Thinking about moving to Austin, TX

chriscurl

chriscurl

Well-known member
So i am thinking about some things and I figured I would put them out to this community to get some feedback. I currently live in Virginia Beach, VA. Professionally I am an Interactive Director at an ad agency and I am giving serious thought to making a big change and moving away to try something different at the end of the year. Right now Austin is my top choice as I have a good friend that lives there so I would know someone. In doing some research I know there a large indie film community but that professional jobs are not abundant there. While I have a strong enough book to definitely get web/agency work I would like to transition to doing production work at some point as that is where my passions lie. My reasons for thinking about this are numerous and not wholly professional, the fact that I have never taken a big chance professionally, I have reached this point in my life (35) with very few obligations to anyone else, all my family is here and they never had the opportunity to really make a go at something. It is very difficult to think about walking away from a job I enjoy, making as much money as I need to be comfortable, especially in this economy (having dealt with my father being laid off in the past year from the blue collar job he held his whole adult life to give me the opportunities I have had, I truly understand how fortunate I am to be in the situation I am in) but it is one of those things that if I don't try it, I believe I will end up regretting it. As I have started mentioning this to more and more people, noone has tried to talk me out of it yet or told me I'm crazy, would love to hear thoughts from people that have done similar things or that live in Austin area...
 
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CHris do it. Austin is a great city with a very active indy community.

Life is full of regrets but at the end of the journey your greatest regrets will be not trying the things your heart tells you to do.
 
Thanks, that's kind of where my head is, in doing the mental math, I can't see how I end up regretting doing it, only not doing it. Still, very intimidating!
 
The only thing about Austin that I don't enjoy is the horrible horrible hot oppressive humid nasty awful summer weather.

If you're okay with that, then Austin does have a great deal to offer.
 
The first place I lived in Austin was the fingerhut (the apartment where they filmed Slacker,etc). It was dirt cheap and virtually every person I met was passionate film. It can be one of the most supportive filmaking communities in the world.
 
"The only thing about Austin that I don't enjoy is the horrible horrible hot oppressive humid nasty awful summer weather." Thats what beer is for. It forces you out to the bars, cinemas, and the woman you meet are more likely to go skinny dipping with you.
 
Texas heat and humidity will kill you, but Austin is a beautiful town and probably the music town of all of Texas.
 
Anyone who thinks that Austin is humid has never been to Houston or New Orleans.

Austin is a great place to live.
 
Ha yes I have been out there a few times and am really impressed with it, am going out there for a few days in 2 weeks to do some serious thinking "on location".
I'll be there 16th-19th if anyone out there happens to be out and about, lets meet up.
 
Film the BATS!!!!! I was in Austin for a week back in Summer '06 for NAMM. Yeah it was humid, not too bad.

But the swarm of bats that came out from under that bridge was so cool to watch. There had to be at least 2,000,000 of them. It went on for about 10 minutes. A river of bats in the sky.

And Austin is a cool music scene. You must visit Antone's. So many artists got their start there.
 
Humidity? What humidity?
You're from VA, I'm from Miami, not an issue, right? (Sorry, Max).

Shoot the bats, go tubing (ice cold spring water), hear some music, meet some women, put out some feelers.

Isn't JDS in Austin?

Never regret. If it's good, it's wonderful. If it's bad, it's experience.
 
Austin is seriously the greatest place on the planet.

If I had a chance to move there I'd go there asap without hesitation and never look back.
 
Presently working in Baton Rouge. Worked in Houston. Lived near and worked in Virginia. Worked in Miami.

I'll stand by the humidity thing but really it shouldn't actually factor into your planning.
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone, much to think about in the next month.

Hey Sad Max, mind if I PM you sometime soon and pick your brain a little about what you do, how you got there and what you think of it?
 
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