So, how do you move to New York? Remember, in no particular order: You are not a consumer. If you're moving to New York, you are not a consumer. You are not going to brunch. You are not the person saying, "Oh, that new thing I’m waiting in line for, the new cookies." You're not a consumer. Do not be a consumer. I promise you, whatever is being sold—especially as an artist—you know how to do it yourself. Do not be a consumer. It's a waste.
New York is designed a certain way. Shit happened years before I moved here, and people think they come here and are supposed to spend money. So, in that space, take advantage of the fact that people believe they have to spend. Use it to your benefit as an artist, but do not become a consumer. I just don't think it's worth it. If it’s beneficial to you, like if you go on a brunch date with a producer, and you just wrote a play, and the date adds to your professionalism, then do it. But if you're just up on a Saturday saying, "I’m going to brunch," just because you're here—do not become a consumer.
And if you can help yourself, don’t even shop here—for anything: food, groceries, clothing—because everything in New York costs double or triple what it would elsewhere. And that’s not even including sales tax. The idea of thrifting here is a niche market, so you're not actually thrifting in the traditional sense, where things are affordable. Thrifting here is the same price as the local H&M. So what are you really thrifting? I don't know. Just don’t be a consumer. No matter what the market is, don’t consume. Do things that are beneficial to you—like explore. There are a lot of things you can do, like museums, and you can get passes for them.
Don’t come here just to eat, socialize, and do anything that isn’t beneficial to you. You need your money to flip it into what you're really trying to do.
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