TIps for Artists Moving to LA

The time has come!  You're moving to the City of Angels and you couldn't be more excited to make your dreams come true! Though the ride of making it in Hollywood is wild enough, so are the logistics of living in Los Angeles and the more prepared and aware you are, the better off you will be! Though there are a lot of incredible things about this city, there are also so many things you need to know in order to be safe and far from drowning in hot water emotionally and financially. Below are a few of my tips for those of you making the leap over to the West Coast! I have so many more and if you have any questions, please comment below and I'll be sure to answer them! For now though - here are my top 23 tips for artists moving to Los Angeles! 

1. Wait Two Weeks or so Before you Move to Lock Down an Apartment.

• Because there are a million people moving to LA, the housing market is extremely saturated, and places go quickly. If you think you have a place locked a month out from moving, chances are if there is someone interested in moving in sooner – you’ll lose your spot.  By waiting until two weeks before you move to lock down a place, its allows your landlord to have patience – especially if you put down a deposit right away, and it also gives you enough time to prepare for where you’re moving to, gives you peace of mind, and a chance to find and apply to a part time job in the area. 

2. Meet your possible roommates before moving

• Whether it’s through Facetime or Skype, meet your roommates (if you are planning on having any) in some shape or form before you lock down a place. They’ll probably want to do the same with you. If you’re grabbing a place off of craigslist or subletting, you want to know if you can mesh with the people you are going to be living with. Especially if they’re other artists. If you’re a writer and your potential roommate is a DJ and does most of their work at 1AM – you’re going to have a bad time. You want to be comfortable with where you live – it’s your sanctuary. Also, it'll behoove you to have roommates. It will keep costs down as most studios go for no less than $1,250/month. 

3. Pack lightly

• Chances are you’re not going to have much space at place you end up in, so unfortunately, that Harry Potter nightlight and blowup dragon will have to stay behind. It’s a good idea to start fresh and with only the necessities, which are typically clothes, especially if you’ve never been to the apartment you’re moving into.  If you’re driving your car out, bringing small pieces of furniture and a bedframe can be helpful and will save on moving costs. Otherwise, it’s best to thrift and get a few things to supply for your daily life when you arrive. 

​4.Get canvas/reusable bags

• When you go grocery shopping or the like in Los Angeles, those plastic bags will cost you ten cents a pop and are not great for the environment – but you know what is? Reusing a few of your canvas bags every trip to the store instead. This way you save fifty cents or so when stocking up, aren’t having dozens of bags piling out of your cabinets or ending up in the trash, and are helping to keep the planet clean all at the same time. 

5. If you have a dog, make sure to get an ESA letter for your landlord.

• When you’re back home, it’s important to see a psychiatrist to get an emotional support letter for your pup to show your landlord when you move in. Having this letter allows for your dog to move into whatever building no matter what the restrictions may be. Plus, it would be valid – because moving hundreds or thousands of miles  away from what you previously knew can be a tough journey. 

​6. Lookup your neighborhood before moving – make sure it’s central and safe.

• Living in a central area to everything is especially important. Mid-City (it says it all) is a good place to shoot for or Fairfax Village and Hollywood. Otherwise, you’re more than likely going to be sitting in traffic for an hour no matter where you go  - also you’re pretty close to everything you need if you’re in mid-city. 

​7. Live near a grocery store!

• It just makes everything simpler. If you forget something or need something last minute (like a bottle of wine for a spur of the moment horror marathon to dull the fear) you can just mosey down the block instead of getting in your car, fighting tooth and nail for parking 

8. keep tabs on LA Weekly and Discover La

• This is a beautiful online calendar and publication that always gives you the most delicious inside scoop to all of the fun concerts, shows, events, bar crawls, flea markets, fairs, etc. that your heart desires! There’s also Discover Los Angeles and an app for both of them! You should get those! Right now. 

9. ​Street parking all the way!  

• There will always be street parking! And there is always a grand chance there will always be FREE street parking. If you take the time to circle a bit around where you plan on going or where you live, you’ll probably find a magical place where your car can sit and stay a while. Even if you’re going somewhere that has a parking garage, parking on the street is both good for your health being that you’re going to be walking further to your desired location, and for your wallet! 

10. ​Get a car or learn how to navigate the metro system right away. 

• LA is extremely spread out and not having a car will be the death of you in multiple situations. Most jobs require you to have reliable transportation and if you ever need to get somewhere quickly (or as quickly as you can) having a car will always be your best bet. Uber gets extremely expensive if you’re using it daily, and the metro system doesn’t go far. If having a car isn’t in the cards though, the metro is relatively easy to navigate and will drop you off in a central area that you can take an Uber from. 

11. ​There are a lot of Homeless  - Even a Smile is enough. 

• It’s tragic and unsettling just how many homeless there are in Los Angeles, but this being said, it’s difficult to give money to them all. What I find more beneficial is once a month making boxed lunches and handing them out if I can swing it. Also, if you pass them on the street, instead of looking away, give them a smile at least. Living in Los Angeles is ridiculously expensive, but being kind is not. 

12. ​Take time to explore on foot during the day – never at night and alone. 

• It’s good to get a lay of the land and explore new places when it’s light out and there are people around. Also, it’s good to possibly come across not so great areas (like Skid Row, around USC’s Campus, or South Central Downtown) when people can see you and you can see them, compared to at night. Also, don’t travel anywhere alone at night after 9PM. 

13. ​Get a Ralph’s Rewards card, Download the App and download your coupons!

• I mean, this will be the best thing to ever happen to you – regarding the happiness of your tummy and wallet anyway. By getting the Ralphs App and going on it each day to download digital coupons will literally save you HUNDREDS! Also – there’s always Freebie Fridays – don’t be a dummy and take advantage of this pronto!!

14. Learn how to cook and do it at home!! Eating out is expensive!

• You know what you like by now and you should definitely learn how to make it! Making your meals at home and doing meal prep is the most inexpensive way to eat and eat healthy! There are dozens of incredible places to eat in LA, but you should definitely limit eating out to once a week. The dollars add up, and each dollar it especially important in Los Angeles. 

15. ​Give yourself an hour no matter where you’re traveling. 

• Being that LA is so spread out, there are always a million cars trying to get to different places at the same time causing numerous traffic jams all around the land. Being in a central location like I discussed earlier will dull the time down a bit, but giving yourself an hour to get anywhere is usually safest. It’s always better to be early than late!

16. ​Get your Universal Studios Annual pass right away

• I’m bringing this up because I think this place is absolutely incredible. My boyfriend and I  go to visit almost every weekend, and it’s never an additional expense until the next year rolls around. It’s be best and most inexpensive way to have fun after you buy it the first time, and there’s always something new to discover, whether it’s on the Studio Tour or on the Universal City walk – it’ll be worth every dollar! ALSO once you get your pass, no matter if you’re with friends or not, use the single rider line. There will hardly ever be a wait and you’ll make the most of your time! 

17. ​Get on Meetup, Surkus, and General Assembly to network and make new friends!

• If you’re moving out here alone or even if you are with friends, joining any of these apps/groups are great ways to be involved in all of the things you love and meet new friends! They also give you the opportunity to try new things and discover incredible places you might not have otherwise. And if you’re wondering, there is a Quidditch team. 

18. Thrift stores are your best friends – especially St. Vinnie’s. 

• If you’re not looking to pay full price for furniture, necessities for your home, or expanding your wardrobe thrift stores are always the way to go. They are also the key spot for production design and wardrobe when you’re starting out in film! On top of that, St. Vincent De Paul Thrift is right outside of China Town – it is ginormous and has the best stuff – especially furniture!

19. ​Get Movie Pass

• Say what you’d like, Movie Pass is a God Send, especially when movies are nearing $20.00 a pop and then you obviously need popcorn on top of that. When you’re going into the movie making biz and you don’t see and current films, you have a problem in my perspective. Pay $9.95 a month for three movies a month already pays for itself six times over! Also, if you’d like a concessions hack – when you’re bringing your special friend with you to the theater and you both want popcorn – instead of paying twenty bucks for two, buy one large popcorn and ask for the refill right away – they’ll give it to you and then you can hand it right on over to your friend for $8.00 instead!

20. research before you invest

• Whether it's acting class, a job, craigslist, a service of any kind or an agent, research the heck out of them. Look at reviews, try to get in contact with those who've experienced what or who you're looking into before you invest to verify it's not a scam and that your money is worth it. So many try to fool whoever they can to make a quick buck - don't let this person be you.

21. have a flexible job

• If you're coming out to LA to work as a freelancer and you land yourself an agent or manager, it's important that you have a job that supports you and your lifestyle that is flexible enough to allow you to attend or audition for last minute gigs. If you get a full time job or let your supporting job consume you - you missed the point of you coming out to Los Angeles in the first place. 

22. come out with at least 3K and realistic expectations. 

• You need to be able to start out in LA on the right foot and without  infinite amounts of stress. Make sure you save up all you can before you make the move and prepare immensely before doing so in your respected field. Whether it be connecting to people in the industry through LinkedIn to help find you a job, or just to make a few connections, getting on casting sites, attending showcases, or sending inquiries to agents - make sure you come out to LA with your head already in the game. There are thousands of people already there and coming in every day trying to do exactly what you're doing. Competition is insane, so if you want to make it at all, your work ethic should outshine everything, each step of the way should be taken seriously, and never think you're better than anyone. Always take time to educate yourself, invest in yourself, and get ahead. If you're not doing these things, you'll be back home before you know it. Trust yourself and try your hardest. 

23. trust no one

• This may sound cynical, and though you should always have an open mind and heart, you should also be watching your back at all times. Be aware of people's tone and body language and be sure to take into account the way your gut feels about them. LA is full of shady people and the only one who will always have your best interest is yourself. Take care of you, and make that your priority.