hebrew Posted March 31, 2010 well i had this idea in my head today that i have had it with melbourne and want to get the fuck away from the place, so i thought hmm byron bay, it was nice there when i went there 10 years ago its close to the beach, nice beach, beautiful place, most likely changed shitloads since i been there, but still maybe people here might know the place, might be able to tell me of any music industry companies in the area, i am a music composer, arranger and educator, i write curriculum for music and performing arts and know a shitload about music composition and history, specialising in 20th century classical music but also have a vast knowledge of popular music and history. would there be any places up there where i could get work with my talents? i gather there are a few schools up there, is there a TAFE in bryon? just thought i would put it out there some of you might know whats happening musically in that town thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr me Posted March 31, 2010 The grass is always greener... 10 years is a long time, lots of change. Go for a holiday and see if it suits your style still. I would have thought that if you were into music, then Melbourne would be your ideal location? I could understand how you might be over it though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tripsis Posted March 31, 2010 Byron Bay is, in my opinion, a horrible place these days. If you've ever been to Manly in Sydney, it's now pretty similar. Packed full of surf shops and uber-trendy cafes, full of yuppies flaunting their stuff. Long gone are the days of it being a hippie paradise. Maybe that's your thing, but it sure isn't mine. I hear property prices are sky-high too. Perhaps members that live in the area know it better than the superficial impression I got the last couple of times I was there and think differently of it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SunChaser Posted March 31, 2010 Went though byron bay a few months ago. Nothing but yuppies and rich boy joc surfers, everywhere you look. Its not the alternative town I was told it was anymore. North eastern NSW in general seems like it would be a good place to live though, even just for the weather. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vual Posted March 31, 2010 (edited) sure move to byron... If you like HARD DRUGS and CRIME. Byron use to be the greatest place, imo it use to be the spiritual capital of Australia, now its just fucked up. Only reasion i would move there would be to study at SAE(School of audio engineering). Edited March 31, 2010 by vual Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FancyPants Posted March 31, 2010 What about Coffs Coast? Might not want to reside in Coffs itself as it's getting touristy like Byron, but there's plenty of smaller towns nearby like Sawtell or Orara Valley (if you don't mind having to drive a measly 15-45mins to get to the beach). Coffs has a big education campus with a Uni and TAFE, both who offer some music-related courses which I assume you would intending to teach at. Actually maybe it was Lismore SouthernCrossUni campus who host the music subjects... Great weather, cheaper than Melbourne, pretty much right in the middle of Sydney and Brisbane, beautiful countryside. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
incognito Posted March 31, 2010 mate, its SUPER expensive up there. expect to pay through the nose in the byron, bruns, mullum area. Lismore has Sothern Cross Uni. the land between lismore and nimbin is awesome. Byron i never really liked much, dreaded having to have to go in there for woolies when the shops in mullum and bruns where shut. Paris Hilton always reminds me of Byron Bay for some reason? Its just so fake and pimped out(IMO) Might not want to reside in Coffs itself as it's getting touristy like Byron I would never step foot in Coffs Harbour again if you paid me. For me it will always be the fleas on the nuts on the fleas on the dogs ass. Come to Canowindra VS! its where ITS at! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hebrew Posted March 31, 2010 thanks for the info guys, that is good to know byron has changed like that, it does not sound like a place i would like to be, i will need to look into things more, it was a fleeting idea that i thought i would ask for opiions so thanks for the general consensus that the place is crap. i want to get out of the city some kind of regional place close the a good beach that is going to be a good place for my kids and for me, sure melbourne is good for music but it means being in the place, and i am over it, i want fresh air, open streets, beach, and find some kind of job in a university or tertiary education working with music, but then again i really dont know what i want, i just want a change, was thinking of going back to WA, but then i have to deal with my family. strange thing to say really but, i guess it isnt off the cards, its just such a long way to go and how do i smuggle all my plants into WA anyway thanks for space to speak out here. i guess byron sounds like its out. might have to go for a holiday up the coast, i remember sawtell being nice. and yes the grass is always greener on the other side, but frankly i need a change, i need some ocean. anyway its a hard decision to move your family somewhere new thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
folias Posted March 31, 2010 I have been mostly based in the area for 11 years and it isn't a really very appealing place to live these days... even if you live WAY OUT... like I do - the sour atmosphere and the people's malaise still effects you. I am moving from this area and won't be returning. Byron shire is a like a party that used to be good, but all the "wrong" sorts of people crashed the party, bought their way in, and contributed nothing to the atmosphere... actually just taking. There are still some really good people around... but not a vibrant scene like there was 10 years ago! All those authentically spiritual people are really just not around any more... and can't afford to live here! I MUCH prefer the Port Macquarie area and this is where I feel comfortable with the land and the people. The climate there is better, the land cheap and there may be fewer people of like mind there. Having said that, a LOT of people I know in this area are tired of the wankers predominating and the stale, gossipy small town BS... Julian. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
folias Posted March 31, 2010 >just thought i would put it out there some of you might know whats happening musically in that town nothing interesting at all. Julian. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderIdeal Posted March 31, 2010 this all reminds me how much NSW appeals to my inner-child or something, i dunno but when i imagine it everything seems magical and it puts me in a funny mood. could be because i've only experienced it during roadtrips *shrug* maybe i need a change too definitely not feeling like brisbane will be habitable for much longer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vual Posted March 31, 2010 Ya I reside in brisbane and am feeling the same way.. i would like to be settled on some land some 2012. Outskirts of Lismore seems nice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Torsten Posted March 31, 2010 I agree in general with most of what is said here, but only superficially. Byron has changed heaps in the last 15 years, but not all for the worse. Yes, gone are the street performers, artists and hippies, but that's not because they all left - rather many just grew up and settled [in & around Byron]. It is easy to not see them if you're too busy complaining about how bad byron is. When a friend proposed opening a shop in byron I felt the same way as many of the sentiments expressed here. I hadn't been in byron for 3 whole years at that point even though I live just 15 minutes away. After spending a bit of time in byron and meeting some old friends and acquaintences there I started feeling differently. People who used to hang out at the beach park ranting about biodynamic farming now own and operate biodynamic farms. People who used to rant and rave agains restrictions on herbs now own herb farms and herb shops. Artists now own galleries or workshops. Others ended up working in council [under a green mayor], or do biodiversity assessments for the global warming corridor agency of the federal government. You can't expect the same people to keep doing the same things for 15 years - in fact, if they did you certainly wouldn't regard such a place as progressive. yes, byron is full of yuppie wankers now due to the property prices. It's also full of backpackers. But it's also full of a generation of interesting people who remained after a lot of the waste-of-spacers got left behind. if you're the kind of person who can still talk for hours about all the things that you SHOULD be doing rather than actually doing them, then places like Bellingen, Nimbin or Maleny are probably more appropriate. if you don't mind settling for those with at least one foot on the ground [maybe even both] then byron isn't so bad as long as you can ignore the main street yuppies and tourists. If you have transport then you're better off heading for the hills behind byron and only using the town to serve your needs rather than to have to put up with it 24/7. One problem I warn people about who are thinking of moving to this district is that due to so many highly qualified sea/treechangers moving up here from Melbourne and Sydney, there is a huge number of them here and sometimes they are even looking for work - luckily not often. So if you are in the music industry you will find a lot of people here with a dispoprotionately higher skill level than your average city crowd. This makes it difficult to compete unless you are really good at your job. Where does someone with your skills work in the city? Uni? TAFE? There is a uni in lismore, TAFEs in lismore and tweed. SAE in Byron. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
