OT: I'm curious about the Portland/Seattle area

[willyz]

Any of you fine folks up in that part of the country or have worked there?

From what I've been finding my research there is lots of theater, microbreweries, and it's a fairly cheap cost of living.

Any experience with music out there?

[bstocky]

I've never been to either but I'm interested in both. Everything I've heard about Austin has been positive. Austin has better weather for sure. What don't you like about Austin?

[willyz]

In a nutshell, I've accomplished the goals I set for myself four years ago musically speaking and personally, I'm ready for a change of scenary.

Don't get me wrong- I've enjoyed living here and have been though a lot career-wise as well as in my personal life. I can sense the door is closing here and it's time to move on... besides, in the grand scheme of things, I'm still young, and I'd like to check out some other parts of the country while I can.

[DSOP]

Austin has better weather for sure.

Not sure about that. Austin is pretty gross half of the year. It might as well be Miami without an ocean.

The few times I've been to Seattle it was sunny and beautiful. Go figure.

Plus it's pretty close to Canadia.

[willyz]

Yes. It's hot as hell (if not hotter) here a majority of the year- seems like it gets hotter and hotter every year.

[Da Chooch]

Yes. It's hot as hell (if not hotter) here a majority of the year- seems like it gets hotter and hotter every year.

you forgot to mention MUGGY... did you mention that? 2nd worst allergy in the country after Kentucky. other than that, it's beautiful here.

[smoggrocks]

my best friend lives in seattle, so i get out there a fair bit. my experience is always the same: i fall in love with it for 3 days because i am out of nyc and it's beautiful. then by day 4 i want to shoot everyone.

seattle's scenic and offers great quality of life, esp. if you want to live a healthy lifestyle and/or have kids. but i find it homogeneous. i am used to hearing multiple languages, seeing multiple fleshtones and having a lot of energy around me, both good and bad. i don't really get that there. even though new york has lost its soul, it still has an edge, and that's my default, so it's weird when that goes away.

also rains quite a bit there, which can get gloomy. coffee offsets that to a point.

musically/arts-wise, i find people very receptive, but the scope of available music options felt a little flat. there is definitely a drone-music feel to the pacific northwest as a whole. i found a few pockets of jazz, but felt like that scene was more vital maybe 10 years back. *in general,* i feel the arts opportunity there resides more in the visual arts, not music, though classical seems fairly popular.

cost-of-living: way more reasonable than new york, but real estate (to buy) isn't exactly cheap in the nicer areas like capitol hill. still, you can rent a really nice 2br apt for under $900. that is unheard of here.

portland intrigues me more, because the entrepreneurial spirit seems bolder there.

i guess you have to consider what you want, creatively, professionally and personally. then take a trip out there and see if it grabs you.

[willyz]

New York is the dream for me- but it's too exensive for me at this point. I'm not looking to substitute it, but rather consider my other options. How do you get around the city with your gear?

I figured that considering Portland and Seattle are so close there'd be enough work in both towns to occupy some of my time. I guess I'm partial as a lot of my favorite bands came out of that area too...

I plan on taking a trip to check it out soon in the new year.

[Gaddabout]

I know a REALLY GOOD keyboardist who idolizes Chick Corea up in Portland if you move there. Mike Prigodich. His bassist is Damien Erskine, who also lives in Portland, so he's no slouch.

I know people in both Seattle and Portland, and I can't think of anyone who commutes to either place for regular gigs. It's a 3-hour drive, at least. They're not as close as they appear.

Seattle has always had unbelievable support for the arts, unlike any other city on the West Coast, but I wouldn't say it's a primo spot for professional sidemen. You'd have to join a working band or two ASAP.

I think anytime you move to the West Coast, you really have to start your networking early, fast and furious.

[Josiah]

I think 4 years is nothing... what are your goals? national touring? regional touring? X number of albums? Or maybe just making a living?

Heck if you can be comfortable finance wise playing, why would you leave it?

IMO Austin has a significantly larger music scene (though different) then the north-west.