St. Paul Minnesota?

[Robobo1]

Anyone here in St. Paul Minnesota? I might be making a move there soon from DC. Not sure.

What's the music and recording scene like?

[leddy]

I lived there 10 years ago. There was a great music scene. Plenty of good venues. I was not into recording at the time, but I worked as a musician and always found it easy to find gigs. I doubt it's changed too much.

Then again, I was just in DC and thought it seemed like a good scene there too. Am I wrong?

[VukOnCrack]

In MPLS now for about 18 months. Composer, primarily. There's lots of classical/acoustic music happening. Is there anything specific you want to know about?

I've never had the impression that the scene in D.C. is very good. Born there and go back to visit family and friends regularly. While I might be pleasantly surprised about D.C., I can say that per capita, there's more going on in the Twin Cities than near anywhere else in the country. There are real stats floating around about the number of venue seats sold and arts spending here that support this observation. A real pleasant surprise to be sure.

[Don S]

Originally Posted by Robobo1

Anyone here in St. Paul Minnesota? I might be making a move there soon from DC. Not sure.

What's the music and recording scene like?

Are things getting that bad in DC? I had a chance to visit the studios and was impressed compared to what we have out here at NPRwest!

[Robobo1]

Originally Posted by VukOnCrack

In MPLS now for about 18 months. Composer, primarily. There's lots of classical/acoustic music happening. Is there anything specific you want to know about?

I've never had the impression that the scene in D.C. is very good. Born there and go back to visit family and friends regularly. While I might be pleasantly surprised about D.C., I can say that per capita, there's more going on in the Twin Cities than near anywhere else in the country. There are real stats floating around about the number of venue seats sold and arts spending here that support this observation. A real pleasant surprise to be sure.

You know, I've heard the area has a wonderful arts scene in general. DC's is so-so. Nothing spectacular, that is sure.

What a great stat!

[Robobo1]

Originally Posted by Don S

Are things getting that bad in DC? I had a chance to visit the studios and was impressed compared to what we have out here at NPRwest!

No, I'm just trying to figure out what my "next step" might be.

[roonsbane]

I have been in Saint Paul since March 1 2007 from Boston. I am very happy with the music and work so far. I got recruited out here for MPR so the work comes to me. Anyone who is anyone plays in this city and that goes for all styles, though the jazz recording has been a little light for my taste. My co-worker came from NPR in DC after me and he has been happy with the switch as well.

Life has been pretty good since coming. I no longer have to freelance every single day I have off from my regular recording job just to begin to afford to own a dinky little piece of crap home. Instead, my wife and I bought what our neighbors called "the jewel of the neighborhood" at 2/3 the price we would have paid for a single floor of a three family home in Boston. Also, they are into their arts here and they love their Minnesota Public Radio. They rarely if ever clap between movements (a small indicator of a musically educated audience) and they tend to pack concerts. At a recent concert I recorded, there were about 1700 patrons. Someone in the orchestra was commissioned to write a piece based on a Bach motif with music printed in the program. The audience was invited to sing along in one of the movements and I said to myself "yea right! like that's going to happen". Man I was surprised to hear the vast majority of the audience singing along. This would not happen in Boston.

Of course, I suppose it depends what you are doing now and what you intend on doing once you are here.

Good luck with your decision.

Cameron

[Robobo1]

Originally Posted by roonsbane

I have been in Saint Paul since March 1 2007 from Boston. I am very happy with the music and work so far. I got recruited out here for MPR so the work comes to me. Anyone who is anyone plays in this city and that goes for all styles, though the jazz recording has been a little light for my taste. My co-worker came from NPR in DC after me and he has been happy with the switch as well.

Life has been pretty good since coming. I no longer have to freelance every single day I have off from my regular recording job just to begin to afford to own a dinky little piece of crap home. Instead, my wife and I bought what our neighbors called "the jewel of the neighborhood" at 2/3 the price we would have paid for a single floor of a three family home in Boston. Also, they are into their arts here and they love their Minnesota Public Radio. They rarely if ever clap between movements (a small indicator of a musically educated audience) and they tend to pack concerts. At a recent concert I recorded, there were about 1700 patrons. Someone in the orchestra was commissioned to write a piece based on a Bach motif with music printed in the program. The audience was invited to sing along in one of the movements and I said to myself "yea right! like that's going to happen". Man I was surprised to hear the vast majority of the audience singing along. This would not happen in Boston.

Of course, I suppose it depends what you are doing now and what you intend on doing once you are here.

Good luck with your decision.

Cameron

Thanks for the wonderful info! Please check for a PM.

[Jungle Jazz]

I spent the 2001-2002 academic year in St. Paul as Guest Professor. I didn't know much about it going in, but I was very pleased to find a generally well-educated population, reasonable cost of living, good health care, and a very active arts scene. I was taking a breather from being active in music at the time, but there seemed to be lots going on musically. I would have stayed in the Twin Cities quite happily, but I was offered a pretty big teaching gig in the Bay Area, so I left.

[VukOnCrack]

I'm also a Boston transplant, via some time in grad school and teaching in NC. I truly love Boston's musical community. I think the Twin Cities comes pretty close. Great music to hear almost any week during the concert season: good stuff. Roonsbane is right that jazz here is not as big as it probably could be. The Dakota is a nice space and gets a lot of headliners (re: conservative mainstream jazz with a conservative mainstream price). But, I've also heard the Abercrombie Quartet lineup and Tim Berne there in the past two months. Can't go wrong with either show.

Overall, I think that aesthetically the area trends towards conservative. Music is very much a populist pursuit here. But, there are so many presenting organizations and their boards must get or give good advice because I've heard some real surprises in the programming. And performance standards are top notch.

I miss Boston, but could never practically go back without some miraculous infusion of cash. Of course, it was 5 degrees when I went out mid-morning today, but heading into my second winter here I've pretty much come to terms with the weather since there are so many other great things here. Think of Minneapolis/St. Paul as the cosmopolitan oasis between Chicago and the west coast (all due credit given to the hippies in Boulder, of course).

[bitman]

Bring your down parka, ski mask scarf and jumper cables.
I spent the first 10 years of my life there.

Hellishly cold and gray winters ya.

[norton]

Cold... sheesh, it's been FREEZING for the past week. ... and we're supposed to get dumped on with snow this weekend, and it's dark at like 4pm.

That's the bad... but the good is a very strong arts community TONS of theater, rock rock rock bands and venues of every kind, and actually very decent local radio.

Check out RadioK.org KFAI community radio and 89.3 the current on line to get an idea of what the local flavor music/arts wise is.....

[leddy]

Originally Posted by norton

Cold... sheesh, it's been FREEZING for the past week. ... and we're supposed to get dumped on with snow this weekend, and it's dark at like 4pm.

You betcha. Hope your summer falls on a weekend this year!

I moved from the twin cities to Florida and never looked back (weather-wise anyway). I do miss the much better cultural scene up there.

[minister]

Hi surprisingly active arts scene. as people say, TONS of theater seats. well-educated population. we have time to read books here. and a decent music scene. it is a little conservative for my tastes too. but always check out who the Walker or Cedar Cultural Center or Women's Center or O'Shaughnessy, or Ted Mann, or Orch hall, or the Ordway are bringing.... I just saw a great Norwgian Accordionist at the Walker. Yes, the local rocks bands have a few interesting things...and a lot of stuff down the middle of the pike (like every where else). but, hey, The Bad Plus and Happy Apple hail from here. and if you like VERY modern jazz, they are as good as they come anywhere.

very livable. you create your own space here. parks, lots of colleges.

it isn't the best place ever, but i can stand it. though i hate flying back here sometimes from wonderful far off places like switzerland or portugal.... i look down and think, "why do i live here?".... and then you get back involved in your life again and i think, this is a good place.

[PlugHead]

Of the many places I've worked and visited in the US, the Twin Cities is where I wouldn't hesitate to park for awhile.

Always thought it was a pretty cool place (in all the senses, but - I'm a Northern Canuck, so... ) with a pretty vibrant arts scene, a well informed populace, and small enough where it's not an entire afternoon to get across town...

I could see why fair-weather folks might be scared off by the cold, but the old saying goes: "- 40 below keeps the riff-raff away"

I guess more appropriate nowadays is: "global warming - bring it on!!!"

[Robobo1]

Thank you all for your replies. Sounds like this area is a good one.

You know, if the opportunity presents itself, it would be nice to get away from fickle DC for a place similar to what you all describe.

Hopefully I can handle the cold :)

[Remoteness]

Saint Paul sounds inviting...

Good luck and all the best to you and yours!

[Sounds Great]

Originally Posted by bitman

Bring your down parka, ski mask scarf and jumper cables.
I spent the first 10 years of my life there.

Hellishly cold and gray winters ya.

Actually the winters are milder and shorter than they used to be. Maybe this winter will be different? I say this from experience as I grew up here as well.

Minneapolis was recently voted the most affordable place to live well.

Most Affordable Places to Live Well - AOL Money & Finance

[minister]

Here is another link:

Literate Cities | overall rankings

[sam sanford]

i guess i like the music scene i am in. sure there are the bullshit bands but those are everywhere.

plus, minnesota is full of good looking people.

[infopimpster]

...and there are a lot of blonde girls there

[edwinhurwitz]

Originally Posted by VukOnCrack

I miss Boston, but could never practically go back without some miraculous infusion of cash. Of course, it was 5 degrees when I went out mid-morning today, but heading into my second winter here I've pretty much come to terms with the weather since there are so many other great things here. Think of Minneapolis/St. Paul as the cosmopolitan oasis between Chicago and the west coast (all due credit given to the hippies in Boulder, of course).

Why, thank you!

Edwin
From Boston, now in Boulder, which I wouldn't really recommend, as it's a very small scene.

[VukOnCrack]

Well, one other thing to mention about MPLS is the new MacPhail Center for Music building downtown.

They have a beautiful looking new recital hall. I wonder how it sounds and how easy it is to get access to?

These Minneapolitans sure like their arts and arts institutions. No complaints about that from me.

Some links:
http://www.startribune.com/entertain...tml?page=1&c=y
http://www.macphail.org