Moving to CA...

[sixstringking713]

I would like to move to CA to pursue my music career.. I play guitar - rock music (mainly) and blues, piano - jazz/blues...

Do you think it is 'worth' moving near LA more than say Northern CA near San Francisco, palo alto, etc to pursue my career? In other words, would there be far more opportunities near LA than northern CA for me do you think?


UPDATE (to clarify Thank you for the replies and suggestions. I am graduating in Fall with an EE degree, single, no kids, will be 21 yrs old. Looking to pursue music, start a band, and bring some good rock music back... I plan to have a fulltime job with my EE degree (that's why I said palo alto, seem to be alot of EE jobs and is near San Fran) and do music on the side until it takes off (if it does) and then live off that. I know if I want any chance at getting somewhere, I need to drop my shit and move out immediately. I guess I am basically asking where is the best scene to start a band, and try to get famous (I know it's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll ).

I have a lot of music equipment for both playing guitar and recording in general. I just need to find people to start a band and try getting noticed.. I have always been in bands since 4th grade and have been fairly successful locally getting gigs when most adult bands are not even getting them...

 

[Shark Diver]

Toss up. 'frisco has more going on than people think. Especially for what you listed. Why not try and get some gigs in both before you move? Some of my buddies drive up, or down, to both if the gig is good enough.

 

[HerbieBoogie]

don't mess, come to LA. live in orange county then hang out in los angeles county.

 

[jcj]

Nashville is where players go to eat. LA is kinda slow. Not too sure on palo Alto, seems like a better place for a computer programmer.

I would go to New York or Nashville if playing guitar for a living was my goal.

Vote #2 for Nashville.....much more "on the card" there...assuming you have the chops....very tough way to try and earn a living..

 

[Chubtone]

Now wait a freakin' minute. Do you mean to tell me that people can make money playing guitar?????

 

[racerevlon]

No. And from what I hear don't bother with Nashville unless you know someone or can sight read.

 

[Greg Riley]

I live about 50 miles north of Nashvegas (Nashville) in Alvaton, KY. Just about 1 out of 5 new people I meet in Nashville are from California. Alot cashed in on their homes, and the cost of living is way cheaper (no state income tax either). The perception of Nashville is Country Music..thats just a theme these days. It's much more then that. The drive to downtown Nashville is about 45 min for me, to give you an idea of traffic. Blackbird is one of the top studios in the country..and you also have Micheal Wagener's studio Wired World (rock guitar recording genious and a great guy). You would be surprised at who all lives around this area in general. Robert Plant bought a home 3 miles from me...he likes to eat at Rafferty's alot..lol. Jack White lives down around Franklin, TN. Dave Grohl, Brad Whitford, Wolf Hoffman, Gunner Nelson, and Kid Rock also have homes around Nashville. I do love California..but if it came to me being a full time musician with the cost of living..it's Nashville. Now if only The Baked Potatoe, Key Club, Rainbow, Whiskey a Go Go, a House of Blues (including Steel Panther), a In-n-Out Burger, Micheal Landau, Dave Friedman (just bring Rob and Tone Merchants along with Mark Day...lol) and Reinhold Bogner would move here.. I'd be a happy camper. Hell, even Steve King could hop off the Camel and come back home where the driving is much safer

 

[johnnyjellybean]

Up and coming... Vegas. I have a friend who is gigging with Cirque de Soleil and he tells me the scene there is rockin. Many players from LA are moving there since it's cheap to live and a short commute when they have to be in LA.

 

[dstroud]

Up and coming... Vegas. I have a friend who is gigging with Cirque de Soleil and he tells me the scene there is rockin. Many players from LA are moving there since it's cheap to live and a short commute when they have to be in LA.

Yeah, I'm in L.A. right now - I think the thing is there are not that many steady gigs. Lots of my friends spend a lot of time looking for that next gig for as soon as the current one ends. If making money is the goal, I'd suggest Vegas also. I'll probably be moving to Vegas myself in the next year or two. And yes I also know several that are commuting back and forth - Vegas for money gigs and L.A. gigs with their original projects that are trying to make it/build a following/etc...

 

[jerrydyer]

dont bother coming here unless youve already established yourself in some way. So Cal is lame. Im trying to get out of here.

 

[billm408]

SF Bay Area has a pretty eclectic scene going on but very few are making a living at it and gigs are getting harder to find. The best venue in San Jose is shutting down next month. There's a new wave of Thrash bands that's creating a buzz these days, but that doesn't seem to be your style. Palo Alto is a great place and also one of the more expensive places to live on the peninsula- I'd look on the East Bay for more affordable housing.

IMO, if you want to carve out a career in music then this is not the best place to be. You may achieve local rock star status but you won't be able to pay rent. For session work and a thriving live music scene, there are better options.

 

[Mr. Burton]

I've been in the bay for about a year. Spent some time in LA. If you are looking for a career in entertainment go to LA. The people are fake and the water is dirty, but so is the business.

The vibe in SF is way more laid back and there are some viable career options. That said, the bay is literally the home of cork sniffing. It isn't as much of a put-on up here, yet it retains every bit of the snobbery. I like the weather, which is jeans and long sleeves most of the year. You don't really need a car to get around in SF. Cost of living is higher up here.

In summary you can succeed in either place if you have the savvy, drive, and talent. I would make the decision more around atmosphere and weather.

 

[King Guitar]

you want a steady gig...cruise ship. just saying...

I love LA but it seems like a place to be once you already made it and your recording your 2nd album not trying to break in with the first. Nashville is cool but there are some crazy chops there, you better be able to do it on sight, the first time every time. Vegas sounds like fun but you better have discipline or you could land hard with the extra circular activities.

I'm going with NYC...so much opportunity there between broadway, live shows and recording. Everyone comes through the apple.

If your willing to really relocate I would send you to Macau.

 

[Gainzilla]

you want a steady gig...cruise ship. just saying...

I love LA but it seems like a place to be once you already made it and your recording your 2nd album not trying to break in with the first. Nashville is cool but there are some crazy chops there, you better be able to do it on sight, the first time every time. Vegas sounds like fun but you better have discipline or you could land hard with the extra circular activities.

I'm going with NYC...so much opportunity there between broadway, live shows and recording. Everyone comes through the apple.

If your willing to really relocate I would send you to Macau.

New York aint cheap especially Manhattan. Queens or Brooklyn may work as its cheaper but thats relative; Its still pretty costly...

 

[King Guitar]

you want a steady gig...cruise ship. just saying...

I love LA but it seems like a place to be once you already made it and your recording your 2nd album not trying to break in with the first. Nashville is cool but there are some crazy chops there, you better be able to do it on sight, the first time every time. Vegas sounds like fun but you better have discipline or you could land hard with the extra circular activities.

I'm going with NYC...so much opportunity there between broadway, live shows and recording. Everyone comes through the apple.

If your willing to really relocate I would send you to Macau.

New York aint cheap especially Manhattan. Queens or Brooklyn may work as its cheaper but thats relative; Its still pretty costly...

never said it was cheap...just the best shot to get a cool gig IMO

 

[cardinal]

I like Palo Alto, but damn it's expensive here and if there's a rock and roll scene here, it's snuck past me. I assume San Jose and SF are livelier.

 

[skoora]

Wherever you decide, move right into the belly of the beast if you can afford it. I made the mistake of moving down to SoCal with a band in '96 from Seattle. The second mistake was moving to San Diego instead of to L.A. Hang in a nice city and drive to L.A. when needed was their theory. Yeah right. San Diego was boring as fuck, scenewise and lifestyle and it was still 3 hours to L.A.

 

[billm408]

I like Palo Alto, but damn it's expensive here and if there's a rock and roll scene here, it's snuck past me. I assume San Jose and SF are livelier.

Not much on the peninsula at all. Little Fox in Redwood City is a great venue, but hardly booking shows anymore. St. James Gate in Belmont and Sports Page in Mt. View are dive bars booking cover bands. SF has a lot of small rooms with regular live music. San Jose has very little anymore- The Voodoo Lounge closed last year and the Avalon is closing in June. Only the Caravan and Blank Club are booking original music. There's still a handful of bars for cover bands, but it's not a career building scene down here by any stretch.

 

[threadkiller]

None of my business but if you are single with no kids, I say go for it. Move to LA or Nashville and give it hell. You might be able to make it a career or you might not, but you won't regret it.

If you are married and/or have kids think twice. If you aren't already established it's a huge gamble when you have people relying on you. Just my .02. I realize this was not the original question but too many people chicken out and regret it when they are at a station in life when they can give it a run.

In other words, go into the belly of the beast if you are going to do it. Don't settle for somewhere near the scene.

 

[guitarmike]

None of my business but if you are single with no kids, I say go for it. Move to LA or Nashville and give it hell. You might be able to make it a career or you might not, but you won't regret it.

If you are married and/or have kids think twice. If you aren't already established it's a huge gamble when you have people relying on you. Just my .02. I realize this was not the original question but too many people chicken out and regret it when they are at a station in life when they can give it a run.

In other words, go into the belly of the beast if you are going to do it. Don't settle for somewhere near the scene.

Well said, if you don't have responsibilities, go for it now while you can. If it is in your heart do it or you forever regret it.