Help Moving to Montreal

[Henchman]

I'm assuming you speak fluent French?

[totalgear]

High tax rate, expensive and inefficient public transport.

All jobs outsourced to lowest bidder.

Good restaurants though!

[aleafgadol]

well i dont speak french but im willing to learn
my english is pretty good
and from my experience from the last time in montreal
EVERYBODY SPEAKS ENGLISH

any positive advises?

[Serge Perron]

any positive advises?

jazz festival
Excellent bike path network
I disagree with previous post - public transport very good - especially compared to LA.
relatively good health care system
relatively safe urban environment
Any foreign language skills you have may come in handy.

Spend at the very least one year planning. Obtain your Canadian passport ASAP. Maintain contact with your relatives, they can suggest housing. Do learn French thoroughly if you want to be competitive in the job market.

[jrfountain]

French should be at the top of your list. You will not be able to work without it.

[philper]

If you have the opportunity go and try your luck. As depressed as Montreal may be it can't be more depressed than where you are now. Give it a shot--why not? You sound motivated and willing to take the risks.

philp

[Jpchartrand]

Originally Posted by jrfountain

French should be at the top of your list. You will not be able to work without it.

+1

If you don't speak French, you should come to Toronto. Not as fun as Montreal but at least you don't have to worry about French. Plus the music industry seems more alive here.

[Whitecat]

Yep. Everyone speaks English but you won't get any work without fluent French.

Should you actually manage to get any work, remember it will be likely to be French, and speaking from experience, sound editing a language you don't speak is not as fun as it sounds.

And what if you got called up to Quebec City for a job or something? Very little/no English is spoken there at all...

[MikeInOttawa]

Montréal is an awesome place. Very cosmopolitan, the music scene is fantastic, the Metro is great, and it's very bike-friendly like Serge says. Don't know if the opportunities for work are better in Toronto though. If you're looking for work in the film industry, maybe Vancouver is a better place? Beautiful scenery. The drawback about Toronto and Vancouver is the high price of real estate. That is changing ever so slightly right about now.

And yes, you need to speak French in Montréal. A lot of people speak both languages in the same sentence. It's cool. If you want to live in a predominantly anglo neighbourhood, West Island/Baie D'Urfé might be for you.

And the women are absolutely stunning!

P.S. If you're just looking for any work, the oil & gas industry in Alberta is desperate for people. That's another story altogether though.

[Thomas W. Bethe]

Isn't Vancouver BC considered Hollywood north in the film business at least episodic television? Or has that area all dried up as well??? Inquiring minds want to know.

[signoaudiodesign]

C'est très important que tu parles français à Montréal sinon tu vas te couper de plus de la moitié de tes opportunités d'emploi. Cela dit, la vie est très agréable dans cette ville.

Bonne chance

[aleafgadol]

merci boku

[MikeInOttawa]

Originally Posted by Thomas W. Bethe

Isn't Vancouver BC considered Hollywood north in the film business at least episodic television? Or has that area all dried up as well??? Inquiring minds want to know.

Historically, yes. LOTS of great behind the camera talent. The industry there was built on a good exchange rate, when $1 CDN = $0.80 US. Now the tables are turned and $1 CDN = $1.03 US. The cost advantage has disappeared, and money talks.

Vancouver is also losing some business to locales in Ontario as the tax credit available in Ontario for film productions has become better than that offered in British Columbia.

[Smallbudgetguru]

A lot of posting here yes. Agreed that the swimming pool is small and circles are very small too. There are a couple large facilities and a handful of small shops with small circles. Assistant positions are sometimes available for the right match at the larger ones, but expect to be an assistant for 5 years before you touch a fader at some.

I own a very small shop, downtown Montreal, basically family business and its always a hustle. Sometimes work with freelancers on larger stuff.

Ill agree with whats said. Ici nous parlons Français. Very competitive , small pool here.

Hit me up when your around. Come have a coffee

[Henchman]

Originally Posted by Thomas W. Bethe

Isn't Vancouver BC considered Hollywood north in the film business at least episodic television? Or has that area all dried up as well??? Inquiring minds want to know.

Lots gets filmed there.
Forget about a longterm career in audio post there though.

[aleafgadol]

thanx
i will
i have nothing to loose
if i fail ill go back and start again from the same point i left

[philper]

Originally Posted by aleafgadol

thanx
i will
i have nothing to loose
if i fail ill go back and start again from the same point i left

Good man--and good luck to you!

philp

[Henchman]

Originally Posted by aleafgadol

thanx
i will
i have nothing to loose
if i fail ill go back and start again from the same point i left

That's the proper way to look at it.
That's how I have lived my life, and its worked out pretty good so far.
I'd stil be working in a paint factory in Holland if I hadn't.

"Never let your fears decide your date" - Awol Nation.

Words to live by If you ask me.