Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, L.A., or Columbus? (York, Columbia: 2009, renting, how much)

[Ja Shwicka]

I have a certificate in Recording Engineering and Music Production, and I play music and would love to be in a band wherever I decide to move. Two friends of mine are moving to L.A. in a month, and they want me to go with them to try to get paid to play music (not necessarily to make it big, but to make some money.) They're moving to midtown L.A. somewhere in between South Redondo Blvd and La Brea Ave. If I don't go with them I'm thinking about Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or Columbus, OH (because I currently live within a couple hours of Columbus).

I won't have a car in L.A., Philadelphia, or Pittsburgh, but I would in Columbus. I'm going to have between $1700-$2000 when I arrive wherever I go. It would be great if I could get an internship in a recording studio. I was thinking about Vancouver, British Columbia too, but I don't know if I really want to deal with immigration and everything because I am planning to move again in fall of 2009.

Any advice, pros, cons, or anything at all would be greatly appreciated. If more info is needed to come up with good advice, I can try to provide it.

Thanks.

[ExPit]

Hi, how are you? I know alotta musicians in New York and L.A. and my first question to you would be, what kind of music do you play? New York is a better town for jazz, and probably L.A. is a little better for rock. That should probably be your first consideration. Also, unless you feel you have nothing more to learn in a formal setting, you should also consider what teachers or schools you'd have access to in those cities.

Also, I'll tell you living without a car in L.A. is not fun.

[dugdogmaster]

Although I'm no musician, I am a great fan of all types of music, and I can tell you that the music scene is definitely alive and well in the Pittsburgh region.

[Humanoid]

The music scene in Pittsburgh doesn't even compare to LA. Not only do you have the 10 million in LA county, but the industry is alive and well down in Orange County and in the San Diego area. Living in LA you have easy access to around 20 million people.

In a city like Pittsburgh the music industry is not really present and there are only a handful of clubs where you can play.

[dugdogmaster]

Originally Posted by Humanoid

The music scene in Pittsburgh doesn't even compare to LA. Not only do you have the 10 million in LA county, but the industry is alive and well down in Orange County and in the San Diego area. Living in LA you have easy access to around 20 million people.

In a city like Pittsburgh the music industry is not really present and there are only a handful of clubs where you can play.

I can head out any night of the week and catch a great show anywhere around here.
Edit: You are correct in that Pittsburgh does not have the huge industry that LA has, but the industry is here, and it is doing well. There are high end recording studios, top notch music stores, and way more than a handful of venues.

[Humanoid]

There are high end recording studios, top notch music stores, and way more than a handful of venues

There are only a handful of decent places to play at, playing at your friends sister's bat mitzvah isn't exactly a good venue.

But seriously there isn't even a big city in this country that is great for everything, let alone small cities like Pittsburgh that are. If someone whats to be involved in the music industry in some sense, then there are much better places to move than Pittsburgh. The fact that Pittsburgh has some music related industry isn't important, rather the fact that it has much much less than other areas.

Regardless, to the OP. The only downside to LA is that rents are expensive and public transit is so-so (The area you are talking about does have public transit, but its not as nice as some other areas). I don't see what Pittsburgh would give you that you can't get in Columbus.

[doc_medich]

Originally Posted by Ja Shwicka

I have a certificate in Recording Engineering and Music Production, and I play music and would love to be in a band wherever I decide to move. Two friends of mine are moving to L.A. in a month, and they want me to go with them to try to get paid to play music (not necessarily to make it big, but to make some money.) They're moving to midtown L.A. somewhere in between South Redondo Blvd and La Brea Ave. If I don't go with them I'm thinking about Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or Columbus, OH (because I currently live within a couple hours of Columbus).

I won't have a car in L.A., Philadelphia, or Pittsburgh, but I would in Columbus. I'm going to have between $1700-$2000 when I arrive wherever I go. It would be great if I could get an internship in a recording studio. I was thinking about Vancouver, British Columbia too, but I don't know if I really want to deal with immigration and everything because I am planning to move again in fall of 2009.

Any advice, pros, cons, or anything at all would be greatly appreciated. If more info is needed to come up with good advice, I can try to provide it.

Thanks.

While LA & NYC each are perhaps more influential than Pittsburgh in the music industry (due to being major cities), they're also much more expensive. I'm mentioning this as a reference to the amount of money you'd stated you'll have to work with. LA is a nice but expensive city. You'll need a car (unless you have a bicycle). Housing can be very expensive (renting) in both cities. NY may have a better subway/public transportation system, but it is a geographically huge city (suburbs inclusive).

You'll have a much larger population to work with (20MM+). You'll also have much more competition as well (unless you have a musical talent or sound that knocks peoples' socks off).

Not sure how much impact Columbus has in the music scene. Don't know much about the Pittsburgh music industry (but is not as bad as some may believe; you'd have to market yourself more to make an impact).

[BrianTH]

I know a few people who have tried to be professional musicians (as you say, not necessarily stars, just making some money at it). It is a very tricky business, and it certainly isn't obvious to me from their experiences that a bigger city is better--yes, there are more opportunities in gross terms, but also more people around competing for those opportunities, and often higher costs of living. The latter seems like a really crucial factor to me--starting out some of my friends were trying to pay the bills with part time jobs, but part time wasn't cutting it in the more expensive places, and they ended up having to sacrifice practice and playing time to work more.

So I don't have any specific advice for you, but I would try to keep the whole picture in mind.

[pman]

Philadelphia should offer some hope as well. There's a substantial art and music scene that has been burgeoning in recent years as increased prices have drive many out of NYC (and even brooklyn). Philadelphia is a big city, it's easy to get to NYC as well (and for cheap, chinatown bus RT is aroudn $24). You can also get to DC easily and Pittsburgh is only a 5.5 hr trip away by car...and multiple flights per day. sadly, the train takes over 7 hours. at any rate, it might fit yoru bill. cost of living is likely substantially less than either NYC or LA but more than Pitt. That said, if you can, you shoudl visit both places. In Philadelphia, if you play jazz, the places to hit are Chris Jazz Cafe, Ortlieb's Jazzhaus, and Tritone (the latter being free jazz and that sort of stuff). Small bands play all over the place in terms of guitar based music but good places to meet other musicians in small bands would be the Fire and Johnny Brenda's (there are likely more but those coudl get you started). Many places in Philadelphia are pretty easy to live car free (though not all..unlessof course you don't cook).
where woudl you go in Pitt. if you wanted to meet other people in the music industry?

[GStreetShuffle]

Originally Posted by Humanoid

There are only a handful of decent places to play at, playing at your friends sister's bat mitzvah isn't exactly a good venue.

But seriously there isn't even a big city in this country that is great for everything, let alone small cities like Pittsburgh that are. If someone whats to be involved in the music industry in some sense, then there are much better places to move than Pittsburgh. The fact that Pittsburgh has some music related industry isn't important, rather the fact that it has much much less than other areas.

Regardless, to the OP. The only downside to LA is that rents are expensive and public transit is so-so (The area you are talking about does have public transit, but its not as nice as some other areas). I don't see what Pittsburgh would give you that you can't get in Columbus.

I love Pittsburgh, but the music community is severely lacking, with the exception of the somewhat underground DJ scenes at Brillobox, Shadow Lounge, etc.

I frequent 1 (yes 1) store, and that's Paul's CD's in Bloomfield. Oh, and Jerry's Records..

I'm doing whatever I can to bring great music to this city, but right now we struggle. Number 1 problem: No venue for mid-level bands... they're either forced to squeeze into the Mr. Smalls or the Rex... or have to be an arena rock band for PG Pavillion or the Mellon Arena..

More shows need to be booked at Heinz Hall, Benendum... and Carnegie Halls (Homestead and Oakland)...

Right now, touring bands are passing on the Steel City. Just drove to Cleveland the other night!