Musician possibly moving to Denver, advice please (Fort Collins, Westminster: transplants, apartment)

[shutdownthefed]

hello,
I just moved to pittsburgh from maryland because MD is getting way overcrowded and horribly expensive. Although pittsburgh is pretty cheap as far as cost of living goes,...it's way to much of a sports town for my tastes. The music scene is my main concern when I determine where to move...and the music scene here in pitt is very weak.
A friend of mine has already moved out to westminster,CO...I guess thats close to denver...but anyway, he says he loves it so far. I am thinking of moving out there, but I was wondering if I'll be able to afford it. I used to live in Albuquerque,NM. Is denver anything like albuquerque as far as cost of living and overall vibe?
Is there any type of 60's inspired music scene in dnver? Or in Colorado at all? Also, do any of you know of any music stores to get good vintage gear? My home state maryland has everything you would want in a place with baltimore and d.c being realtively close to each other...but the entire state has changed from when I was a kid. It's basically all transplants now...a lot of marylanders are fleeing up into PA like I did lol.
Ever since I moved out to Albuquerque,NM...I really feel the wests vibe is more my style. But there are a few things that scare me about denver, one is there's not really any other cities close by (within say...a 3 hour drive). Another is, I keep hearing that it's referred to as "Menver" because men out number women by so much...that worries me a hell of a lot! And the other main thing is cost of living,...since I play music I would definitely have to rent a house, not an apartment or townhouse. Could I rent my own house for like $550 a month?
I know CO has allowed medical marijuana, is it possible to make a living off growing it for the patients? If so, how hard is it to make that your full-time job out there?
Oh yeah last thing, is there any particular neighborhood where artists/musicans tend to live in or areas where they hang out?
Alright people of Denver, give me the low down

[2bindenver]

I suggest New Orleans. Great music town.

[shutdownthefed]

I'm actually going to Mardi gras this year, so I'll check out new orleans and see how it is. I have a feeling it's going to be too dirty and have way too much crime for me to consider living there.

[Mike from back east]

Denver is a big sports town, with major league Baseball, Football, Basketball, Hockey, and Soccer; plus college sports in Boulder, Fort Collins, and Denver. Locally, skiing, snowboarding, biking, hiking, running, camping and ATV'ing are near-religions.

Cost of living is probably higher in Denver than either Pittsburgh or Baltimore (my home town). I can't see renting a house in Denver for $550/month, just not going to happen; lucky to find an apartment at that rate.

Tons of transplants here in COLO too, I'm one of them, as are most of my neighbors.

The whole menver thing is way overdone; there is relative balance here but I read that women here are picky.

My best advice, visit your pal in Westminster and try it out for a week.

[cisco2007]

Denver and the surrounding area is a mecca for music especially 60's inspired. There is a small town that sits above Boulder called Nederland. Leftover Salmon, String Cheese, Elephant Revival, & Yonder mountain string Band all came out of that little town. In the 70's there was a studio up there called Caribou Studios (look it up on line) it is no longer there but back then Everyone recorded there from Elton John, Crosby, Stills, & Nash , Neil Young, Robert plant, ELO, just to name a few. I think that Boulder is expensive but you would have no problem finding a place to share with other artists & musicians. You should definately go and visit your friend in Westminster and check out more in the Boulder area. Especially Nederland. In answer to your other question about medical marijuana Nederland has more dispensaries per capita than any other town in Colorado. You should check out Lyons too. There are some great festivals there in summer. Good Luck & have Fun!

[treedonkey]

Originally Posted by shutdownthefed

Is denver anything like albuquerque as far as cost of living and overall vibe?

No, except that they're both in the Mountain Time Zone.

Originally Posted by shutdownthefed

Is there any type of 60's inspired music scene in denver?

Nothing specifically deemed as such, although you'll find a lot of different types of music in the city and virtually all rock music is really 60s-inspired to some degree, isn't it? (you're the musician)

Originally Posted by shutdownthefed

Or in Colorado at all?

No, same as above.

Originally Posted by shutdownthefed

Also, do you know of any music stores to get good vintage gear?

No, not in this state. It's probably only a google search away though.

Originally Posted by shutdownthefed

Could I rent my own house for like $550 a month?

Not likely. At least not one with plumbing and windows.

Originally Posted by shutdownthefed

I know CO has allowed medical marijuana, is it possible to make a living off growing it for the patients?

I would guess: No. The medical care industry can probably farm out their own weed pretty easily.

Originally Posted by shutdownthefed

How hard is it to make that your full-time job out there?

Hard, if not impossible. But I suppose if you had an in with a medicinal supplier, SOMEONE has to do the actual growing, and it might pay okay.

Originally Posted by shutdownthefed

Oh yeah last thing, is there any particular neighborhood where artists/musicans tend to live in or areas where they hang out?

I don't know, maybe somewhere in Boulder.