Don't go on his boat. . .

. . .And don't buy property from a fictional war criminal. Otherwise known as advice given to me about the cast members of my first NYC show. Not many people read this blog, and those who do probably already know everything about my experiences before I write them down. Especially since the show closed several weeks ago and I am now back in CA getting my life in order and spending time with friends and family before setting off again. In review here are my thoughts looking back on my first 2 months in NY.

I have a lot to be grateful for, many (if not most) come to NY with few connections, few friends and very little clue. Luckily I went with a job and place to stay, provided by the same wonderful person, and things just seem to have gone up from there. Not only was it a job, but it was a good job with a well respected theatre in a well reviewed show, with actors I actually liked and had heard of. Not that having heard of someone means anything about their talent or ability. The point being, that most people (and I hope to fall into this category at some point, because I want to work on these projects too), have to find low or no pay theatre jobs with like-situated people trying to make it in NYC, and I was given the amazing opportunity of having my first job be something that doesn't usually come till later: the result being an overwhelming sense of optimism. This sense keeps getting rewarded, so it keeps increasing. Not long after coming to NY, I who never win anything, won the first weekly cast and crew lottery known as Dollar Sunday. That was 30 one dollar bills ready to be spent on our day off! Not a huge amount of money by most standards, but I almost didn't want to spend it since it seemed like a good omen. It felt like the gods of change were smiling down on me. In the course of my 2 months I've made and rekindled some good friendships, found some NY Parents, and found a neighborhood I want to move to. I don't know what the fall will bring, except maybe some gold and red leaves and some brisk weather, but I am looking forward to finding out. I am trying to sell my motorcycle in CA so I can afford the move in costs of an apartment in Astoria. Maybe things will continue to be serendipitous and I will have a home to move into in September?
Maybe my real parents and my NY parents will conspire to do Thanksgiving in NYC this year?

Next step: a too long 4 month break in various parts of the U.S. and then a triumphant return to NY and hopefully a job?

It's strange. . .

that I can come from such a world class city like San Francisco, and have the same complaints as small town kids. Namely that there is nothing for me there, careerwise. Here it is completely different. Even with a recession there are still exponentially more opportunities in costuming in NY than in SF. I feel like I can make it here, and I don't really feel like I can go back to completely scraping by and having to live off charity back in SF. But this is my optimism speaking. I don't have things lined up yet, I just feel like they will work out. I need to start papering the city with my resume. But yesterday I felt like an Uber-big City Bunny, I went to the Duke theatre to work on alterations with Rien and then I went to the Producer's Club to go to my other Roommie's rehearsal and help take some measurements for a show he is working on. I was walking to the train to head back to Queens with my bag full of alterations, and it dawned on me that I am working in NY in theatre!! Something I never would have figured 6 years ago.

Um..it is definitely still winter.

Let's just say: 10" of snow overnight. I checked out the window a dozen times once it started sticking because I was so excited, but then I was too intimidated to go outside in the morning. I finally got my ass going when Rien needed to go to a wardrobe meeting for our show and I joined her mostly to get out of the house and to maybe learn some more. We took the train to Greenwich village it took a little less than an hour and a half and was like being in totally different city. Plus it was surreal to be in so much snow. I think next year I need to invest in some great boots.

The meeting was at the TFANA offices, and it was really awesome to see people working on costumes. It made me want to join in and get back into making stuff...I think I'm addicted.

In the Beginning. . .

. . .there was a very tired bunny who arrived at JFK at 7am est. The bunny's name is Leah and she is moving from San Francisco, CA to NYC to see if she can make it in theatre.

The flight was uneventful, and the first day was pretty chill. Slept and then just sorta hung around my friend's apartment in queens.

2nd day I got up all raring to go. I planned to go to the gym, find the trader joe's, target and old navy. I figured I'd start my exploring with some of the safer more familiar things in life. I found the gym and Target, which was great, but never got to Trader Joe's and couldn't find the old navy! But I did take an impromptu trip to midtown to meet up with Rien (my wonderful friend/roomie and boss) and check out a small section of the garment district. It was awesome. It made my hands itch to have a project. I might have to go down there next week and get some fabric for a dress I happen to have a pattern for.

After my friend had a difficult time recommending a place to eat, I felt that I needed to take charge and I spent the evening on Yelp.com looking for cool places to check out.
Some that I am most excited about are Pommes Frites in the East Village, Guss Pickles in the lower east side, and Soy. I also found this great cabaret I want to check out, and tickets are only $25. It's called Le Scandal...I wonder if they need a costumer?


New York Observations:

1. New York is much dirtier than they show it in any movies, except the seediest ones. I am sure there are pretty parts, but I think maybe the majority are pretty gritty. Even so, I like it. It's not beautiful like SF, but there is so much you can do and the subway is the awesome-est.

2. Every movie about New York is entirely too white. This city, atleast the parts that I have seen, are a majority non-white, where as most movies show it as being 85% or more caucasian. It's kind of awesome how diverse it is, so it's sad that it's not represented that way.

3. There are a lot of smells in NY. Even just in our apartment building. This is not always pleasant, as you don't always know what it is you're breathing in.

That is all for now. Hopefully more excitement to come.