Return to NYC

Hello everyone!

My time to return to NYC is near.

We will be returning to the Big Apple on July 13.

I’m more bummed about this than I thought I would be, but it’s time to return and try to find a job and start getting back to normal. 

So, what’s going on? What are our plans?

Well, first thing’s first. With cases rising in Texas and falling in New York, we’re going straight back into quarantine. It’s just the nature of the beast I suppose, but we have to do what’s right. 

I’ll continue to work on projects virtually and I’ll try to keep busy to make those two weeks fly by. During those two weeks (and beyond if necessary) we’ll be applying to jobs. Unfortunately, Orlando and I both have jobs that rely on the theatre industry and with Broadway being shut down until at least January 2021, we have no option, but to seek something elsewhere. 

New York and the Broadway industry will bounce back better and stronger than ever. 

I have no doubt about this.

However, as a non-native New Yorker, I’m not sure how much longer I’ll survive up there.

Financially, lots of things are still up in the air...

Yes, we’re going to be applying and looking for jobs, but we’re not sure how many places are actively hiring, although things don’t look too bad after skimming through some hiring websites.

The financial difficulties of the pandemic have driven people to leave the city in droves, but there’s the possibility that companies will not fill in the spots left by workers in an effort to save money. 

Most companies might also give priority and rehire those they might have let go at the start of all of this.

No one’s to blame in any of those scenarios. We’re simply preparing for the worst possible cases.

PUA is set to end on July 31st and without this additional financial help I (and many others) will be left in a financial uncertainty. Many people left the city by their own free will, but others had no other option.

Only time will tell where we end up.

We have a plan B for this situation, but we’re not ready to leave just yet.

New York City is not for everyone, but there is something incredibly special about it. Orlando hates crowded cities and he felt he was going to hate New York City as well.

I told him to give New York a chance before making any final decisions. I actually told him that New York was different and that he would actually like it a lot. After he visited the first time, he confessed that I was right. I don’t know what it is about that place, but it certainly leaves an impression. I remember the first time I saw the city. We were driving in from Pennsylvania and after finally reaching the New Jersey turnpike, I saw the skyline in the distance and was immediately in awe of what lay before me.

I don’t know what the future has in store.

All I know is that I’ll have my wonderful husband and cuddly little pup figuring this out with me.

For now, I took a pause on acting classes and workshops to ensure I could spend as much time with my family as possible. My dad left to work on Tuesday, so he won’t be here to see us off, but my mom and brother will as will Orlando’s family. Right now I’m watching Christmas movies with my mom because that’s what she loves to do. Don’t judge us. We’re just Christmas loving folk.

I think what I’m most bummed about is leaving my mom who has gotten used to having us around. I’m also sad about leaving my beautiful niece who has also grown attached to us.

I’m prepared to leave New York behind if we have to.

The good thing about being at home is that any money not used to paying rent went straight to our savings account. We have a bit of a cushion that will keep us afloat in case PUA runs out. We also have enough saved up that we can use in case we do need to move. Plan B is Albuquerque. There are plenty of film/tv opportunities there and it’s still close enough to our families.

While our families will support our decision no matter what, I know they’d rather we moved back now. It’s something we’ve seriously considered, but we’re not sure if we’re ready to leave the magic of NYC just yet. We’re leaving it in God’s hands which is all we can do really.

For now, my heart goes out to my fellow creatives in the theatre industry who are hurting in many ways at the moment.

Lluvia