WAGES in NYC

[Hammer v2]

HEy guys, I appear to have been lucky enough to have a job offer to go work for a production company in NYC making ads,jingles and some post stuff. This is all awesome but I need to know what the go is in regards to wages. How much should I be getting for a job like this. How muh will I need to survive in NYC.
Anyway...some advice here would be MUCHOS appreciated.
Thanks guys.
H.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by Hammer v2

How muh will I need to survive in NYC.

The responses to this question will be interesting.

How much?

Are you single or married? Got kids?

If no to the above you would need to average at least $4k a month IMO to live well.

Are you looking to live in Manhattan?

Rents here average $1450-1750 for a studio and up. And they are looking for at least 4 months upfront plus a credit check.

Its not cheap.

With a monthly MTA metrocard averaging $76 a month you can get around pretty much anywhere in the city.

P.S. How much for doing production work? The answer is shoot for the moon and you'll hit the stars. If they balk or shoot low than you negotiate for something in the middle. Your one setback is when you will get paid because i've noticed from friends that do this sort of work is they make lots of money and work all the time(sometimes too much) but sometimes it takes months to get paid because its corporate work.

[Hammer v2]

yikes! Thanks thrill. It will just be me coming. MAn, that is one expensive town. Is it easy enough to rent just a room as opposed to renting a whole studio? How much should I expect to pay for that?

I'm guessing that I'll need to negotiate for 50k. could I get away with less than that?

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by Hammer v2

yikes! Thanks thrill. It will just be me coming. MAn, that is one expensive town. Is it easy enough to rent just a room as opposed to renting a whole studio? How much should I expect to pay for that?

I'm guessing that I'll need to negotiate for 50k. could I get away with less than that?

Well you don't have to live in Manhattan.

There are other cool places to live in the city such as Williamsburg, Astoria,DUMBO for example.

Now some of the rents are comparable to living in Manhattan especially if they are on the outskirts, but there are still decent prices.

Nah you want your own place(especially if you are single if you get my drift).

You can sublet by the way or share which is very popular especially for people that can't afford to live in the city on their own.

$50K is good.

Its not great but its good.

Especially if you plan to go out a lot(or even some). A couple of nights out(or weekend) in the city may take a week's paycheck away.

Its part of the reason i've chilled on the drinkin part these days and am investigating other cheaper ways to get high and get tail at the same time.

I have a friend here in the city that does jingles for companies like Goya, AT&T and other big clients. He also does them in different languages which is even more money. He works an average of 10-12 hours a day and turn around times are quick on these. He also makes $5K-$6K a month on a bad month. But he has no time to hang and switches apartments like underwear. Lets just say he has no life but the guy does not have to worry about money either.

[edham]

Originally Posted by Hammer v2

Is it easy enough to rent just a room as opposed to renting a whole studio? How much should I expect to pay for that?

Shares are possible but at certain times of year they are really hard to find.(dead of winter is best) And there are alot of scams that you need to be careful of.

quick story to highlight this point -
Every day for the past two weeks I walk out of my building (brownstone) and run into a young man or woman who asks about a sublet in this building. They answered an ad in Craigslist for a 2 bedroom 2 bath for $1200.
Of course its a scam. There is no way you can get that kind of apartment on Central Park west for $1200.
But these people meet the scammer in midtown - hand over 2 months security in cash or money order - and show up at the building with bogus keys that do not work.

Yesterday there was a girl bawling her eyes out sitting on the front stoop. She just lost her life savings to this scammer.

My point is that not only is NYC expensive - its a tough tough town to aclimate to.
EVERYTHING is freekin hard here.

But getting a gig and an apartment are the two hardest things to do. After that .... well ... its all still hard - but its a great place to live and in all honesty once your "IN" the music business here its is full of the nicest people you'll ever meet.
I would never consider living anywhere else and I'm a country boy at heart.

One last thing - $20 will fall out of your pocket every time you walk out the door.
Coffee and a bagel = $20
Cab fair and a jhamba juice = $20

It's really magical but somehow it does indeed cost $20 to walk out the door.

Thrill is dead on that a grand a week is what you need. Less and you are suffering.

[code green]

the salary figures above are sadly true, but a little common sense should guide you past the scammers (i mean honestly--would you hand over your life savings for an apartment you hadnt seen?!?!?!)...something to watch out for but one wouldn't want to overstate the case.

best people in the world...a surprising majority from all walks of life are smart, cool, and friendly all wrapped up in one.

my feeling is that everyone should do some time in manhattan...but those looking for a more civilized life (who do not have massive funds and/or luck into an awesome apartment) will eventually discover and love brooklyn. i live in fort greene, and it's fantastic.

and yes, at LEAST $20 will fall out of your pocket every time you leave the house. i think there must be an hourly charge for living here or something. one neighborhood definitely worth checking out, bang for buck-wise, is Long Island City. In Queens but closer to midtown than just about any other neighborhood outside of Manhattan, and a very interesting, funky spot.

the thing about renting in brooklyn or queens is, even when the apartments are nearly as expensive you invariably get more apartment for your money.

[Hammer v2]

This is gold guys, pure gold, Thank you! Keep it coming New yorkers!

[Musiclab]

Originally Posted by edham

Shares are possible but at certain times of year they are really hard to find.(dead of winter is best) And there are alot of scams that you need to be careful of.

quick story to highlight this point -
Every day for the past two weeks I walk out of my building (brownstone) and run into a young man or woman who asks about a sublet in this building. They answered an ad in Craigslist for a 2 bedroom 2 bath for $1200.
Of course its a scam. There is no way you can get that kind of apartment on Central Park west for $1200.
But these people meet the scammer in midtown - hand over 2 months security in cash or money order - and show up at the building with bogus keys that do not work.

Yesterday there was a girl bawling her eyes out sitting on the front stoop. She just lost her life savings to this scammer.

My point is that not only is NYC expensive - its a tough tough town to aclimate to.
EVERYTHING is freekin hard here.

But getting a gig and an apartment are the two hardest things to do. After that .... well ... its all still hard - but its a great place to live and in all honesty once your "IN" the music business here its is full of the nicest people you'll ever meet.
I would never consider living anywhere else and I'm a country boy at heart.

One last thing - $20 will fall out of your pocket every time you walk out the door.
Coffee and a bagel = $20
Cab fair and a jhamba juice = $20

It's really magical but somehow it does indeed cost $20 to walk out the door.

Thrill is dead on that a grand a week is what you need. Less and you are suffering.

I agree that 20 will fall out of your pocket, but 20 for a coffee and a bagel, jeez where do you get that? You don't have to live in the city you can live in the burbs, rent is cheaper although not cheap, there are places like Bayside which are pretty civilizied and only 20 minutes from mid town.

[seaneldon]

yeah, $20 for a coffee and bagel? there'd better be $14 laying in the cream cheese.

[jumpnyc]

What position did they offer? I own a commercial facility and I can tell you if you are in the ballpark on salary based on the work load they expect you to handle.

[edham]

That's the magical part of it.
Once you break a $20 bill the balance just seems to disappear.

For those who are so tightly wound that they take everything literally I will change it to Starbucks Latte, a deli turkey sandwich and your days subway fair. = $20 with a couple bucks in change that will end up in your sofa cushions.

[Musiclab]

Originally Posted by edham

That's the magical part of it.
Once you break a $20 bill the balance just seems to disappear.

For those who are so tightly wound that they take everything literally I will change it to Starbucks Latte, a deli turkey sandwich and your days subway fair. = $20 with a couple bucks in change that will end up in your sofa cushions.

well that's better DAMMIT!

[edham]

and it wasn't even a good sandwich!
Cosi is a place I just can't afford anymore.

[MSR74]

Your best bet would be to rent a room for a short time until you can get out and see what areas you are interested in. Astoria (Queens) is great, so is DUMBO (Brooklyn), but they are both relatively expensive. They are also very convienient to the city and of the nicer areas just outside the city, accessible by subway. You won't need a car here, and you can really get everywhere in the city by subway/bus/taxi. IMO, I think that if you are considering the move, then you might wwant to have a bit saved before you come in case you are not paid right away, or if you do decide to stay and find a steal of a deal for an apartment. It is expensive, but there is alot of great opportunity here. $50K is a good starting point and maybe negotiate a performance based raise/commission. If you are going to move everything...I would say, make sure you like it here after you get here and then decide after a few months.

M

LI NY

[jumpnyc]

Not to burst bubbles here - but make sure they are thinking 50k too first. I know a ton of people who work at commercial studios making 27-35k.

[OldTimey]

I went to college in Manhattan, and spent a couple years after living there...then hightailed to to southern california

anyway, it is indeed expensive, but bargains are to be had everywhere...need a cup of joe in the mornin? 1.50 at your local deli. You can buy bagels in bulk for 25 cents each at Fairway, the subway system, if you get an unlimited ride is actually DIRT cheap compared to most public transit systems in the western world...75 odd bucks a month, and you can get ANYWHERE in the city, all 5 boroughs (well, you might need to pay to get to SI, but who goes there?) I pay 300 a month on a car payment, not to mention 140 bucks a month in insurance...etc. so what i save in rent by living out here is sucked up by transportation needs.

20 dollars does NOT have to fall out of your pocket everytime you walk out the door, unless you have no control over your spending. What makes New York so fantastic is the huge amounts of things to do that are absolutely free, concerts in the park, outdoor movie showings, museums...man it goes on and on (i kind want to go back now! wait...no can't take those winters...san diego=perfect weather )

Don't waste money at cosi, starbucks, jamba juice, whatever...go to local owned businesses...they have the best deals...

depending on where you are working, look for housing in park slope, williamsburg, washington heights...these places are not as cheap as they were 4 years ago, but they are all along major subway lines that will get you to midtown pretty damn quick....

you can totally do it on 50K, but why not ask a littttle bit more, perhaps a signing bonus of 2-3K, because you have to put money down on a deposit for an apartment (usually first+last months rent .....................

[Jules]

A chum of mine - made $160,000 a year doing jingles..

That was after his mentor and the head of the jingle company took his 50 percent cut!

No one was complaining..

He was composing, producing, engineering, programming and performing on them - (an engineer would usually come in for the mixing stage)

[mata_haze]

hi guys,
this thread actually caugth me ...
I always wanted to go to the USA (NYC especially) and I am now trying to understand what the situation is right now.
I have a degree (equivalent) in electronics and I worked as maintenance engineer at Mayfair Recording Studios (London UK, www.mayfairstudios.com) for 2 after graduating from SAE London.
what do you guys think of the work situation in NY at the moment?
do you guys think there is any possibility to get a job in the industry?
Many Many thanks in advance,
Mattia.

[indravayu]

For comparison, here's my situation:

Salary: 62k/year

Rent (in 3BR apt in Murray Hill section of Manhattan w/2 roommates): $667/month
My share of ConEd power bill: +/- $75/month
My share of Time Warner cable/broadband internet/digital phone service: $75 (we have every cable channel known to man)

Daily food budget: $35 ($15 morning coffee/lunch, $20 dinner w/delivery tip)
Daily subway roundtrip: $4

Monthly gym membership: $69 (gotta look good to impress the ladies in NYC!)
Monthly cellphone bill: $40 (w/Virgin Mobile)
Monthly laundry bill: $40 (same as gym membership)
Monthly Netflix bill: $10 (a necessity)

Everything else I make goes towards promoting my band, entertainment and gear!

When I first moved to NYC in '99 I only made like 25k - I payed $450/month for an apt in the East Village with 2 roommates and went out regularly - it can be done!

- Chris

[jumpnyc]

Originally Posted by indravayu

For comparison, here's my situation:

Rent (in 3BR apt in Murray Hill section of Manhattan w/2 roommates): $667/month

Just for a reality check - $2,000 3 bedrooms do not exist anymore. $2,000 won't get you a one bedroom.

Also - Per Jingles - yes you can make a lot of money and usually the house takes 75% not 50%. But you must be able to write, engineer, perforn, produce, work rediculous hours, and be friends with the owner :-) Not saying it can't be done - but I want people thinking about coming here to have the right idea.

Most jobs here do not start at 50k. There is so much talent in NYC - if I were looking for someone I would hire here, and if you were so good I wanted you to move here - you would know the cash already.

That being said- I am a pessamist - so good luck - prove me wrong.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by indravayu

Everything else I make goes towards promoting my band, entertainment and gear!



- Chris

You must have none or a very understanding girl friend bro.

Because your bills will triple because of the above.
(Just kidding maybe just double).

Yeah it can definitely be done.

Though if you have to add a car in the mix be prepared.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by jumpnyc

Just for a reality check - $2,000 3 bedrooms do not exist anymore. $2,000 won't get you a one bedroom.

Especially in Murray Hill which is where all of the NYU graduates go to live.

A 3 bedroom for $2K?

Try the Bronx.

[indravayu]

Our apartment is technically a 1.5 bedroom, but with some creative sheetrocking we made it a 3 bedroom - the bedrooms are small (they each fit a bed, a computer desk and dresser), but we have a decent sized living room, huge kitchen (w/washer & dryer) and a large back porch, so it's all good. Our landlord hasn't raised the rent even by a dollar since '02 (the place isn't rent stabilized), but that's atypical .

No girlfriend at the moment, but yeah, that would cut into the gear fund.

You can still get good deals on apartments in Mahattan - the thing is, it's a very competitive market and you need to have time to look around around - before you do, you need to have all your money together, because folks often bring their checkbooks with them when they view places.

- Chris

[FatGuyUML]

I think the greater point is that you will not find a 3 br south of 120th st for $2000 on a new lease. My *tiny* 1 br in the West Village is $1800 and I'm afraid it's going to go up at the end of the year.

On the other hand, some friends of mine just got a great place up in spanish harlem for cheap.

My advice about apartments is, if it's just for living and not for studio work, be open to a much smaller space that you normally would. You'd be surprized how much stuff you don't need, and how much you can fit into an empty room. You'll probably never be home anyway. If you are putting in a studio, it's obviously different. I keep the v-drums in the kitchen.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by FatGuyUML

. You'd be surprized how much stuff you don't need, and how much you can fit into an empty room.

This statement sums up best what its like to live in Manhattan right now.

Kinda like instead of the term New "Yawker" its more like New "Roacher".

I think of it as living in a permanent dorm.

[FatGuyUML]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

I think of it as living in a permanent dorm.

Hehe, I don't want to make it sound like it's a bad thing. My place is definitely my home and I love it here. I think everyone should move to NY, although some days I think everyone already did.

I say, find out how much they are paying, see if you can honestly afford it, and if you can make it work dive in head first. Even if you don't like it, you won't regret it.

[gsilbers]

dont live in manhattan!!!

its ricuolsy expensive and for the same amount of comute time you can live for lots less in brooklin.

and actually there is a lot of the same things to do in NYC. having a car will take to better places but just parking it is like having to pay for another apt.
only a handful of museums, similar rest, bunch pizza places and really expensive dicoteques.
hard to find good concerts but a lot of small rest that have bands playing. not always good though. but then again, if you are in a jingle house, u wont have much time for any of that.


i also worked in a jinlge house and it was ok. i just think paying rent for studios in NYC is just a bad business. thats where all the studios money goes.

guess how much is rent for a studio in NYC... say midtown.. 1 building floor. or just one meduim size office.? a looooooooooooot.

oh, my bad.. sizes in NYC change. its another world. you can never get an answer as for square footage of an apt.
i can swear i was in a hidden camera prank when i went to see $1300 one bedroom apt in lower manhattan.


there was one apt with a shower in the living room and the toilet in a closet in the kitchen!


check out the neigborhoods 1st. upper east and west side is where poeple with moeny live.



theres a lot of multicultural areas of brooklina and bronx which are really cool, less expensive and you get to meet people from all over the world and background.



at the end i didnt like NYC. came to LA and im so much happier with more ooportunities. worked for top notch producers and film and TV work is just everywhere.. if u know poeple. but defenutly much more of that style of work than in
NYC.

it was also depressing. poeples faces, everyone with a sad or angry face, a lot folks are there for the business side of stuff so its not much of a happy town.
it wasnt hard living there at all, although just doing aarons took forevers cause there are no big shops where u can buy everything there.
i just had to learn that screaming at poeple is not rude, its just normal in NYC.

so if you dont understand what a nuyorker is saying and u say excuse me and the guy just says the same thing but like 100db louder dont take offense. just let em now u heard but to say it in another way.


one thing is that if u work in NYC in a prod studio then your going to have a really good bio. if later u ove anywhere in the world and u say u worked in NYC then poeple will look at it better than if u worked in south dakota or something doing the same thing


and now its a safe city compare to major cities around the US. and also safer than 10 years ago.
its expensive if u go out for restaurants but if u get your cofe and bagel at dunkin dounut or small shop its like 2 or 3 bucks only but expect a loooooooong line.

[1destiny]

I'd say it really depends on what you bring to the table, and EXACTLY what kind of work you will be doing. If it's mostly agency work for national accounts the $$$ shold be on the high side. 50g's is a good start. Some guys make 100g's... but at the 100 g mark guys tend to bring some of their own clients to the table. If you email me and tell me where you'll be working I might be able to give you a better idea of the money.

As for the apartment I would suggest a much less bleak picture.

While a studio may be $1,800 per mo, a 1 bedroom is only $2,200, a 2 bedroom $2,500, and you can get 3 bedrooms for $2,800. My sister had a 3 bedroom in hells kitchen for $2,300 per mo... not a bad size either for ny standards. Check out the upper east side, east of 2nd ave (1st, york, east end). A very nice area, close to everything and good prices because it's a hump to the subway, and it's not really a hip area... but very nice and charming. Brooklyn is great and very affordable.

As for how generally expensive NYC is, I have to say it really depends on your tastes. A Gyro and a coke from the truck on 5th ave ... 5 bucks. Upscale Sushi lunch this afternon was around 30 bucks- but seriously the best Sushi I've ever had. You really can live cheap or live large. Or different days different ways.

That said I feel like $20 falls out of EACH pocked when I walk out the door.

[eligit]

i can't understand wanting to live in manhattan if money is at all an issue. it is like throwing your money out the window. said window is typically in a low ceiling apartment with paper thin walls.

i live for $950 for a small 1 bed in astoria. pre war building, thick walls, high ceiling. rent stabilized. you do not have to pay twice that much to live in NYC. however all the decent (read accesible) areas of brooklyn are almost as expensive as manhattan.

(from astoria) in 20 minutes by train (including 3 minute walk to the train) i can be at lexington/59th street, good to go.

across the street from me a fresh bagel with cream cheese and tomato and a cup of coffee...$2.50.

if you WANT to blow all your money it is very easy here....but if you don't that is also possible.

getting an apartment is a hassle tho. lots of annoying brokers, fees, scams, security desposits, etc.

[gsilbers]

yes, dont pay for a realtor.
go to on e of the websites for apts.
aptartmentsforrent.com
and the like.

check and write down with the landlord all the stuff thats broken, needs fixing , carpet floors etc cause if the landlord says hell fix it later andf then you sign. he can charge u for those repairs. if he gets around to do it. if not he'll take it fromthe security deposit.

that said, if you find a good deal , take it! those good deals are taken really fast.