who's from Berlin?

[lowswing]

I'm in Berlin!
you can check my studio and give a call when your in town
LowSwing Tonstudio Berlin / LowSwing Recording Studio Berlin - Guy Sternberg

[monstr]

nice!
I'll give you a call for sure

[blaugruen7]

a lot of musicians are here.
my point of view is: when you have figured out your finances
then come to berlin to get inspiration.

[bigos]

Im not from berlin but Im only a 3 1/2 hour drive from there and because its the coolest city in Europe I try and visit there every few months. You will do good there if your looking for talented musicians to work with. I can recommend some for you if you move there. Almost everyone will tell you that berlin is a great place to be, network etc. but a bad place to make money. Nonetheless most of my friends seem to get by with no problem. rent for a large nice space in berlin is much cheaper than in poland.

good luck.
bigos
Saraswati Studios

[monstr]

you talk about many musicians and inspiration, that's exactly what I am looking for.
are there many job opportunities in berlin?
I mean, not necessarily with a direct link with the music stuff at the first time...but you know, to pay my rents etc...

[bigos]

theres lots of work if your an electrician, plumber or if you can do anything related to construction work. You can always teach english.
ranjit

[lematrix]

Originally Posted by monstr

are there many job opportunities in berlin?

as a musician ? one simple answer... NO !!!

But when you are good, i need here good Arranger for Pop, TV and commercials.
I live in the south, Zehlendorf.


Berln is a great city for arts and music....

Mathias......

[monstr]

Originally Posted by bigos

theres lots of work if your an electrician, plumber or if you can do anything related to construction work. You can always teach english.
ranjit

I build beats so I guess I'm good )

[monstr]

Originally Posted by lematrix

as a musician ? one simple answer... NO !!!

could you tell more?

[lematrix]

Originally Posted by monstr

could you tell more?

we have not so mutch big studios anymore here who needs a lot of people. The most pros i know are working at home. Also when you want to work as live player, there aren´t so many live clubs who pay you a fair amount of money. Many of my old friends are Taxidriver now, because of not so many jobs here. But on the other hand, there are a lot good new young musicians here. Universal, MTV/ViVa is based in Berlin.

My tip... save a lot of money and come for one year.

[lematrix]

Originally Posted by monstr

I build beats)

everyone is making beats thesedays.....

[blaugruen7]

i am not. :-)

do what your heart tells you.

but maybe have some money in store when you come here.

[monstr]

Originally Posted by lematrix

we have not so mutch big studios anymore here who needs a lot of people. The most pros i know are working at home. Also when you want to work as live player, there aren´t so many live clubs who pay you a fair amount of money. Many of my old friends are Taxidriver now, because of not so many jobs here. But on the other hand, there are a lot good new young musicians here. Universal, MTV/ViVa is based in Berlin.
My tip... save a lot of money and come for one year.

that's probably what I am going to do... I am already saving money
the main goal is to find a place with lots of musicians and arts in general, not too expensive as well... I hope I can at least find a small job to pay my rents there....

[G-Spot]

Although I'm coming from the rock/metal corner, I'm writing stuff and helping a friend putting is Hip/Hop project together. Drop me a PM when you are in town (et ont peut parler on Français).

Guy Sternberg (Lowswing) has a very nice studio indeed, knows is stuff and also alot of people. He is really a nice Guy!

As for the financial issues... from your "myspace" I guess you are based in France... if your coming from Paris, living in Berlin is quite cheap in comparison...

[monstr]

for sure!
sounds good
thanks a lot guys for the quick and honest answers !
To make my own idea, I plan to go there soon , and will PM/call you when in town

[Raketel]

If you want a job to pay your rent, there are actually a few good jobs in Berlin you can do on the side. UPS is always looking for people to load their stuff and at Messe Nord you can make some pretty good money cleaning and you get extra money for working nightshifts or on the weekend/holidays. Just never take any job related to security or sales in Berlin, the pay sucks and the hours are long.

[lowswing]

all what the other said is truth, there is no work as musician in Berlin, but otherwise its a great city.

[Shiny Turd]

Finding a dayjob is hard everywhere, and even more being a musician, I don't think berlin is different. Anyway, berlin has "something" going on...don't know how to explain, you feel arts in the air, or at least when I was there I felt something like that.

Wonderful place to be, I'd love to get back soon, it's cheap ( even compared to spain), and people are great there.

In your situation, I'd move to berlin and try to find a dayjob to pay rents first.

It's all I can add

[monstr]

hey guys

I started this thread few months ago
I am now ready for my trip to Berlin
I am thinking in going there for about 2 weeks in January, to discover the city (or at least begin to....) meet some local people involved in music and audio engineering
before I eventually decide to stay more time....
Since Berlin is a big city I am wondering where to go
what are the "cool" districts?

waiting for your advices

thanks!

nico

[Jules]

I lived there between 91 - 93

I did sessions at Vielklang, Preusson Tone, and some other smaller studios in Berlin + I have done sessions in Hamburg and other German cities.

I also ran an indie / rock night at Turbine club every Wednesday called "The Dogwash".

I would drink in Wiener Blood and Madonna in Wiener Str, and Pinguin and Cafe Swing in Charlottenburg. "Kumplenest" for some late nights. "Das Crik" and Metal bar for some VERY late nights. + Milch Bar.

The big techno nights at the time were Tresor & Planet (but not really my scene)

A friend of mine now runs a bar called Travolta in Weiner Str..

(spelling all wrong I am sure)

Good times. I love visiting now..

[Jules]

Originally Posted by monstr

Since Berlin is a big city I am wondering where to go
what are the "cool" districts?

I would try to go to some club nights / gig that are in the genre of music you like to work on and try to meet people and ask those sorts of questions there.

Like any big city - it can be hard to meet people..

[monstr]

thanks for the advices jules!

[Mr.HOLMES]

Jules...

You have lived in berlin WOW.
You know the Madonna at Wiener Straße...... this surprised me.

A friend of mine now runs a bar called Travolta in Weiner Str..

NO way?
This is right away from my flat two train stations...
What is his name?

WOW.

@ monstr.

If you like to contact people different musicians you are welcome to do a call......

[Mr.HOLMES]

Originally Posted by lowswing

all what the other said is truth, there is no work as musician in Berlin, but otherwise its a great city.

I would say there is no work for musicians which do not like to make a business out of it.
I know many musicians which mostly are sloppy.
Do not know what an exactly date means.....etc have no bookkeeping and beeing unorganized.

But I also know in Berlin musicians which are:

Prompt.
Know what they want.
Do not play gigs which are underpaid.
Do work for different projects live and in studio as well as musicals.
Know their Job very very well.

So we have many musicians in Berlin but I would not call them all real musicians.
Many off them live by social benefits do not practice never had any theory studies and can not arrange good. Do not take care for a business.... but it sounds good to call his self musician in berlin.

For sure those have no money and no job.

[monstr]

Originally Posted by Mr.HOLMES

Jules..

@ monstr.

If you like to contact people different musicians you are welcome to do a call......

for sure
thanks!

[monstr]

hey!
thanks for your answers
I am pretty excited because
I will be in Berlin on January 19th for few weeks. First time ever.
I'll PM the Berliner guys
later

nico

[Batchainpuller78]

You'll have a blast.
Berlin is a great city, first off there's a scene for everyone, hard part is to find them.
It's a low built, open city with lot's of green, I found people to be very open and easy to connect to, but I've got German roots and talk the talk so that might make it easier.
As far as living is concerned, You can live and eat there well at a fairly low cost. although that will get harder every year, as a lot of people are having the same idea as you and yes global economy is not doing to well these days.

many Artists not from Germany made the move to Berlin in recent years.
because indeed the City has a real good feel to it, from my experience, I go there at least once a year.
Mainly to have a good time & shop for vinyl.
Also it's a town on most bands tourschedule so you have the opportunity to check out great acts all year long & hopefully meet the people that you need.

but also, city's like that can be tricky, and making money of music is not the easy thing anywhere in the world.

[monstr]

Originally Posted by Batchainpuller78

You'll have a blast.
(...)
because indeed the City has a real good feel to it, from my experience, I go there at least once a year.
Mainly to have a good time & shop for vinyl

any good vynil shop to recommand btw?

[Batchainpuller78]

Da Capo in kastanienallee 96
there are plenty more in that street & sidestreets so kastanienallee check that.
and Musik unter dem gleisen, Friedrichstrasse 128

the two I mention mainly carry Old music, plenty modern shops as well
but I don't tend to visit those often.

Buy yourself a zitty magazine when you get there, pretty good oversight of all the things to do, clubs, bars, gigs, and musicshops.