WOT - Need California Contingent Opinions, Son wants to move to California Options

[cbenitah]

From my point of view... Student in Cali.. Sure I get money for school from Sweden.

BUT, if I didn't get that it would be no problem living in Cali with less than 1000/month. Its all about priorities. If you want to go to the bars, buy clothes, etc etc no it won't last. But he should be able to get a part time job for now, which is what I would have done until I get something solid. Heck, if he is in San Diego I can give him a job as a hockey coach (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I say go for it! When I moved I had $2000 to spend. I managed 4 months on those money. Then we were living 4 people in a one bed room apt.

GO FOR IT! Live your dream!

[Heeltoe914]

How can you not love LA?

[Brando]

You guys are a bunch of naysayers. He's just a kid. He's not going to be looking to buy a house anytime soon.

I don't know the music business but I imagine that there is more opportunity in LA than there is in Chicago. I think he should go for it while he has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

He should have no problem finding an apartment to share for $500-600/mo. In a worst case scenario he could always get a job at Starbucks until he finds something better so he doesn't have to tap into his $9K in savings.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) what a bunch of old farts with no sense of adventure left in their brittle old bones ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

have him look on craigslist for shared housing with some guys (or girls) his age, he should be able to get something for $500 or less a month ...
have him scout out myspace for likeminded people his age that are already in the biz ...

he'll be doing just fine ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif) Andy

Pfff Aaaaaaahnday... Old farts? Naysayers? I'm younger than you! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol2.gif) I was just direct and honest how it is in SoCal.

Colmz, if your son is yet to have any contacts down here, I have a friend who's director for a media company. She likes young guys... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chairfall.gif)

The most important thing is that if your son wants to get into the business... It's all about networking. I've been dragged along to a few of these "parties" and "premiers" and it's almost the same for music and movies... Names, names, names. Once he gets a few and is hired somewhere it should be cake from there, with degrees.

[orange914]

i'm ohio born and indiana raised. i now reside in calif. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)

unless you have a huge source of funds (or of course an illegal alien to sap the state everything) you will struggle. the cost of living is going up everywhere but is unbeleivable here. i bought a house in 1987 and its gone up OVER 500%! no b.s. i just fear for my kids survival. $9,000 wont buy you a burger here (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flag.gif) anymore...er excuse me a taco.

i have friends with businesses and they have left this state as SO many others. there is whats known as "brain drain" going on in the central valley anyway.

think it through (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

[So.Cal.914]

I have been here all my life and many generations before me, all Californians.

It's a Great place to live, but it is expensive. I ended up in the biz for many years

and still have family in it. Alot of them own their own business and sell the rights

to big labels. The trick is to get in with a large label where their is security, Insur-

ance etc. It's not the easyest job to get but if he really wants it he will need to

live here. The guys with sand enough to try this themselves have given alot of

good advice. There are plenty of young folks trying to make their dreams come

true out here, and they need roommates. Good luck to him.

[colmz]

Thanks for all of the input and words of encouragement. We sat down and read all of your replys this morning. IF he decides to proceed with this endeavor, he plans on leaving here on Aug. 21. Right now, he is still undecided due to previous family discussions - all of the what-ifs that my wife and I came up with. He really believes that he needs to get out there, but he doesn't want to worry us either. He has given this a lot of thought, and he believes that he can make it work for him. While going to school in Orlando, he lived in his own apartment (no dorms at this school), and rode out several hurricanes. It was harder on us than him. One of his classes had him researching what it would cost and the logistics involved to move from home to a location of his choice (L.A. for him), and the living expenses once he got there. He is very self sufficient and mature for his age (Eagle Scout at age 15) (fun in moderation), and knows that $9k will not get him very far. He doesn't intend to just come out there and look for work in his field and live off of his savings. He realizes that he will have to take any kind of work that he can get in order to live out there until he gets the job that he wants.

[lapuwali]

Sounds like a good kid, and I think he'll do just fine.

[DBCooper]

Well that's about all he can know from that distance, and he sounds pretty realistic. And no matter how that plan turns out, succeed or fail, he'll be a better person for it. To add some perspective, I don't know anyone who's happy in life now who is doing professionally exactly what his major was in college. Things change. Tell him to keep his eyes and options open. And to always use a condom. He'll do fine.

[TINCAN914]

No joke. Unless you have 80-100k down.. for a house or Condo.. you wont be buying anytime soon.

That's not necesarely true... My wife and I bought our first place in 94' granted the housing market ws not at it's best, but we did it with 5k down, there are number of first time buyer programs available, but that's another story.

I agree with a number of people who hav repled. Have you son do the research, there are a number of internet sites tht he can check out, that will give him a comparison with the cost of living there in Ill and California. Just do a search cost of living comparison, there should be a buch that pop up.

I just did the opposite of your son. I left Southern Cal to move to Colorado. The difference between the two based on those web comparisons was about 30% less to live in Colorado.

My advice to your son to make the move easier if he chooses to make it, is get a job first... It wil make the transition easier. But if he wants to make the move, make it!!!! As a father support him. Sounds like he has his head on straight with an education..... Best of luck to him!!

[Allan]

Someone coming to California for the first time trying to establish themself in the L.A. area has three options regarding housing as I see it.

1. Live in an area that you may be shot and pay a reasonable amount of rent.

2. Live with other people. (Doesn't always work out for the best)

3. Commute. We have a TON of people that work in L.A. in Bakersfield and either drive or use the shuttle services to get back and forth to work. We have become somewhat of a bedroom community for people from L.A.

[JeffBowlsby]

The cost of living in California is among the highest anywhere, but so is the income.

Why LA? LA may have a strong music industry but there are other locales where the music business is also very strong. If you want the biggest and the best, its in New York.

[lapuwali]

The cost of living in California is among the highest anywhere, but so is the income.

Why LA? LA may have a strong music industry but there are other locales where the music business is also very strong. If you want the biggest and the best, its in New York.

Which is hardly a cheap place to live, now is it? When you're just starting out, going to one of the places that's the best for that particular career is hardly a bad thing to do. Sure, there are other places where there's a strong music industry, but going to those places FROM LA or NY will generally get you farther than if you tried to do it the other way round.

[Gint]

If I was single and 20 years old I'd be in SoCal in a heartbeat.