Advice please

[Vampyria]

HI!

I need help with a decision, I´ve done some calculations and if I save 7000 swedish crones every month, then I will have enough money to go to LA and stay there for 3 months while looking for jobs/having fun, working on my portfolio as a makeup artist/stylist.

My dilemma is, should I wait to augusti 2013 and first study nails and nailart and then go or just rely on being a makeup artist(I am more interested in makeup and styling than nails) and go in feb/mars 2013? I don´t want to wait for to long, I am afraid my chances will fly by plus I need to do more work on my portfolio but finding photographers where I live is hard.

What do you guys think? The only reason too why I wanna do nails is because I think my chances of getting a job is bigger than if I am only a mua/stylist/hairstylist.

[Druchii]

I know a lot of out of work make up stylists in the KC area, I'm not sure how it is out on the coast, but keep in mind that as a whole, the jobs in creative and fashion based aspects are extremely hard to break into at this point.

Just my two cents on the matter mind you, but perhaps waiting a year might not be a bad thing.

[Socinus]

Couple of things,

First, LA is (IMHO) the best city in the world. I've lived here my entire life and I wouldn't live anywhere else. Anything you want to see, do, or experience is here or close to here. Shoot me a PM if you need someone to show you around town when you get here :)

Second, LA is NOT a cheap place to live. 7,000 krona is ~$1,000, so you'd be coming out with ~$12,000 so you'd be alright for a few months. One thing you WILL need is a car. Los Angeles is a car-centric city and without one it's very difficult to get around. We do have public transportation but it's often expensive and it takes many hours to get anywhere. If you can afford it, I'd recommend leasing a car.

Third, places to live are going to be borderline daylight robbery depending on where you end up. I got lucky and found a place for $400 a month, but expect to pay between $800-$1,000 (~5,500-7,000 Krona) per month on rent. If you end up somewhere like Hollywood, expect to pay even more. Food is not cheap either and fuel for a vehicle can get very expensive.

Fourth, find a local. LA is a big place and nothing beats having a native to show you around or give you some pointers is invaluable. I strongly recommend learning some Spanish, it's basically a second language in Los Angeles and the vast majority of Angelinos know at least a few words of Spanish.

Like I said, if you make it out here, shoot me a PM. I'd be happy to show you around.

[Shanti]

My honest opinion, not trying to be rude but..
Why do you want to come here? Honestly and in fact, our nation is in a terrible mess right now.
Jobs are hard to find and most dont pay enough to live! The cost of living has gone insane while wages stagger.
Also LA is a pitt, (unless your a high wage earner), as all our extremely over populated metros are. A small metro would be better.

Also our politics are a disaster. Most states are broke. Taxes are crazy. Our education system is a failure. Its not so great here. Even our freedoms are being slowly whittled away. This should be the last place a person would want to come to. If you want to come to this side of the globe, Canada would be better than here! LOL

Heck I would rather be in Sweden than here!!! :D

[WitchJezebel]

I lived in LA for over a decade and I loved it. Everything Socinus has said is true though and it's definitely not easy to break into the industry as a newbie; you'll really be starting from the bottom and you probably won't get paid much. I won't and would never discourage you from coming, but if you can work it out, maybe a roommate would be a better option in the beginning? It's true the rent is hideously expensive and when I left the cost hadn't even exploded yet.

I think it would be a great experience for you, but take into consideration just how much it's going to cost. $12,000 will hold you for a few months, but after that you've got to be prepared with a job. I remember when I moved to LA what feels like a 100 years ago. I had a couch to crash on and $1200 TOTAL to survive; within a month I had a job and an apartment - unfortunately it's not like that anymore, it's going to be much harder now.

But I'll say this again; I LOVED Los Angeles and some days I really miss it.

Socinus... where the HELL did you get an apartment for $400??? Is it the size of a closet? Being serious here, that's really inexpensive.

[Gaudior]

My honest opinion, not trying to be rude but..
Why do you want to come here? Honestly and in fact, our nation is in a terrible mess right now.
Jobs are hard to find and most dont pay enough to live! The cost of living has gone insane while wages stagger.
Also LA is a pitt, (unless your a high wage earner), as all our extremely over populated metros are. A small metro would be better.

Also our politics are a disaster. Most states are broke. Taxes are crazy. Our education system is a failure. Its not so great here. Even our freedoms are being slowly whittled away. This should be the last place a person would want to come to. If you want to come to this side of the globe, Canada would be better than here! LOL

Heck I would rather be in Sweden than here!!! :D

This lol

[Vampyria]

Hi! Thanks for every advice I am getting! I am working now as a makeup artist and stylist and my work can be shown on net-shops(clothes) ect, but my plan is this: I go to LA for 3 months, work my ass of when it comes to contacts, photographers, stores, models, actors/actresses, other makeup artists and stylists, photosessions and I look everyday/apply every day for a job, then I go back to sweden, get a work visa and go back to LA. My first three months there is only about work work work, connections, photosessions ect, I am not expecting to hit it big in a second, but I will be 24 when I go there and I just feel that I don´t wanna be 85 years old and regret that I never even tried, yeah sure, not a big chance but I got the passion, hard and stubborn will, I just wanna try it, OK?

[WitchJezebel]

Hi! Thanks for every advice I am getting! I am working now as a makeup artist and stylist and my work can be shown on net-shops(clothes) ect, but my plan is this: I go to LA for 3 months, work my ass of when it comes to contacts, photographers, stores, models, actors/actresses, other makeup artists and stylists, photosessions and I look everyday/apply every day for a job, then I go back to sweden, get a work visa and go back to LA. My first three months there is only about work work work, connections, photosessions ect, I am not expecting to hit it big in a second, but I will be 24 when I go there and I just feel that I don´t wanna be 85 years old and regret that I never even tried, yeah sure, not a big chance but I got the passion, hard and stubborn will, I just wanna try it, OK?

Okay, I get it now, I didn't realize your goal was only to stay the 3 months, get yourself 'out there' in the industry and then go back. Frankly, I think that's a better idea then just diving in and moving here without knowing anyone or anything about the city.

I wish you well on your adventure; I loved the excitement in my 20's when I'd embark on a new one.

[Socinus]

Socinus... where the HELL did you get an apartment for $400??? Is it the size of a closet? Being serious here, that's really inexpensive.
Found a pair of very understanding friends :D

[Vampyria]

Okay, I get it now, I didn't realize your goal was only to stay the 3 months, get yourself 'out there' in the industry and then go back. Frankly, I think that's a better idea then just diving in and moving here without knowing anyone or anything about the city.

I wish you well on your adventure; I loved the excitement in my 20's when I'd embark on a new one.

Yeah I think so too, I wanna try it and then go back, I never just dive into things anymore, 22 yrs and already learned that lesson :P