NYC Monsters, Need Some Help

[Green Detox 2,779]

By 18 as i finish senior year and fully graduate High School, i am planning to move to new york with a $2000 budget, that is the maximum amount i am estimating that my parents could give me. Now you may ask, why do i want to move in the states specifically new york? Well i am not from states but i would want to stay anonymous as much as possible. So here is thing, i'm chasing my dreams of being an international pop star, and i know New York aka THE CITY OF DREAMS is the perfect place, now I've been doing my research and found out that half of that 2kBucks would be spent on my apartment rent, but of course I'm gonna have to spend money too on my other needs like Recording music which is the point of me moving out, food, Phone and internet subscription and many more. Now i would like to get some tips on what express jobs i can get to easily earn money, because i dont want to enter or finish college, i want to hit the industry as soon as possible, if it's possible for other artist(like Taylor Swift who hasn't even stepped in college) i known it's possible for me too. So maybe you can give me tips and advice on how to adjust there and earn some money? Because it's my first time stepping that city and I'm too paranoid of getting lost or something, so every help would be much appreciated, thank you.

[Caca 1,414]

Lol, can you even sing?
Sometimes dreams don't come tru, homie

[He8MyHeart 9,765]

If you have genuine talent, go for it!

[Robo Ga 15,299]

7 minutes ago, ladywawa said:

i am planning to move to new york with a $2000 budget

[Caca 1,414]

Just now, Robo Ga said:

Is that a bad budget?
Sorry, I don't know dollars

[KleinGa 18,177]

You might need to start go go dancing for a hundred or two 

[KleinGa 18,177]

Seriously though, good luck on your ambition. When you start recording, post some music so we could all support it 

I can't wait to cheer on another Little Monster who made it big (just don't steal Gaga's Oscar from her like that certain someone who betrayed us  )

Regarding NYC, you're going to need way more than $2000 to survive there honey. Unless you get a very small apartment and survive on ramen noodles. Finding odd jobs such as waitressing etc around NYC is not that difficult. All the best.

Also why do you want to keep your identity secret? You know the best way to make it in music, especially in the modern society today is to expose yourself so people know who you are right?

Anyway, best of luck 

[Nicole 1,809]

Get a few jobs and hustle. $2000 won't get you very far. As someone who would like to spend an extended amount of time in NYC in the coming years, $2000 seems to me to get you a tiny apartment and not much else.

Don't expect everything to happen. You will most likely have to work from the bottom. You'll probably be rejected more than once, that's just the nature of the music industry (or any industry, really). Don't ever think an opportunity isn't "good enough" for you - take what you get and work your way up. 

Today, getting a job in any area requires not so much outstanding talent/skills these days and more about who you know. You gotta network and meet people in the industry (not saying you're not talented, just emphasising that knowing people helps a lot) 

Edit: Just to add, if it doesn't work out financially, don't think you're a failure or that you're not going to make it ever if you don't make it in NYC. We live in a globalised world, there is youtube, soundcloud - take advantage of these technological advances and reach more audiences than you could ever in just one city. You could very well succeed in your home city.

[Rebel Heart 5,142]

You don't really need to move to NY for that type of thing anymore. Not with the internet anyway. A lot of musicians gain a lot of recognition from websites like SoundCloud, Bandcamp and YouTube. I'd recommend using these before doing something like moving to NY. It's a tough place to become a star in. Plus NY isn't as arty as it use to be. It's mostly become a business city.

[Letmelivemylife 8,715]

1 hour ago, KleinGa said:

Seriously though, good luck on your ambition. When you start recording, post some music so we could all support it 

I can't wait to cheer on another Little Monster who made it big (just don't steal Gaga's Oscar from her like that certain someone who betrayed us  )

Regarding NYC, you're going to need way more than $2000 to survive there honey. Unless you get a very small apartment and survive on ramen noodles. Finding odd jobs such as waitressing etc around NYC is not that difficult. All the best.

Also why do you want to keep your identity secret? You know the best way to make it in music, especially in the modern society today is to expose yourself so people know who you are right?

Anyway, best of luck 

Ah this brings back memories. My very first apartment was a rat infested **** hole on the lower east side that I shared with my then gf at the time. God I remember hearing them scamper around at night *shudders*. We ate cherrios and ramen noodles and soup a lot lol. We were poor but we made it work. It wasn't until I moved to LA that I realized how much I miss NYC even though you basically pay to live in a glorified shoebox lol

[manicholic 3,694]

It sounds like what you actually need to do is to apply to Berklee in Boston and NYU's Clive Davis Institute and do your very best to get into one of them

Berklee's best case scenario: Charlie Puth

NYU's CDI best case scenario: Maggie Rogers 

As others have mentioned, there is NO reason to move to NYC anymore, unless you've got a job offer here or will be attending school here.

So if you really want to change your life and live in NYC, apply to a school here as a music major (studio/songwriting/producing) and once you're here, use the school's connections to get internships at local recording studios, as well as making friends with other aspiring musicians at your school. 

Unless you are an Instagram superstar, you CANNOT become a star anymore without being able to write, produce, and sing your own songs.

[weed 73,902]

My only tip is that before you move, make sure that's really what you want. $2000 could be gone in an instant in NYC, so you have to be really smart (in terms of money, connections, etc.) and really dedicated to your passion.

[bayonse 6,525]

i need to hear you sing first to tell you if ur gonna make it

 

[RAMROD 109,672]

I am not trying to discourage you, but no decent rentals in downtown NYC that are below $1500, you should be prepared to pay $2500 and above per month for a good small apartment. 

Also, starting off new in new country to be professional singer is not as easy as it seems, you gotta have connections to even able to perform at small pubs, so make sure you are very adaptable to people. Or already know who's who in the district.

Also you need to think about having daily job, if your parents only give those $2000 just that one time, you really need to find jobs that could cover your monthly rent, transport and foods too.

Average food budget are about $300+/month, if you can cook yourself, but if you into dining out it will be twice than that per month, and if you have special diet, it is getting even more expensive.

As for transportation, a monthly transit pass will cost you another $200

Let's be real, you will need at least $10,000-$25,000 to start off  decently in New York.

And most importantly, you need back up plan if all else fails. 

Best of luck!

[thierryrreiht 20,997]

Pretty much everyone mentioned all of it bet here's the summary.

1. No need for NYC in 2017 to become famous.

2. $2000 is basically nothing, could last a month, most likely less.

3. To be famous, one of the best ways are to expose yourself everywhere through social media and stuff. Why stay anonymous???

4. What skills do you have? Songwriting? Singing (i hope)? Composing? Instrument? You need some of it to make it..

5. Having dreams are great but perhaps you should wait a bit more to prepare everything you need before taking such a big step.

are you European? No tea no shade to you all but sometimes Europeans have this image of the US of still being The New World where Everything Is Possible and it's the Place To Be to become Someone... which is false especially nowadays.. (just ONE example: Justin Bieber, Drake, the Weeknd and to an extent Shawn Mendes... are some of the biggest artists these days (  ) and all three of them are Canadians who started in their own town or on social media and THEN moved to the US after getting some attention.

just a few things to think about

wish you the best though!