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Thread: Help... Moving to California.

  1. #1
    spooky_zombie
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    Default Help... Moving to California.

    Ok... I want to be an actress. Before anyone tells me it's not going to happen and that my chances suck... let me say that that's not what this post is about. =P

    The thing is, I have lived all my life in one state, and it's WAY away from California... I know if I ever want to find acting work, I'm going to need to move there. My husband agrees with me, so we want to try to take our 2-year old son and move there within the next year. He is going to train as an EMT so that he can work while we both go to school and I look for acting jobs.

    We are what you would call a low-income family at the moment, with him only making $5.30/hour plus tips from pizza delivery. I'm a housewife (I've thought of stripping and may still do it, that's why I'm on this board). I don't know the first thing about how to move to another state, or where to begin in California. I just know that being here where I am, so far from what I want with my life, is depressing me very badly, and I need to at least get to California and get the ball rolling.

    Does anyone know anything about low-income or HUD housing there, or another good way/place to start? Thanks. =)

  2. #2
    Banned gingerlee's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help... Moving to California.

    Do you want to move to California in general, or do you want to move to a particular part of the state? Different parts of the state have totally different costs of living.

  3. #3
    spooky_zombie
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    Default Re: Help... Moving to California.

    Well, I don't really know what area would be the cheapest to live in and still close enough to LA that I could try to find acting work. I'm totally lost.

  4. #4
    Featured Member Sunshine73's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help... Moving to California.

    OK, I'm an actress too, and I've moved to CA from PA, so I think I can help you here.

    First off, don't listen to the naysayers. Even if you pursue your goal and it doesn't work out, at least you made SOME progress toward what you have wanted to achieve. Listen to what your heart tells you and pursue your career in acting. You have your dreams for a reason. Timing is everything. If things do not work out right away, perhaps in time it will. And trust me, there is nothing worse than having "What if's" in life. So listen to your feelings and pursue your goal.

    Secondly, if I were you, I'd get a job (be it stripping or what have you) in KY and SAVE UP SOME $$$ before the move. It is very expensive to live in CA. I live in San Diego and a 1 bedroom runs at least $800, and that is at the very cheapest. If I were you I'd get a job stripping and save up $4000-$6000. This may sound like a lot but I have been able to save up that much before and it only takes a couple of months, and my living situation was similar to yours at one time. Live on a shoestring budget, work 4 shifts a week (maybe 3 or 5 depending on how much you make) and put it into your "CA fund". The nice thing about stripping is that you can make a schedule that suits you and your needs, i.e. having time for your family. Don't let finances stop you! You can do this! You said you were in school. Are you in school now, or will you be going to school in CA? I would finish school and work in KY first before going to CA.

    Do you have friends in CA who will let you stay with them a few weeks while you look for jobs/a home? Then you may have to stay in an inexpensive hotel while you and your hubby look for jobs, if you haven't been able to find a job before the move. I do not know of any low-income housing here, and if there is, I do not know if it would be a suitable environment for your baby.

    Your best bet would be for your hubby to find a job in CA first before moving, or you could move out here and get a job at a club ASAP (which is another reason why I'd recommend dancing in KY first. At least then you will have experience and you will have a better shot of getting hired at a CA club right away).

    DECIDING WHERE TO MOVE

    I WOULD NOT move directly to L.A. to pursue an acting career. You will be up against a shitload of people who have more connections/experience than you. What I chose to do was move to San Diego after graduation (I have a B.S. in journalism/advertising/film production). This way I'd be close to L.A. I could go up and visit, get a feel for the place, AND get my experience as an actress in SD (there is less competition here and there are opportunities to get acting work). In SD I have put myself through acting school, made good L.A. connections, (very important!) danced (BTW it is great training for actresses for numerous reasons), appeared in several student/independent films, infomercials, worked as a promotional model, etc. (My brother is an actor too but is getting his experience in a northern CA city.) Once I am ready, I will go up to L.A. and then do my thing. In a nutshell, I am saying to AVOID L.A. UNTIL YOU ARE READY! Move to a city NEAR L.A., get your training, get your experience, make your connections, read books about Hollywood and the film industry (I could name a few if necessary) and then once you are ready, then go. Because if you go to L.A. before you are ready, prepare to get worked over.

    www.craigslist.com is helpful in terms of finding jobs, housing, etc. Research the cities that interest you.

    Once you figure out where in CA to move to, have a yard sale/donate unwanted crap, rent a Ryder or a U-haul and load up. Then drive. www.mapquest.com will tell you how to get from point A to point B. Perhaps a family member could help with driving your car while you drive the moving van. If you need storage, there are many storage facilities out here! Stay in a hotel/with a friend until you find a home. Get a job dancing while you and hubby look for a home, and open up a bank acct right away (You'll need a place to keep all that $$$).

    And try not to stress. Dance, finish school, save your $$$, research where you want to live, pack up, drive out, get jobs and a home, and dance while you pursue your acting career. Easier said than done, I know, but things will work out in time. I believe in you! Good luck.
    Quote Originally Posted by Picaresque View Post
    Maria Callas said it best: "When my critics stop hissing, I shall know I'm slipping."

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    Featured Member Sunshine73's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help... Moving to California.

    Quote Originally Posted by spooky_zombie View Post
    Well, I don't really know what area would be the cheapest to live in and still close enough to LA that I could try to find acting work. I'm totally lost.
    You need to do your research, girl. www.craigslist.org
    Last edited by Sunshine73; 05-28-2007 at 06:41 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Picaresque View Post
    Maria Callas said it best: "When my critics stop hissing, I shall know I'm slipping."

  6. #6
    Featured Member Sunshine73's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help... Moving to California.

    San Diego may not be a bad choice for you. There are cheaper places to live in SD (like Santee, El Cajon.) Plus, there are acting jobs/training here

    Studios:
    Steel Web Studios
    [url]www.steelwebstudios.com/

    Stu Segall Productions
    www.stusegall.com



    Training:

    Actors Alliance www.actorsalliance.com/

    Actors Workshop Studios
    www.actorsworkshopstudios.com
    Last edited by Sunshine73; 05-28-2007 at 06:40 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Picaresque View Post
    Maria Callas said it best: "When my critics stop hissing, I shall know I'm slipping."

  7. #7
    Featured Member Sunshine73's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help... Moving to California.

    If you want info about clubs here, I can provide that info too.

    *feeling like a plethora of info*
    Quote Originally Posted by Picaresque View Post
    Maria Callas said it best: "When my critics stop hissing, I shall know I'm slipping."

  8. #8
    Kaylinn
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    Default Re: Help... Moving to California.

    I moved from PA to Vegas in a matter of 5 days.
    Came out here for a vacation with the intent to move. I had never been here before. Let me first say that I had a conciderable amount of money saved.

    So I came out here, and looked for apartments. I knew what area I wanted, and it took 3 days before finding something in my budget and my area. I payed the apartment up for 3 months. Then I found a car. A very cheap car I payed for in cash. I called all the utilities, turned them on, payed the bills up for 3 months. I rented a housefull of cheap furtature for $120 a month, payed up for 3 months.
    I flew home for 2 days. I sold everything or gave away anything that I could not fit into 2 large suitcases. Whatever clothes I could fit, I brought. That was it. The hardest part of it all was that I could not bring my cat and had to find her a good home...I miss her, and hope she is happy.

    When I got here, I had all my bills payed up for 3 months, so making money wasn't an immeadiate concern, which allowed me time to find ajob. I went to every single club in Vegas and checked them out, foudn a club I liked, and got hired.
    My boyfriend went to dealer school for 2 weeks, and was placed in ajob right after.
    We had enough cash to last us about 3 months of spending money.

    After we had jobs and got settled, we gave back the rented furniture, bought real furniture, sold the cheap piece of shit car and bought a nicer one. We were just trying to get out here first, and get established before we tried to live nicely.


    My whole point is have money saved, so you can get settled in. We made sure to have enough cash that if we couldnt find jobs right away, it was ok. We also had enough money so we could go out and see the new city we lived in.
    And research everything. There are good and bad parts of every town, and you don't want ot end up in the bad part cause you didn't know any better.

    Good luck!

  9. #9
    madmaxine
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    Default Re: Help... Moving to California.

    Be prepared to strip to help make ends meet...the cost of living is very high in California across the board. Several SW girls work in San Diego and make enough money to live on....The scheduling flexibility is also helpful since you have a young child.

    As for low-income housing, the Section 8/ HUD programs have tightened up lately (they kicked a bunch of people off of the program in my home county) & there's a long waiting list for that anyway. However the state Healthy Families program (MediCal) will insure your child's health (& possibly yours) for free or low-cost...which is very helpful long-term.

    Sunshine73 and Kaylinn have very good advice. Let me re-iterate the advice about saving up for a place in a GOOD neighborhood....the crime rates in CA are much higher than rural states like Kentucky (my kid brother lives 5 miles from the Kentucky border in TN, so I know how different your neck of the woods is from urban California.) You have to be more careful.

    Overall, you should go for it, but plan well in advance...Good luck.

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    God/dess Bella21's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help... Moving to California.

    Yes, there is a VERY long wait for low-income housing. There are cheapish places around and in San Diego however (you could find a 2-bedroom apt in a non-scary area for just a tad over 1k a month).
    If you think school is hard, try being stupid.

  11. #11
    Featured Member Sunshine73's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help... Moving to California.

    I can't really offer info on all areas near L.A. , but if you were to move to SD a few of us here could offer advice on where to live cheaper .
    Some of these areas would be...

    Clairemont (Cheap but not a bad area. Actually a good location.)
    Santee
    El Cajon

    Anywhere near the beach will be expensive.
    Quote Originally Posted by Picaresque View Post
    Maria Callas said it best: "When my critics stop hissing, I shall know I'm slipping."

  12. #12
    spooky_zombie
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    Default Re: Help... Moving to California.

    Wow, thank you guys so much. This is definately helpful. =)

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    Default Re: Help... Moving to California.

    I don't know much about low income housing here but I do know that LA is expensive....one of the best cities on the planet imo, but it costs alot to live here! The stripping industry isn't all that great either
    Fools laugh at others. Wisdom laughs at itself...Osho

  14. #14
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Help... Moving to California.

    I work in the industry, so PM me if you want tips on breaking in.

    Your husband should finish his EMT training first, because you will not be able to support your child while he's in school. You can't just assume you'll be able to strip, either, because the club business is very slow out here due to economic recession and there are more available dancers than there are clubs to hire them. Save up as much money as you can, because it's expensive as hell. Also, where I come from the security deposit on an apartment is about $100-200, but out here it's equal to a whole month's rent, which will be at least $1000. And put off registering your car in California for as long as you can, because that costs a small fortune too.

    Incidentally, as an EMT your husband will also be qualified to work as a set medic, which is a damn good job (especially once he goes union). He should look into that. They make excellent money for chilling out reading just off set, dispensing aspirin and sunscreen every now and then, and occasionally administering first aid if someone actually gets hurt.

    Anyway, brace yourself. This is a hard life. I'd tell you to forget about it and stay where you are, but I've been out here for three years trying to break in and I haven't given up yet. So I'm not one to talk!

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    Featured Member xbloodydewdropx's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help... Moving to California.

    I agree with all of the other posters who highlighted the importance of saving money before the move. The LAST thing you want to do is get out there and not have enough money for living expenses. Even if your hubby finds a job rather quickly, pay checks still take a few weeks to process. People often underestimate the amount of money they'll need when moving....if you drive, you have to factor in (high) gas prices, hotel stops (plan your route early and book hotels online...it's cheaper like that), and start-up costs. The little things add up, and it's good to be prepared...it makes the whole moving-across-the-country less freaky. Also, as others have suggested, find a place to live before you move. To start, research apartments online. http://www.apartmentfinder.com http://www.rent.net
    will give you some options. Also, when you have a list of options, check out http://www.apartmentratings.com for reviews of said apartments (they can be eye-opening). Then, take a quick trip out to your desired location(s) and view the apartments, talk with landlords, etc. before signing the lease. Good luck...you can certainly accomplish what you want, but make sure you plan enough in advance.
    "Seeing the landscape at this superficial level only captures its boring uniformity, not allowing you to immerse yourself in the spirit of the place; for that you must stop at least several days."

    ~Che Guevara, "The Motorcycle Diaries"

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    Featured Member yogibear179's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help... Moving to California.

    wow thanks everyone! im not moving to Cali, but i am moving and i found this info very helpfull!


  17. #17
    Featured Member Sunshine73's Avatar
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    Default Re: Help... Moving to California.

    Yeah, whatever you do, save up money first, then move.

    Although some people move out here with $$ and THEN find a job/home (which is what I did...I winged it! Teh again, I had no kids back then) or you could find jobs/a home before you move. Seeing that you have a kid stability is important, so I'd get your home and job (at leaset one of you need a job) before you move out here.

    Don't give up! XOXOXOXOOX
    Quote Originally Posted by Picaresque View Post
    Maria Callas said it best: "When my critics stop hissing, I shall know I'm slipping."

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