To kick off 2015, we decided it was time to share our LA Stories. We've absolutely loved reading each of yours, and we look forward to many more. Until then...
Names:
Ellen Sweeney & Angela Mayhew
Age:
Ellen 25
Angela 28
Hometown:
Ellen, Cincinnati Ohio
Angela, Whitesboro, NY
College:
Ellen, Indiana University
Angela, Saint John Fisher College
When did you move to LA?
Ellen, June 2011, immediately after college graduation
Angela, January 2011
What made you want to move to LA?
Ellen: I had explored my options of where to live while I was in college, by doing summer internships in cities I thought I may want to move to after graduation. After interning in LA the summer after sophomore year, I knew I loved it, so I kept it on my radar when considering my post-college game plan. I wanted to go to a booming city with warm weather and endless things to experience - LA seemed like a no brainer.
Angela: Ever since I can remember, I always wanted to work in the entertainment industry. To do that, I knew that I would have to move to either NYC or LA. Growing up, I had always dreamed of moving to California, and I figured being from NY that opportunity could always be there if I wanted to pursue NYC, so I focused on LA.
What was the most challenging part of the move to LA?
Ellen: Moving to LA is extremely daunting, and I think fathoming a huge move across the country was the hardest part. I knew a few guys from my internship in LA who had a room open up in their apartment in Bel-Air, who asked if I wanted to move to LA and live with them. I had one week to decide if I wanted to take the room. It took talking to lots of people to help encourage me and advise me on if moving to LA with no job, hardly any friends or support network, was not totally insane. One thing someone told me that ultimately made me take the leap, was that if I don't do it now, I never will. The longer I thought about it or the more years I took to try and move to LA, the less of a chance it would happen. Thanks to them, here I am.
Oh, and it will be hard sometimes. I am pretty positive I called my mom every day for the first month I was here, telling her I was hopeless, jobless, friendless, and dumb for moving here. Thanks Mom, look at me now!
Angela: I think the most challenging part of moving and getting established is not comparing your “beginning” to someone’s else's “middle”. When you get here and catch up with old friends/networks and meet new friends, it’s easy to think that everyone seems to have it all together. Apartments/Jobs/Friends/Etc - some people just make it look so easy. Always remember that everyone has to start somewhere and eventually, piece-by-piece things will come together.
How did your job hunt go down?
Ellen: I moved to LA with no job, and frankly, not even the slightest idea of what I wanted to do once I was here. I had majored in Tourism Management and had some experience in hospitality, so figured that would be a good direction to go upon arrival. There was no long term game plan, just a let's find a job ASAP game plan. I applied to probably 30 places online in my first week to no avail. So one day I decided to go down to Ocean Avenue and walk into some boutique high-end hotels and see if they were hiring. My first choice hotel I walked into offered me an application and an interview on the spot. I came back the next day for a second interview and was offered a job as a server in the hotel restaurant. It's important to note that when you move to LA, you're not above anything. From there, I worked my way into a pool hostess role and then a guest services agent. It's also important to note that during this time, I also had side gigs as a babysitter for a nice family in Bel Air (met them through the hotel), and as a Event Manager for speed dating events. I literally facilitated speed dating events and blew a whistle telling people when it was time to move on. Reminder: You're not above any job.
From there I worked at the Palazzo Apartments as a Concierge and Event Manager -- it was an awesome year and I met so many wonderful people. After a year, it was time for me to find a career I envisioned myself in more long term. I transitioned out of hospitality and into customer service with Pressed Juicery. From there, I grew into a role as Corporate Sales Manager and now Head of Company Culture, where I am now.
A lot of people come to LA with an agenda of exactly what they want to do with their lives and a game plan of how to reach it, and that's fine. I took a different avenue, of feeling out the industries I was interested in and working my butt off to advance in them. And that hasn't stopped, I am eager to keep on keeping on and see where else LA takes me.
Angela: I had an interesting scenario where I had a job in Nor Cal that moved me down to Los Angeles for 3 months on a contract gig. After that gig was over I would be on my own. Knowing that, I hustled during that time to network and job search. I was able to land a temp job in recruiting at NBCUniversal. Once that was over, I interned at The Dolce Group (Restaurant/Nightlife company) until I was able to find my next “chapter” if you will. A friend who worked at Universal Music Group approached me about taking over her recruiting position, as she was moving to a different department. Given my previous job in Nor Cal, and my temp gig I was able to land the job and start working full-time in recruiting. I knew if I wanted to survive in LA, it would be expensive and that it wasn’t going to be easy. So the first year I also kept working at The Dolce Group on the weekends to be in a better place financially.
What area are you living in?
Ellen: I live in West Hollywood and absolutely love it. My first year in LA I lived in Bel Air. It was an absolutely amazing apartment in a killer location in terms of being central to lots of spots (halfway between the beach and West Hollywood nightlife). That said, I felt like I was on an island because I couldn't walk to anything and had to rely on my car everywhere I went. After a year, I moved to West Hollywood, right into the thick of nightlife and shops and everything in between. It's an amazing area because on the weekends, I don't even use my car. And not a lot of people can say that in LA. I can walk to Trader Joes, to the mall, to dinner brunch and lunch, and the majority of the bars I frequent. I am also walking distance to Beverly Hills, so I love strolling along the walking/running path that runs parallel alongside Santa Monica Blvd and weaving through the neighborhoods of Beverly Hills.
Angela: I’ve lived in West Hollywood, and in the same apartment for the past 4 years. We found a diamond in rough on Craigslist (they are out there!) and I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. I have a plethora of bars, restaurants and essentials (Trader Joes & Starbucks) in walking distance. Plus, I feel comparatively, it’s pretty centrally located than other areas.
What's your favorite thing about Los Angeles?
Ellen: To me, LA is so insanely inspiring. Both the humans who live here and the city as a whole. I don't know a single person here who doesn't dream big. Whether it's dreams of a career in entertainment, a dream to become a Yoga instructor, or even a dream to mingle with the stars at your local gym. Everyone who moves to LA moves here with a passion and drive that seems to be unparalleled. It's extremely thrilling to be a part of.
LA as a city is also motivating, in the sense that it's impossible to sit at home and watch TV when you know you could be out hiking or soaking up the rays in the always 75 and sunny weather. This city brings out the best in people if they let it. Embrace LA for everything that it is, and you will quickly learn to love it.
Angela: It’s hard to choose one thing when you have things like the weather and the opportunities in the mix. But I would have to say the people and the friends I’ve made. LA draws a lot of motivated people with “dreamer” attitudes. I feel constantly inspired by friends, coworkers, and the city as a whole as people are always striving for bigger or better, and constantly working towards their goals and dreams.
Tell us your favorite 3 spots to recommend to new Angelenos:
Ellen: 1) The Den. This West Hollywood bar is located on the historic sunset strip and has a precious little patio that's usually sporting twinkle lights. This spot is responsible for 3 and a half years of memories for me in LA, and hopefully many more. It is filled to the brim every Friday and Saturday night with people ranging 21-30 and then some. Everyone there wants to make friends, and if you allow yourself, you definitely will. Through the years we have collected new friends, that we now reference as our "Den Friends". Go, and make your own Den Friends. Maybe I will see you there.
2) Beverly Gardens Park. I mentioned this earlier, but this is what the pathway along SM Blvd is formally called. It's a path that runs from West Hollywood all the way to almost UCLA. Any given Saturday or Sunday, you are bound to see tons of people out on the path enjoying the weather -- people running, walking, hanging out with their dogs. Going out for a Sunday morning walk along here keeps me both grounded and inspired.
3) The Venice Canals. These are literally the COOLEST thing. They are canals that run through a section of houses in Venice, that are truly so pretty it's mind blowing. Last time I was down there, there was a house that had a mailbox with poems in it, encouraging you to take one. Need I say more?
4) I know we said three, but who made these questions anyway? Er... My last one is Tender Greens. Yes, this is merely a cafeteria style restaurant with slow food done fast. But you know what, they have the best mashed potatoes in the world. And every once in a while, I truly need a home cooked meal to make me feel like I'm not a 25 year old who eats scrambled eggs for dinner nearly every night. And the staff there is really nice. When I call, they know me. And I love them for that.
Angela:
1) Cycle House – One of my favorite spin studios located in West Hollywood! This studio has the best instructors, great music and your first class is free! While they are located in WeHo, they will be opening a new location on the westside this winter.
2) DryBar – It’s a luxury but it’s definitely worth it! If you are not familiar, DryBar is a hair studio that just focuses on blow outs. They now have numerous locations all over LA, and it’s perfect for special occasions, birthdays, or whenever you might need a pick me up. For $40, you get pampered, pretty hair & cocktails #win.
3) Toast – This is one of the first restaurants that I had ventured out to while in LA during an internship -- I had to try it because they went there on The Hills. I’ve been hooked ever since! It's my favorite place to go for breakfast, and to take people that are visiting LA. Not only is the food amazing, but also it’s always fun to sit outside to people watch. You never know who you might see or be dining with! Popular spot for a minor celeb sighting.
4) The Den – I know Ellen already put The Den, but I couldn’t help myself. Our favorite bar on Sunset. Amazing service, great atmosphere and always a good time. Not gonna lie, I’ve celebrated 2 out of my 4 birthdays in LA at this glorious bar.
Any advice you would give to someone who is planning to make the move to LA?
Ellen: Try not to think too much, and just move. The more you think about it, the more you will panic. Just move, and figure it out. I advise you have a little $$ saved up to buy you about two months to find a job, but other than that, just take the plunge. It will come together. As long as you don't think you'll be a PR Account Executive or a Movie Star upon stepping off the plane (or out of your car), then you're good to go. The journey of figuring it all out is half the fun.
Angela: My biggest advice (beyond, just do it) is to simply work really hard and be kind. Working hard is essential, as competition out here can be tough – if you don’t work hard, there will be 10 other behind you that are willing to work harder. And to simply, be kind to everyone. LA is a smaller city than you think. Don’t burn bridges; you never know when you might run into people again!
Follow us on social media:
Instagram: @ellsween, @Angela_M26
Twitter: @ellsween, @AngelaMayhew
Names:
Ellen Sweeney & Angela Mayhew
Age:
Ellen 25
Angela 28
Hometown:
Ellen, Cincinnati Ohio
Angela, Whitesboro, NY
College:
Ellen, Indiana University
Angela, Saint John Fisher College
When did you move to LA?
Ellen, June 2011, immediately after college graduation
Angela, January 2011
What made you want to move to LA?
Ellen: I had explored my options of where to live while I was in college, by doing summer internships in cities I thought I may want to move to after graduation. After interning in LA the summer after sophomore year, I knew I loved it, so I kept it on my radar when considering my post-college game plan. I wanted to go to a booming city with warm weather and endless things to experience - LA seemed like a no brainer.
Angela: Ever since I can remember, I always wanted to work in the entertainment industry. To do that, I knew that I would have to move to either NYC or LA. Growing up, I had always dreamed of moving to California, and I figured being from NY that opportunity could always be there if I wanted to pursue NYC, so I focused on LA.
What was the most challenging part of the move to LA?
Ellen: Moving to LA is extremely daunting, and I think fathoming a huge move across the country was the hardest part. I knew a few guys from my internship in LA who had a room open up in their apartment in Bel-Air, who asked if I wanted to move to LA and live with them. I had one week to decide if I wanted to take the room. It took talking to lots of people to help encourage me and advise me on if moving to LA with no job, hardly any friends or support network, was not totally insane. One thing someone told me that ultimately made me take the leap, was that if I don't do it now, I never will. The longer I thought about it or the more years I took to try and move to LA, the less of a chance it would happen. Thanks to them, here I am.
Oh, and it will be hard sometimes. I am pretty positive I called my mom every day for the first month I was here, telling her I was hopeless, jobless, friendless, and dumb for moving here. Thanks Mom, look at me now!
Angela: I think the most challenging part of moving and getting established is not comparing your “beginning” to someone’s else's “middle”. When you get here and catch up with old friends/networks and meet new friends, it’s easy to think that everyone seems to have it all together. Apartments/Jobs/Friends/Etc - some people just make it look so easy. Always remember that everyone has to start somewhere and eventually, piece-by-piece things will come together.
How did your job hunt go down?
Ellen: I moved to LA with no job, and frankly, not even the slightest idea of what I wanted to do once I was here. I had majored in Tourism Management and had some experience in hospitality, so figured that would be a good direction to go upon arrival. There was no long term game plan, just a let's find a job ASAP game plan. I applied to probably 30 places online in my first week to no avail. So one day I decided to go down to Ocean Avenue and walk into some boutique high-end hotels and see if they were hiring. My first choice hotel I walked into offered me an application and an interview on the spot. I came back the next day for a second interview and was offered a job as a server in the hotel restaurant. It's important to note that when you move to LA, you're not above anything. From there, I worked my way into a pool hostess role and then a guest services agent. It's also important to note that during this time, I also had side gigs as a babysitter for a nice family in Bel Air (met them through the hotel), and as a Event Manager for speed dating events. I literally facilitated speed dating events and blew a whistle telling people when it was time to move on. Reminder: You're not above any job.
From there I worked at the Palazzo Apartments as a Concierge and Event Manager -- it was an awesome year and I met so many wonderful people. After a year, it was time for me to find a career I envisioned myself in more long term. I transitioned out of hospitality and into customer service with Pressed Juicery. From there, I grew into a role as Corporate Sales Manager and now Head of Company Culture, where I am now.
A lot of people come to LA with an agenda of exactly what they want to do with their lives and a game plan of how to reach it, and that's fine. I took a different avenue, of feeling out the industries I was interested in and working my butt off to advance in them. And that hasn't stopped, I am eager to keep on keeping on and see where else LA takes me.
Angela: I had an interesting scenario where I had a job in Nor Cal that moved me down to Los Angeles for 3 months on a contract gig. After that gig was over I would be on my own. Knowing that, I hustled during that time to network and job search. I was able to land a temp job in recruiting at NBCUniversal. Once that was over, I interned at The Dolce Group (Restaurant/Nightlife company) until I was able to find my next “chapter” if you will. A friend who worked at Universal Music Group approached me about taking over her recruiting position, as she was moving to a different department. Given my previous job in Nor Cal, and my temp gig I was able to land the job and start working full-time in recruiting. I knew if I wanted to survive in LA, it would be expensive and that it wasn’t going to be easy. So the first year I also kept working at The Dolce Group on the weekends to be in a better place financially.
What area are you living in?
Ellen: I live in West Hollywood and absolutely love it. My first year in LA I lived in Bel Air. It was an absolutely amazing apartment in a killer location in terms of being central to lots of spots (halfway between the beach and West Hollywood nightlife). That said, I felt like I was on an island because I couldn't walk to anything and had to rely on my car everywhere I went. After a year, I moved to West Hollywood, right into the thick of nightlife and shops and everything in between. It's an amazing area because on the weekends, I don't even use my car. And not a lot of people can say that in LA. I can walk to Trader Joes, to the mall, to dinner brunch and lunch, and the majority of the bars I frequent. I am also walking distance to Beverly Hills, so I love strolling along the walking/running path that runs parallel alongside Santa Monica Blvd and weaving through the neighborhoods of Beverly Hills.
Angela: I’ve lived in West Hollywood, and in the same apartment for the past 4 years. We found a diamond in rough on Craigslist (they are out there!) and I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. I have a plethora of bars, restaurants and essentials (Trader Joes & Starbucks) in walking distance. Plus, I feel comparatively, it’s pretty centrally located than other areas.
What's your favorite thing about Los Angeles?
Ellen: To me, LA is so insanely inspiring. Both the humans who live here and the city as a whole. I don't know a single person here who doesn't dream big. Whether it's dreams of a career in entertainment, a dream to become a Yoga instructor, or even a dream to mingle with the stars at your local gym. Everyone who moves to LA moves here with a passion and drive that seems to be unparalleled. It's extremely thrilling to be a part of.
LA as a city is also motivating, in the sense that it's impossible to sit at home and watch TV when you know you could be out hiking or soaking up the rays in the always 75 and sunny weather. This city brings out the best in people if they let it. Embrace LA for everything that it is, and you will quickly learn to love it.
Angela: It’s hard to choose one thing when you have things like the weather and the opportunities in the mix. But I would have to say the people and the friends I’ve made. LA draws a lot of motivated people with “dreamer” attitudes. I feel constantly inspired by friends, coworkers, and the city as a whole as people are always striving for bigger or better, and constantly working towards their goals and dreams.
Tell us your favorite 3 spots to recommend to new Angelenos:
Ellen: 1) The Den. This West Hollywood bar is located on the historic sunset strip and has a precious little patio that's usually sporting twinkle lights. This spot is responsible for 3 and a half years of memories for me in LA, and hopefully many more. It is filled to the brim every Friday and Saturday night with people ranging 21-30 and then some. Everyone there wants to make friends, and if you allow yourself, you definitely will. Through the years we have collected new friends, that we now reference as our "Den Friends". Go, and make your own Den Friends. Maybe I will see you there.
2) Beverly Gardens Park. I mentioned this earlier, but this is what the pathway along SM Blvd is formally called. It's a path that runs from West Hollywood all the way to almost UCLA. Any given Saturday or Sunday, you are bound to see tons of people out on the path enjoying the weather -- people running, walking, hanging out with their dogs. Going out for a Sunday morning walk along here keeps me both grounded and inspired.
3) The Venice Canals. These are literally the COOLEST thing. They are canals that run through a section of houses in Venice, that are truly so pretty it's mind blowing. Last time I was down there, there was a house that had a mailbox with poems in it, encouraging you to take one. Need I say more?
4) I know we said three, but who made these questions anyway? Er... My last one is Tender Greens. Yes, this is merely a cafeteria style restaurant with slow food done fast. But you know what, they have the best mashed potatoes in the world. And every once in a while, I truly need a home cooked meal to make me feel like I'm not a 25 year old who eats scrambled eggs for dinner nearly every night. And the staff there is really nice. When I call, they know me. And I love them for that.
Angela:
1) Cycle House – One of my favorite spin studios located in West Hollywood! This studio has the best instructors, great music and your first class is free! While they are located in WeHo, they will be opening a new location on the westside this winter.
2) DryBar – It’s a luxury but it’s definitely worth it! If you are not familiar, DryBar is a hair studio that just focuses on blow outs. They now have numerous locations all over LA, and it’s perfect for special occasions, birthdays, or whenever you might need a pick me up. For $40, you get pampered, pretty hair & cocktails #win.
3) Toast – This is one of the first restaurants that I had ventured out to while in LA during an internship -- I had to try it because they went there on The Hills. I’ve been hooked ever since! It's my favorite place to go for breakfast, and to take people that are visiting LA. Not only is the food amazing, but also it’s always fun to sit outside to people watch. You never know who you might see or be dining with! Popular spot for a minor celeb sighting.
4) The Den – I know Ellen already put The Den, but I couldn’t help myself. Our favorite bar on Sunset. Amazing service, great atmosphere and always a good time. Not gonna lie, I’ve celebrated 2 out of my 4 birthdays in LA at this glorious bar.
Any advice you would give to someone who is planning to make the move to LA?
Ellen: Try not to think too much, and just move. The more you think about it, the more you will panic. Just move, and figure it out. I advise you have a little $$ saved up to buy you about two months to find a job, but other than that, just take the plunge. It will come together. As long as you don't think you'll be a PR Account Executive or a Movie Star upon stepping off the plane (or out of your car), then you're good to go. The journey of figuring it all out is half the fun.
Angela: My biggest advice (beyond, just do it) is to simply work really hard and be kind. Working hard is essential, as competition out here can be tough – if you don’t work hard, there will be 10 other behind you that are willing to work harder. And to simply, be kind to everyone. LA is a smaller city than you think. Don’t burn bridges; you never know when you might run into people again!
Follow us on social media:
Instagram: @ellsween, @Angela_M26
Twitter: @ellsween, @AngelaMayhew