Working in NYC

[Jess Haas SOC]

My girlfriend is going to be working in NYC for atleast the next 3 or 4 months so I am looking to spend a good chunk of time there during that time. Of course that means I need to find some work there in order to keep the bill collectors at bay. So how do those of you in NY go about dealing with your gear in the city? Do you drive to every gig or do you have your gear compact enough to take it in a taxi or subway? Can I get by without a car and manage to do Steadicam work or should I bring one out(its a bit of a drive) and deal with the wonders of new york parking? How much of your work is in the city verses around it?

 

Also does anyone have gear they rent out? Might be traveling back and forth a bit and renting someone elses rig might be easier than bringing everything back and forth if that happens.

 

Any other advice for working in and around New York?

 

Thanks,

Jess

[Katerina Kallergis]

My girlfriend is going to be working in NYC for atleast the next 3 or 4 months so I am looking to spend a good chunk of time there during that time. Of course that means I need to find some work there in order to keep the bill collectors at bay. So how do those of you in NY go about dealing with your gear in the city? Do you drive to every gig or do you have your gear compact enough to take it in a taxi or subway? Can I get by without a car and manage to do Steadicam work or should I bring one out(its a bit of a drive) and deal with the wonders of new york parking? How much of your work is in the city verses around it?

 

Also does anyone have gear they rent out? Might be traveling back and forth a bit and renting someone elses rig might be easier than bringing everything back and forth if that happens.

 

Any other advice for working in and around New York?

 

Thanks,

Jess

 

 

You definitely need a car. As far as parking goes, find a lot nearby and have production pay for it. Don't ever trust the signs in the city (beyond confusing), even if you think its safe to park there, its NOT. I don't rent my stuff out but I'm sure there is someone here that does. Don't have any names for you though.

 

Hmmm, that's all I've got for you. If I think of anything else, I'll let you know.

 

Good Luck.

 

-Kat

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

Jess,

 

Lot of factors in what you are asking. Where are you staying? Most of us have cars, but some people have production pick up their gear and return it. Where you live is part of that equation. If you self drive, make sure Production deals with your parking (i.e. via squeezing you in with the trucks or a parking lot on their dime). Of course, I'm talking day-playing. On full time gigs, you will leave your gear on the truck and take a subway to work (on your dime) like everyone else.

 

Can't say I know of any rental rigs here. If you bring your own and decide to join the New York faithful, please contact some of us locals to discuss rates, etc.

I don't want to rain on your parade but New York crews, while thriving in a lot of respects, are not very trustful of people they don't know. In short, its not the easiest market to dabble in (i.e you are a New Yorker - or not). There are exceptions to this rule though (ask Ron Baldwin).

 

Good luck.

[Dave Thompson]

What are the exceptions?

 

Dave Thompson

[Philip J. Martinez SOC]

[quote name='Katerina Kallergis' timestamp='1286423861' po

 

 

You definitely need a car. As far as parking goes, find a lot nearby and have production pay for it. Don't ever trust the signs in the city (beyond confusing), even if you think its safe to park there, its NOT. I don't rent my stuff out but I'm sure there is someone here that does. Don't have any names for you though.

 

Hmmm, that's all I've got for you. If I think of anything else, I'll let you know.

 

Good Luck.

 

-Kat

 

I have not owned a car for the past 18years. I've always lived in Manhatten. I get my full rig, stand, and hand truck into cabs and go everywhere.

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

"What are the exceptions?"

 

Just meant that Ron managed to come in and charm the pants of his entire crew overnight.

[RonBaldwin]

great Alec, you gave away my secret! Now everyone knows I like my fellow crew members without pants!

[JimBartell]

great Alec, you gave away my secret! Now everyone knows I like my fellow crew members without pants!

Is that supposed to be "news" to anyone?

 

Jim

[Jess Haas SOC]

I will most likely be staying in Brooklyn, or maybe Manhattan. If anyone knows someone looking to sublet let me know as we have a few options but are still looking. I am not a complete newbie to new york and actually have a decent number of connections there just haven't really worked there before.

 

Normally working without a car wouldn't even cross my mind but I figured if I could do it anywhere New York is the place. I feel like for dayplaying i could get my main gear down to a few cases that i could get in a cab. One accessory pelican, one sled case, a vest bag(i currently use a backpack for this) and a stand. If I end up working a lot I can always drive a car out or maybe even buy some cheap clunker.

 

~Jess

[Ramon Engle]

Hi Jess.

You are potentially moving into the NYC market and taking jobs that the local operators would normally have. These are men and women that live there, work there and feed their families there. Perhaps you should contact the local operators personally to get a sense of work available, rates and just how you'll be received by the local community. Alec doesn't count, he's too nice of a guy.

 

Food for thought.

 

Ramon

[Jess Haas SOC]

Alec is a nice guy and as such I would love to talk to him more about it. In general I find that this is a very supportive community where most people have come to realize that supporting each other is much more productive than being territorial. In LA people come in to my market and take work from me constantly. When I lived in Texas the good jobs were almost always taken by operators from LA and NY. The fact is that there is nothing I can do about these things and honestly I don't have any right to as like almost every other operator out there I am often on the other side of the equation.

 

I appreciate the heads up on how tight knit the market is in NY. I realize that by moving to New York for a few months I will be moving in to the market of others and I would love to talk to them about it as I definitely don't want to step on anyone else toes. I appreciate and support the fact that those there are supporting their families and I hope that they will realize that I am working there in order to support my family and be near my loved ones.

 

So if your in NYC give me a shout so I can buy you a drink. I get there on the 30th.

 

~Jess

[Katerina Kallergis]

 

I have not owned a car for the past 18years. I've always lived in Manhatten. I get my full rig, stand, and hand truck into cabs and go everywhere.

 

 

 

 

I guess I didn't factor in actually living IN the city. Even so, as far as cabs go, I applaud you, you have far more patience than me. LOL

[Jess Haas SOC]

Where do yall find that most of your shoots are? As of right now I think I am going to try to get by with car services and cabs. I think we will be rather close in so as long as any gigs I get aren't too far out I think it will be doable. I have friends and family who have cars that I can probably borrow when necessary. The real fun part is going to be if we get this one place that we are currently looking at. 7th floor and of course the elevator is broken.

 

Thanks for the advice.

 

~Jess

[William Demeritt]

Just as a thought for the car situation: maybe consider getting a Zipcar account? Make quick rentals, go pick up your car, use it for the time period you reserve and return it. Gas and insurance are included in the price. That offers flexibility for when you just need a car for a gig one day, but can make other arrangements another day. Prices are pretty low as well, as far as hourly or daily rates go.

[Lawrence Karman]

It would be a lot easier to just get another girlfriend in LA.