What do finances ACTUALLY look like for a young actor living in NYC?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.ค. 2024
- This has been a highly requested video, so I went IN!! In this video I cover everything from how much I spend each month in NYC, what my day jobs have been, how much money I've made, and how I afford to live. If you have any questions at all, feel free to ask!!!
If you haven't already, make sure you subscribe!! I post about everything from nutrition, wellness, theatre, performing, NYC life, and beyond. Thank you so much for watching :)
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Xx - Mel
Thank you so much for your transparency. I’ve watched hundreds of videos that never really tell you the blunt truth on how you balance pursuing a musical theatre career and balancing your finances with a day job. It definitely make me feel like I’m not so alone in trying to figure it all out. Thank you so much. It’s so appreciated.
you are SO welcome! I always loved when my friends and I would discuss in full transparency how we were making it happen, because it really does make you feel less alone. I'm glad this helped :)
I have so much respect for you. Both for following your dreams AND for being so transparent. Wishing you all the success xx
Thank you, Bridgette!!
thank you for making this so honestly!!
Thank you so much! This was very helpful! One of my dreams is to also live and hopefully perform in NYC after graduating college in ‘25. It would be amazing if you wanted to talk about your transition from college to getting that cruise ship job and then eventually how you made the move to NYC! Also loving the hair!! :) Thanks again!
Thank you, Elleda!!! I'm so glad the videos are helpful. I will definitely make one about college and the transition.
This is so accurate I’m glad I subbed!
omgg thank you this helped a lot I love your aesthetic btw !!
Thank you so much for this video! Nobody talks about this stuff on TH-cam and I’m so glad you did!
This video is so helpful to get my plans properly aligned. 🙏🏻 stay safe! 🔥
Loving the bangs! x
Thank you for your incredibly inspiring, entertaining and informative videos.
So exciting that you've started a nutrition business! That IS the real dream to be able to support yourself and pursue dance. And thanks for this video - so informative!
Omg heyyyyy welcome back!!!
This video is very informative and down to earth. There are way too many videos with influencers that setting unrealistic expectations about living in NYC. I just moved here a month ago. Planning and having at least 10k saved up before you move here is beneficial. Rent prices have gone up since the pandemic, and everyone here is hustling for side jobs. Thanks for the realism and being truthful. Would love to see an update on this video. 👍🏽
Thank you!!! I'll be doing an update soon :)
Thanks so much for making this!! You explained everything so well. My name is Evelyn, I'm an adult (don't want to say my age on the internet haha) and I'm a theatre actress. I'm younger than you so I'm at an earlier part in my journey but your journey sounds so similar to mine (I know a lot of performers have a similar journey though haha!). Seeing this was so incredibly interesting because I'm intrigued by how someone like me will live and audition in NYC. Even though I've performed with a lot of people it's hard to find people who want to and have time to just sit down and talk about specifically the financial aspect. One of the things I was surprised about in this video is the amount you spend in a month - it's lower than I thought! I live extremely simply in a smaller city and my living expenses are $1500/month. I do have to lease a reliable car to get to jobs, dance classes, etc. so that's part of what makes it that high in a smaller city. Though I respect how tough the city is I'm surprised that you can spend only $1800 in a month there for living. When I did the math myself awhile ago it did come out to about $1800 but I thought I must have been missing something. I'm sure everyone's experience is different but it was very cool to hear yours and it helps me to get an idea!
LOVE LOVE LOVE it. love how realistic, clear and positive you are.
You are mentally tough and such an inspiration! I love that you believe in yourself so much. Keep up the great work and attitude! Your confidence is so great to see.
thank you for making this!
Well, that was interesting. I’ve always wondered how the finances worked for people in your situation. I think I’ll keep my quiet life in the mountains, but good luck to you. I hope you make it!
wow i love how detailed this is - i always wondered how people made money in nyc to afford to live there; i was there for an internship in college and it was great, but very tough. i can see myself moving back there for a short time since its the hub of fashion
Yesss this is the good stuff.
OUR QUEEN IS BACK
Oh my gosh stop!! :)
Thank you for your honesty! This was a really transparent and helpful video. I can see that you have a lot of integrity.
This is a GREAT channel. I just subscribed.
You're lovely Mel and thanks for sharing all this! It's crazy, but I do miss auditions. Even sitting outside Pearl Studios at 5am, lol. It was just chasing dreams for me. Best wishes, and your hair is perfect. 😊
Thank you, Patrick!
Loved the transparency here! Thank you! Also, keep the hair, it looks great!
Thank you Monique!!
this really put everything in to perspective about how expensive everything is 😬😬
I was actually surprised in the opposite way. I live in a smaller city. Here when I tell people I want to live in NYC they say, "It's so expensive!!!!" But $1800 for one month of survival? Here in this smaller city I rent a tiny, disgusting apartment for $520/month (the lowest rent I could find). My utilities cost around $80/month. I must have a reliable car to get to work, dance classes, etc. so I lease a simple yet reliable car for $287/month. That car requires car insurance which at the lowest rate I could find comes out to $108/month. With all the driving to work, dance classes, etc. and with sometimes needing to buy extra food during those days of running around my gas comes out to about $70/per month and my food comes out to about $300. Then of course there's the tampons, unexpected doctor's visits, Mom's birthday present, etc. lol, which ends up being about $1-200/month. I typically spend $1500/month just to live simply. Granted it would be challenging to earn another $300/month to reach that $1800 goal but it's less of a gap than I thought. I'm sure everyone's experience is different though! Also I still of course have a ton of respect for her because even making any money while auditioning is extremely tough and budgeting as well as just surviving in NYC in general is a whole thing in itself!
@@Mike-sj9si Keep in mind, $1800 is likely with 2-3 roommates.
@@ayannacharity Yup! Every apartment I've had has been a 3 bedroom apartment. The one I am currently in I actually share with 4 people because 2 of them are a couple, so they share a room. To live alone it would be WAY more expensive!
@@melcabeyvlogs @ayannacharity Ah yes good to keep in mind! Thanks! I was thinking about how the studios I found on streeteasy.com during the pandemic were still $1500 at the lowest so I wondered about that. Here my apartment is insanely small, gross, and (compared to other apts in my city) cheap but living alone truly is a luxury. Plus I of course expect NY apartments to be a thousand times smaller and grosser while still costing at least twice as much. Still interesting to know it's possible to at least have a roof for around twice as much as what I pay for my roof rather than like 10x as much. 🎵 I don't need a roof🎵
@@melcabeyvlogs really, hmm now with having 2-3 roommates are you typically sharing a bathroom as well?
Respect 🙏 best of luck!! God bless
Food is such a huge expense in the city! People (myself included) always underestimate before they move here.
Oh my gosh TOTALLY!!
Just cook at home…Easy Solution
@@northern179 you still have to buy the food haha
Great video!
Also, can you make a video explaining how you stay organized? I've tried to use a planner before but it never worked out for me, so I would love an organization guide!
I would love to do that! Organization is honestly my favorite, haha.
This video seriously helped me SO MUCH!! I'm hoping to move to the city within the next two years but I've been so nervous about jobs and making ends meet. When you were taking about agencies with nannying, how do those work?
I'm glad the video helped!! There are lots of different kinds, all you have to do is google "Babysitting Agency NYC". Some that I know of are SmartSitters and CuratedCare
Subscribed. I’m trying to make an art business to make audition season easier. 😂 I feel every part of this and good for you for making your own business.
that's AWESOME! I'd love to check your art out!
@@melcabeyvlogs thanks Mel. If you’d like to see some of it check out @Brogna_Arts on Instagram or TH-cam
I would love to know about eating in NYC for someone who is gluten-free! I also plan to live in NYC to pursue musical theatre but it's a lot harder to find good gluten-free food at any restaurant.
Hi Maya! Eating gluten free isn't that difficult in NYC. You'll be able to get what you need at grocery stores, and as for eating out there are such a wide variety of options! You can find almost anything in NY. Lots of quick grab and go places like Dig Inn, Sweet Green, Chopt, etc. have gluten free options as well as most restaurants.
What type of work/skills would you suggest becoming proficient in prior to coming to NYC so that you are “hire-able” to the non-audition/professional positions? Also, when you have the cruise contracts to you relinquish your NYC lease?
Thank you so much for this!
PS: eating healthy is more expensive here in Brazil as well
PS 2: I loved your new haircut
You're welcome!!! :)
Hi Mel. I love your videos. I'm an Italian girl who studies musical theatre in Italy. I wanted to ask you how it works in New York City for the auditions for international artists. Could I try to do an audition in New York or try to find a job there after the end of my training? Thank you😘
Hi Annachiara! I have a close friend from Australia, and I know somewhat of how things were for her. Basically, you are able to work any non union job or cruise job, however in order to work an equity job (broadway) you will need to be approved for a green card. I know of a few people who booked a broadway show but had to turn it down because they were not approved for a green card. It definitely takes time! I know that an O1 artist visa is what most international people have, so check into that!
What kind of apartment does $1K get you in your area? Is that a roommate situation? A 1/1? Studio? I’m a native Floridian and assumed it was vastly more expensive considering I pay $1,050.00 for a 1/1 in a non-metropolitan city in SWFL. Thank you SO much for spelling all of this out!
I live in a three bedroom/two bathroom apartment, and one room is split by a couple. So all together it is about $3500 a month! You are so welcome :)
Sorry, I'm new to your channel so you may have covered this. You talk about audition season but do you still audition all year round? Also, from what percentage of auditions do you get a job? 😊
Audition season is considered to be from around January-April, where most regional theatres are casting their big summer seasons. Apart from that, auditions still happen year round for Broadway and national tours! Honestly I’m not sure of the percentage 😂 every year I’ve booked 1-2 jobs after going to 5 auditions per week for 4 months 😅 some don’t book any, some book 5 and have to turn down some, and it differs year to year depending what the shows are at certain theatres
@@melcabeyvlogs thanks for answering. That's a lot of auditions! It's a shame that you have to work so hard for the auditions but you, mostly, don't make any money from them.
This all sounds so stressful!