you are young. Now start saving your money!!!

[misscity]

As an events professional familiar with the NYC market, it is very DIFFICULT to find the kind of position most event people dream of...you will probably be someones slave for a couple years barley making $30k a year..UNLESS...you went to a really good school, knew people in the business, ended up in financial services industry (although they are going through things right now)..etc etc..I need to reiterate that most jobs (not all but most) do not pay alot. It's a competitive industry with alot of people interested in somehow getting in. To gain more experience, volunteer for free to one of the hundreds of events in the city each week! Be prepared to work hard and prove yourself just like any other job. Everyone thinks its glamorous but its far from it. It's glamorous for those who attend the events but not for those hustling to make it happen.