quote:

The projects? Seriously ???

Yup!

In the one we are in, is a current or former AFTRA Board member as well as a documentary producer.

We can [and have] walked to work at Silvercup.

We once baby-sat a casting office on Times Square and got to work in as little as twenty minutes door-to-door.

The mother of the current or former NYCHA Chairman lives in Amsterdam Houses at Licoln Center

Ray and Rita,

I clicked on the link for the NYC Housing Authority but I wasn't really sure how it works..it seemed like it was housing for low income families. Can you tell me where to go on that site for someone like me? I'm just a single, female, struggling actress.

gmm,
I sent my resume to Atrium, so hopefully they'll be calling me soon to set up an interview. Thanks for the advice on alternative jobs. I think I might enjoy or be fairly successful in cocktail waitressing. I don't like being a waitress because food grosses me out (I know that's juvenile) but I don't think I'd mind serving drinks.

~I still don't know how I'm going to get a job without living in the city first. Do ya'll think it's a good idea to maybe find a person that is subleasing for a month or so, so I can actually go up there and search for a job and a permanent place to live?

quote:

Originally posted by CSilvera:
I was not being facetious--99.9% of "actors" aren't going to ever make a living at it, but while they are trying, why shouldn't they be earning a great wage? And it's the executives/professionals who have freedom to take time off when ever/wherever they want--not temps--is a temp office ever going to hire you again after your 3d day of not showing up because of a last minute audition? Otoh, can my friend take 3 hours off from work to watch her son's baseball game? Yes.

I hear where you're coming from, but since she was struggling with logistics (albeit another kind) you can understand the source of my confusion that you were being sarcastic, no? It's great when actors can make a decent living in their day jobs, but I wonder how many can keep focused on acting while doing so. I know from personal experience that it's very hard...

hey sparkling eyes!
thats cool your bf went to mauldin...i went to hillcrest!*small world* i'll def. be saving up money! thanks for the advice.

GMM-
how hard do you think it is to get a job as a cocktail waitress?

SparklingEyes, call them up and any other agency and say you want to register with their company. These recruiters are always busy, so putting it out there that you want to work will help. Just keep at it.

Look on Craigslist and try and find a month long sublet or something along those lines. Just find a place in the meantime. People are always subletting for a few weeks in the summer. After that you can get a permanent place or you can get a job first then find a permanent pad. Maybe it's just me, but anytime I've found a place on Craigs, I've never had to prove I've got a job, etc. Explain your situation, tell them you just got work, you've saved up money, you can pay rent, etc. That's all that most people are looking for. There are so many crazies looking for places, that a young woman who seems responsible will make a big impression.

People are always listing jobs on Craigs, so check in the food/beverage/hospitality section along with the other sections for additional job opportunities.

quote:

GMM-
how hard do you think it is to get a job as a cocktail waitress?

I think you just have to be good looking and say you've cocktail waitressed somewhere before. Or you could just make it up. Basically, places want attractive people to cocktail waitress. God knows, it's hard enough to be a guy and get a nice bartending job...

Thanks GMM!

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to let ya'll know that I found a friend from college who is living in Manhattan and is going out of town for a week and has offered to let me stay at her place while she's gone. I'm going to take her up on this offer and go to temp agencies, restaurants, and meet several people for roommates and look at their apartments. I'm very excited that things are coming together. I still haven't been able to save any money, but I have a credit card which I rarely use that has a $6,000 limit so if worse comes to worse I can use it to pay my deposit/first months rent, and then be VERY strict about paying it off asap once I start working my new job. Any thoughts? Also, one of the apartments is in Astoria and one is in Washington Heights, are these places good? Safe? I hope everyone is having a wonderful week!

Sparkling, lots of New York actors live in both Astoria and Washinton Heights. They're both decent areas.

But I panicked when you said your credit card was your Plan B. I have to warn you: That's a deep pit into which you don't want to fall. Many don't understand that if you pay the minimum, your debt continues to increase. It's like quicksand.

New York is an expensive city. And it's a rough city in which to live if you're broke. Maybe you need to think about saving up a bit before moving.

If NYC is ANYTHING at all like LA is and I hear it is- GET a job lined up before you move!!!!!! I am having to leave LA right now for a while as I am tapped out and all the jobs are through WHO YOU KNOW. This is FACT FACT FACT. Do NOT RELY ON A CREDIT CARD. Listen to Michael!!!!!You will sink with that sort of plan!!! SINK LIKE THE TITANIC!!!!!!!!

oh ...well, what are your feelings on a loan? A moving loan from the bank or a personal loan from my credit card company? It wouldn't be a huge sum of money...maybe $1,000 at the most. I can save a couple hundred dollars before moving but I just feel like I'm wasting time staying in Congers working at a restaurant where I don't make very much money. I have this wonderful opportunity to stay with a friend for a week in the city. And while I'm there I can find a job and an apartment and I'd really like to make a commitment to both if I find them.

quote:

Originally posted by SparklingEyes:
Ray and Rita,

I clicked on the link for the NYC Housing Authority but I wasn't really sure how it works..it seemed like it was housing for low income families. Can you tell me where to go on that site for someone like me? I'm just a single, female, struggling actress.

Did you click on the FAQ's??

quote:

Originally posted by SparklingEyes:
oh ...well, what are your feelings on a loan? A moving loan from the bank or a personal loan from my credit card company? It wouldn't be a huge sum of money...maybe $1,000 at the most. I can save a couple hundred dollars before moving but I just feel like I'm wasting time staying in Congers working at a restaurant where I don't make very much money. I have this wonderful opportunity to stay with a friend for a week in the city. And while I'm there I can find a job and an apartment and I'd really like to make a commitment to both if I find them.

Stay and save LONGER sweetie!! No hurry- really. Do it RIGHT. Don't be like me and have to leave after two years as you were ill-prepared. And I think the Housing Authority is an awful idea - especially for a girl by herself!!!! Wait and SAVE LONGER. Work two jobs if need be!!!!!Be smart and do not rush into debt. I know when I was younger I did not realize how important your credit score is. It can make or break your future. Don't ruin it by rushing into debt. Your credit score is your future and never forget that or let others tell you different. I may have had to leave LA for a while- but I have a sweet house I own in the next state to go to. I could not have gotten that if I messed up my credit!!!!! Please listen to me. I have lived all over the world and have a lot of experience with relocating etc...

Hi everyone

I just wanted to keep you updated on my adventure. I am now living in Manhattan with my friends in the Upper West Side. I got a job down the street from their apartment as....you guessed, a cocktail waitress, p.s. easiest job you'll ever have in your life, as long as you can deal with loud music and know a thing or two about sports. I have a little situation, not a bad one, but one that I need some advice on. So here it goes...
I have to decide between living with my friends on the couch until November and then taking over one of the rooms at that time (my friend is moving back to SC), or I found a lovely apartment in Sunnyside, Queens, I can stay with my friends until Sept 1st and then move in there.

I'm making a pros and cons list and so far the pros to the apartment in UWS are- it's a great neighborhood, near my job, I'll be saving money during those first 3 months paying less than a third of the rent and no security deposit, it's also convenient.

The cons- I have zero space, it's very crowded and I feel claustrophobic, and it's dark, hot and not ideal to live out of a suitcase and on a couch for three months, there is also a small chance that my friend might change her mind and end up staying.

The apartment in Queens, pros- it's a lovely neighborhood, really close to the train, very spacious and I get a good vibe from it, I can decorate how i want to and only have to share my space with one other person and she just so happens to be an actress/waitress as well and we get a long really well, it's outside of the city so i can retreat from the city.

Cons- there's a hefty deposit (but my parents are going to help me with it) It's not that much cheaper than the apartment in manhattan, i don't know how safe it is to have to take the subway back if I get out of work late, I'll have to find a new job that's closer.


I think that's pretty much it. So let me know what you think, I'd love some advice, I also need to make a decision by Wednesday, at the the latest Friday.

Sparkling Eyes, my vote is for Queens. I think it's really important to have a living situation that is comfortable. I'd personally go for the place where you only have to share with one person, that you get a good vibe from, and is a lovely neighborhood. Sounds a lot better something claustrophobic, dark and hot!

When I'm spending time in NY, I live in Queens and go back and forth into Manhattan at all hours and have never once felt unsafe about the commute. If you're worried, you could take a trip out to that neighborhood at night to see how it feels before committing yourself.