Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: glocke on May 07, 2010, 03:17:17 AM
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So Ive got a studio session at some place right in the middle of times square. I hate driving to begin with, and it doesnt get any better in the city.
The times that Ive been in Manhattan, the driving situation just really seems nuts...am I right in thinking Im just better off having someone else take my gear up there for me and I take the train, or is driving up there not as bad as it seems????
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The only time I was in New York City it was around 5:00am in the morning, and the place was deserted. It was like being in the twilight zone..
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Gregory - It depends on the time of day. There are times when it is worse than it seems!
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the session is from 9-6... (
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Having grown up in the NY Metropolitan Area, I don't find driving in NY to be a problem. It just takes forever to go crosstown! Parking, however, is another story entirely. If you're session is in Times Square, you'll have no choice but to park in a lot and you'll be paying through the nose for the privilege. I'm sure someone can give you a more exact figure, but I'd expect to pay at least $50 to park all day. As for your gear, don't expect to be able to pull up in front and unload in the middle of Times Square (unless the place has a loading dock). Personally, anytime I can get someone else to schlepp my stuff, I'm all for it! I'll often park near a subway stop in the outer reaches (in my case, usually in the Bronx) and jump on the subway to go into Manhattan. Another option is to park uptown and grab a cab. Good luck on the session and take a big piece out of the Apple for me!
Bill, tgo
(Message edited by lbpesq on May 07, 2010)
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Park in the outer boroughs of Long Island, or New Jersey, and take a subway in to the studio. I drive in Manhattan often, and I want to blow my brains out every time. The only worse experience is the Long Island Exressway (aka Distressway).
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I remember referring to the LIE (Long Island Expressway) as The world's longest parking lot!
Bill, tgo
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while in new york Dont Forget your glocke.
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When I was in a band in Boston, we used to play in NYC all the time. As an ex Boston cabbie, I loved driving in NY! We had a 24' truck, so we had to get into Manhattan on the 125th St. bridge and drive down the avenues, usually all the way down town to the Wetland during rush hour, going 60 mph! However, having commercial plates on a truck in a lot of ways makes things easier, parking is easier and people get the hell out of the way. My advice is to get someone else to bring the gear (and NY studios tend to have most of what you need) and take the train. A lot less headache.
Still, I sort of miss driving in the city. The 5AM trip out of the city was fun, too. We'd hit up some all night joint on the way out and have the streets to ourselves as the sun came up.
Driving in Colorado in some ways is much worse. People out here drive like they ski: unpredictably. Usually someone in the left lane is driving 15 mph below the speed limit, oblivious to everyone else. Then you've got the hotdoggers weaving their way through everyone else. And then there are the maniacs like the guy this week who was three sheets to the wind, driving his SUV down Colfax, first smashing into a police car (injuring the prisoner in the back seat) and then going on a 10 block rampage, minus a wheel, smashing into cars until he ended up on top of another vehicle putting them and him into the hospital. Lots of crazy stuff happens in NY, but the driving is very consistent.
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If you do drive, remove your hub caps if you have any. The locals will mow you down before letting you retrive one.
And if you see any of my 3, grab'em please.
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Wow Edwin, I never knew you drove a cab in Boston! I'd be interested in hearing your take on Massachusetts drivers - I learned how to drive in and around Boston, I must terrorize people here in the SF Bay Area...
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I grew up in NYC, born, raised, and licensed to drive; I would have to respectfully disagree with Edwin: when people talk about the traffic here in Colorado I ask them, What traffic?!? And yes, Bill, the Long Island Distressway is the world's longest parking lot.
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I drove a cab from 1985 to '89. One of my teachers at Berklee got me into it. I was appalled that he taught full time, played gigs and still had to drive a cab to make ends meet. Eventually there was a strike at Berklee and he was able to devote his energies to teaching, but I digress.
Ben, I think actually the traffic in Denver is way better than Boulder. The difference is that there is more traffic in Boston, but people know how to drive. Here, they are maddeningly inept. With the amount of cars on the road, it takes 4 times longer to get anywhere than it should. It's actually faster to drive to Denver than it is to drive across Boulder. Denver is a piece of cake.
SF is not too bad. People keep moving, although rush hour can get bad, but not worse than any other major city.
The main driving issue in Colorado is that gigs are far away. Here, after you play in the front range, you are talking long hours to get to ther next gig, whether it's Salt Lake City to the west, Lawrence KS to the east, nothing to the north and not much to the south. On the east coast you can drive the amount of time it takes to get to Steamboat (a relatively local mountain town gig) and go through 3 states!
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While I now live in a small town (though a big city compared to where I grew up), I lived & drove a truck in and around Chicago for many years, and I have to agree with Ben in re Denver traffic - there ain't none!!! And the drivers aren't any worse than Chicago's. I did, however, have the opportunity to drive from Breckenridge to Denver in a blizzard this last December; while my wife clenched the armrest in terror & my son exploded with torrents of profanity in the backseat, I found myself asking repeatedly, These people are here because of the snow - why can't they drive in it?!?!? But in all fairness, Chicago drivers do the same the first few snows of the season. I guess what it boils down to is, nobody but me knows how to drive .
Peter
(Message edited by cozmik_cowboy on May 07, 2010)
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Back in '87 or '88 I was driving an 18 wheeler on the Long Island Expressway; it was my first time there and I was concentrating on the traffic. It was actually somewhat of a relative relief as I had been driving through Manhattan earlier and was glad not to have to worry about directions for a while. There was a guy behind me that was really anxious to get to wherever it was he was going and was right up on the tail end of the trailer. He seemed a bit perturbed that I was in his way. He finally saw his opportunity and accelerated out from behind my trailer into the left lane, racing away at a good rate of speed. As he was pulling out from behind me, I felt a bump. Sure enough, when I got to my destination that night the section of the front grill that used to be around his passenger side headlight was now dangling from the trailer's bumper.
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Yep, had that happen - though it was from her headlight to the left right rear door, and she stopped (AND freely admitted her error to the constabulary!!)
(edited because I can't tell my fretting hand from my picking hand)
Peter
(Message edited by cozmik_cowboy on May 07, 2010)
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That was nice she stopped!
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Dave, I really gained a huge amount of understanding and respect for
18 wheeler drivers when I drove a 16 foot Bob tail from Tampa, Fl. to Oakland, Ca, back in 1999. I took mostly route 10 and did it in 5 days with some scenic endeavours . I had no idea what I would learn about before I embarked on my trek. The Truck stops with 100 big rigs lined up was a spectacle to behold for sure. I stopped of at a few really awesome truck stops with full amenities and the food was great and cheap . They treated me with exemplary class and kindness even though it was obvious that I was not a real truck driver.
(Message edited by sonicus on May 08, 2010)
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You really find out what kind of respect truckers have for you when you listen in on the CB. Our truck was purchased from a futon company and had emblazoned on the back: Metawampe Futons. Sleep with us! I heard every things from What the f is a futon?! to some really derogatory inferences from the sleep with us part. Finally I just ditched the CB.
Another NY/truck memory I have is playing way downtown during a February. Our truck was a diesel and got too cold. We didn't get it started until the band the next night had finished their soundcheck!
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I guess what it boils down to is, nobody but me knows how to drive. - I hear that! Did you ever notice that anyone who drives slower than you is a moron and anyone who drives faster than you is a maniac????
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Park in the outer boroughs of Long Island, or New Jersey, and take a subway in to the studio. I drive in Manhattan often, and I want to blow my brains out every time.
Well guess Ill find out tomorrow. I did have the chance to have someone else bring my gear into the city for me, but that would have required leaving it locked in the studio all weekend and I dont know when I would be getting it back because the guy who would take it in for me is several hours away from me.
Im 2 hours south of the city. Im hopeing if I leave my house by 530 or six I can make it to the studio by 730 or 8 and avoid alot of traffic hassles.
Should be pretty cool. Its a demo album for an 11 year old guitar player who loves the Grateful Dead! He knows much of the material and always surprises me by playing yet another tune that hes never played before. There is a very special guest that will be on the recording, cant really say anything more than that because I have been sworn to secrecy....Man do I hate keeping secrets.
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Sounds like a great session! Enjoy and may the trip in and out of the city be carefree ;) When I drove into the city I parked the car for a week while there. Regards, Art
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So, how did it go?
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Session went great! I've been in studios before but none matched the caliber of this one. Met some great folks who made everything super easy. The artist hired a great drummer, it was a little intimidating at first being in that environment with someone with the experience and musicianship he has, but we locked in really well.
As for driving in Manhattan, all I can say is holy mother of god...please put me out of my misery. 45 minutes to drive 3-4 miles....traffic laws that are completely ignored...im amazed i got out of there without any damage to my 4runner.
(Message edited by glocke on May 22, 2010)
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Great session and horrible traffic! Was the drummer the special guest?
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No, the drummer was not the special guest. Can't really say who that is just yet, but I think I can say that the drummer was Joe Chirco.
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From the Zen Tricksters; cool!