Moving is stressful for the average homeowner, but it’s even more grueling for a musician. Whether you’re a casual hobbyist or play for a living, moving musical instruments will always be challenging. You can’t just
Hooray! You’re almost ready to move. You’ve packed the entire kitchen, your clothes, small appliances, and a whole list of other stuff. Alas! The battle’s not over yet. It’s time to box up one of
Similar to how meals feed the body, music is essential for the soul. It brings forth an infinite universe filled with harmony, variety, and color. You can feel any way you want with music. Nowadays,
Did you know? The most popular baby grand, Yamaha GB1K, ranges in price from $15,000 – $16,000. In light of this, a piano could easily be one of the most expensive possessions in your home.
Whether you own an upright or a baby grand, moving a piano is not an easy task. Not only are these massive instruments cumbersome, but they’re expensive and can be easily damaged during a move. If you’re contemplating an upcoming relocation and don’t know what to do with your piano, we’ve come up with some tips for you! Thanks to Charlotte piano moving company Cheap Movers Charlotte for answering all our questions.
Before you even start the moving process, do some research to figure out how much your piano weighs. The size of your piano will help you determine the equipment you need and the number of people you’ll want on-site to lend a hand. Small pianos may only weight a few hundred pounds, while full-size grands could weigh over half a ton!
Measure your piano prior to your move to determine how large of a vehicle you will need to transport it. You will likely need to rent a moving truck to have adequate space to accommodate this instrument. If you have an extra large piano, you may want to consider hiring professional movers.
Most models of pianos come with small wheels attached to each of the legs. Though it might seem easy enough to roll the piano around on these, they aren’t as functional as they look. Because the full weight of the piano is distributed to 3-4 tiny wheels, it means there is a lot of pressure on each leg. If a wheel gets caught, it could cause a leg to snap off. Attempting to roll your piano could also destroy your flooring – gouging your hardwoods or tearing up your carpet. Though it might be tempting, just don’t do it!
Instead of using the piano’s wheels, you’ll want to invest in renting or buying a sturdy moving dolly instead. Position the piano on the dolly so that the weight is equally distributed. The dolly will make getting the instrument onto the moving truck much easier than trying to lift it. While upright pianos may be left intact for the move, grand pianos should be broken down. Remove the legs, lyre, and music rack, before attempting to load the piano onto the dolly. You’ll also need a piano skid board to safely transport a grand piano. The piano rests on the skid board which is then affixed to the dolly for rolling.
To prevent your piano from getting damaged, make sure to cover it with moving blankets before transporting. Blankets will keep your piano from getting scratched, dented, or worse during the move.
Bear in mind that when pushing the piano up the moving ramp onto the truck, most of the weight will shift to the downhill side. Make sure to have plenty of hands ready to muscle the piano safely up the ramp. Once on the truck, secure the piano to the side of the vehicle with straps or tie-downs.
As you might see from reading this article, moving a piano is tricky business. It’s expensive getting the right equipment to do the job properly and requires a lot of people to assist. Even if you feel prepared to tackle your piano move, this may be something that’s best left to the professionals. You may find it’s cheaper than trying to do-it-yourself, and it’s sure to be a lot easier! If you’re looking for affordable piano movers check out these cheap Charlotte moving companies.
When it comes to starting a successful career in music, where you live is a key factor in getting ahead. And whether you have years of experience or are just starting out, relocating to the city of Los Angeles can be one of the best moves for a budding musical profession. Brought to you by a local mover, Cheap Movers LAX, here are the top 5 reasons to consider moving to the sunny city of Los Angeles.
Los Angeles is known for its large music scene and is filled with different kinds of producers, vocalists, DJs, and musicians that are all looking to collaborate and work with each other. Since networking is essential when building a career in music, L.A. can bring valuable connections to your professional act. While living in a small town may be ideal for writing and pondering lyrics, moving to a big city can allow you to find other creatives that can help you in the competitive industry of music.
While it’s good to perfect your craft and build a following within your hometown, you won’t get far in the realm of music if you don’t move ahead and challenge yourself. Moving to L.A. can allow you to compete with other artists in your genre, which can push you to perform better and work harder. You’ll also gain perspective on where you’re at as a musician when you start to see what others are bringing to the table. And other than becoming the best artist you can be, you’ll be able to meet record label executives, studio heads, and other essential individuals who can help advance your career.
Besides making connections with those within the music industry, living in L.A. can allow you to get your name out to locals in the area. As music success depends on word-of-mouth, you can perform at one of the hundreds of live venues that the city has to offer. With plenty of talent nights, open-mic performances, and rookie events that draw in crowds, L.A. is a hotspot for finding a new band or voice that’s popular with the masses. And once you’ve gained a few loyal fans in the city, people will start to spread the word about your music.
Building a music career can have its lonely and disheartening moments, especially if you’re going through a musical rut. But living in a lively and supportive city like L.A. can help boost your motivation and keep your mind positive. And with plenty of other struggling musicians and artists who understand where you’re coming from, the city can provide a like-minded community that can get you through a tough week.
There are some cities, such as New York City, where musicians don’t have the ability to try and fail while earning a living. And while NYC tends to demolish the dreams of young musicians with impossibly high rent prices and a sharp focus on success, L.A. is an ideal place where musicians can experiment with their craft and even fail. Compared to NYC, the city has considerably lower rent prices and an affordable cost of living. So, even if your musical efforts eventually fall short, it can become a valuable learning experience that can help you move forward in your career.
If you do decide to move here, be sure to call on our friends at Cheap Movers LAX to help you get settled in. Moving to such a large and busy city can be overwhelming, but these movers make the moving process affordable and manageable. Get low rates from the most trusted moving professionals in L.A. To get more information or a free quote, check them out here:
Cheap Movers LAX
8605 Santa Monica Blvd # 37784
Los Angeles, CA 90069
(213) 204-6204
Texas marching bands are nationally recognized and considered some of the best marching bands in the country. Texas is supposed to be known for its high school football teams; what is it about the marching
The City That Never Sleeps is reputed as a place of opportunity, where ambitious young people can pursue successful careers in everything from finance to music. With notable music conservatories like Julliard and the Manhattan School of Music, abundant opportunities for collaboration and performance, and the magical world of Broadway, it’s no wonder that so many burgeoning young artists choose to move here in pursuit of a music career. If you’re considering moving to the Big Apple to bolster your music career, there are some things you should know before you move:
Most people are aware of NYC’s repute for sky high real estate prices, but many aspiring artists move here without a true grasp of just how expensive living in the big city is. In the first quarter of 2016, the average Manhattan apartment cost $1.95 million, while rental rates were the 2nd highest in the country, just after San Francisco. According to Zumper, the median one-bedroom in Manhattan runs about $3100. Unless you’re independently wealthy, you’ll have to face the realities of getting a day job and living with multiple roommates to pay the bills.
Along with expensive real estate comes the reality that you’ll have less personal space, so you’ll need to be prepared to do a lot of purging prior to your move. Local NYC movers, Imperial Moving, who have helped thousands of people complete relocations to New York City, note that customers moving from out-of-state are often surprised at just how little space they have in their expensive new apartments. “Many clients come loaded down with entirely too many things and end up having to sell or put the nonessentials in storage.” If you’re serious about moving to New York, be willing to pare down your wardrobe and other belongings to the essentials. Otherwise, you may not even be able to turn around in your small living space much less have room for practicing music.
To expand upon the themes of expensive big city and tiny living quarters, keep in mind that moving to NYC means you’ll probably have to get a day job (or two) in order to make ends meet. While playing for tips in the subway might be your dream, unless you also want to sleep in the subway, it’s wise to watch out for other opportunities to make money. Berklee School of Music suggests that music careerists be willing to be versatile and creative in coming up with a workable revenue stream. This doesn’t necessarily mean flipping burgers at McDonald’s; you could put your skills to use with a paying gig as a part-time music teacher or a vocals coach.
As with just about any industry, the music industry is all about who you know. Take every single opportunity you can to connect with anyone you meet, including fellow artists, promoters, and even the guys running sound check. While you can form genuine relationships and even friendships with your new industry acquaintances, this is not the time for modesty and humility. If you don’t sell yourself, no one else will. Talk up your achievements and talents at every outlet possible to get your name out there.
Music is known as a cutthroat industry and it can be difficult to break into already established circles. Adam Small, a music management consultant who spent years as a musician in New York, advises new musicians to prepare for being “vibed” by fellow artists. According to Small, vibing occurs when resident musicians get territorial and snub new arrivals to the scene. Though this attitude may seem like a personal affront, you must be resilient in these situations. Keep your eye on the road to success and like T. Swift wisely advises, “shake it off”.
Many people move to New York with the mindset that success will rain down on them as soon as the landing gear makes contact with the tarmac at JFK. This false assumption, popularized and romanticized by Hollywood movies and TV shows, couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, there is that occasional random story of right-place-at-the-right-time success, but most artists have to claw their way to the top. Once you’re in New York, Sonic Bids suggests that you need to be “mentally and emotionally prepared to dedicate years of hard work to [your] craft”. Successful musicians work hard to get where they are, committing years to perfecting their sound and trying like mad to get their foot in the door whenever possible.
Even though moving to NYC to pursue music comes with its fair share of challenges, it can ultimately be an exciting and successful proposition. Just make sure you’re fully prepared for what’s ahead!
