Musicians Institute

[exaN]

I'm really considering going to MI next year. Any of you guys studied there? How much money should I expect spending each month?

I live in a small town in Canada so California is like another planet for me

[Cagey]

I'm really considering going to MI next year. Any of you guys studied there? How much money should I expect spending each month?

I live in a small town in Canada so California is like another planet for me

California is probably one of the most expensive places on Earth to live, so expect to spend a lot.

[tfarny]

It's in LA, right? You can live kinda-cheaply in LA as compared to SF or NYC. Food isn't subject to sales tax, gas is cheaper than in Canada, and you can get by with no health insurance since you can just scoot home if you have a major illness or need dental work, and you're young. Just get a reliable car with air conditioning, that's #1 priority. Check Craigslist for apartment rental prices - search for "silverlake" or "Culver City" for safe-yet-cool areas, or "Burbank" if you don't mind some suburbanness. Hollywood itself sucks, I guess a lot of rockers live there though.
You won't be able to afford Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Hills, or Manhattan Beach so don't even try.
Good luck! LA is a hellhole in some (many) ways, but a lot of people love it / find their dreams there.

[exaN]

Yeah the school is on Hollywood Blvd. I think they offer housing near the campus so a car will not be needed.

Gotta start saving money instead of GASing all the time though

[AutoBat]

I hear the Compton Zoo is nice (wear blue)

[Nightclub Dwight]

Yeah the school is on Hollywood Blvd. I think they offer housing near the campus so a car will not be needed.

Gotta start saving money instead of GASing all the time though

You really need a car in Los Angeles even if you live close to school.  Its not the easiest place to get around without a car.  Its a big place, and stuff is very spread out.  Plus, Los Angeles is uniquely car-centric in their whole way of life. 

[tfarny]

Seriously. You cannot "live" in LA without a car. You can exist, but I wouldn't call it living. People who say that are not exaggerating. I once decided to take a bus to my wife's office (from Santa Monica area to Downtown; 10 miles on the freeway). Took 3 hrs.

[jackthehack]

Seriously. You cannot "live" in LA without a car. You can exist, but I wouldn't call it living. People who say that are not exaggerating. I once decided to take a bus to my wife's office (from Santa Monica area to Downtown; 10 miles on the freeway). Took 3 hrs.

Then again, sometimes it can take almost that long driving given a couple of nimrods running into one another during rush hour....

[lafromla1]

I grew up there and if you live in the city, as opposed to the San Fernando Valley, you can probably even do without AC but you will need a car.  Public transportation is not very good.  My first car didnt have AC and I wasnt really at a loss without it until I started working in the corporate world and had to wear a suit everyday.  While Hollywood sucks to live in (I lived right off of Melrose and La Brea) due to the congestion and sometimes downright filth, they have built up a number of apartment complexes there, so you might find a nice clean one, but affordability is the issue.  Burbank and North Hollywood might be affordable, but you'll have to go over the pass which will be very busy during rush hour.  Maybe up to an hour to go 6 miles.  Also, if youre just a single guy, look for something thats a converted garage, pool house or add-on.  Many people are renting those just to make a few extra bucks, and you can probably find one at a reasonable price in a nicer area.  You'll probably just have to practice with an amp that takes headphones as not to disturb the owners.

Just remember:
1.  never EVER, keep anything of value in your car.
2.  Always lock your doors or someone will walk in and steal whatever they can carry.
3.  If you have a convertible, keep the driver side door unlocked or they will cut your top to get something if you didnt follow #1.

[tfarny]

No argument from me, Jack. I can't stand LA but without a car you'll never get a date, have friends, get gigs, got to the beach or mountains, etc. - there are lots of cool things about LA that you'll never see without wheels.

[lafromla1]

No argument from me, Jack. I can't stand LA but without a car you'll never get a date, have friends, get gigs, got to the beach or mountains, etc. - there are lots of cool things about LA that you'll never see without wheels.

Its the cool things that keep me wanting to come back, but then I remember how crowded it is and how expensive it is to live there.  Now La Jolla or Santa Barbara, that's where I want to live. 

[TBurst Std]

La Jolla is number 2 on my places to retire.
#1 is Captiva Island.

[exaN]

Good thing I don't plan on living there very long... I just can't stand big cities with all the traffic and the fast paced life.

[Marko]

Good thing I don't plan on living there very long... I just can't stand big cities with all the traffic and the fast paced life.

and cities that can and will break off the rest of the country and fall into the ocean at some point...

[exaN]

http://www.icmp.co.uk/

Just found out about this school. Never been to London though, would it be easier to live there than in Hollywood?