On my way to the Big Apple

As an international hair and make-up artist I have for the past seven years worked mainly in Sydney and in Hamburg, after completing studies in Milan. For the past few months I’ve lived in Berlin.

I love my old apartment right in the city centre, its spacious rooms and high stuccoed ceilings, the beautiful old panel parquet, with its signs of wear and tear. I also used it as a studio for creating little clips for my beauty-blog, which finally went online three months ago.

I absolutely enjoy living in Berlin and I have come to enjoy to be German and to live in Germany. Why that, and why now, all of a sudden? Why is it suddenly `home´, as in `home is where the heart is´?

Not too long ago, I thought that I wouldn’t be able to survive without the Australian sunshine. Today I love to get cozy on one of those cold, grey Berlin winter days.

The rent I pay for a 100-m² apartment in Berlin Mitte wouldn’t even pay for a room in Brooklyn. Rents in NY are simply exorbitant!

I’ll never forget the moment when my NY-based agent offered to sponsor me, and I’ll never forget the exhilaration I felt. But right now – I feel a bit anxious, and very much appreciative of all that is here right now.

What I didn’t know and what I guess a lot of people are not aware of is just how expensive it is to move to NYC. It begins with the process of getting your visa – jeez, I had no idea what I’d gotten into!

The closer I’m getting to my moving date, the more I’m asking myself “So this is the ultimate move, …is it really? Do I want to enter the lion’s lair and face competition with so many excellent and extraordinary artists? After all, NYC is often called a melting pot, for better or for worse, and if you can make it here you can make it everywhere.“ Believe me, I’ve had quite a few bouts of panic.

The longer I’ve worked in my professional field, the more I’ve realized that the ice is getting thinner. For the past five years I’ve assisted at international fashion shows. You learn to survive in the teams of the respective head-of’s, competition is merciless. A wrong word to the wrong person can get you sacked in an instant. Even more important than skill is your instinct for whom you can trust, and who is important.

New York will be the biggest challenge I’ve faced so far. A while ago, I had said that having an agent in NY was a sure sign of “having made it“. I was wrong. This is where it really begins!

I take a look round, and I smile. I look at my collection of beautiful old suitcases. Some of them are veritable multi-talents, full of surprising gadgets and gewgaws, and they don’t mind being used as settees or as improvised chairs.

Seems like flexibility is the best guarantee for enduring presence!

IMG_5378

8 comments

  1. Claudia Velke
    12/10/2013 — 1:04 pm

    … und wie heißt es so treffend? DER WEG IST DAS ZIEL
    Deine Mama

    • Sina
      12/11/2013 — 1:09 pm

      Ja, der Weg ist das Ziel.

  2. Maddison Care
    12/10/2013 — 12:39 am

    Such an inspiration Sina! I hope one day to achieve what you have. Best of luck in NYC and have fun! X

    • Sina
      12/10/2013 — 7:42 am

      Maddy, how are you? Thank you for your feedback and wishes.

    • Sina
      12/10/2013 — 7:39 am

      Danke, Steffi. Sehr lieb von Dir.

  3. Maria
    12/09/2013 — 9:17 pm

    Es ist sehr leicht zu sagen: Sina, das wird schon! Ich bin aber überzeugt, dass du in NYC sehr schöne Zeit haben wirst. Deshalb werde ich dich so oft wie möglich besuchen! :-)

    • Sina
      12/09/2013 — 9:22 pm

      Freue mich schon jetzt auf Deinen ersten Besuch. Feste Umarmung.

Leave a Reply to Sina Cancel reply

* required

19 − 8 =