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The Nashville recommendations are way off the mark with a $1000 rent limit for a decent neighborhood, as well as New Orleans. Given the OP's checklist Asheville very much checks off everything but finding work there can be a challenge, even pre-Covid. For sensibilities sake Atlanta would make a great choice, once again checking off everything desired. Neighborhoods in places like East Atlanta, Little Five Points and Virginia Highlands provide a suburban feel but funky and liberal in close proximity to Atlanta's music scene which is varied including everything from Southern Rock to Jazz/Blues, Country of course and R&B.
Suburb of Kansas City (Overland Park or Lee's Summit and gig downtown)? Tempe AZ? (to live and gig in Phoenix or Scottsdale?) Palm Springs CA? Yes, PS is mostly older but still 4,000 in town between 25-34.
Any chance you'd go back to Columbus? Suburbs of Cincinnati OH or Louisville KY? Richmond VA or way outside DC? Charleston / Hilton Head SC?
I think any musician would be struggling in a place as small and isolated as Palm Springs.
Places like New Orleans or Memphis probably have too many brass players already.
How about San Antonio, Texas? You can gig in Austin and the rent is cheaper than Chicago.
The Nashville recommendations are way off the mark with a $1000 rent limit for a decent neighborhood, as well as New Orleans. Given the OP's checklist Asheville very much checks off everything but finding work there can be a challenge, even pre-Covid. For sensibilities sake Atlanta would make a great choice, once again checking off everything desired. Neighborhoods in places like East Atlanta, Little Five Points and Virginia Highlands provide a suburban feel but funky and liberal in close proximity to Atlanta's music scene which is varied including everything from Southern Rock to Jazz/Blues, Country of course and R&B.
To live a car-less lifestyle, as far as for Atlanta, I would only look at intown Atlanta (inside I-285). The caveat is you can't find anything for 1K or less in desirable intown Atlanta. You could find prices in that range in the burbs in Cobb and Gwinnett, however its going to be hard to live in those areas without a car.
Palm Springs is a major leisure destination- full timers, part-timers, weekenders, weddings. Thousands to tens of thousands of visitors at a time. Many restaurants, bars, clubs, music events. Palm Springs could be considered a outer suburb of L.A. I'd guess Palm Springs has more jobs / gigs for musicians that national average, inculding most big cities but it is a guess. It is one of the plausible places for regular brass player gigs. Some level of jazz scene in a time where any level of jazz presence is a notable scene. The vast LA metro is close enough for driving to occasional gigs. Offered as one of many options for OP to check out. If I looked anywhere in CA (that was affordable), I'd look there.
Pick a closer in LA suburb, if OP wants and can find affordable rent. Average rental prices in Palm Springs: About $850 / mo., a bit over $1k for 1 bedroom. L.A. averages: $1300 studio, $1550 1 br.
If I picked Texas, I might choose San Marcus to live. Or north / east of Austin or north suburbs of Dallas. Could make some place in or near Houston work, I guess.
I was in Nashville for a gig last year and did not care for it. Way too crowded and I thought the architecture was unsightly. Plus, it is really country music heavy. I’m a brass player.
Nashville is one of the least dense major cities in the US?
Palm Springs is a major leisure destination- full timers, part-timers, weekenders, weddings. Thousands to tens of thousands of visitors at a time. Many restaurants, bars, clubs, music events. Palm Springs could be considered a outer suburb of L.A. I'd guess Palm Springs has more jobs / gigs for musicians that national average, inculding most big cities but it is a guess. It is one of the plausible places for regular brass player gigs. Some level of jazz scene in a time where any level of jazz presence is a notable scene. The vast LA metro is close enough for driving to occasional gigs. Offered as one of many options for OP to check out. If I looked anywhere in CA (that was affordable), I'd look there.
Pick a closer in LA suburb, if OP wants and can find affordable rent. Average rental prices in Palm Springs: About $850 / mo., a bit over $1k for 1 bedroom. L.A. averages: $1300 studio, $1550 1 br.
If I picked Texas, I might choose San Marcus to live. Or north / east of Austin or north suburbs of Dallas. Could make some place in or near Houston work, I guess.
I was in PS in early March last year for a convention and it definitely feels like sleepy place with limited entertainment options. It was probably not their busy season though and the place might be more lively during summer. However I doubt most 28 year olds could be happy with the social life there especially during the off season.
The conventional picks would be metros over 2 mil (34 of them total) or 5 mil (just 9). Most of the ones with better weather than Chicago and affordable have been mentioned. Several Florida options if one wants that. Other places might be San Diego (if can find affordable / acceptable housing- 1 brs avg over $1600) or Vegas (If can take the weather / violent crime rate. Affordable housing available. Acceptable? You decide.).
How many cities have more than 13 regular places with jazz shows throughout the week? Probably few outside the biggest cities. If you don't want big city.
A leading national jazz radio host lives in Palm Springs in the winter. Probably in part for the live music scene.
What about New Orleans or Memphis if youre a brass player? Cheap, suburban, and still easy to get around in. Most areas are less crowded than Nashville (though I dont really consider Nashville crowded).
A sleeper and I'm only suggesting due a music school factor is Rochester NY. A suburb like Brighton, which is next to the city's popular Southeastern Quadrant, is a nice suburb that has some walk ability within the town and into that part of the city around Monroe Avenue. https://rocwiki.org/Brighton https://www.google.com/maps/place/Br...!4d-77.5734048
https://rocwiki.org/Southeast_Quadrant
(neighborhoods such as Park Avenue, South Wedge, Monroe Village/Upper Monroe and Neighborhood of the Arts(NOTA) are some popular neighborhoods in that area of town)
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