Los Angeles or Boston?

[BRinSM]

Originally Posted by RockGypsy

Is Boston in the Winter bad?

you tell us, you're the one from conneticut.

[readymade]

I'm a musician (among other things). I grew up in Boston & moved to LA. (then I moved to Austin then back to Boston and then, a little over a year ago, back to LA). I've lived in LA for 10 years.

First: The winters in Boston are TERRIBLE! AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL! The summers aren't great, either. Hot & humid.

Secondly: I played out a LOT in Boston and most people were too embarrassed to admit they went to Berklee. That shouldn't make a difference to you because... screw 'em! But, yeah. Not "cool" to mention you went to Berklee.

In regards to playing out in both cities... it's easier to get gigs in Boston. You get paid for your gigs there, too. You get a base amount and then an additional depending on how many people you bring. People are generally pretty supportive there, for the most part.

In LA, it's harder to get gigs in decent places. It's really about who you know (and even THEN it's tough!). It's hard to get people to come to your shows. In Boston, the bands you're playing that night will stay and listen to you. In LA, a lot of times they show up for their set and leave right afterwards. Unless you build up a pretty big following you won't get paid. And, a lot of time, there is what's called "Pay To Play" where you have to buy a bunch of tickets using your own money, and sell them. It sucks.

HOWEVER, you're more likely to "make it" here in LA. Most of the labels & publishing companies are based here and they routinely go out to see bands (I know... I used to work at a major music company).

It's definitely harder in LA to be a musician, but you're more likely to be a working musician here than in Boston.

Both LA & Boston have great nightlife. But you have to deal with snowstorms & stuff in Boston. So, if you play a show in the winter & it's snowing... no one will come see you play. It's harder to make yourself go out when it's cold. You might play at clubs that have no a/c in the summer and that's hell on earth. I once played a show in a winter coat because the heat wasn't working (in the winter). People tend to go out mid-week more in LA than in Boston. People in LA are DEFINITELY more likely to come see you play on a Wednesday night (for example) than in Boston.

Oh, and while Boston can be somewhat more supportive, it can be hard to break into the music scene in the FIRST place. Boston is not a friendly town AT ALL! It's hard to make friends there. It's a lot easier to make friend in LA. In Boston, if you admit that you want to "make it" with your band (or, sorry, that you went to Berklee), everyone laughs at you. They're pretty bitter there, and jealousy runs rampant. LA is where people come to live their dreams. I have a few friends who moved here to make music. I know at least 3 or 4 that are doing it full-time, but I should mention NOT with their bands. One opened a recording studio. 2 are soundtrack composers. 1 works at a music company doing licensing. The rest are slogging away playing in their bands (including me), but all of them are pretty happy.

There are a lot more recording artists in LA than in Boston, so I imagine it's easier to get studio work here than in Boston.

I vote LA!!

[RockGypsy]

Originally Posted by readymade

I'm a musician (among other things). I grew up in Boston & moved to LA. (then I moved to Austin then back to Boston and then, a little over a year ago, back to LA). I've lived in LA for 10 years.

First: The winters in Boston are TERRIBLE! AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL! The summers aren't great, either. Hot & humid.

Secondly: I played out a LOT in Boston and most people were too embarrassed to admit they went to Berklee. That shouldn't make a difference to you because... screw 'em! But, yeah. Not "cool" to mention you went to Berklee.

In regards to playing out in both cities... it's easier to get gigs in Boston. You get paid for your gigs there, too. You get a base amount and then an additional depending on how many people you bring. People are generally pretty supportive there, for the most part.

In LA, it's harder to get gigs in decent places. It's really about who you know (and even THEN it's tough!). It's hard to get people to come to your shows. In Boston, the bands you're playing that night will stay and listen to you. In LA, a lot of times they show up for their set and leave right afterwards. Unless you build up a pretty big following you won't get paid. And, a lot of time, there is what's called "Pay To Play" where you have to buy a bunch of tickets using your own money, and sell them. It sucks.

HOWEVER, you're more likely to "make it" here in LA. Most of the labels & publishing companies are based here and they routinely go out to see bands (I know... I used to work at a major music company).

It's definitely harder in LA to be a musician, but you're more likely to be a working musician here than in Boston.

Both LA & Boston have great nightlife. But you have to deal with snowstorms & stuff in Boston. So, if you play a show in the winter & it's snowing... no one will come see you play. It's harder to make yourself go out when it's cold. You might play at clubs that have no a/c in the summer and that's hell on earth. I once played a show in a winter coat because the heat wasn't working (in the winter). People tend to go out mid-week more in LA than in Boston. People in LA are DEFINITELY more likely to come see you play on a Wednesday night (for example) than in Boston.

Oh, and while Boston can be somewhat more supportive, it can be hard to break into the music scene in the FIRST place. Boston is not a friendly town AT ALL! It's hard to make friends there. It's a lot easier to make friend in LA. In Boston, if you admit that you want to "make it" with your band (or, sorry, that you went to Berklee), everyone laughs at you. They're pretty bitter there, and jealousy runs rampant. LA is where people come to live their dreams. I have a few friends who moved here to make music. I know at least 3 or 4 that are doing it full-time, but I should mention NOT with their bands. One opened a recording studio. 2 are soundtrack composers. 1 works at a music company doing licensing. The rest are slogging away playing in their bands (including me), but all of them are pretty happy.

There are a lot more recording artists in LA than in Boston, so I imagine it's easier to get studio work here than in Boston.

I vote LA!!

Thank you for such a detailed response! I have a few questions, if you don't mind...

Why is going to Berklee looked down on? Is it the same thing for MI/GIT in Los Angeles?

How hard is it finding other musicians in either city? I know being in a music school seems like it would make things easier, but I want to keep school away from my rock n roll career, in a sense...

Thanks again!

[readymade]

Honestly, I'm not entirely sure why Berklee is looked down upon. I guess it's just not "rock 'n roll" to go there. The general consensus is that they're stuck up. For example, I played a show, and the other band had hired some Berklee guys to play backup stuff. This was a long time ago, so I don't remember the specifics but something happened and they refused to play. MAYbe something to do with money? Anyway, everyone was all "Oh, well they're from Berklee... what do you expect?!" They're considered pretentious. But, then, people in Boston can be judgmental a-holes. I have a good friend (here in LA) who went to Berklee and he told me so rather sheepishly. Um, and then I made fun of him.
I have no idea if MI/GIT is considered the same way. Sorry.

It's pretty easy to find musicians. Figure out what bands you like and then start going to see them play all the time. They'll start to recognize you. Be all "Hey, great show!" They'll be psyched! If you can play drums or bass, you'll have it made. In Boston, go to The Middle East, Church, TT The Bear's, PA's Lounge, & Great Scott. When I was in my 20s, I just went OUT. I didn't care who was playing. Ended up meeting a lot of people that way.

In LA, god... I never go out anymore. Spaceland used to be a pretty reliable choice, but they re-named it to something else. The Smell is where you see punk & noise bands. My husband still goes out to see music, but he goes to weird out-of-the-way places that no one has ever heard of and house parties (to see more experimental/avant-guarde bands). I have singer/songwriter friends who play the Hotel Cafe & Universal Bar & Grill. I'm playing a show next month (at some place I've never heard of)... my first one in YEARS, but I like my online anonymity so I won't mention where/when. How did I get the gig? I went to this girl's (that I hardly knew. Totally forced myself to go in order to be more social, heh) going-away party. She introduced me to this other chick who was putting together a benefit show. I mentioned that I was getting my band off the ground again, and she asked if I wanted to play at this benefit concert. So, sort of a weird/random series of events. Moral: Make yourself go out even when you don't want to. Make lots and lots of connections.

To me, the (pop rock) Boston music scene seemed more tight-knit and insular. The LA scene is so spread out and diverse that I never really felt like I got a handle on it. I never played out as much in LA as I did in Boston, though.

[barbara.g]

LA is a fun place to live in as a student. The night life here is really good. There are a lot of places to eat and you will never feel famished. The weather the hills, the beaches and mountains are all so pretty. Its a true melting pot with diverse people living here. You will definitely enjoy LA!

[downtown lover]

LA of course! no comparison.