Is Portland a good place for a young musician? Is the scene all hype? (real estate, rent)

[Bobby Brown Prune co]

My main need is diversity. in the sense that i could play in a jazz combo or an avant-garde rock band. the more opportunities for gigging, the better. And i also don't want to get screwed over by venue owners (I've heard that this is less of an epidemic in Portland)

[AndyAMG]

You should pose this question on Reddit and you should look at the mercury for gigs. This website is about Real estate primarily.

[Minervah]

You can refer to this thread that was recently on the Portland forum.

//www.city-data.com/forum/portl...-portland.html

[patches403]

If you're looking to start a full-time music career, I have a hard time believing Portland would be a good choice. There are probably 10 different cities at least that would be better than Portland. It would be a different story if the music is just a hobby/side gig and you don't intend to ever support yourself from it.

[JohnGiovanni]

LOL I was amazed with how bad it actually was when I went there to live. Portland seems great for music if you hang around the small time musicians or stay within the inner core but most of it is beer swilin classic rock fans, like working class MA where I am from. I was amazed how much it was actually like back home in the way that the area I lived in out in SE Division was just not like the Portland I had expected. I'm like why the hell did I come all this way just to find it was no different than home? Because lets face it, in actual practice.. I didn't live in the trendy parts I visited 4 yrs prior to moving there. SE Division area was like a more dangerous multi racial version of where I am from pretty much with way more trashy people and tweakers. Some of the worst I ever seen to tell you the truth. It might have once been an ok neighborhood though.


But ya outside of all that, the music scene I do think is overrated there.. you can get indie music fans in small cities in the south or wherever you're living. I doubt you have to go to Portland for it but if you're going for big time, Portland is probably the worst place.. Nashville is worlds better even. I think people from small town America or people who live in true hellholes that are boring come to Portland and want to move there because ya of course it has "lots of culture" compared to the boring town you're from but in the long run you may regret the decision and even may prefer that small town you left.

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I think Portland is good for a young musician with respect to making music as there is still a fairly large avenue for such. But living here is becoming very expensive and music venues are shrinking.


In other words, it may be pretty good now, but I doubt it will be 7 years from now.

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by Bobby Brown Prune co

My main need is diversity. in the sense that i could play in a jazz combo or an avant-garde rock band. the more opportunities for gigging, the better. And i also don't want to get screwed over by venue owners (I've heard that this is less of an epidemic in Portland)

Go online and look through Willamette Week for the venues and bands (the print edition is easier to browse than the online edition) and then hit Craigslist and the "Musicians" thread and you'll at least see a snapshot of bands seeking musicians.

Willamette Week powered by Scenethink

[Bluesmama]

Originally Posted by BLAZER PROPHET

I think Portland is good for a young musician with respect to making music as there is still a fairly large avenue for such. But living here is becoming very expensive and music venues are shrinking.


In other words, it may be pretty good now, but I doubt it will be 7 years from now.

Nobody thinks about how the surge in "rent" applies to commercial use as well. Many venues feel the strain from increasing rent for their businesses, and many nightclubs have closed, leaving many musicians in tight squeezes. Very few musicians/bands here are able to actually make a living just off their music.

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Originally Posted by Bluesmama

Nobody thinks about how the surge in "rent" applies to commercial use as well. Many venues feel the strain from increasing rent for their businesses, and many nightclubs have closed, leaving many musicians in tight squeezes. Very few musicians/bands here are able to actually make a living just off their music.

But isn't this the case in any city?

[PNW-type-gal]

Very much - it is not just a Portland thing. Even 10-15 years ago you could make a living playing music (originals + covers) at the local level. Now it's a bit harder, it takes multiple gigs a night plus the real money-maker of private parties and weddings. I have friends playing in Portland making $50 (per musician) for a 2-3 hour gig. Add set-up and tear down time plus paying the sound guy and that isn't even minimum wage. Sure, some bands do better at some venues and there are tip jars.

Part of the problem is the people just don't want to pay a cover charge to hear music - sometimes even a $5 charge is "too much." Bar owners like to claim that the smoking ban really cut in to business, which may be true as well.