Journal: Entry for The_Muted_Grimaud
School almost starting again.
Author: The_Muted_Grimaud Send a noteboard
Posted: 16/08/2011 03:31:18 AM
Views: 2898
Well ... its August. August in New York kind of sucks. Its generally warm and humid, too warm to really enjoy being outside. Business at my restaurant job is a little slow. I still don't like Williamsburg. Yeah, we have some nice restaurants, it remains a pig ugly neighborhood with a relatively high crime rate. Truth of the matter is I don't go out enough to really take advantage of the only thing this neighborhood has to offer, places to eat and drink. I'll divide this post into sections since it'll be a rambling wall of text. If you get bored switch to the next section.
LIVING SITUATION -
I'm looking into Jackson Heights or Forest Hills. I could, theoretically, live in a studio in Jackson Heights. I've seen some listings between 750 and 800 "utilities included", which if truthful, would be pretty equivalent to what I pay now. Jackson Heights has trains, but it's definitely not a neighborhood to drive a car around. Forest Hills I'll definitely need to find new roommates, but I can get something that is equal or less to 650$ rent, and have a huge park nearby, and a quiet neighborhood to live in.
Maybe I should just give in and get in the NY state of mind. I make enough money now (I expect 1800$ a month, which leaves $600 after rent, bills, food, transportation are taken care of), I actually could go out ... a lot if I'm careful. I'm just such a square. It really doesn't appeal to me, bars and clubs specifically are completely unappealing.
My roommates are fighting and | | <--- this close to breaking up. If it happens, (did I mention my rent is subsidized), we'll have to find two roommates to replace her (she pays double rent, long story). This will really suck, because its a 3 bedroom apartment, 4 people ... :-\. In the end the question is how much will I miss constant access to a real upright piano and the ability to practice clarinet whenever I want. I could always get a cheap digital.
MUSIC NEWS --
Well, 4 gigs this summer. One even paid money, 100$ total. It was split three ways ... I put a lot of work into that gig because I had/wanted to write most of the music, which I ended up doing. So much work. I think this next year, my focus should be on extending my footprint in the professional music world, as a gig person/composer/player. 4 gigs isn't a lot of course, but compared to last year, I feel I've grown a lot and have made a lot of good steps.
I spent 900$ on a new clarinet. It's actually a 1958 Selmer Centertone clarinet (endorsed by Benny Goodman
). I really love it, my tone is much bigger and smoother I think. It plays much better than my old clarinet. Include that with the 300$ I spent on my Wells Chicago Mouthpiece and 600$ for the Leblanc Noblet Bass clarinet I got in March and I've spent 1800$ on clarinets this year. Hopefully the last time for a while.
SCHOOL NEWS --
Oh right, school. I'm taking only one 'real' class this semester. A required course. Otherwise, 'Composer's Workshop', which is more of a lecture hall type of class with no real requirements (beyond having pieces performed), and Composition Lessons. Once again, its not the type of class you can fail. I also hope to take chamber music, so I can get more experience playing different kinds of music. I'm trying to get a sextet together, but I will need some luck, also a trio. I might add 5th class, we'll see.
LIFE NEWS --
I dated a Belarussian girl this summer. Maybe 'dated' isn't quite the right word, she saw it differently. I don't know if we are going towards a relationship or just an extremely close friendship, I hope for the former. We went dancing last time we were together, she's the first girl I've danced with since I was in high school. I feel so close to her.
Funny story, this 'dancing night', we only danced once to be specific, but we did a gig together (she's an oboist), and afterward we're looking for a place to hang out in the Village. So we walk around, and I say, 'how about that bar we hung out at in June?" we go over, its completely empty (on a Sunday night, 9pm). Nobody. Quiet ...
"This is perfect, Will!" The girl is just like me on this, she hates crowded noisy bars. I hate crowded noisy bars. I love her! HA HA HA!
New job is great, as I said, maybe 1800$ a month? maybe more, I made 2000$ in July, September, even if its slow should be a 2000$ month as well. Frankly this is the most I've ever made on a consistent basis, and the best part is, unlike other jobs this one is mine as long as I need it. The restaurant is very popular, VERY popular. I won't be a victim of labor cuts this time. I also get a free meal daily, plenty of scones to take home, 1/2 price tea ... my food bill has gone way down, I only shop once a week now and only for 4 days worth of food.
Well, that's the news I guess ... happy life.
LIVING SITUATION -
I'm looking into Jackson Heights or Forest Hills. I could, theoretically, live in a studio in Jackson Heights. I've seen some listings between 750 and 800 "utilities included", which if truthful, would be pretty equivalent to what I pay now. Jackson Heights has trains, but it's definitely not a neighborhood to drive a car around. Forest Hills I'll definitely need to find new roommates, but I can get something that is equal or less to 650$ rent, and have a huge park nearby, and a quiet neighborhood to live in.
Maybe I should just give in and get in the NY state of mind. I make enough money now (I expect 1800$ a month, which leaves $600 after rent, bills, food, transportation are taken care of), I actually could go out ... a lot if I'm careful. I'm just such a square. It really doesn't appeal to me, bars and clubs specifically are completely unappealing.
My roommates are fighting and | | <--- this close to breaking up. If it happens, (did I mention my rent is subsidized), we'll have to find two roommates to replace her (she pays double rent, long story). This will really suck, because its a 3 bedroom apartment, 4 people ... :-\. In the end the question is how much will I miss constant access to a real upright piano and the ability to practice clarinet whenever I want. I could always get a cheap digital.
MUSIC NEWS --
Well, 4 gigs this summer. One even paid money, 100$ total. It was split three ways ... I put a lot of work into that gig because I had/wanted to write most of the music, which I ended up doing. So much work. I think this next year, my focus should be on extending my footprint in the professional music world, as a gig person/composer/player. 4 gigs isn't a lot of course, but compared to last year, I feel I've grown a lot and have made a lot of good steps.
I spent 900$ on a new clarinet. It's actually a 1958 Selmer Centertone clarinet (endorsed by Benny Goodman
). I really love it, my tone is much bigger and smoother I think. It plays much better than my old clarinet. Include that with the 300$ I spent on my Wells Chicago Mouthpiece and 600$ for the Leblanc Noblet Bass clarinet I got in March and I've spent 1800$ on clarinets this year. Hopefully the last time for a while. SCHOOL NEWS --
Oh right, school. I'm taking only one 'real' class this semester. A required course. Otherwise, 'Composer's Workshop', which is more of a lecture hall type of class with no real requirements (beyond having pieces performed), and Composition Lessons. Once again, its not the type of class you can fail. I also hope to take chamber music, so I can get more experience playing different kinds of music. I'm trying to get a sextet together, but I will need some luck, also a trio. I might add 5th class, we'll see.
LIFE NEWS --
I dated a Belarussian girl this summer. Maybe 'dated' isn't quite the right word, she saw it differently. I don't know if we are going towards a relationship or just an extremely close friendship, I hope for the former. We went dancing last time we were together, she's the first girl I've danced with since I was in high school. I feel so close to her.
Funny story, this 'dancing night', we only danced once to be specific, but we did a gig together (she's an oboist), and afterward we're looking for a place to hang out in the Village. So we walk around, and I say, 'how about that bar we hung out at in June?" we go over, its completely empty (on a Sunday night, 9pm). Nobody. Quiet ...
"This is perfect, Will!" The girl is just like me on this, she hates crowded noisy bars. I hate crowded noisy bars. I love her! HA HA HA!
New job is great, as I said, maybe 1800$ a month? maybe more, I made 2000$ in July, September, even if its slow should be a 2000$ month as well. Frankly this is the most I've ever made on a consistent basis, and the best part is, unlike other jobs this one is mine as long as I need it. The restaurant is very popular, VERY popular. I won't be a victim of labor cuts this time. I also get a free meal daily, plenty of scones to take home, 1/2 price tea ... my food bill has gone way down, I only shop once a week now and only for 4 days worth of food.
Well, that's the news I guess ... happy life.
Re: School almost starting again.
Well ... its August. August in New York kind of sucks. Its generally warm and humid, too warm to really enjoy being outside. Business at my restaurant job is a little slow. I still don't like Williamsburg. Yeah, we have some nice restaurants, it remains a pig ugly neighborhood with a relatively high crime rate. Truth of the matter is I don't go out enough to really take advantage of the only thing this neighborhood has to offer, places to eat and drink. I'll divide this post into sections since it'll be a rambling wall of text. If you get bored switch to the next section.
I like August. I've just relaxed and acclimated to the summer enough to start enjoying it. We only have about 6 more weeks of summer.
LIVING SITUATION -
I'm looking into Jackson Heights or Forest Hills. I could, theoretically, live in a studio in Jackson Heights. I've seen some listings between 750 and 800 "utilities included", which if truthful, would be pretty equivalent to what I pay now. Jackson Heights has trains, but it's definitely not a neighborhood to drive a car around. Forest Hills I'll definitely need to find new roommates, but I can get something that is equal or less to 650$ rent, and have a huge park nearby, and a quiet neighborhood to live in.
I've found Queens to be affordable and convenient, as long as you're not too far from the subway. (I know a few people who take a bus from the train, and maybe it works for them, but I'll be damned if I rely on a bus again.) I wouldn't shy away from roommates. Your situation right now maybe be bad, and that happens every once in a while, but personally I've had good luck finding great roommates just by answering craigslist ads for apartment shares. To me, a great roommate is one that you see and talk to very little, but when you do talk, you click and get along. But mostly, you notice their presence by the fact that the living room is very clean and there is occasionally soup/stew on the stove.
$800 for a studio with utilities included - I don't believe that it exists. $1100 is more like it. I still believe that with roommates, you get more space and a nicer place for your money (at least you have a chance to).
Maybe I should just give in and get in the NY state of mind. I make enough money now (I expect 1800$ a month, which leaves $600 after rent, bills, food, transportation are taken care of), I actually could go out ... a lot if I'm careful. I'm just such a square. It really doesn't appeal to me, bars and clubs specifically are completely unappealing.
If you don't like bars, don't go to bars. There's plenty of other things to do. Check out meetup.com, there's groups for any interest.
MUSIC NEWS --
Well, 4 gigs this summer. One even paid money, 100$ total. It was split three ways ... I put a lot of work into that gig because I had/wanted to write most of the music, which I ended up doing. So much work. I think this next year, my focus should be on extending my footprint in the professional music world, as a gig person/composer/player. 4 gigs isn't a lot of course, but compared to last year, I feel I've grown a lot and have made a lot of good steps.
Well, 4 gigs this summer. One even paid money, 100$ total. It was split three ways ... I put a lot of work into that gig because I had/wanted to write most of the music, which I ended up doing. So much work. I think this next year, my focus should be on extending my footprint in the professional music world, as a gig person/composer/player. 4 gigs isn't a lot of course, but compared to last year, I feel I've grown a lot and have made a lot of good steps.
Yes, do it. You should be a lot more aggressive in getting experience performing and promoting yourself.
LIFE NEWS --
I dated a Belarussian girl this summer. Maybe 'dated' isn't quite the right word, she saw it differently. I don't know if we are going towards a relationship or just an extremely close friendship, I hope for the former. We went dancing last time we were together, she's the first girl I've danced with since I was in high school. I feel so close to her.
Are you still seeing her? Why is "dated" in past tense?
Re: School almost starting again.
She is in Belarus til November, so at the moment we are not seeing each other 
. Hopefully when she's back we'll do more of this dating.
. Hopefully when she's back we'll do more of this dating.