I’m Moving to New York City

Folks, it’s official: the Brian’s Den is on the move. The new permanent location (until I run out of money)? New York, New York. The City that Never Sleeps. The Big Apple. Everyone who’s anyone lives in either New York or Los Angeles, and I can’t afford to move across the country, so here we are. The Brian’s Den is about to be in the media hub of the world, which can only lead to one thing: global takeover.

So why now? Well, my lease is up April 1st. After living in Vermont and Connecticut for the first 26 years of my life, I’ve had my fill of quiet, sleepy towns and I’m ready for a change. It’s probably not too hard to figure out if you read my posts, but I don’t live a particularly “happy” or “fulfilled” life. Will moving to New York help me change that? Yes and no. Yes because there are so many more opportunities to spread my wings and actually do something I want to do for a living, no because New York is a terrible place to live. But I’ll take the good with the bad, for now.

What do I actually plan to do? I’m glad you asked. Not many people know this, but I had a whole scheme planned out in college. I would write a book, the book would become a best seller, I’d write the movie adaptation, convince the studio to let an untrained nobody to star in said movie, and I’d become a star. I actually believed this would happen. So I wrote the book, only it never got published. Dream shattered. Next thing I know, it’s four years later and I’m a miserable slacker who’s got nothing to point at and say, “yeah, that’s something I accomplished.” So, when my roommates and I decided not to renew our lease, I decided I was through wallowing in self pity. Writing and story telling are literally my only skills in life, so I got to work on a script. Then another script. Then another. After four years of being away from the creative writing process I had forgotten that, even though it sucks thinking of stuff and actually typing it all out and having writer’s block and getting up the nerve to ask people to read it, I actually enjoyed it. I realized doing it for a living would be the only way I would ever be happy. So I’m gonna go for it. I’ve put most of my time into a show I’d like to get made. Will it happen? Probably not. But I’m counting on the fact that the strength of that script and some other ones in my portfolio will be enough to get me a job on some established show, or some production company, or literally any job at all. It also might blow up in my face and I’ll end up panhandling on the street within two months. But, much like Papa Roach, at least I could say I tried. Plus, being in New York would give me tons of good #content, and, hopefully, give me some chances to start make videos again.

Listen, I’m 26. That’s ancient to be breaking into the entertainment industry. I look younger than I really am so I can lie about my age, but the fact remains that time was running out for me to even think about trying this. I’ve lived with various regrets all my life, and I don’t think I can last another 50 years with the thought that I wasted my true calling because I was too lazy to do anything about it hanging over me. Is it a risk? Sure. But it’s a calculated one. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t think I could be successful. I mean, I see some of the crap the put on TV these days like Young Sheldon, or a Roseanne remake no one wanted, or the new CBS show about a magician solving crimes and I know for a fact I can do better than that. It’s just a matter of getting lucky at the right time. Is the acting itch still there? Of course it is. I’d like to meet the person that’s never wanted to be a movie star just so I can call them a liar. But that won’t be what I focus on. Maybe I’ll try and get an audition here and there, but I’ve been beaten down by the world the last few years. I’ve got an unhealthy amount of self awareness. I know I’ve got at least a small amount of talent but no training or experience besides when I was dicking around in college, so if two or three different people tell me I’m terrible I can walk out with my head held high because I actually put myself out there, which is more than most people can say. But, again, I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t think I could succeed. Will it happen instantly? I hope so but probably not. Will money be tight and life be miserable at first? Yep. But that’s a small price to pay if I can actually wake up in the morning with some kind of purpose. Besides delivering powerful takes, of course.

For anyone concerned with where I’ll live and if it’ll be a safe neighborhood, don’t worry. I’ve got that covered.