L.A. or N.Y.? (Brea: apartment, rent, credit)

[DrMcAwesome]

Thought about posting this in General U.S., but I figured more locals would visit the L.A. and N.Y. sections, respectively.

I'm looking to move soon to start an acting career. Please, I'm not looking for people to respond and say 'you have no chance', because I do have acting experience and I'm serious about it.

I'm just looking for opinions on whether L.A. or N.Y. would be better for me? I don't know how to drive, and don't plan on learning anytime soon. I've heard it's hard to get to auditions in L.A., where as in New York you can just take the subway to get there?

Positives for L.A. for me is the min. wage is higher and rent is cheaper. I don't know if rent is cheaper for real, but it just looks that way from Craigslist.

I'm not looking to audition for TV. Only feature-films. Isn't L.A. more TV-oriented? In my decision, I mainly want the place that has more auditions but it's easy to get to auditions without a car...

Thanks so much for anybody who chips in!

[Sorcerer68]

We're the movie making capital of the world! If you want a career in feature films, there's only one destination.

[shellinca]

I recently relocated from NY to LA and one of the biggest adjustments I've had to make is becoming totally dependent on my car. I wouldn't say it's impossible to get around LA without a car, but it's pretty difficult. The metro goes to the most random places, while the entire west side has no access to it. This is very different from NY, where the subway connects all 5 boroughs.

NY can be expensive, but it really depends on where you live. Areas like Chelsea, Meatpacking District, SoHo, TriBeCa, the Village are pretty much unaffordable unless you're making a minimum $200K/year. However, there are some good deals in Murray Hill (East 30s), Clinton (West 50s), Upper East & Upper West Side, and Harlem. Also, if you don't mind living outside Manhattan, you can still find affordable rent in some parts of Brooklyn and Queens. You can also try Weehawken (accessible by NJ Transit buses) and Jersey City (PATH train access).

It's true that LA is the movie capital of the world, but there's no shortage of movies being filmed in the NY area.

Anyway, whatever you decide, best of luck to you!

[polican]

there's absolutely no need to live in manhattan to live and work comfortably and happily in NYC. most of my friends are all queens and brooklyn residents that commute into manhattan.

and there's no need to own a car if you don't plan on venturing out of the 5 NYC boroughs, the NYC public transit system is probably the most widespread in the world (not the cleanest or without delays). none of my manhattan resident friends owns a car.... oh and they are either well-off, or share a 2 bedroom apartment with 4 other people.

best of luck DrMcAwesome (nice name, haha!)

[Amyluv77]

If you wanna get into acting, such as making films, then the choice is obvious -- L.A. is the place... But if you wanna do stage acting, then of course New York is the place.

For example, when I finished school last year, I was offered a job at a production company in N.Y. I didn't accept the job, because I knew L.A. was the place for films, so I stayed in L.A. and got on at Sony Pictures.

As far as living, L.A. is the place. You get the weather, the sunshine, the life!

[Skippersf]

Not having a car or driving is your deciding factor. NYC it is.

[JackSparrow]

New York is twice the sewer that LA is. No thanks!!!

[wilshire]

seriously people need to stop moving to LA and acting like they are "LA"

stay where u are. i want to see more people born and raised in los angeles in tv and films anyways.

[im22too]

You don't want to do TV? That's it? First, if you plan to move to either NYC or LA, you're gonna have to be a wee bit more flexible career-wise. Second, who/where did you train/with? What have you done? Who do you know? What are you willing to do to get where you want to be? Which leads to the final, initial question: Where do you want to be (Career-wise, pyschologically, emotionally, location-wise) New York is tough, baby, and mostly for theater. LA is, of course, TV and film. From what I've seen/learned, LA is more of a family/friends town--if you're family--i'm using this term loosely, as family simply means "having CREDIBLE/VERIFIABLE connections" on location (considering that you have the drive, work-ethic and talent), you're chances of getting in are greatly increased. New York is pretty much talent-driven and more academic in terms of performance. Noone cares where you're from, 'cause, in quoting Busby Berkley's 42nd Street, "Nobody's from New York." In LA, baby, "anything goes..."

If you are a really as serious as you claim, you should have already found/made contact with an established acting coach, if not an agent or manager, who can direct you toward your dreams based on your CURRENT potential. Remember, entertainment isn't what it used to be...LA is about marketing and generating box office/awards/acclaim...New York is about talent and perseverence a wee bit more than LA. Sadly, though, the final answer is "DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO GENERATE TICKET SALES?"

Best of luck in all your endeavors...

[Sonrise]

As previous posters have stated NY is for theater, LA, film and television. As someone who is brand new to the town, unless you have an ism (nepotism, related to someone, cronyism, friends with someone or alcoholism, know someone in your AA meetings) it will be very, very difficult to get an agent let alone auditions. It's really absurd for you to say that you don't want any tv roles only film. Unless you have a resume' a mile long with multiple guest star, not co-star credits you can't dictate what you will and won't do and if you stated this to any agent they'd laugh you out of their office.

I've been a SAG member for 9 years and I've had to scratch and claw for every role that I've gotten. Answer this question honestly, do you want to be an actor or do you want to be famous?

I'm not trying to give you a hard time just some advise from someone who has been there, done that. You are about to endeavor in the chosen profession of masochists worldwide. If acting is your true calling and passion go for it and never let anyone discourage you. However, humility goes a long way and that starts with your handle, Dr.McAwesome.

As for not driving in LA, good luck. Subways go nowhere and a lot of buses stop at midnight. LA is 20 years behind the rest of the country as far as public transpo. goes. You can get a job in a heartbeat and you can find cheap rent if you're willing to share a place with 2 or 3 guys.

Think about this long and hard and if you still have the desire, go for it. You don't want to wake up when your 75 and say, "What if?" But again, be yourself not some wannabe hipster trying to act "LA". Break a leg.