Need Moving Advice, Nightlife Advice Also Needed. (Miami, Tampa: apartment, rent)

[Willy72]

I am looking for some people who are currently living or have lived in Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater area for honest advice before I make that move.

I lost my job well over 9 months ago. I was the General Manager for a large nightclub for the last 5 years. We were a very busy place and very profitable. We catered to an upscale clientele. The owner of the venue pass away unexpectedly. The wife had no interest in keeping the venue open and running. It was closed only days after his death. The venue was sold off piece by piece till it was gone. Sadly all the staff was simply let go. Most employees were only part time but it was my full time job. 40+ hours a week. I have worked in the nightlife industry for the last 15 years. I have looked for work all over the USA and even parts of Europe with no success. I was told by some people in the nightlife business that Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater has the good possibility of employment for managers like myself with the amount of experience I have. I cannot continue to live to here in NYC because of a few reasons. Mainly the lack of work in my field of expertise. There is a war on nightclubs and bars in NYC. The city just doesn't want them here anymore. Another reason my rent is well over 1850 for a small one bedroom on the upper east side and its less than 520 sq ft, that is not including parking, utilities and other bills in that price. With no income or unemployment, thats getting really hard to pay each month and the savings is going bye bye pretty fast.

My questions...

1. Is the nightlife in Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater any good from a employee point of view.
(Please only answer this question if you know the nightlife scene.)

2. Is the cost of living in Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater higher then NYC?

3. What does a basic apartment cost in a safe area.

4. What are the safe areas to live in.

5. What could you get for let say $900 month in a safe area.

6. Is Miami a ghost town on the weekdays?

I've done all the home work I can from here and I do not have the luxury to fly there and check it out first. It would be a move there and make it work thing.

Any help would be someday rewarded with many thanks

[FloridaKash]

Originally Posted by Willy72

My questions...

1. Is the nightlife in Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater any good from a employee point of view.
(Please only answer this question if you know the nightlife scene.)
Can't answer.

2. Is the cost of living in Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater higher then NYC? Significantly lower. Google "Cost Of Living Comparison"

3. What does a basic apartment cost in a safe area. Decent 1 Bedrooms $800. Location makes a huge difference.

4. What are the safe areas to live in. Look around on this forum. This has been answered time and time again. Also depends on where you want to be and what you want to be close to.

5. What could you get for let say $900 month in a safe area. 1 - 2 Bedroom apartment that has pool, fitness room, etc.

6. Is Miami a ghost town on the weekdays? Can't help you here. This is the Tampa Forum. You may want to look into the Miami Forum for a better answer.

I've done all the home work I can from here and I do not have the luxury to fly there and check it out first. It would be a move there and make it work thing. I did this. Although I already had employment. Feel free to send me a PM if you want additional details. Or read my Adventure of Alaska Kash blog under my profile.

Any help would be someday rewarded with many thanks

Hope this helps.

[Willy72]

Mod can you please remove this thread or close it. I have learned enough about this area.